Advent Devotional - Christmas Day

John 3:16:   “For God so loved he world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 embodies Christmas for me. Christmas Eve 1991 found me sitting by my Christmas tree thinking about the son I was about to give birth to. I already loved this little guy so much. Surely no one could love someone as much as I loved my son? Then it hit me. God loved me so much that He was willing to sacrifice His own Son for a sinner like me. I had heard that my whole life, but it really hit home at that moment. God LOVES me, and the Gift of his Son was the best Christmas present I would ever receive.

PRAYER
God Thank for the gift of Jesus. Amen

Sarabeth Stopansky, Elder, Congruity Presbyterian Church, New Alexandria

Advent Devotional - Day 13

John 1:5:  “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”

Every year, a child lights a lantern from a perpetual flame in the grotto marking the spot where tradition says Christ was born. From that flame in Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, the light then spreads across Europe and North America. The “Peace Light” is shared across more and more communities, with plans to share the light across all continents. It reminds us of our unity, our connection, and our shared vision of peace through Christ who is our Peace.

On a frigid November morning, I met a man who carried the Peace Light from Massachusetts to Colorado. In the parking lot, he lit my lantern and charged me to share the light, and to share peace, with every person I meet.  Peace is shared from one person to another, like a candle flame. Christ’s light is shining in the darkness, and the light is growing to illuminate the whole world!

PRAYER
O Christ, our Light and our Peace, just like we light candles this Advent season, teach us to share your peace with our neighbors, both near and far. Amen.

Rev. Laura Blank, Pastor, Pleasant View Presbyterian Church, Smock

Lenten Devotional - Maundy Thursday

Scripture Reading: John 17:1-26

“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.” (John 17:20)

  While very ill, John Knox, the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, called to his wife and said, "Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor." After he listened to the beautiful prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17, he seemed to forget his weakness. He began to pray, interceding earnestly for his fellowmen. He prayed for the ungodly who so far had rejected the gospel. He pleaded in behalf of people who had been recently converted. And he requested protection for the Lord's servants, many of whom were facing persecution. As Knox prayed, his spirit went Home to be with the Lord. The man of whom Queen Mary had said, "I fear his prayers more than I do the armies of my enemies," ministered through prayer until the moment of his death.

  Chapter 17 of the Gospel of John reveals to us an interesting scene. Jesus is facing the cross and one might expect he would be praying for his own situation which he does for the first five verses. Jesus then changes his focus from him to his followers, then and into the future, essentially you and me. We are being prayed for by the Son of the Living God. No wonder, John Knox stated this scripture was “where I first cast my anchor.”

  Sidlow Baxter once said, “...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons - but they are helpless against our prayers."

  We may struggle to understand what we can do to help those affected by AOD abuse and dependency. We may now be ill equipped to counsel, share the gospel, talk, show compassion or other approaches requiring personal contact, we can always pray. As disciples of Christ throughout the centuries have learned our prayers can be powerful and can bring change by God’s Spirit.

  Our ministry to those struggling with AOD problems and their families should start with prayer. Prayers of intercession in worship, in our daily prayers, in our prayers in public settings and our prayers said in secret. We won’t only see other lives changed, but we will be changed. When God first sends us out to explore a new ministry and a new people, we are first called to “cast our anchor” in prayer, because Jesus is praying for us.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: God might hear and answer the desperate prayers of those in the depths of their addiction.

Click Here PDF - Day 38 Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Day 29

Scripture: John 9:1-7

“As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.” (John 9:1-3)

  I heard stories in A.A. of individuals that stated they were grateful God made them an alcoholic, because it helped them to have a life better than they could have had otherwise. Of course, these statements were made by people who were in recovery. As they reflected upon their lives they were grateful in how their addiction ultimately lead them to a life of recovery. Their recovery, in turn, lead them to a transformed life filled with the joy they were now experiencing. I don’t believe God ever planned someone to intentionally become dependent upon AOD, but I have personally come to understand that God can use the place wherever it is we are now, as the starting point for a wonderful journey to discover God’s love, mercy and grace.

  Our life stories vary greatly from person to person and in each circumstance, God uses our stories to reveal God’s presence. We all have stories of faith, we might think that others would find our stories lackluster and uninspiring, but we don’t give ourselves enough credit. We might not appreciate the place where our journey begins, but we can only start at the place we currently are.

