SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2023
Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you. Psalm 33:20-22 ESV
NEWS: Please refer to the Shepherd orf The Valley Church Newsletter that Allen Kolkman sent by email yesterday. It includes, “Wine on The Patio” at the Kolkmans house, starting at 6:30 PM tonight!
PRAYERS: Today we remember Chris Roth in our prayers. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for the people in Oceanside who draw their identities from their sexuality. We pray the Lord helps them to see that he offers so much more to them through his dear Son Jesus. We pray he helps them to see the LGBTQ movement is truly demonic at its core and really devalues humanity in scope and for the individual. Precious God, help them to see how much you value them through Jesus Christ.
READINGS: Jeremiah 49:7-22; Psalm 33; Ephesians 1:15-2:10
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Storm Queller”
Mark 4:38-41 – But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
“Jesus, don’t You care?” Two-thousand years ago was not the last time that question has been asked. That’s because any time we’re caught in a natural disaster or accident or illness the temptation is there to ask, “Jesus, don’t You care?” When people wonder where God has gone, when they ask, “If God is a God of love, why doesn’t He stop this?” we are rephrasing the disciples’ question: “Jesus, don’t You care?”
The truth of it is no one cares more than Jesus. Listen to Him as He, looking through an intense pain, provided for His mother; offered forgiveness to those responsible for His crucifixion, and invited a dying sinner into heaven (see John 19:25-27; Luke 23:34, 43). Most certainly Jesus cared. It was His caring which—after He had fulfilled the Law we have broken, after He had resisted all of Satan’s temptations—allowed Him to confidently proclaim, “It is finished!”
Yes, Jesus cares. The disciples had hardly finished waking Jesus up before He was on His feet, calming the raging waters around them. But other storms would come their way, and their faith during those storms was not an improvement on what they did on the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus asked them to pray with Him, they fell asleep. When He was arrested, they ran away. When He was crucified, they slipped into hiding. When He rose from the dead, they were slow to get it.
The time eventually came when they, touched by the Holy Spirit’s power, were given understanding and faith. By God’s mighty grace, they were transformed, and these meek little lambs became the Lord’s lions, proclaiming the conquering Christ to a sin-sickened world, which so desperately needed to hear that message.
And this is a message you and I need to hear, too. In life’s storms, during those times when we’re afraid, when we question whether we can make it through the next day, the next hour, we need to hear Jesus. He will—just as He did for the disciples those many years ago—rise up and still the storm. Sometimes He will make that storm disappear; other times He will give us the power to get through that storm. But either way, with Jesus we will survive. We will survive until the day comes when He safely takes us to our home port in heaven. On that day, if we look back, we will see and thank Him for the many storms He has stilled in our lives.
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to calm the storms in our lives. Teach us to trust in Him. In His Name we pray. Amen.
From “Jesus, Don’t You Care?” a sermon from Rev. Dr. Kenneth Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. It’s easy to forget how much God cares for us. How do you stay focused on His love for you?
2. Do you think you would have ever doubted Jesus and His Word after seeing Him calm the storm? Why do you think the disciples still struggled in their faith later on?
3. Is there a Bible character who remained faithful in trouble or adversity that inspires you?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 123-125 2 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 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 hour s: 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 Friday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org
