SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
NEWS: This Saturday we have our Men’s Bible study/breakfast in the Fellowship hall at 9:00 AM. Please plan on joining us for good food and fellowship! At 10:00 AM the monthly Work Party takes place and runs until Noon. This is where we fix up and tidy up our church property – inside and out. If you can pitch in, even for a little while, please join us.
“PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for the Cerny family: Amanda, Josh, William and Daniel.
READINGS: Psalm 131; Psalm 77; 2 Kings 4:38-5:8; Ephesians 6:1-24
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Dramatic?”
Timothy 1:12-17 – I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
When I was younger, I sometimes went to visit other churches. And people would stand up and tell dramatic stories about how they used to have really terrible lives and then Jesus saved them and they became completely different people with brand new hearts. They told stories like St. Paul—the man who went from being a persecutor to a super-missionary overnight.
It was wonderful to hear what Jesus could do. But it was also difficult to relate to someone like that. After all, most of us have not sinned dramatically like Paul did. We have not been persecutors. We have not helped to put people to death. We may not even remember a time before we belonged to Jesus.
In the same way, most of us do not have exciting stories to tell about life in Christ. We don’t struggle to survive in a jungle or to suffer for our faith in a concentration camp. Our daily challenges are more likely to involve getting along with family members or difficult co-workers. No one will want to make a movie of our lives!
And yet … we have more in common with Paul than we might think. Like Paul, we started from a position of complete helplessness—broken by sin, under the power of death and evil, completely unable to help ourselves. We too needed Jesus. And Jesus found us, just as He found Paul. He came to us and made us His own through Baptism and through faith in our Savior who suffered, died, and rose from the dead for our sake. Now we live our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit. And He shows His power daily through what we do and do not do, what we say and do not say—whether anyone else notices it or not.
In the end, it doesn’t matter whether we have dramatic stories to tell. The only audience that matters knows all about it already—and that is the Lord. We live for His eyes, because we belong to Him and we love Him—because He loved us first and He came looking for us. Your story matters to Him. He is making something beautiful of you, something that pleases Him and makes Him very happy. How could it be otherwise, when He loves you enough to die and rise for you?
WE PRAY: Dear Savior, make my life what You want it to be—whether it’s dramatic or not. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Did you hear or read any of those dramatic conversion stories when you were growing up?
2. If so, what did you think of them? How did they affect you?
3. Why do you think God chooses most of us to have quieter lives?
Today’s Bible Readings: Isaiah 1-2 2 Corinthians 11:16-33
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 Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
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 Wednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