  While attending seminary, I had a field education position working in evangelism in a north side Chicago church. At the time, I thought I was misplaced in this specific ministry position. My evangelism partner was a woman in the church who was about my age and was originally from western Pennsylvania, like me. We were assigned to visit individuals who had visited the church and trained how to share our faith stories and guide these individuals in making a personal decision for Christ. We both had grown up in similar churches and we both believed our faith stories were rather dull and boring, probably not capable of changing any hearts or minds. We were both wrong. Our dull and boring stories connected to the lives of many we visited. I discovered during those days the Holy Spirit was fully capable of taking whatever we had to offer and use it to give glory to God. God’s spirit can take whatever the circumstance of our lives may be and provide us with a story of faith “so that God’s works might be revealed.” (v. 3)

  We may believe that we have nothing to offer our communities on a variety of social problems. The blind man trusted Jesus and begin at the point where he found himself and God’s works were revealed in him, as they can be revealed in us. If we take the time to discern how the Holy Spirit is already at work within our communities, we will discover we can become God’s partner in giving glory to God in all things.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Our ability to see God’s works revealed in our midst.

Click Here PDF - Day 29 Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Day 25

Scripture: John 4:27-38

“Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more, then comes the harvest'? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.” (John 4:34-35)

  The problems and challenges we face with alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse and dependency is not something that impacts us only externally. AOD issues are not someone else's problem to solve. We can’t just say that if only the government, the police, or social services would do this or that specific thing, the problem will go away in a few months. We, as a society, as a church, have a AOD problem. The AOD problem is ours by omission and when we fail to adequately live out the full expression of the gospel, we are advancing the development of AOD problems in our communities. AOD dependency, abuse and usage is as much a spiritual and relational problem than it is a physical or mental issue.

  Jesus is reminding us that we only need to look around us to find opportunities for mission, “the fields are ripe for harvesting.” (v. 35) To hear the cries of those suffering, a field of mission lies before us and is ripe for the harvesting. What churches DO need to know is how to recognize when it's time for the harvest. The Samaritan woman recognized something special in the person of Jesus, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done!” (v. 29)

  The message of the harvest is always urgent, the destiny of neighborhoods, communities and families hangs in the balance. Every generation is crucial; every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the successes or failures of a past generation and we cannot fully determine how future generations will answer the call. However, we do have our current generation! God will hold us responsible for what we do or choice not to do now. Someday, Jesus will ask us why we did not recognize Him in our neighbor.

  This relationship between God's mission and the church's work in the world is the reason Jesus reminds his disciples that sometimes the fields are ripe for harvesting - not just for sowing (v. 35). When the fields have already been plowed, and planted by God's own Spirit, then Jesus' disciples simply need to decide to join with God’s ongoing actions, for we are called to harvest this crop which we have not sown. 

  A group within Redstone Presbytery has been meeting periodically to discuss the problems and issues related to AOD facing our churches. Come and join us in the conversation. The Addiction Ministry Network meets again on Monday, April 3, 2017 at Noon at the offices of Redstone Presbytery in Greensburg, PA.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Ask God to show us the way to reveal our light to those living in the darkness and need someone to lead them out.

Click Here PDF - Day 25 Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Fourth Sunday in Lent

Scripture: John 4:36-38

“The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." (John 4:36-38)

  When we, as Christ’s church, set out to address the AOD problems in our communities, we will experience the joy of seeing a harvest through our efforts. While, on other days, we will struggle when all we can hope to accomplish is to sow. In our sowing, we may never see the resulting harvest within a single, individual life where we have placed a great deal of our effort. Sadly, our sowing may not produce any harvest because addiction is deadly and the end of the story is tragic and heartbreaking.

  When a person first enters treatment, their initial treatment experience may not produce a lasting journey toward recovery, but as an addictions counselor my responsibility was to sow a seed. Positive recovery outcomes may only bear fruit much later and the harvest may not be witnessed by us, but only by others weeks, months, or years later. As an addictions counselor, I know this happened frequently, I never clearly discovered what eventually happened to many of these individuals. What I did come to recognize is that God did. In turn, God allowed me the opportunity to meet some of these people months or years later.

  The ability to learn what eventually happened to these individuals, who were now recovering, was truly a gift of God’s grace toward me. I discovered that what I did, the actions I took and the efforts that I put forth did produce positive results at some future moment. They may not have borne fruit in the fashion that I imagined or the ways that I had hoped, but God did produce a harvest. I was privileged that God gave me the chance to truly see what my early efforts had achieved.

