Easter Devotion (Day 16) - A Lifestyle of Grace

Forgive us for the ways we have wronged You, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us.
Matthew 6:12

We have all wronged God and have individual sins that we need to confess before God. But notice again that the plea for forgiveness is in the plural. We are responsible for what each of us has done, but also for oppression, poverty, corruption, pollution, and other things that damage the world if we don't work to prevent them. When we ignore the call of God to action for God's people, we are committing a sin of omission, leaving the work of discipleship undone in the world.

Notice also that this prayer cannot be prayed by an intentionally unforgiving person. If we accept the unconditional forgiveness of God, we have adopted a lifestyle of grace. That means that while it is often wise to be cautious and realistic in our dealings with others, we need to be imitators of Christ. We need to offer others the grace that we have been shown by God, not holding anger or resentment against others. We cannot allow another's treatment of us to damage our Christian character.

If we pray this prayer sincerely, it is a commitment to follow the call of God wherever it may take us as we live in grace with one another.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I've failed You and help me to show others the grace and forgiveness You have shown me. Help us to fight against evil in this world on Your behalf. May we live a lifestyle of grace as we forgive others, just as You have forgiven us. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

* Devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Sunday) - Our Daily Bread

Give us this day our daily bread. 
Matthew 6:11

When God's Kingdom comes, there will be bread for all, but until that day, we need basic necessities in order to live. But notice that this prayer is in the plural - give us. When we pray this prayer, we are praying for all of God's children, as one of God's children. We are not praying that God take care of "them," the poor and needy of the world. We are together with them, praying for all of God's people as a whole. When God gives to you or me, we are then responsible to give surplus to others.

This prayer also reminds us that every one of us, no matter what our current situation, is dependent on God for our very survival. If we decide that we do not need to pray to God for our daily needs, we are deceiving ourselves about our self-sufficiency. It is God who causes the sun to shine, the rain to fall, and the plants to grow in order that we might eat. It is God who gave us the resources and opportunities we need to survive. Within this prayer is an unspoken thanks for the bread God provided the day before, even as we trust that God will help us meet our needs for tomorrow.

Prayer: Lord, may all Your children have what they need to survive. Guide me in my responsibility as Your disciple that this prayer be fulfilled. Thank you for all that You provide for me every day. May I trust in You today, tomorrow and into eternity. In the name of the Bread of Life, Jesus, Amen

* Devotions taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotions (Day 15) - Living as Kingdom People

Bring in Your Kingdom so that Your will is done on earth as it's done in Heaven.
Matthew 6:10

What will the world be like when God's kingdom comes? This verse tells us simply that it will be a place like heaven, where everyone does the will of God. Think on that! God's will is that each of us lives to our fullest potential, unencumbered by the baggage of life, be it poisonous emotions, damaging memories, broken relationships, grief, physical obstacles, or need. We would all live the lives we were created to live, honoring God with every action, always in praise of God's steadfast love and care.

By praying this prayer, we are also committing ourselves to live within God's kingdom as much as possible in the present world. By praying for the Kingdom to come, we reaffirm our discipleship as God's people, whose call is to illuminate the world with glimmers of the coming Kingdom. We do this by alleviating suffering in others the best that we can and by drawing them into the love of Jesus Christ. We offer comfort, hope and grace. We align ourselves with Jesus Christ and His message of love and forgiveness. We live as Kingdom people in a world that is not yet God's kingdom, in prayer for the world to be healed and made complete.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be an ambassador of Your coming Kingdom. Show me how to help those who are suffering by offering comfort, hope and grace. May I allign myself with Jesus and His message of love and forgiveness. Help us to live as Kingdom people while here on earth and may Your Kingdom arrive soon! In Jesus' holy and precious name, Amen

* This devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 14) - God, Our Abba, Our Daddy

Our Father who is in Heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Matthew 6:9

Sometimes kings would instruct their subjects to refer to them as Father, stressing a relationship of authority. Jesus, however, begins the Lord's Prayer with a title Abba, an Aramaic word that is an intimate, family name for father, very similar to our word Daddy. Abba captures God's deep love and concern for us, just as a devoted father would have for his beloved children. Yet this Dad is the Creator and Designer of the cosmos! What a remarkable thought! We, who are insignificant, mortal creatures compared to the Almighty I Am, can dare to call out to Him in such an intimate way.

