SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SATURDAY, MAY 7
NEWS: For those who knew Carol Bass, Pastor Joel is conducting her funeral service in our sanctuary at 11 AM today.
Wine on The Patio is tonight from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at the home of Allen & Debbie Kolkman (710 Fredricks Ave OS). Please bring a beverage to share (it need not be wine) plus also some hors d’oeuvers, appetizer or snack also to share. We’ll be outside this time so dress appropriately. Just good fellowship! Friends are welcome!
Tomorrow is the Fourth Sunday of Easter as we return to God’s house. Pastor Joel continues to teach about the Miracles of Jesus and what they mean in our lives in our Sunday Bible study at 9 AM. At 10 AM we have our worship service and Pastor Joel’s sermon is entitled, “Secure in His Grip.” The text is based on John 10:22-30 After we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and the service completes, we have fellowship time with coffee and goodies. For those hungry for lunch, we will then meet up at the Great Wok of China and Alberto’s Mexican. They are right next to each other and share a patio at 4635 Frazee Rd., near 24 Hour Fitness. The Cold Stone Creamery is right near the restaurants too. Also serving our Lord and congregation are:
Fellowship: Neemia family
Flowers: The Neemia family
Techies: Ian Andrews, Open
Reader: Margaret Paton
Acolyte: Open
Greeter: Margaret Paton
Ushers: Keith Neblett and Terry Reilly
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Allen and Debbie Kolkman. We asks the Lord’s blessings as Allen starts serving the second Sunday of each month at Faith Lutheran in Vista. We ask the Lord to guide them as they will begin their call process to replace Pastor Mike Hall, who accepted a call to Lancaster, CA We also remember Pastor Paul Martin as he serves Faith and Pastor Robert McDonald as he will help there one Sunday a month.
READINGS: Psalm 41:1-3, 11-13; Psalm 76; Exodus 40:17-38; Luke 8:40-56
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Pressing Forward Through Fear”
1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
When you’re lost in fears or I in mine, the GPS, “God’s positioning system,” sends down a message to move us beyond fear and to more confident living. “Fear,” St. John wrote, “has to do with punishment.” There’s a lot for which we rightfully can be punished. The child who has misbehaved is fearful when hauled into the principal’s office. Something fearful happens in your life and you wonder, “Is God punishing me?” Even if everything is going along nicely, you still may be apprehensive, just waiting for something bad to happen, for “the other shoe to drop,” as they say. “Fear has to do with punishment.”
The message that comes down from heaven is that God has already done the punishing. That’s what Gethsemane and Calvary were all about. To serve you, not to serve Himself, Jesus gave His life as a ransom and paid the price for all your sins. Yes, bad things do come our way but God is not punishing you. “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform,” the hymn says. In ways often known only in His divine wisdom, the bad things, the fearful things, are used by God to increase our dependence upon Him—our outward, not inward, focus. God’s love is ready to position you to move beyond fear and confidently face anything in your future.
I’m talking about a real confidence for the future based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The book of Hebrews says, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1b-2).
Yes, Jesus gave His life as a ransom for your sins. What’s more, He rose and ascended into heaven to open the way for you to endure the hardships of this present life with your faith focused on a glorious future in heaven. His resurrection is the proof that God wants to position you beyond fear and give you confidence for the future. The poet says, “Jesus, my Redeemer lives; I, too, unto life shall waken. Endless joy my Savior gives; Shall my courage then be shaken? Shall I fear, or could the head rise and leave His members dead?” The answer is “No way!” not with God’s positioning system of love.
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, Your Son is the light of our lives. Teach us to follow Him. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
From “Beyond Fear,” a sermon from Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever been lost and truly worried about finding your way back? How did you return?
2. What is it about God’s love that gives us the power to press on through our fears?
3. How do you rely on God for guidance when you’re unsure of which way to go?
Today’s Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 30-31 Luke 24:1-35
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
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:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
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 to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