  As leaders within the church, we need to approach those who are lost and living in the darkness of addiction with prayer, discernment and trust in the Holy Spirit. We need to trust that God is indeed at work within the lives of these individuals. If we can trust where God is leading, and trust that God is hearing us, and trust that God stands beside us as we struggle each day to address the problems of AOD, God will bring an abundant harvest. As the church, we are called upon to sow and sometimes God will call upon us to reap. In whatever, circumstances we may find ourselves surrounded by God’s grace, God is calling us to be faithful and steadfast in our faith. And by doing so we will discover that we will indeed reap where we have not sowed, but our labors will never have been in vain.

  As a church, we are first sent out to sow and be faithful in the sowing, then God will not forget us, God will allow us to see an abundant harvest.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Churches able to see the harvest which lies all around them and how God’s Spirit will lead them to the right place.

Click Here PDF - Fourth Sunday in Lent Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Third Sunday in Lent

Today’s Scripture: John 4:15-17

“The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come back.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, 'I have no husband';” (John 4:15-17)

  Most AOD dependent individuals and their families find it difficult to face the truth of their current lives. Our ministry in the church is to provide a safe and secure environment where they can face the truth and find the “living water” that Jesus tells us about.

  The woman in this story is willing to be honest with Jesus about the state of her life at this moment, “I have no husband.”

  When the woman bares the truth of her life, she and Jesus can begin to talk honestly and the work of healing can begin. 

  The first casualty of addiction is always the Truth. I ache for the "little" lies addiction causes. They get bigger and more frequent and erode relationships away. They destroy trust between loved ones and friends. I think that one of the BEST things about a 12-Step Group is that there are other people there who tell you their stories. You can see yourself in their stories, and you know that you are not crazy. And you are not alone. Only another addict can voice what you are going through, and when they say it – it has the unmistakable ring of truth. Truth has a holiness and authority all of its own. Jesus said, "The truth will set you free" - and it really does.

Donna Havrisko, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Those drug dependent individuals who are facing the truth of their behavior and the pain this creates.

Click Here PDF - Third Sunday in Lent Devotion

Local Resources — Westmoreland County

Westmoreland County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc. (WeDAC, Inc.)

  1 Wendell Ramey Lane, Suite 120, Monessen, PA 15062

  Phone: 724-684-9000, ext. 4446       Fax: 724-684-3489

  Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.      http://wedacinc.org/

  In Case of An Emergency Call: 1-800-220-1810, Ext. 2

Lenten Devotional - Day 15

Scripture: John 3:5-8

“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)

  Some years ago, I read a story about Dr. M. Scott Peck who became a Christian late in his life. He was often asked by others, if he was a born again Christian. He responded by saying, if he was born again, it was a prolonged and difficult delivery. I have since come to understand too clearly exactly what Dr. Peck was saying, many experiences of coming to faith are prolonged and difficult deliveries.

  While conducting workshops among faith communities, I have had church leaders tell me that if the AOD dependent person would just give their life to Christ and be born again they would be healed and their problem gone. As important as I know spiritual formation and faith are to recovery, I found that the delivery is far more difficult. Most AOD dependent people would love to have God do all the heavy lifting, but we know life doesn’t always work that way. What is worth having is worth working hard to gain and keep. Generally, what the AOD dependent person wants is that God will remove the consequences of their usage, but allow them to continue their use as before. It just doesn’t work that way.

  Jesus is telling us we need to experience a new birth in the Spirit, but we need to gain a reliance upon the movement of the Holy Spirit. We need to learn to listen to the changing movements of the Spirit among us. For us to be lead to a new birth in the spirit, we will discover the spirit will blow us to destinations where we might not wish to go and ask us to quietly rest in the silence, to hear the sounds of the Spirit working among us. Silence is difficult for the AOD dependent person because they have grown accustomed to the noise which surrounds them.

  If we are willing to reach out God’s spirit will go with us, but we might not discern how it is working to bring new life. Being born again will not solve all our problems, it will often lead to a difficult and prolonged journey to discover our role within God’s world. Though with the help and reliance upon the Spirit it will be a journey worth the time taken. The recovering person needs to learn to discern the movement of the Spirit just as the church needs to continuously discern the Spirit’s movement within their members lives together. It is how we are born refreshed and new each day.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Our ability to discern the Spirit’s movement around us.