The second half of this verse is a cry of praise. In ancient cultures, a name referred to one's very essence or being. So this phrase is saying that every bit of God is profoundly holy. It is also a request that all of creation recognize and praise our Lord God.

So this first line in the Lord's Prayer recognizes the awesome and all-encompassing power and glory of God, yet allows us to approach Him on a profoundly personal level. It tells us that we can dare to trust that the Designer of the cosmos will listen to our prayers in tender love for us, His children.

Prayer: Glorious, holy Creator of the cosmos, how wonderful it is that I can call you my Father! Your love for me and devotion to me is more than I can imagine. You are near to me every moment of the day. I love you Abba! Thank you for loving me! In Jesus' name, Amen.


* Devotions taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 13) - Praying to Glorify God

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:5-8 

Jesus tells us not to pray hypocritically, but what is hypocritical prayer? Simply put, it is prayer for any other reason than worship of and communion with God. Jesus first condemns people who practice "performance prayers" designed to impress others. Jesus was not condemning community prayer. He Himself prayed before others. Rather He was saying that true prayer means that you mentally retreat to a place where you are concerned only about God. This can happen even in a public setting. The real point is not where one prays, but why one prays. Prayer is never meant to glorify the one who prays; only God. 

Second, Jesus condemns empty words in prayer. Many pagan prayers were not only long, but full of formulaic invocations used to catch the attention of their deity and convince that being to grant requests. In this way of thinking, if prayers were done correctly, one could manipulate the deity into giving the one who prays what he or she wanted, like a holy Santa Claus in the sky. Instead, God knows what is in our hearts already. We don't pray to convince God, but rather to express our needs, our faith, our fears, our doubts, and our praise. We pray to open ourselves up to the guidance of God. True prayer is an act of devotion to our almighty God.

Prayer: O Lord, may my prayers glorify You and draw me closer to Your will. When I pray, help me to mentally retreat to a place where I am concerned only about You. Guide me Lord God. I am devoted to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 



* Devotions taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 12) - Transfiguring Moments

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.  Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.  As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Luke 9:28-36 

All throughout the Gospel of Luke, Jesus went off to pray. This passage starts out the same way, but then the disciples had a moment of profound clarity, when the identity and the mission of Jesus was revealed to them. They heard God say the words that are meant for every being one earth: "This is my Son, my chosen one. Listen to Him!" 

Such dramatic moments are rare. We may read about them in accounts of mystics and saints, and we may have been blessed enough to experience a profound and life-altering moment or two of clarity ourselves. Through prayer, God can give us glimpses of the divine that we cannot explain. We may have a sudden, deeper understanding of the character of God. God may call us to a mission. God may give us comfort and rest. 

These are genuine moments of intimate communication that are true gifts from God, meant to be cherished and inspire our times when we are not on the mountaintop. It is human nature to want to stay at such a blessed place. But like the disciples, we are meant to take our newfound inspiration and turn to the valleys, where the work of the Lord waits for us. 

Prayer: Lord, strengthen me from the mountaintop to do Your will in the valleys. But please, Lord, let there be a few mountaintop experiences in my life...times that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that You are real, that You are powerful and that You love me. I love you Jesus! In Your name I pray, Amen.



* Devotions taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 11) - Communicating with God

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
Romans 12:9-17 

Paul begins this passage with, "Love should be shown without pretending." He commands us to love one another with no pretense. But sometimes this life of constant love and kindness is hard work. People can be cruel and disrespectful. They can be arrogant and self-righteous. To genuinely and sincerely love one another all the time doesn't really seem possible. 

