Preparing for Easter Devotion (Day 25) - Putting Others First in Prayer

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.
2 Corinthians 13:5-9 

What a terrible thing to be proven wrong. When one has made a strong public statement and that statement is refuted, it can weaken one's credibility and can destroy reputations. Yet that is exactly what Paul is praying for in this passage. Paul had chastised the Corinthians for poor behavior, and they accused Paul of not being a true mouthpiece for Jesus Christ. In response, Paul prayed that the Corinthians examine themselves and find the spark of Christ that is within them. If they were to do that, then they would be approved by God, and Paul would have been wrong in threatening to discipline them. Paul is much more concerned with the spiritual health of the fledgling Corinthian church than in saving face. 

Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies, but here, Paul tells us how to pray for them. Our concern in praying for others is for their own benefit. Although Paul would look foolish if the Corinthians proved him wrong, that is exactly what he prayed would happen. Everything that he did was to build them up and bring them to faith. It was never for his vindication, glory, or even ease in dealing with them. He would rather be seen as weak and wrong than see those who attacked him, and who he cared about, fall prey to sin. 

Prayer: O Lord, may my prayers always build others up. Help me to be more concerned for others than myself, entrusting myself to Your care. May I pray for others according to what will benefit them. In Jesus' name, Amen 

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

Preparing for Easter (Day 24) - Jesus Prays for Us

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Luke 22:31-34 

There are times our spiritual journeys are on a quick and easy trail. Other times they are rocky and steep. Still other times, our journeys even seem to backtrack. Jesus knew that Peter's journey was about to take a devastating turn. Yet Jesus prayed for Peter and even had a plan waiting for Peter when he would turn back to the right path. 

Our faith is not dependent on our own strength or character. Even the best of us will make mistakes at times. But Jesus knows our weaknesses. He anticipates our spiritual stumbling. He is always on the path beside us, and urging us on. And even when we fail, He points ahead to how we can be redeemed. Peter's denial was not the end of his faith, but only a temporary lapse. His love and his belief in Christ never died, it was just momentarily overshadowed by fear and grief. The Book of Acts attests to Peter's powerful faith and his crucial role in the early days of the church. With the help of Jesus, Peter's story continued. 

Our mistakes are never meant to be the end of our stories, either. Every time we stumble, Jesus is holding out His hand to us in grace, with plans for our hope and our future. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You always have a future for me. Help me to see that when I stumble, You are holding out Your hand to me in grace. May I keep my eyes and heart ever focused on You! In Your name, Amen.


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

Preparing for Easter (Day 23) - He Always Hears Our Prayers

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
John 11:40-42 

What a rare and precious gift when someone truly listens to you! When a person really hears what we are saying, he or she is validating us and demonstrating that our thoughts and opinions are important. That person is telling us that we are worth the time it takes to know us. Pastoral counselor David Augsburger wrote, "Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable." Conversely, when people talk past us or don't really hear our concerns, we feel isolated and diminished. No wonder one of our most common complaints - be it for politicians, bosses or co-workers, friends or family - is that nobody really hears what we are saying. 

Yet the Creator and Designer of the universe eagerly waits to hear our innermost thoughts. We can show our true selves to God and not fear rejection. We cannot bore God. God takes an active interest in every thought we direct toward Him. When Jesus prayed in front of Lazarus' tomb, He didn't pray about the amazing miracle that He was about to reveal. Instead, Jesus prayed about an even more amazing miracle - that the Lord of all creation always hears our prayers. We can pray in complete confidence that God always wants to listen to what we have to say. 

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for listening to me! I know that You always hear me. It is amazing that You eagerly wait to hear my innermost thoughts. May I be eager to go to You in prayer many times throughout each day. I love You Jesus! Amen. 

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

Preparing for Easter Devotion (Day 22) - Blessed Are the Children

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Luke 18:15-17 

Child mortality rates in Jesus' time were staggering. Estimates are that 30 percent of children did not survive past infancy and that 60 percent died by the time they were sixteen. Children were generally not recognized as part of the community until puberty, when their survival was reasonably assured. No wonder the disciples felt that Jesus was wasting His time with children. Who could be less important? They had no influence, no merit, and no privilege - not even a reasonable certainty of life itself. 