Click Here PDF - Day 15 Devotion

Informational Resources

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Lenten Devotional - Day 14

Scripture: John 9:8-12

“The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’" (John 9:8-9)

  In my early years as an addictions counselor, I was amazed by the transformation; physically, emotionally, and spiritually that occurred with people in recovery. A few years into their recoveries many were unrecognizable compared to their former selves. One day, I was shopping with my wife when a woman run up and gave me a great, big hug. I had no idea who this woman was and my wife also wondered why some strange woman was hugging me. The woman told me who she was and I barely believed it, I had not seen her in five years when she completed treatment. She was 33 when I first met her, but she looked more like 55, because of her addiction. Now five years later, she looked her age.

  Recovery has a major impact on many, bringing back renewed health, strength, and appearance. In the reading from John, people could not believe this was the same man who was once blind and a beggar, “Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’" (v. 9) His encounter with Jesus transformed his life. Often, people are unable to recognize a person in recovery. Many people nevertheless remain afraid of even interacting with recovering people, if known.

  I provided pulpit supply among many congregations when I worked as an addictions counselor. I introduced myself and revealed my full-time job. After worship this lead to many interesting conversations. People would seek advice about someone’s addiction. Often, someone would introduce themselves as a person who had been in recovery for 5, 10, 15 or more years. I asked if others in the church knew about their recovery and usually the answer was no. They often stated they had not shared this information, because they did not want to be identified by their old, former self. They hoped to only be identified as the person they now were in Christ. They were also concerned how others in the congregation might respond, if others knew.

  These individuals had a wonderful story of transformation, renewal, forgiveness, and grace to share, but they were fearful that others might not see it the same way. A chief reason for not speaking was that they did not know where the congregation and particularly, the church leadership stood on the issue of addiction. The church never let it be known where they stood on the problem of addiction in the community. They were afraid that if knowledge of their recovery became known, others would only see them through the eyes of their former selves and not the person they had become. We sometimes give silent signals that we don’t believe in stories of transformation into new creations through Christ. Where does your church stand, have you ever spoken about it, what silent signals are you unknowingly communicating, and what do you want your community to know about you?

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer:  Individuals in recovery who keep the secret for fear that other will find them objectionable if their secret got out.

Click Here PDF - Day 14 Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Day 12

Scripture: John 4:40-42

“So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.’" (John 4:40-42)

  People are seeking a place where they can belong, a place where they are accepted. The Samaritan woman was not impressed by Jesus’ theology, but by his presence, how for that moment in time she was the most important person for him to spend time, even though, spending time with Samaritans was considered unacceptable.

  During the years, I worked in addictions treatment, I received hundreds of hours of training in pharmacology, counseling techniques, group therapy, treatment approaches and methods, and a host of other areas important to addictions treatment. For many of the individuals I worked with in treatment all this training I’d received meant nothing. For them, the most important thing that I did was giving them my presence. To simply be there for them when it counted. Sitting with them in a court room as they awaited sentencing. Visiting them in prison while waiting to post bail, go to trial or serve their sentence. Praying with them at their bedside while they detoxed.

  During those years, I attended numerous 12 step group meetings. The meetings helped me better understand these individuals, I was working with daily. Often, during those meetings I encountered individuals that I had provided treatment services. Often the feedback, I received from clients about the effectiveness of their treatment experience was on how much they appreciated the fact that I was present during the meetings that I attended or that I was there when they shared their personal story with the group. During those meetings, I frequently said nothing and frequently did nothing, but I did shake hands, greet people, and asked them different questions that I knew were important to them. Though these were simple actions that I took part in every day of my life, I discovered that these actions were very important, because I was present with them.

  Job’s friends who sat with him in his time of trouble, their presence counted, their main problem came when they decided to speak. We often believe we need to say something important and useful, when all that is really needed is our presence. Others simply need to know they are not alone, someone is willing to stand with them.

  Jesus makes a difference in the life of a Samaritan woman and the village where she lived, not just because of the words he shared, but because he clearly showed that his presence among them was important and they came to believe.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Those who are finding their ministry among those who simply need the presence and compassion of others.

Click Here PDF - Day 12 Devotional

Lenten Devotional - Day Ten

Scripture: John 4:9-10

“The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." (John 4:9-10)

  Samaritans and Jews were viewed differently in Bible times. Samaritans were often a hated mixed race. They had a reputation of a sinful life and kept to themselves as others typically shunned them. Samaritans were to be avoided. They just didn't mix well in the society of Jews.

  In this passage, a Jew named Jesus, asks the Samaritan woman for a drink of water. This was unheard of. Thirsty or not a Jew should just move on and ignore a Samaritan. Even the Samaritan woman questioned him like he had lost his senses.

