SVLC DEVOTION TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2023

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

 NEWS: Here are the numbers from Sunday’s celebration: 54 worshipped inn person (with more online), and 70 joined us for our meal (?).It was great to have everyone joining us for all or part of their Sunday!

This Thursday, Bible Study continues at the home of Kay Berni. The title is, “How Happiness Happens” by Max Lucado. It goes from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. For more information email Kay, kberni@aol.com  Kay’s address is 1536 Peacock Blvd, Oceanside. You can also call, 760.536.3819 

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Barb and Gunti Galleisky in prayer. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for those who have any kind of authority over us in Oceanside. We pray that we would honor them as we are to honor God and that they would lovingly use their authority to serve, not to abuse.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 37:1-10; Psalm 17; Acts 22:6-21

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Fear No Other Gods” July 18, 2023

 

Isaiah 44:6-8 – Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no god. Who is like Me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before Me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are My witnesses! Is there a God besides Me? There is no Rock; I know not any.” There’s an odd phrase in the middle of this passage. God spends several minutes saying again and again, in every way possible, “I am the only God there is. There is nobody else. I know it and you know it and I know that you know it.” And then, right in the middle, He says this: “Fear not, nor be afraid.” Afraid of what? Well, afraid of other gods, I guess. That’s the only thing He’s been talking about in this whole passage. We don’t need to be afraid of them, because they don’t exist. The Lord is the true God, the only God, and He’s all we need to think about. So far it sounds a bit old-fashioned. After all, how many of us lie awake actively worrying that Zeus or Poseidon exist, or Baal and Astarte? We don’t need to be told not to worry about them! But in fact we have other false gods among us, don’t we? They go by the names of Money and Power and Prestige. They include Alliances and Technology and Military Power. So many people—even us!—put our hope in these things to keep us safe—to give us the good things we need in our lives, to protect our children; and we fear these things when they are on the side of our adversaries. And to us, too, God says, “Fear not.” Because what God said applies to modern false gods as well. Next to Him, they have no reality, no power, no existence. Nothing can stand against the God who loves us so much He came into this world to be one of us, to live and to die on the cross to save us—and to rise again, so that we might live forever. Next to Him, no powers even register. As Paul said, ” What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-32, 35, 37-39). WE PRAY: Lord, keep my eyes and trust on You, and let me not fear anything else. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. What powers are you most likely to fear in your life? 2. How do you find help in Jesus when you are afraid? 3. Tell about a time, great or small, when you saw the true God triumph over one of these scary false gods in your life.

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 2 Kings 19-21; Galatians 5

 

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 Tuesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org