So how can we achieve that goal? Buried in Paul's list of directions is one "to devote yourselves to prayer." This is not praying when you feel like it or have a few extra minutes. Devoting oneself to prayer means to live in a constant state of communication with God, listening to God's guidance and wisdom and then dedicating yourself to following God's direction. 

If one is eagerly devoted to prayer, then human ways of thinking have a much better chance of being overcome by God's way of thinking. It's still not easy to let go of anger and always treat others with respect, but if the guidance of God is foremost in your thoughts, then you are not relying just on human willpower. You are allowing the Holy Spirit to demonstrate its power through you, pointing you back in the direction of genuine love and grace. 

Prayer: Lord, may my devotion in prayer help me to genuinely love my neighbors. Help me to live in a constant state of communication with You, listening to Your guidance and wisdom and then dedicating myself to following Your direction. Please, Holy Spirit, as I pray to you throughout the day, please demonstrate Your power through me, pointing me back in the direction of love and grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.



* Devotions taken from The Sanctuary for Lent by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 10) - Love Your Enemies

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48 

It is difficult enough to love friends and family all the time. How do you love your enemies? For people in Jesus' day, this was not a rhetorical question. They were a persecuted community under Roman law, harshly taxed and often treated with disdain. Jesus was telling them to love the soldier who spit at them as they walked by and pray for the official who cheated them and stole their hard-earned money. 

Difficult words. But if we are to love as God loves, it means that all people, even people outside of our circle of friends, neighbors, and community are worthy of our concern and prayers. It means that through God, we do not allow the actions of others to change our Christian character. We are to look beyond the cruelness of this world and attempt to live as though we are members of the kingdom of God. 

I'm reminded of what this love for enemies looks like when I think back to the reaction of Charleston AME (Mother Emmanuel) Church. When a young man entered their Bible study in 2015 and shot and killed nine members, instead of calling down vengeance on him and possibly turning the incident into a violent protest, the family members and friends forgave this man. And this was not done days or weeks after the killings but immediately. Their love and forgiveness for their enemy calmed a city and showed a nation what Christian love looks like in action. 

Jesus didn't present this idea of loving your enemies as a commonsense strategy to get along with others, but as a way to embody the nature of God in our everyday lives. It is an element of living the Gospel. It is truly living as sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. 

Prayer: Lord, take away any of my anger and hatred toward others and teach me to love all, as You do. Thank you for the example set by Mother Emmanuel. Thank you for the peace and healing it brought to Charleston. Help me to act in a similar manner...quick to forgive and to reach out to my enemies. In Your name Jesus, Amen. 

* Parts of this devotion were taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Sunday) - God's Kind of Love

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 

What a beautiful prayer for disciples! How would our world change if we were continually expressing God's kind of love to others? 

God's kind of love never undermines or diminishes anyone and strives to help every person live to his or her full potential. It forgives mistakes. It offers guidance and support, but does not insist on its help being accepted. If we loved with God's kind of love, we would challenge people to be the best they can be through example, praising their accomplishments and being gentle with their failures. 

If we had Christ's endurance, we would be patient with those who frustrate us. We would continue to offer the gospel through teaching and example, even when it meant that we could be ridiculed or rejected. We would turn away from vengeance. We would see all people as beloved children of God, struggling to make it in a sin-sick world. We would live lives of compassion and understanding. 

We are not God, but we've experienced God's love. We are not Christ, but we've been blessed by His grace. As disciples, our charge is to show the world what the kingdom of God looks like - that is, a world that lives by God's kind of love and the grace of Jesus Christ. 

Prayer: O Lord, may I show the world Your kind of love and embody the grace of Jesus Christ. Help me to challenge people to be the best they can be through the example I set, praising their accomplishments and being gentle with their failures. Help me to lovingly share the good news of Jesus with those around me. May I live a life of compassion and understanding. In Your name Jesus, Amen. 




** Devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 9) - Offer What You Have

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. 
Mark 6:30-44 

Imagine the reaction of the disciples. They had more than five thousand hungry people seated in front of them, and Jesus was thanking God for five loaves of bread and two fish. This meager amount of food wouldn't even feed the twelve of them! Yet, in gratitude, Jesus praised God for what they had, handed it to the disciples, and told them to begin. 

The problems of the world are overwhelming. There is hunger, disease, war, loneliness, hostility and spiritual hunger. As disciples, how do we respond to all the need? This passage tells us that we take stock of our resources and thank God for them. Then we go out into the world with what we have and begin the work of God.

When we measure what we have against the world's need, it can seem foolish to even try. But instead of disparaging the tiny meal, Jesus asked God to bless it. As we labor for God, we should continually ask for God's blessings on our resources, our talents, our abilities, and our coworkers. When we call God into our labors, we have the greatest power in the cosmos behind even the most meager beginnings. 

Prayer: O Lord, bless my resources, however small, and give me the courage to begin using them in Your service. Show me where You are at work and enable me to join You. Help me to be open and listening to each word of guidance from Your Holy Spirit. Thank You in advance for all You are going to do through me. In Your name I pray, Amen.


** Devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 8) - Child-like Faith

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."
Matthew 11:25-26 

Theology can be mind-bendingly difficult. Theologians have struggled for centuries over the meanings of certain Scriptures. A war was fought over a single word that defined the substance of Jesus in a creed. While religious study can be deeply rewarding and enrich our faith, it is not the basis of faith. Faith is not religious debate and church culture. Faith is living the gospel. 

The religious leaders in Jesus' day were so concerned about religious practices that they didn't see the Son of God standing in their midst. It was left to those simple people who were just wanting to experience the love of God to recognize Jesus. He revealed Himself to children and to those who were child-like in their faith in Him. 

We can get so involved in the business of our church or doctrinal debate that we become blind to Jesus as well. Our spiritual life becomes religious practice and an intellectual exercise. But the basis of a relationship with Jesus is a pure and simple invitation from Him. We don't need to debate theology and understand all the nuances. We don't need to follow some strict protocol or ritual. All we need to do is to love Jesus and seek to serve Him. We can take, as our example, children in their enthusiastic, trusting faith. Then our eyes will be opened to His salvation, and we can truly rest in the loving arms of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I love You and serve You with my entire heart and my entire soul. Help me to take my cue from children as I enthusiastically embrace you with my whole life. You are so worthy of all honor, trust, praise and love. In Your name Lord Jesus, Amen. 

** Devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 7) - Speaking with Boldness

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:18-20 

How many of your acquaintances know that you are a Christian? Do you have the courage to speak out about your faith, even if it might be difficult or uncomfortable? If not, you are not alone. Paul. one of the boldest apostles in history, asked the Ephesians to pray for him so that he might be fearless in preaching the gospel. This eloquent man also asked that they pray for the right words to come to him. Even Paul needed inspiration from God for the language and the bravery to teach the gospel. 

Our teachers and leaders need our prayers as well. Pastoring can be lonely and require courage. Sometimes pastors must challenge their congregations if they are to stay true to the gospel. To live a Christian life is ultimately countercultural because following Jesus does not allow one to live in quiet contentment when there is suffering and oppression in the world. 

If we claim the title of disciple, we also are called to be bold in our faith. To do so means we both need to pray for others and need to ask others for prayers as we seek to obediently follow Jesus. When disciples pray for one another, God strengthens them and enables them to send glimmers of the kingdom of God to earth.

Prayer: Lord, embolden my teachers, my leaders and myself to confidently speak Your Word! Grant us the grace to speak words of truth with gentleness and boldness. Forgive me for the times when I have kept silent when I should have shared the wonderful news about who You are. Thank you for your guidance Holy Spirit. In Christ's name I pray, Amen. 

** Devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 6) - Lord of the Harvest

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:36-38 

A few years back I was standing on a street corner talking to a homeless man when a stray dog ran out into the street. Immediately, cars stopped and people coaxed the dog to safety, calming it, and putting it in a car to bring it out of danger. Watching all this, the homeless man commented, "I guess I would get more help it I were a dog." 

