SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
MONDAY, MARCH 14
NEWS: A big Thank You to all who worshipped with us yesterday, in person and online. A head count was not provided as of this writing but we are blessed to have Pastor Joel as our pastor and more people attending.worship. We meet again this Wednesday evening for our mid-week Lenten service. It starts with a Potluck in our Fellowship Hall at 6:15 PM (no signup sheets, bring food tom share) followed by our service at 7 in the sanctuary.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for the Santiago family: Dennis, Elizabeth, Carlos and Sebastian. Dennis and Elizabeth ask prayers for their children’s spiritual welfare. Kyle Ross asks the Lord’s help for patience and endurance as he travels each day to assist his and Krag’s elderly parents. Also, prayers for their parents health.
READINGS: Psalm 91; Psalm 130; Genesis 18:1-15, also Genesis 18:16-20:18; Mark 6:14-34
DEVOTION:
“EWWWW!”
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2)
You can just hear it in the voices of the Pharisees and the scribes. It’s that childish playground sound: “Ewwww!” Jesus is hanging out with tax collectors and sinners. He even eats with them like friends! How can He bear that? Doesn’t He know what kind of people they are? Ewwww!
Of course, Jesus knew what kind of people they were. He knew what kind of people the religious leaders were, too. They were sinners—all of them, the ones who pretended to be holy and the ones who did not. They were proud, selfish, lazy, angry, unfair, faithless. They were people who gossiped, envied, hated, grumbled, and hurt other people. They were like us.
Certainly, Jesus would have been justified to send them all away—to say, “Ewwww, how horrible!” and wash His hands of them. But He did not. He called them close. He treated them—and us!—like lost sheep, valuable and in danger. He went looking for us like much-loved sheep, never resting until He found us.
And then He made us His own forever, by laying down His life for us on the cross. Jesus drew us as close to Him as it is possible to be, making us part of the body of Christ, members of His own body. He doesn’t reject us—He does the exact opposite. He incorporates us, living within us and sharing with us His own resurrection life and joy.
You don’t need to worry about Jesus rejecting you. He knows what you are, and He loves you—enough to live, die, and rise for you. You belong to Him forever.
THE PRAYER: Lord, thank You for wanting me and loving me. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Are there people who make you say “Ewwww!” and go away from them? Why?
* How do you think Jesus feels about them? About you?
* What does Jesus’ love say about God’s heart?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Numbers 9-11 Mark 14:1-26
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
Luther’s Morning Prayer
In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
After singing a hymn or whatever else may serve your devotion, you can go about your day joyfully!
Luther’s Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
You can now go to bed quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Lutheran Public Radio is listener supported and has two channels, one for sacred music and the other for talk, including news, current issues, politics and spiritual matters from a Lutheran perspective. Hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken, Issues, Etc. airs live Monday thru Friday from 1 to 3 pm Pacific, with the “Best Of” running at other hours: https://lutheranpublicradio.org/
KFUO is the listener supported radio station owned and operated by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Based in St. Louis, their format consists of teaching, preaching, ministry and sacred music: https://www.kfuo.org/
A very blessed Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
