SVLC DEVOTION SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2023

by | May 12, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2023

 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

 NEWS: THIS MORNING the monthly Men’s Bible Study/Breakfast takes place in our Community building at 9 AM. C’mon guys, all of you are invited to share fellowship, God’s word and Bruce Woodward’s World Famous biscuits and gravy!

THIS AFTERNOON at 1:00 PM is the Birth Choice Baby Shower takesm place in our sanctuary.  All ladies (including teens) are invited to this fun’ filled event to benefit the ministry of Birth Choice.   You can learn more about Birth Choice here:  www.birthchoice.net   We’ll have all the usual fun activities and some great food plus we’ll hear about the important, loving work of Birth Choice.  Please bring an unwrapped baby gift and/or contributions for the money tree.  They have a gift registry here:  https://www.amazon.com/baby-reg/birthchoice-ofsanmarcos-december-2022-sanmarcos/3HYNXQTV8GQKI   Be sure to attend – and please bring several guests (neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers). There will be a special gift for all the teens who participate. For planning purposes, lease register by emailing Debbie at debbiekolkman@yahoo.com or phone her at 760.433.4885.

Tomorrow we are back in God’s house for the Sixth (and final) Sunday of Easter. We begin at 9 AM with Bible study, led by Pastor Joel. He continues to lead us in studying the book of Genesis. At 10 AM our worship service takes place and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Real Resurrection, Real Hope.” It’s based on our second reading for the day, 1 Peter 3:13-22 Our first lesson comes from Acts 17:16-31 The Gospel reading is taken from John 14:15-21 After we’ve celebrated the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time, with coffee and goodies. Then join everyone at In N’ Out Burgers for continued fellowship. It’s on Mission, near Frazee.

Also serving our Lord and congregation tomorrow are:

Techies:  Ian Andrews, OPEN

Reader:  K Berni

Acolyte:  Josephine Neemia

Greeter:  Daria Roth

Ushers:   Rick Adams, Victor Dille

Flowers: Alba & Terry Reilly

Fellowship:  Bill & Pat Sperberg

 PRAYERS: Today we lift up Charlotte Neblett in prayer. She asks prayers as she will be having dental work done. Also, for the family that lives with her as they are sweet people!

 READINGS: Psalm 119:25-32; Luke 22:14-30; Psalm 63

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Keeping You Safe”

May 13, 2023

 

Psalm 121:1-2 – I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Let your mind imagine a scene from ancient Israel: night had begun to fall, and a little band of travelers had stopped to make camp. There was no police force around to keep law and order across the vast countryside. Marauding thieves roamed the hills, and wild beasts had to be dealt with as they would attack travelers camping near their dens. It was precarious at best and dangerous at worst.

It may have been in such circumstances that the writer of this pilgrim psalm said, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills.” Looking up to the rolling hills ringing the valley, he remembered the guardian God of Israel whose existence was as solid as those hills and His love just as firm. Knowing full well the lurking dangers that may be waiting, the traveler said to himself: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

Night and day, year in and year out, each one of us is on the road that leads through the wilderness of this world. Whether it’s the loss of a dearly loved one, the malice of others towards us, or the folly of our own mistakes, life’s circumstances can cause us to lose heart, to wonder if things will ever be set right again and if there is any real value in going on living.

When the world presses in hard against you, don’t give up. Don’t say that it doesn’t make any difference whether you believe in Christ or not. It makes all the difference in the world. It’s the difference between living in fear and living in faith. When things look black, lift up your eyes to the hills. It was on one of those hills that Jesus, God’s only Son, gave up His life for you and me. And then three days later rose in victory over sin, death, and the devil.

This is the triumphant truth we share as Christians—that no matter what our circumstances are we are victors in Christ. As the apostle Paul has written, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

This was Paul’s victory; this is our victory; this is God’s victory won for us at the expense of His Son. The Lord will keep you from all evil. You may still know pain, disappointment, sorrow, and the grief we know from death, but God will keep you from all evil. He has put everything right in Christ. “The LORD is your keeper … The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore” (Psalm 121:5a, 7-8).

WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, when things look grim, lift up our eyes to see Your Son, exalted in glory at Your right hand. In His Name we pray. Amen.

Based on “More Than a Wish,” a sermon from Rev. Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you have any fond memories of hiking or camping? Where were you?

2. What did Paul mean when he said he had been “crucified with Christ”?

3. Have you ever been in a frightening situation where you turned it over to God?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 32, 51; John 3:16-36

 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 Saturday and weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org