Yet Jesus reprimanded those who tried to keep Him from blessing babies. These "least of the least" were of utmost importance to Jesus. He even said that the kingdom of God belonged to people like those children. The children came to Jesus empty-handed and powerless, yet eager for His blessing. The disciples thought them unworthy. But what could we say or do or give to Jesus that could possibly be worth a blessing from the holy Son of God? Anyone who thinks he or she has something of value to give to God in order to buy his or her way into heaven is wrong. The only key to the kingdom of God is God's extravagant grace. 

Prayer: Lord, Jesus, like a child, I have nothing to offer You, except my trust in Your grace. May You bless me and keep me in Your heart. Help me to come to you as a child, empty-handed and powerless but eager for Your blessing. And help me to encourage all the children in my life to know You and love You more! In Your precious name, Lord Jesus, Amen

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

Preparing for Easter Devotion (Sunday) - Never Stop Praying

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:1-8 

In Jesus' time, widows were especially vulnerable. Inheritances went to sons, not wives. Often the only person who could assure that a widow was treated fairly was a judge. But in this parable, the city's judge was corrupt and godless. Maybe he was holding out for a bribe, or was making deals with the widow's adversary, but he refused to listen to her. 

But she did not give up. Her constant requests caused him to finally do what was right. If her persistence caused an unjust man to do good, how much more would our compassionate and loving God respond to the calls of those in need?

Our Lord is profoundly concerned with mercy and justice. As God's children, we can confidently and persistently pray for people to respond to one another in a Christlike way. But as we pray, should we also guard against our own human behavior? Praying for justice means that we must treat others justly. Pleading with God for mercy means that we must live lives of grace. We may see ourselves as the persistent widow in this parable, but must always guard against being the judge who will not listen to others in need of justice and mercy. 

Prayer: Lord of mercy and justice, may Your grace rule all the people of the world, starting with me! Thank you for your compassion and love and that You hear my prayers and answer. Help me to respond to others with patience and understanding. In the name of Jesus, Amen. 

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

Preparing for Easter (Day 21) - Thankfulness

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:11-19

What do you have to be grateful for? So often, we live our lives taking simple but profound blessings for granted. We can become blind to the ordinary miracles in our lives. 

Luke 17:15 says that when the leper in this story saw that he had been healed, he returned to Jesus to praise God. There are three important elements to this one verse. First, the leper recognized the miracle of his healing and transformed life. Second, he recognized that this miracle was because of God's undeserved and extravagant grace, and he was grateful. Third, he recognized that God had acted through Jesus and understood Him to be God's ambassador. These realizations were what ultimately saved this man from something much more profound than leprosy. His faith was how Jesus Christ saved him from sin and death. 

Even as we struggle through life, we experience ordinary miracles. In order to live as disciples, we must open our eyes to the ways that God blesses us. Understanding those blessings causes us to be grateful for God's constant grace. When we truly are aware of the ways that we are touched daily by the grace of God, our faith compels us to praise God and thank His Son, Jesus Christ.

A book that does a wonderful job of showing the importance of thanksgiving in a believers' life is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. In it she recommends keeping a thanksgiving journal in which you write down daily at least ten things you are thankful for. You can then use those items to remind you to thank God daily for all He has done and is doing in your life.  
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 
1 Thessalonians 5:18


Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to Your blessings and open my mouth in praise! May I never let a day go by without offering up thanks to You for all You have done for me. I am so undeserving. Thank you Lord for loving me! In Your Son's precious name, Amen

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

Preparing for Easter Devotion (Day 20) - Jesus Our Healer

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.  Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
James 5:13-18 

As I write this, a young woman I know who has been surrounded by love and prayer is near death, a victim of cancer. This passage is particularly difficult in a situation like this, because James says that if you pray with faith, the sick will be restored to health. But everyone eventually dies. How could this verse be true?

Verse 15 which speaks of the sick person being made well uses the Greek word astheneia, which literally means "without strength." This could be physical, spiritual, or emotional strength. In a society where physical disease was very often seen as punishment for sin, James' call to gather to pray for those who were ill in any sense of the word could be considered radical. It was - and often still is - much easier to leave the sick behind. In today's society, where we usually understand that physical ailments are not related to our characters, we are more supportive. But what about mental illnesses or those who suffer spiritually? Are we eager to keep them within the community of the church?

The young woman I know has been strengthened and uplifted by the prayers of her faith community. The cancer is killing her body, but it has not destroyed her spirit. She has truly been raised up in prayer and made strong in Christ through the prayers of the righteous. 

