SVLC DEVOTION SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2023

by | Jul 29, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS

SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2023

 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Psalm 122:1

NEWS: It’s the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost today as we are back in God’s house. We begin with Bible study at 9 AM and our Pastor Joel continues to lead us in the book of Genesis. In our 10 AM worship, the title of Pastor Joels sermon is, “The Great Misunderstanding.” The text is based on our Gospel reading, Matthew 13:44-52 Our Old testament lesson is Deuteronomy 7:6-9 Our Epistle is taken from Romans 8:28-39 After we’ve celebrated the Eucharist and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. Then please join us at Jersey Mikes, on River Rd., near Starbucks, for more fellowship time!  

 We pray all can join us for part of their Sunday but for those unable to worship in person, we stream our service live. The link is here: www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside  Click on that, then click on the More dropdown arrow, then click Live. If you have a moment, please “Like” us and leave a brief comment about your online worship experience. Thank you! Also serving the Lord and our congregation today are:

Techies:  Ian Andrews

Reader:  Keith Neblett

Acolyte:  Josephine Neemia

Greeter:  Rick Adams

Ushers:   Keith Neblett, Terry Reilly

Flowers:  Terry & Alba Reilly

Fellowship:  OPEN

PRAYERS: Today we remember Margaret Paton in our prayers. Margaret requests prayers for family and friends, who are dealing with health issues. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for spouses in Oceanside that have had unfaithful partners. We ask that God would be their source of strength in their situation and that he would not only heal but give wisdom in navigating the future for their marriages. We ask God’s grace to heal their broken hearts.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and most merciful God, the protector of all who trust in You, strengthen our faith and give us courage to believe that in Your love You will rescue us from all adversities; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 46; Psalm 28; Acts 27:39-44

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“From God Can Nothing Move Me”

July 30, 2023

 

“Each day at His good pleasure God’s gracious will is done. He sent His greatest treasure in Jesus Christ, His Son. He ev’ry gift imparts. The bread of earth and heaven are by His kindness given. Praise Him with thankful hearts!

“Praise God with acclamation and in His gifts rejoice. Each day finds its vocation responding to His voice. Soon years on earth are past; but time we spend expressing the love of God brings blessing that will forever last!”

As we follow Jesus Christ, each of us has a vocation, a calling. In fact, we have more than one vocation and some of these various callings may change over time and through different circumstances of life. These callings certainly include careers, the honest work that glorifies God and serves others. Such vocations may take people to work outside of their homes, while others work within the home, caring for their families. But our vocations are much more than the careers to which God may call us. Our vocations include the many daily relationships in which we are called to love and care for others. These may be as a mother or father, husband or wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, neighbor, customer or store clerk, teacher or student, client or construction worker.

Our vocations are formed at every place and relationship where our life in Christ intersects with life in the world. This is because our first and foremost calling is our identity as a baptized child of God. We rejoice in God’s “greatest treasure,” Jesus Christ His Son, and in His gifts, including the Spirit’s fruit that empowers and enables us to fulfill our many callings: “joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22b-23a). As we carry out our vocations, God is at work in and through us, bringing order and blessings to the world He created and sustains: “Each day at His good pleasure God’s gracious will is done.”

Our daily vocations, as varied as they may be, will not always be easy. Work and relationships, whether within the family or apart from it, can be difficult. At the place where our life in Christ intersects with daily life, a cross may be formed, a cross of suffering, a burden of love, that we take up and carry as we follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Our Savior had His own vocations, as the loving, obedient Son of Mary and Joseph and as the compassionate Lord who healed the sick and proclaimed the kingdom of God. Yet it was Jesus’ foremost vocation, His primary calling, to take up His cross in obedience to the will of His Heavenly Father. Pursuing our callings and taking up the cross, we follow Jesus, who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45b).

WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, guide me each day as I follow my callings in service to You and others. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “From God Can Nothing Move Me,” which is number 713 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

1. Can you name some separate vocations in your life? How do you use them day to day?

2. How important is God’s Spirit in helping us develop and utilize our vocations?

3. How does God work through your vocations to bless and benefit others?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 113-115; 1 Thessalonians 3

 

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 you 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.”

Now you can 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/

 Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/

A very blessed Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.

 Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org