SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
THURSDAY, JUNE 9
NEWS: This evening the Board of Directors has their monthly online meeting. You should have received an email from Bruce Woodword with the Zoom link. If not, please contact Bruce via email.
This Saturday the Men have their monthly Bible study/breakfast at 9 AM in our fellowship hall. All men are invited to attend and participate.
At 10 AM Saturday we have our monthly Work Party to help clean-up, fix-up and tidy-up our church and property. If you have some time, please come and pitch in for as much time as you can spend.
Also Saturday, Fellowship Team! We do the fun stuff! We empower things like the fellowship time after church, lunch outings or potlucks after that, and other fun things like Thankfeast, Easter Brunch, progressing dinners, pizza/bowling and more! On the team already are: Gail Adams, Amanda Cerny, Allen & Debbie Kolkman, Keith Neblett, Dania Roth – but there’s room for YOU! We’d love to have YOU on the “Fun Team.” Just let Allen Kolkman know
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Tom and Gloria Morofski. Tom requests prayers as he’ll be meeting with an orthopedic surgeon regarding possible back surgery.
READINGS: Psalm 1; Psalm 37; Numbers 24:1-25; Luke 23:1-25
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Shocking”
John 8:48-49, 51-52a, 53b-54-59a – The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right in saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. … Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! … Who do You make Yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known Him. I know Him. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and I keep His Word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at Him …
I find this Bible passage a little shocking. Jesus is clearly trying to upset the religious leaders. He is saying things that are bound to cause an argument. For example, “If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.” Of course they say to Him, “Who do You think You are?” And Jesus answers, “It is My Father who glorifies Me—the one you call your God.” Now their blood pressure is going through the roof! Then Jesus calls them liars, and finishes by saying, “before Abraham was, I am”—and of course, “I am” is the Hebrew name of God.
Why in the world is Jesus being so provocative? It might be the only way He can get these people to pay attention. These are powerful, educated, honored leaders. They don’t expect to hear God speaking through a rabbi who wandered in from Galilee. As far as they are concerned, they know everything they need to know already—and that is deadly.
We can fall into that trap too, can’t we? We trust in what we already know—in common sense, the voice of experience, the wisdom of the world. But God says to us, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19a)
That is what God was doing when He sent His own Son Jesus to be born as a human baby to a young woman in Bethlehem. That is what He was doing when Jesus grew up far from the centers of worldly power, teaching and preaching and healing—and then suffering and dying, all to break the power of evil over the human race. This is what God did when He raised Jesus from the dead, never to die again—and promised that everyone who trusts in Him will also be victorious over sin, death, and the devil.
Pay attention—God is doing a new thing. Are we listening?
WE PRAY: Dear God, help me to really listen to You! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Does it bother you when people say strange or shocking things?
2. If people aren’t listening to you, how do you get their attention?
3. Tell about a time when God got your attention.
Today’s Bible Readings: 1 Kings 1-2 John 18:19-40
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:
Our church website is: https://www.svlchurch.org/
Below is our Facebook page:
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 Thursday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