Prayer: Lord, may those I name in my heart feel Your healing power. Heal today those who are hurting both physically, spiritually and emotionally, according to Your will. May I be an instrument of that healing. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen

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

Preparing for Easter (Day 19) - Faith in God

 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Mark 11:20-25 

Some years ago, I was in a Bible study during a time when one of the members had recently fallen from a roof. He was near death, and based on this verse, the study leader told us if we prayed for his recovery and did not doubt, he would be healed. When he died, it shook the faith of many of the members. 

Where was our miracle? We had confused confidence in prayer with believing we had the ability to manipulate God through prayer. Believing that the outcome of prayers is based on the intensity of our faith means that we believe our powers are greater than God's own will. Prayer is not a one-way communication where we make demands of God. Rather, it is when we open ourselves to God's claim on us and we respond obediently to God's guidance. 

However, the requests in the Lord's Prayer are things we can already claim as our own. These are an intimate relationship with God; membership in God's Kingdom, which has been established by Jesus on earth; the earth's bounty; and forgiveness and deliverance. God has already given us unlimited love, forgiveness and grace, and will empower us to glorify His kingdom. 

Prayer: Lord, bring me into a deeper prayer relationship with You, so that Your desires become my desires. May I never try to manipulate You with my prayers but instead, always trust in Your good judgment and Your perfect plan for my life and this world. I trust You Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen. 


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

Preparing for Easter (Day 18) - Ask, Seek, Knock

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:9-13 

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, His answer was not only a prayer but a lesson on the character of God. God, the Creator and Designer of the cosmos, wants us to approach Him like a father. He wants us to work for His Kingdom and to care for others. He wants us to come to Him humbly, aware of our sins but grateful for His grace. 

Jesus promises that those who seek God will find God; those who ask God, not for themselves, but for the Kingdom, will receive; and those who wish to be invited into the steadfast love of God's family will be welcomed. These assurances are all related to the requests in the Lord's Prayer. These are things that we can all pray for confidently, knowing that God wishes only that which is the very best for us. God answers prayers through the greatest possible blessing: the Holy Spirit. It is where we get our strength, our focus, our perseverance, and our guidance. Notice that our prayers are answered through the Holy Spirit. An answer to prayer is rarely passive, but is the enabling power of the Holy Spirit for us to do God's will on earth. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blessing of the Holy Spirit, and give me the confidence, guidance, perseverance, and resources to continually do Your will. Help me to come to You humbly, aware of my sins and so grateful for Your grace. Amen

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

Preparing for Easter Devotion (Day 17) - Lead Us Not Into Temptation

And don't lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:13

After praying for physical needs and forgiveness, the third request is for spiritual protection. For centuries, theologians have struggled with the wording of this verse. Why would God lead us into temptation? But Jesus recognized that there were spiritual dangers all around at all times, even in places where we believe we are spiritually safe. The prayer is meant to open our eyes to this reality, help us to be on our guard, and to shield us from harm. As children of the kingdom of God, we must maneuver through a world that is not yet God's kingdom, but is deeply stained by sin. We can never become complacent about threats to our relationship with God.

Spiritual arrogance is dangerous. This prayer puts us face-to-face with our weaknesses. We are hopelessly vulnerable without the protection of God. When we pray this, we ask God to prod us whenever we consider, say or do things that dishonor both us and God. It is a request for guardrails in our daily life, keeping us on the pathway of God's will. It is also a plea that when we fail, God will be there to draw us out of danger and back into His loving care.

Prayer: Lord, alert me about the pitfalls in my life and draw me back into Your care when I fail. open our eyes to this reality, help us to be on our guard, and to shield us from harm. Amen

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

Preparing for 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

Preparing for 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

Preparing for Easter Devotion (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

Who Was St. Patrick?

Happy St. Patrick's Day! This day is special for me since my great-great-grandmother was from Ireland and my grandma, Esther, went home to be with Jesus on St. Patrick's Day, 18 years ago. But it has also become special to me since I have learned the incredible story of St. Patrick! 

