ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

Matthew 18:12-14

If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

When I read this verse I wondered what was that shepherd thinking? He was given the care of a hundred sheep and he is going to leave the ninety-nine in search of the one that went astray? Not too many business people would risk ninety-nine to save one. As a parent, I can relate to the shepherd; if one of my children went astray, there is nothing on this Earth that would keep me from searching for that child until I found and returned him (or her) to our family.

It is a great comfort to me knowing that Jesus, our shepherd, will never let us go astray without searching until he finds us and brings us back into his flock.

Joseph Quinn

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11. Wednesday (TONIGHT), we will have supper at 6:15 and worship at 7 as we meet Matthew in our series "Christ on Trial." Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

Hebrews 2:17
Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.

I don’t know how you feel about the picture presented above, but the thought that Jesus had to be like me or you is hard to fathom. I look around and question if he would play golf, ride a bicycle, go swimming, shovel snow (written during the second big freeze), go sledding, or any of the myriad of things we do. He became like his brothers and sisters in every respect so that we could identify with him and his mission. He sacrificed himself for us to destroy the one, who has the power of death, the devil.

So, as we go through this Lenten Season, the cold, snow, wind chill, closeted in our homes, slipping and sliding challenges our fortitude. Realize that whatever we have done, are doing or will be doing has been atoned for by his sacrifice. We need to make the effort to help each other share the same things that he has shared for us. But, because we are human and sometimes fail, we need to pick ourselves up and get back into helping each other. For he did not come to help angels, but he did come to save you and me.

Michael Nedzel

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11. Wednesday, we will have supper at 6:15 and worship at 7 as we meet Matthew in our series "Christ on Trial." Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

Hebrews 2:18

Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

I have a hard time wrapping my arms around the concept that Jesus was human, yet He never sinned. How is that human? That He was tempted, but never caved in? I can only speak for myself, but I am tempted and sin so many times in one day, that I can’t fathom NEVER caving in !!!

Then, the more I think about it, the key word is “suffered”. Jesus suffered just like any other human. Maybe He had some of these thoughts: “Do I go and take a regular job so I can live in one place, have a nice home and raise a family and not travel”. “Isn’t there more to life than hanging out with the poor and the sinners. Can’t I find a better suited crowd?” “I’ve changed my mind God, I’m going on vacation and going to skip some of these miracles.”

Yes, those are silly thoughts that Our Savior would think. His sufferings were much deeper. “How do I watch my people worship idols, persecute each other, not care for the poor and ill. How Father, do I get all this work done in time?”

But He did. He NEVER caved in. He suffered, He died, He rose to Our Father in Heaven. He did it for us humans that don’t have the power to do it for ourselves. Thanks be to Jesus!

Linda Kinsella

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11. Wednesday, we will have supper at 6:15 and worship at 7 as we meet Matthew in our series "Christ on Trial." Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Saturday

Matthew 18:4-5

Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

 

Each Sunday, I have the privilege to begin the Sunday School opening.  We sing songs, have a brief introduction to the day’s lesson or other meaningful topic, celebrate birthdays, take offering and then pray.  During prayer time, we all hold hands to make a prayer chain – sometimes even crossing hands to make a “twisted” prayer chain - start with a repeated prayer, and then give the kids an opportunity to make prayer requests out loud. Time and time again, I am amazed and humbled by the insight these children have.  They offer up prayers for a friend whose family member is ill, whose grandpa passed away, or a simple, “Jesus loves me.” Sometimes they are silly (please God let us have a snow day!), but they learn that no matter where they are, whatever time of day it is, or whatever is on their minds, they can pray to God. We always close with, “And all God’s children say ‘Amen!’”

 

I pray to always see that prayerful opportunity the way a child does, with innocence, joy and simple caring.

 

Lori Quinn

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11. Wednesday, we will have supper at 6:15 and worship at 7 as we meet Matthew in our series "Christ on Trial." Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

Romans 1:11-12 
For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

I often find it difficult to profess my faith to those around me.  Either the right opportunity doesn’t come up or if it does I remain silent rather than say, This I Believe… and then proceed to tell the story of how God’s grace in my life means so much to me.  It is for this reason that I so envy Paul in this lesson (and many other of Paul’s writings).  Paul is “longing to see” the church in Rome not only to share some spiritual gift with them to receive their word and be mutually encouraged.  Paul is clearly filled with the Spirit and can hardly restrain himself from spreading the Good News. No fear of being looked at as some sort of weirdo, no Paul is, “not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith…”

I suspect I’m not alone in being timid in speaking out about God’s message of grace.  Maybe the first step is just to greet the stranger I may see on a Sunday morning at All Saints.  That simple greeting and hand shake may be just the gift of the spirit that person needs.  That doesn’t sound so hard.  

Jeffrey Witt

Today we begin sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. For Ash Wednesday, we hear the words of Jesus. Join us for worship today at noon and 7 pm. Then, Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

Romans 1:6

including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

Each of Paul’s letters to various budding faith communities begins with a lengthy greeting that reminds the reader of his faith journey and challenges them to grow their faith.  In today’s reading he reminds us that we are called to be Christians.  Being called.  I’ve known that term for years but I will admit to never seriously applying that term to my own life until pondering this reading.

What am I called to be?

While I aim to exceed expectations as a husband, father and employee, I would not compare that to those whom I see as called in their lives; preachers, missionaries, and the like. 

But am I called to be a Christian?

My parents, being good Christians, raised me up in the faith and as a result I have regularly attended worship because that’s the way it’s done.  However, there have been a few of periods where I just got out of the habit of going to worship.  As the weeks turned into months that then turned to years, my spirituality and connectedness to God would slowly begin to fade.  Eventually, I would begin to miss that relationship with both God and a faith community.  Since returning to God (Because He never left me!) here at All Saints, I can see that was God getting active in my life during that period and leading the way. He was calling me back. 

So yes, I am called to be a Christian.

John Nicholas

P.S. If you’re reading this, you are called too.

Today we begin sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. For Ash Wednesday, we hear the words of Jesus. Join us for worship today at noon and 7 pm. Then, Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

 ‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 ‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


Today we begin sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. For Ash Wednesday, we hear the words of Jesus. Join us for worship today at noon and 7 pm. Then, Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.