  Often our society sees these differences among the addicted and non-addicted. The non-addicted keep their distances because they don't live this life of sin that is carried with addiction. Often the addicted feels different themselves. They may even feel shamed and unworthy of the life that the non-addicted lives.

  In this scripture differences are put aside. The woman is no longer just a Samaritan and Jesus is no longer a Jew. Together they are two of God's chosen people meeting together at a well. Jesus teaches the woman about another type of water called living water. The living water is one available to everyone regardless of their afflictions. Once this spiritual water is tasted, one is no longer thirsty.

  The living water of God's gospel is intended for every person. It isn't rationed by race, social position or sins. We all are called to reach out crossing all barriers to share the gospel. Although we can share this living water it does not come from us. Only Jesus can give this gift that satisfies our soul's desire to never thirst again. Our thirst is forever quenched by just knowing Jesus. Come and drink in this Lenten season of renewal. Jesus is calling you.

Lynn Mance, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: All who are thirsty for the living water. 

Click Here PDF - Day Ten Devotion

Informational Resources

  NIDA TV is a video library system on the drugabuse.gov website: www.drugabuse.gov/nida-tv which delivers NIDA's (National Institute on Drug Abuse) current science-based information in a consolidated location. NIDA TV allows videos to be more accessible through playlist categories including, NIDA Research, Director's Remarks and a new forum for scientists called, "I-Science."

Lenten Devotional - Day Eight

Scripture: John 3:16-17

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

  My first memories of life were growing up in the church and being taught to memorize John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Knowing these words, personally, made it an even more strange and difficult experience for me to understand that others I met later in life had no experience with the church, scriptures or Jesus. They had no basic understanding of God, which I had taken for granted for years.

  Some have never heard this … They did not know nor had anyone tell them that God loved them. They never had someone to tell them the stories of scripture that told of God’s abundant love. They had never heard about Jesus Christ and how Jesus tells us so much about our lives and how we could better live our lives. They have never heard of grace, mercy, forgiveness and all the joy these could bring to their lives.

  Some have heard and don’t believe it … I met others who had been told about God and did not believe it was something they could embrace. The reasons could be numerous for their disbelief. Some heard that the story was not for them and they were not included in God’s story. Some were told a story with too many conditions and rules for them to follow.

  Some think they tried it and it didn’t work…. Some were told God would do all the heavy lifting and when God did not, they concluded that it did not work. Some found it did not work because they were expected to give up too much or do things they found too difficult.

  Some have heard it and don’t believe it applies to them because of their many sins…. Some were told their belief would not matter, because their sin was too great. They were told grace, love, forgiveness and mercy simply passed them by because they choose poorly.

  Too many people have believed too many false narratives, when God through John clearly tells us, “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (v. 17)

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Churches seeking to discern how God will help them be welcoming and hospitable to those struggling with addiction.

Click Here PDF - Day Eight Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Day Seven

Scripture: John 3:1-7

“He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’" (John 3:2-3)

  You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”

  Nicodemus the Pharisee sneaks to see to Jesus under the cover of night, presumably afraid that he would be criticized for doing so. Once he finds Jesus he ends up very confused by the things that Jesus is saying. In fact, Nicodemus and Jesus seem to be having two different conversations. Jesus talks about being born again at a spiritual level while Nicodemus is literally trying to figure out how to re-enter a womb. They are speaking different languages!

  I suspect this is how it must feel for people who walk into a church for the first time. Like Nicodemus they are intrigued by Jesus, but they have no idea what to expect in church. They may sneak because friends or family may criticize them. But they risk it because they know there is something special about what Jesus can offer.

  Then they get inside a church and it all gets confusing. People start reciting things from memory and using words they don’t understand. Rather than feeling like a safe place, a refuge, it feels like yet another foreign place.

  But the good news is that even in the most traditional churches, those with high liturgy and organs or old songs or “thees” and “thous” point to something that is beyond. They point to the love of Christ.

  Nicodemus didn’t let his confusion keep him away permanently. He watched Jesus from afar and in the end helped in his burial. I suspect that it’s because even though he couldn’t understand what Jesus was saying, he could still feel the love of God in Christ in a way that went beyond words.

  That leads me to wonder how we can minister in a way that goes beyond our “foreign” ways. What can we do to make sure people sense the love of Christ despite the traditions of the church? How can we make our words and our actions reflect the Good News of Jesus Christ for people who don’t speak our church language? 

Sue Washburn, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Individuals afraid to approach others and ask the questions which need asked for their re-birth to begin.

Click Here PDF - Day Seven Devotion