SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2nd
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: We return to God’s house today, meeting up with our fellow brothers/sisters in Christ. The day starts with Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel is leading us in a study of the Lord’s prayer, with sections from Martin Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms. Our worship takes place at 10 AM and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “That’s Impossible!” It’s based on our Gospel reading for the day, Luke 17:1-10 Our Old Testament reading is from Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 Our second lesson is 2 Timothy 1:1-14 After all have received the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us outside for fellowship time, with coffee and other goodies. Then, we meet up at Carl’s Jr. on Douglas, near River Rd., for continued fellowship!
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:
Fellowship: OPEN
Flowers: The Neemia family
Techies: Ian Andrews, Bruce Woodward
Reader: Allen Latall
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Allen Kolkman
Ushers: Victor Dille, Keith Neblett
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Kyle Ross.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Gracious God, You gave Your Son into the hands of sinful men who killed Him. Forgive us when we reject Your unfailing love and grant us the fullness of Your salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 3; Psalm 2; Deuteronomy 3:1-29; Matthew 7:1-12
DIGGING DEEPER: Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:7-19; Philippians 3:4-14; Mathew 21:33-46
Alleluia. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“The Will of God Is Always Best”
“The will of God is always best and shall be done forever; And they who trust in Him are blest, He will forsake them never. He helps indeed in time of need; He chastens with forbearing. They who depend on God, their friend, shall not be left despairing.
“Lord, this I ask, O hear my plea, deny me not this favor: When Satan sorely troubles me, then do not let me waver. O guard me well, my fear dispel, fulfill Your faithful saying: All who believe by grace receive an answer to their praying.”
“The will of God is always best.” We know that, but we may not always believe it as firmly as we might. Yet our Lord taught us to pray, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10b). Not only are we to pray that the Father’s will be done, we should also talk about His will in our daily speech, since we have no idea what the future may hold for us: “You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that'” (James 4:15).
We seek God’s will as we bring prayers before His heavenly throne. Yet at the same time we plead that our will would be done, that a tragedy might be prevented, a healing accomplished, or that timely help would arrive. Jesus Himself prayed that way as He drew near to the cross, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39b). Earthly fathers listen with love (and patience) to the reasonable—and sometimes unreasonable—requests of their children. Our Heavenly Father, listening with greater love (and greater patience), wants us to come to Him with all of our needs and petitions.
The pleas “Your will be done” or “according to Your will” are not prayers of weakness or hopeless resignation, as if we are worried that God will not really hear and answer. His perfect will was accomplished when Jesus took up His cross for the sake of our salvation. Just as His will was done in the life of our Savior, His will surrounds us like a great, shielding wall, encircling with His love our hopeful petitions and our most despairing pleas.
Through faith in our crucified and risen Savior, we have forgiveness for our sins and the promise of life and resurrection. God has been with us through the past. He is present with us now and He alone knows the future that awaits us. He sent His only Son to save us. How could the will of our all-knowing, ever-present, always-loving God be anything other than what is best for us? With the prayer, “Your will be done,” we “shall not be left despairing”!
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, may Your will be done in my life. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “The Will of God Is Always Best,” which is number 758 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. When has someone’s will for your life been helpful to you?
2. What does it say that though Jesus struggled with the things He was facing, He still turned it over to the Father by saying, “according to Your will”?
3. Can we find peace in turning our lives over to God and resting in His guidance and protection?
Today’s Bible Readings: Isaiah 53-55 Romans 10
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 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 Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
