SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 2023
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! Psalm 34:8-9 ESV
NEWS: It’s the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost tomorrow and we’ll be back in the Lord’s dwelling place! Our day begins with Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel continues to lead us in studying the book of Genesis. At 10 AM our worship service takes place and the tile of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “You Give Them Something to Eat.” It’s based on our Gospel lesson, Matthew 14:13-21 The Old Testament reading comes from Isaiah 55:1-5 Our Psalmody is included in Psalm 136 Our Epistle is Romans 9:1-5 After we have taken the Eucharist and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. Then fellowship continues at Carl’s Jr. on Douglas Dr.
Also serving our Lord and congregation tomorrow are:
Techies: Ian Andrews, Bruce Woodward
Reader: Kathy Andrews
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Darryl Finley
Ushers: Victor Dille, OPEN
Flowers: Margaret Paton
Fellowship: Terry & Alba Reilly
PRAYERS: Today we remember Daria Roth in our prayers. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for all Christians, that God would be their source of fulfillment against all kinds of lust.
READINGS: Jeremiah 49:23-33; Psalm 34; Ephesians 2:11-22
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Our Long-Forgotten Sins”
Jeremiah 31:31-34 – [Jeremiah said] “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Jeremiah had his work cut out for him. He was sent to tell the people of his time who God is and what He is like. No small task here. And this is what He is like. He passes judgment, severe, hard, conclusive. He is a God of justice and decision. But at the same time—the Bible persistently reminds us—He is a God of grace and everlasting compassion, always willing to save and ever ready to help.
One look at human nature, and God being a God of judgment makes perfect sense. But, thankfully, God didn’t stop there. He is a God of mercy and grace. In fact, He has demonstrated Himself to be a God of mercy and grace. And how do we know this? Because God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to become a Man and to pay for all the sins of the world, every last one of them, every one you and I have committed.
God is for you whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, whether you listen to Him or not.
But I urge you, my friend, do listen to God, wherever you are today, as He speaks to you in Jesus Christ. In His beloved Son, He offers us a new covenant, full of mercy and grace and complete forgiveness. In Jesus—and because of Jesus—He will forgive our blackest sins. Jesus’ death on the cross and His third-day resurrection from the grave are His eternal guarantee. The new covenant between God and man is now established.
“Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, grant us faith through Your Holy Spirit that we may receive Jesus into our hearts and know the forgiveness He has won for us. In His Name we pray. Amen.
From “Demonstrators for God,” a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever had to give someone bad news? How did that go?
2. Why do you think God made a covenant with Israel knowing they would ultimately break it?
3. Was is necessary for Jesus to go to the cross to pay for our sins? Could God have done it differently?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 127-129 Acts 18
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 Saturday and weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org
