SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4

 NEWS: “Wine on the Patio” is this Friday, 6:30 – 8:00, at the home of Allen & Debbie Kolkman (710 Fredricks Ave, OS).   Please bring a beverage to share plus also a hors d’oeuvres or appetizer to share.  Please enter by the side gate. Questions?  Email KolkmanAllen@gmail.com

PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for the Doan family: Chad, Marika, Lydia and Lucille. We specially pray for Marika’s father, Rudi, who is seriously ill after being taken to the E.R. earlier this week. We pray that the grace, strength and peace of the Lord be with Marika and her sister as they have tough decisions to make.

 READINGS: Psalm 56; 1 Samuel 18:10-30; Acts 27:27-44

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Worrying”

Luke 12:22-31 – And He said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”

This is the section of the Bible that I come back to when I am anxious and worrying. Jesus is telling His followers that He understands their concerns—as He says, “Your Father knows that you need them.” But Jesus tells us where to look to find all these good things: to God the Father.

Luther explained it this way: “A god is that to which we look for all good and in which we find refuge in every time of need. To have a god is nothing else than to trust and believe him with our whole heart.”

Jesus calls us to give God the number one place in our life—to look to Him for everything that we need. Then we can replace our worries with something more useful—being concerned about God’s kingdom and finding ways to share God’s love with others. That can really make a difference!

Of course, it’s easy to say, “Stop worrying,” but it’s really hard to actually do that. How do you trust someone invisible?

Maybe this is one of the reasons why God chose to come down into this world as a human baby, as Jesus Christ, our Savior. When we see Jesus, we see God in the flesh, taking care of us. We see that He loves us. After all, He suffered, died, and rose again to make us part of His family. We see that He has power—He can heal the sick and command the storms and even make bread for people to eat! And He has promised us that He will be with us forever, even when we do not see Him.

Finally, He has given us the Holy Spirit—the One who does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He creates faith in us and helps us to cling to our Savior, trusting Him even in the darkest times. May God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit keep us close to Him forever.

WE PRAY: Dear Lord, help me to trust You when I am afraid or anxious. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. What are you most worried about at the moment?

2. When have you seen God take care of you and provide for your needs?

3. How can God use you to provide for someone else’s needs?

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

Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org