SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
NEWS: Tomorrow evening the Board of Directors meet online, via Zoom. The meeting starts at 7 pm. Bruce Woodward sent an email yesterday that has the link.
Saturday the monthly Men’s Bible Study/breakfast takes place. We meet in the Fellowship/Community building at 9 AM. At 10, there is a Fellowship Team meeting in the same place. We also have our monthly Work Party that goes from 10 to Noon.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Sam Scull.
READINGS: Psalm 86; Deuteronomy 5:1-21; Matthew 8:18-34
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“No Distractions”
2 Timothy 2:1-4, 11b-13 – You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him …. If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.
Have you ever served in the military? I have not, but my husband was in the Vietnam War. He flew planes for the Vietnamese Air Force. And he learned very quickly that he needed to keep his mind on his job.
It wasn’t safe to get distracted. One young man went up on a solo flight from Tan Son Nhut Airport and forgot to pay attention to the landmarks. He got lost in the sky!
Getting distracted as a Christian can also be dangerous. We live in a world where there are many things to take our attention away from Jesus. Some of them are sinful; some of them are not, but they can still cause trouble if they take up all of our attention. If we get caught up in the things of this world—getting ahead at work, buying bigger and better cars or houses or things—these can distract us from Jesus, and from living a life that is fruitful for Him. Before we realize it, we have lost our landmarks and are flying blind.
Thanks be to God! Jesus did not get distracted in His mission to save us! He had His eye on the goal—rescuing me and you and all people from the power of evil. He intended to lay down His life and rise again, so that everyone who trusts in Him would live forever. And Jesus carried this out. Nobody—not kings or priests or leaders or His own family—was allowed to distract Him. Why? Because He loved us and was willing to fight for us to the end to save us. Thank You, Jesus.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, keep my eyes on You and my heart set on Your will. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever been distracted at just the wrong time? Tell the story.
2. In what situations do you pay your best attention? Why?
3. What does it tell you, to know that God is paying attention to you?
Today’s Bible Readings: Isaiah 62-64 Romans 12
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 Wwednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