We often shy away from helping people in need. We may not be hard-hearted, but helping others can be messy and demanding. But that is exactly what Jesus asks of us. When Jesus saw the helpless crowds, He asked that His disciples pray for more compassionate people to serve them. God's answer to this prayer would be God empowering human beings, rather than using miracles or angels to help the helpless. 

Thus, as His disciples, we are chosen by God through Jesus Christ as God's workers in the world.  Our mission is clear: to care for others in the name of Jesus Christ. We would be called to meet spiritual needs or physical needs. Either way, it's complicated, challenging and often discouraging. But our service to others as Jesus' disciples is the embodiment of Jesus' compassion and the answer to Jesus' prayer. 

Prayer: Lord, empower me to be the answer to Your prayer. Enable me to be Your laborer in the harvest. Show me who needs to hear about You. Then grant me the wisdom, love and gentleness to share You with them so that they might know You as You want to be known. Grant me an urgency, knowing that Your return could be any day. In Your name, Jesus, Amen. 

*This devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 5) - A Humble Faith

When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Matthew 8:5-13 

When we pray, we are calling on the greatest power in the cosmos. We are daring to speak to God, who flung the stars in the sky and who sculpted the mountains and oceans. When God speaks, the heavens and earth obey. 

The centurion in this story was a Roman officer who was in charge of one hundred men. He was used to having his orders followed. just by saying the words. Yet this powerful military officer humbly asked Jesus for help, even saying that he was not worthy to ask Jesus to enter his home. He recognized that this poor, traveling preacher commanded all of the heavens and earth. Once Jesus said the word, what He spoke would be fact. 

We are taught that Jesus is our friend, and He is. But Jesus is also the incarnate Son of God, who sits at God's right hand in heaven. No matter what our wealth, position or prominence, it is only through grace that we can even dare to speak to Him. How incredible that this is exactly what Jesus desires! The very ruler of the cosmos wants to hear our sorrows, our needs, and our desires. And if it is God's will, with a word, Jesus can cause all walls to fall and all wounds to be healed. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, how incredible that You are my friend! Never let me lose my awe and reverence of You. Help me to have faith, like the centurion, that You hear and You answer my prayers. But help me to approach you in humility and with an awareness of how truly awesome You are! In Your precious name I pray, Amen. 

** Devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 4) - Relationship Challenges

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles: Simon (whom He named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Luke 6:12-16 

Imagine you were choosing a team for the most important job in the history of the world. You would want well-educated people of influence who had complementary skills and could work well together. Yet look at the list of apostles whom Jesus chose.

There were small business owners, fishermen and family men. There were zealots, passionately dedicated to the overthrow of Rome, and a Jewish tax collector, a betrayer to his people and an employee of Rome. There was reputed nobility - tradition says that Bartholomew Nathaniel had royal blood. And there was Judas, who would give up Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. 

Certainly that mix was a recipe for disaster! Why would Jesus choose these people? Because He was guided and directed by God. It's easy to imagine Jesus objecting to these choices, yet Jesus was obedient to God's plan. After praying all night, Jesus named this contentious, ragtag group of men to His inner circle. By trusting God's direction, Jesus called the very people that God needed to fulfill the story of salvation. 

Sometimes we may wonder why God put into our lives the mix of people that He did. Some may be easier to get along with while some may challenge us to our core. But God has His reasons and His plans.  Often times the most challenging children, spouse, family members, friends draw us closest to the Lord and help us to change in many powerful ways. 

The key is to keep our focus on Jesus, not on the faults and difficulties of those around us. Look at the disciples. God chose what the world would consider foolish to be the foundation of His Church. Surely He can work through each of us and those in our lives to accomplish His great purposes.

** Devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Sunday) - Pray Continually

Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:13-18 

How can anyone pray continually? Our first thought is that this must be an exaggeration. Surely Paul just meant that we should pray a lot. The commands that frame the call to pray also seem impossible. How can one be always joyful and give thanks in all things? Life is hard and hurtful at times. This seems to be a highly unrealistic, sugarcoated view of Christian life.

But prayer is a state of mind when you are connected to your Creator and within God's will. It means praising God and looking and listening to God, not just actively telling God what you want or are thinking. To pray continually means to go through the day aware of God's presence and listening to God's guidance in all things. 

When God infuses every moment of life, every moment can be spent in His presence. In that case, thanks is an inevitable result of living. When we live connected to our Creator, we live in a deeper, more profound place than where minor annoyances or even difficult circumstances or life can shake us. 

It does not mean that life's tragedies will not touch us. What it does mean is that even stronger than any pain that life can deal us is the assurance and joy of God's love and salvation, the assurance we get from continuously opening our hearts to God. 

Prayer: Lord, may my life be infused with Your presence at all times. Help me, Holy Spirit, to live in constant awareness of You. May my spirit rest in You each and every day. In Your precious name Lord Jesus, Amen.


** Devotion is taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 3) - Jesus Prayed

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.  Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for You!”
Mark 1:35-37 

Crowds were forming wherever Jesus went, hoping to be healed. Imagine the joy on people's faces as Jesus freed them or their loved ones from blindness, crippling diseases, or mental torments. Yet when He awoke early each morning, He didn't hurry back to the crowds but went to a deserted place to pray. 

No doubt even more people had arrived during the night, seeking Jesus' help. But the most important thing to Jesus - even more important than healing the sick - was for Him to set aside time to talk to God. Jesus needed the strength and revitalization that comes from deep and heartfelt prayer. Even though the needs of others were heartbreakingly great, it was even more important to remain fully connected with the Lord.

There's a tension that speaks to our own spiritual life. Many times we feel torn as we decide where to focus our energies. Do we pray? Or study? Or care for others? Do we evangelize? Simon Peter didn't understand. He hunted Jesus down and demanded that He get back to healing the people. But without time spent in prayer, we are choosing how we spend our resources instead of following God's guidance. 

Jesus had only three precious years on this earth to tell the world and His disciples all that He wanted them to know. Yet in His incredibly busy and eternally important schedule, He took time every day to pray and commune with God. If He did this, surely we should set aside that time, each day, to pray to our Heavenly Father. 


Prayer: Lord, forgive me for thinking I am too busy to pray. Teach me the importance of constant prayer. Create an eagerness in me, Holy Spirit, to set aside time, throughout the day, to come into Your presence and gaze on Your beauty and power through prayer. In the name of my example, Jesus, Amen.


** This devotion was taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 2) - Heaven Opened

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:21-22

In Luke's Gospel, Jesus prayed after His baptism and the heavens opened. In ancient times, people believed that the sky was like an inverted bowl over the earth, which kept out the chaos of the cosmos, but also restricted one's access to the heavens. In this passage, while Jesus prayed, the sky cracked to let in the powerful presence of God.

Yet every heartfelt prayer can crack the sky. God is not closed off from us, but always hears our cries of anguish, our shouts of praise, and our quiet meditations. Our fears and our questions all find their way to God's ear. Psalm 34:15 reads, "The Lord's eyes watch the righteous, His ears listen to their cries for help." 

Through prayer we allow the powerful presence of God into our own lives. We think of prayer as talking to God, but true prayer is also focused listening. It is how we open the door to God's transformational power to teach us and to guide us. 

It's impossible to have a relationship without communication. When we don't pray, we are restricting our own access to God's blessings, power and grace. When we "crack the sky," we offer God His greatest desire: our devotion, our obedience and our love. Such an offering will be answered with blessing, "In you I am well pleased." 

Prayer: Lord, may my prayers "crack the sky" and bathe me in Your presence. Help me to realize what an awesome privilege it is to be able to come into Your presence anytime, anywhere, simply through prayer. In Your precious name Lord Jesus, Amen. 


