SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
TUESDAY, MARCH 15
NEWS: Tomorrow evening our midweek Lenten services continue. We start with a Potluck meal at 6:15 PM in our Fellowship Hall. We’re not doing signup sheets for our Lenten meals so bring a favorite dish or perhaps-s dessert to share. The service takes place at 7 in our sanctuary. Pastor Joel is talking about Psalms on The Way to The Cross in his sermon’s.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Charlene Simpson. She asks prayers for her daughter, Amy Terrill, as she looks for work after graduating with her Masters degree this past December.
READINGS: Psalm 126; Psalm 127; Psalm 143; Genesis 21:1-21; Mark 6:35-56
DEVOTION:
“LOST AND FOUND”
[Jesus said] “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:8-10)
At the beginning of the pandemic, I lost a small diamond out of my wedding ring. I was not happy. That diamond meant a lot to me.
Jesus tells a story about a woman who finds her lost coin—and we’re not talking dimes or quarters here, this coin was probably closer to my diamond in her eyes. She is so happy, her joy overflows. She calls her friends and neighbors to celebrate with her.
This is how God feels about us, Jesus says. Look at that wording: “There is joy before the angels of God.” It doesn’t say the angels are rejoicing, though I’m sure they are. It is God Himself rejoicing, while the angels look on!
When human beings sinned and cut themselves off from God back in the Garden of Eden, it wasn’t just a tragedy for us. It was a deeply felt loss for God Himself. He loved the people He had made. He wasn’t content to lose even one of them.
That’s why He came to earth to be one of them—a human being, the Man Jesus. He took our sin, suffering, and death, and made them His own. He lost His own life so that He could find us. And He rose from the dead to give us life forever—never to be lost again.
That’s something worth celebrating!
THE PRAYER: Father, thank You for finding us and bringing us home to You through Jesus, Your Son. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* What is the most valuable thing you have ever lost and found again?
* How far would you go to get back a broken relationship?
* How can you help as God seeks out His lost ones?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Numbers 12-14 Mark 14:27-53
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 Tuesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
