Our devotions this Lenten season have been written by members of Faith Lutheran Church. Today’s devotion is by Bill and Leslie Parkan. Also, if you would like to join our staff in praying the liturgy for Responsive Prayer/Suffrages just click here.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. 1 Corinthians 15:3-11
What a gift! God’s grace.
I have always been amazed by God’s grace, so much as to name our daughter after it. Abigail Grace does not yet know the significance of her name, but she will one day.
We are at a place in our lives where we look at our days and wonder where the time went. Having a two and a three year old keeps us busy. We don’t always have time to do those things that we know we should or would like to do for God, but we do try to share God’s grace in our everyday moments/tasks.
Sharing a smile or hello with a stranger at the grocery store, rejoicing on a beautiful sunny day, or in seeing the yellow flowers on the side of the road (some call those weeds, but yellow flowers are Samuel’s favorites, so we enjoy finding them). We forgive quickly, give thanks in bedtime prayers, and help others. All we have is ours but by the grace of God. We know we can’t work hard enough to earn God’s grace, for it is a gift. . . freely given. We strive to share that grace with others and in turn share the gift.
Let us pray: God, we thank you for your gift of grace. Help us show others that your grace comes freely, and with it we can grow closer to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Daily Devotions 
March 8, 2013 at 5:33 am |
I was cleaning out my files when I came across the folder of Pastor Nelson’s devotions from 2003+. I remember when you stopped doing these. They were always well done, but I could see also that they required a lot of you to do them. So, when you stopped, I was concerned about possible burn-out on your part, and I am now glad to see that you are still active in the church. God’s Peace continue to be with you. Jim Groetsch