** Devotion comes from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Day 1) - Holding Onto Hope

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,
    You may now dismiss Your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

which You have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

 Luke 2:25-32 

Devout Jews had been waiting for the Messiah for centuries. Simeon, a righteous man of God, was especially eager for the Messiah to come because he wanted to see Israel escape from Roman oppressors and be restored...he wanted to see God's plan of salvation in action, before His very eyes, as God had promised him. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. The Messiah would be there that day! The Holy Spirit had told him!

Imagine him scanning the crowds. Who would be the new king of Israel? Suddenly his eyes rested on an unlikely family - a peasant man with his teenage wife, holding their infant son. They were even too poor to give anything but a peasant's dedication to the Lord, offering two pigeons instead of the usual lamb. Yet Simeon swept this baby into his arms and blessed the Lord for sending the Messiah. 

The moment Simeon looked into Jesus' face was the most important moment of his life. He could rest in peace. He had seen salvation, not only for himself, but for all the world. 

Simeon held the hope of the world in his arms that day, but we have the same promise as Simeon. If we follow the Spirit, we will find the hope of the world too. The moment we look into Jesus' face is the most important of our lives, when our eyes have seen God's salvation and we know that we can rest forever in the peace of God. 

Prayer: Lord, thank You for showing me Your salvation. Thank You for Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, my Messiah, the hope of the world. Help me to put my hope in Him each and every day of my life. Help me to realize that like Simeon, I hold the hope of the world. May I share that hope with others this day. In Jesus holy and precious name I pray, Amen.  

** This devotion was taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion (Ash Wednesday) - Mary's Song

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for He has been mindful

of the humble state of His servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is His name.

Luke 1:46-49 

Imagine for a moment that you are Mary. You're a teenager, poor, Jewish, and female, all reasons that you would be marginalized and disrespected in an ancient, occupied land. Added to all that, you are unmarried and pregnant. How many people would ever come to believe your incredibly implausible explanation that you were actually still a virgin and that you were carrying the Son of God by the Holy Spirit? How many people would whisper behind your back for the rest of your life?

Yet read Mary's remarkable prayer of praise. Even though God had placed Mary in an extremely difficult situation, she praised God with every fiber of her being. She completely trusted in God's care for her. Not only would she survive this difficulty, but she would be blessed and honored for her obedience. In the midst of a puzzling and shameful situation, she rejoiced with all her heart. 

Mary was told the reason that God had chosen her and caused her pregnancy, and she obediently agreed. The angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30-33

We don't always know the reasons why God places us in difficult situations. But like Mary, we can trust that God will honor us for our obedience. We have a reason to sing praises to God, even in our darkest times. 

Prayer: Lord, teach me to trust You enough to always sing Your praises! In the difficult times, show me how to praise you and offer to you a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Keep my eyes focused on You, on Your promises, on Your presence. I love you and commit my life, my dreams, my future, into Your loving care. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

** This devotion was taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Easter Devotion - Preparing Our Hearts

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday...the beginning of the Easter or Lenten season. This time will culminate with Good Friday on March 25th and Easter on March 27th. This is the greatest celebration for Christians yet for many of us, including our children, it often revolves around Easter egg hunts and candy with very little reflection on what this most holiest of days really means. 

The cross is not a comfortable image. Suffering and death are subjects that most of us want to avoid. Yet it's important to prepare our hearts and our minds during this Lenten season, leading up to Easter, in order to draw nearer to our Lord. 

I will be sharing a daily devotion for each of the forty days in Lent, plus Sundays. These devotions will focus on prayer - on people in the Bible who prayed, and especially on Jesus and His prayers. They are written by Sue Mink from a booklet entitled The Sanctuary for Lent, 2016.

So how to make Easter meaningful for ourselves and our children? I believe that if we can spend a few minutes every day in God's Word and prayer, we can better embrace the Easter message. Just like we prepare for Christmas with the Advent season, we can prepare for Easter with the Lenten season.