Below is the story of St. Patrick:

St. Patrick: From Slave to Saint by Grainne Rowland "Watch out! Hide! Here come the raiders!" My family's servants were screaming and running for cover. I watched in horror as my father's land and house were overrun. The raiders came with the Irish king, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind, tied up, and roughly pushed towards a waiting ship. I, Succat, was being taken as a slave! I struggled to get free. I thought of how angry my father would be when he learned that his son had been kidnapped. My father was the most powerful man in that part of Britain. Surely he would rescue me! I was thrown on board the ship with the other captives. The ship quickly sailed away. The raiders began to celebrate their successful attack. I  knew then there would be no rescue. I was only sixteen years old. In Ireland, I was sold to Miliucc, a chieftain in Co. Antrim. I was forced to herd pigs in cold and rainy weather. I was hungry, wet, and shivery with cold. Always, I was lonely. I was a slave for six long years. I learned the Irish language and the customs of the Irish people. I also learned to pray. One night in a dream, I heard a voice say, "Behold, your ship is ready." I woke up and knew my chance to escape had arrived! I began my long walk to freedom. After many days, I reached Wexford, 200 miles away. I found a ship nearly ready to sail. But the captain was searching for someone to care for a pack of Irish wolfhounds on the journey. I was just the person! I was on my way home! The ship landed in northern Gaul, where there was only desert. For many days, we wandered in that desert. We found no food. The sailors made fun of my God. They asked why He didn't send us food. So I prayed. To the sailors' surprise, a large herd of pigs came into sight, squealing and grunting. It was enough meat for not only the men, but all the wolfhounds as well! On the day I walked into my home again, my mother and father ran to hug me. They both talked at once and asked question after question, never giving me time to answer. That night, I was the guest at a huge party. I was given many gifts. During the next few years, I studied in several places. I finally became a priest. It was then that I was given the name Patrick. One night, I had another dream. I saw the people of Ireland. They pleaded with me, saying, "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more." I knew I must return to Ireland. When I arrived back in Ireland, I first went to Tara, the home of Irish kings. I asked King Leary's permission to preach in the country. He agreed and I began to travel throughout Ireland. I brought many people to the Christian faith. In about the year 441, I spent 40 days alone on a rocky, windy mountain praying for the Irish people. The mountain is now known as Croagh Patrick, or the Mountain of Patrick. One day, I was telling the people about God. They did not understand. So I picked a shamrock and showed them that there are three leaves but only one plant. Then the people could better understand that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit make only one God. That is why, when you see a picture of me, I am usually holding a shamrock. I trained new Irish priests, and they learned many things. They knew how to copy and beautifully decorate the Bible and other books. They copied everything by hand and made paint from plants and minerals. In later years, the people of Europe forgot about learning. The Irish monks and scholars kept copying books and kept important knowledge alive. Not long before I died, I built a large stone cathedral in the town of Armagh. I also had a school built there. It later became a famous university. I died on March 17, 493, in the town of Saul, in Co. Down. This was the same place I had built my first church. Many towns wanted the honor of giving me a burial place. So my body was put on a wagon drawn by two oxen. The oxen pulled the cart to the town of Downpatrick. There I was buried. My body lies in a cemetery next to the Downpatrick Cathedral. The grave is marked by a large granite stone and the name Patrick.

This story was found at the website: http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/StPatrick.html

After St. Patrick died, Ireland was used greatly by God to keep Christianity alive in Europe during the Middle/Dark Ages. At a time when there was much corruption in the Church in Europe and when very few people knew how to read so that it was difficult to spread the Gospel, the Irish/Celtic Church sent out many missionaries and helped preserve the Christian religion through its monasteries. This early Celtic Church flourished with many monks and priests leaving Ireland to begin missions in Europe. In the first two hundred and fifty years after Patrick's death, around five hundred Irish saints were recognized. These missionaries established monasteries in Scotland, England, Switzerland, France, Germany and as far south as Italy.

We have much to be grateful for in the lasting Christian heritage and legacy of Patrick and Ireland!

Preparing for Easter (Day 14) -Abba Father...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

Preparing for 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

Preparing for 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

Preparing for 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

Preparing for Easter (Day 10) - Love Your Enemies Like Mother Emmanuel

“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

Preparing for Easter (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

Preparing for 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

Preparing for Easter Devotional (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

Preparing for Easter Devotional (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

Preparing for Easter Devotional (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

Preparing for Easter Devotional (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

Preparing for Easter Devotions (Day 4) - 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

Preparing for Easter Devotion (Sunday) - 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