Category: Devotions

“Silent Night”

There was a little church, St. Nicholas, in Obendorf, Austria preparing for a Christmas Eve service.  The Assistant Priest, Joseph Mohr, sat down to practice the organ and not a sound would come from the instrument.  What could he do?  The organ would not play on that all important night of the year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Joseph knelt and prayed for inspiration from the Lord.

Not too long before, Mohr had visited a family with a newborn child and been inspired to write a poem with six stanzas entitled “Silent Night.”  He thought of this poem and then of his friend, Franz Gruber, a school teacher and guitarist at the church.  The priest went to Gruber’s home above the school with the poem in hand and explained the problem with the organ.  “Can you write music for the poem and play the guitar for the service tonight? “ Mohr asked Gruber?  The teacher smiled and assured the priest that he could.

Before the Midnight Service, the choir learned the words and the melody.  Franz Gruber played the guitar.  Every heart was blessed by the words musically expressing the story of Christ’s birth.  The less heard fifth verse continued full of grace:

                   Silent Night, Holy Night

                     Already long ago planned for us,

                    When the Lord frees from wrath

                    Since the beginning of ancient times

                    A salvation promised for the whole world.

                    A salvation promised for the whole world. * 

This stanza expresses the finished work of Christmas.  Jesus was born, he lived and taught us and died on the cross to save us from our sins – freed us from Satan’s wrath.  Then He arose from the grave as the victorious son of God to fulfill the Father’s purpose to redeem each one of us personally – the promised salvation for the world. 

~CMS

October 2021     

1 Timothy 2: 1-2 , I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Recently, I heard of a prayer group that prayed for certain African countries every month.  I am sure that Christ has put a country or more on your heart or individuals in that land to pray for.  With the wars, disasters, disease and killings occurring over there, it is hard to not to be somewhat detached and not feel the horrible emotion and suffering. 

Jesus knows our hearts and He gives us Bible verses to help us along the way.  2 Chronicles 7: 14 is one you will remember.  If my people, who are called by name, will humble and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  Pray that every day and you will soon have it memorized!

Perhaps, praying with a friend about another country or a certain situation and praying with your spouse is the answer for you.  “When we pray in humility, turn from wickedness, and seek God, He hears us.”1

1Lawrence Darmani, Daily Bread, July 4, 2016

cms, St. Petrie

Daughters & Sons of the King   Sept. 2021

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

At a Bible study recently, we talked about how important it was for the pastor to visit the sick.  They were saying how easy it was for us as lay people to just make conversation and not talk about the importance of sharing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  We should expect the minister to read the Bible and pray.  What about us who are daughters and sons of the King?  Does that get us off the hook, because we are just church members?  Are we afraid to offend someone by sharing our hearts during a visit?  Of course, we must ask the Holy Spirit to guide the visit.  Are we worried that folks might not like us or be convicted about not knowing Jesus? 

Today, I saw a friend at the hospital and shared with him some of the good news from St Petrie.  As we were talking, another woman from Seneca joined our conversation.  Before Don left he shook her hand and asked if she went to church and if she had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  To his joy and mine, she answered “yes.”  She said that her family’s health was not going to keep her away from church much longer.

Matt 5:16 Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

        Let the Lord touch hearts and “be” in Him!

cms/St Petrie

Does Jesus Care?

Devotion for April 2021

On February 21^st this year, Pastor sang the favorite hymn, “Does Jesus Care” by Pastor Frank E. Graeff (1860 – 1919)     which was written in 1900.  The story behind the hymn is as follows:

The Graeffs had a beautiful young girl.  As the custom of the day, ladies wore floor length  dresses.  Their home was heated with fireplaces or wood burning stoves.  Their daughter got too close to the fireplace and her long skirt caught on fire. The fire consumed her clothing rapidly; nothing could be done and she was burned to death.

Pastor Graeff was overcome with grief, as we can imagine.  His thoughts of turmoil and sadness reminded him of the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” written by J. Scriven 75 years earlier.  He found himself dropping to his knees. The Lord revived him and Pastor Graeff went on to be called the “Sunshine Minister” of the Philadelphia area.

Yes, Jesus Christ was his only hope and answer for eternity as He is ours also!

Chorus:  

Oh YES, He cares!  I know He cares.  His heart is touched

with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary; I know my savior cares.”

The information about Pastor Graeff was from the nickelnotesblogspot.com and the Family Bible Time –- you-tube.

cms / St. Petrie

March, 2021, Devotions

Who was Wm. Tyndale?

 Wm. Tyndale was the first person to translate the Bible into the English language.  He also was the first to use the newly invented Gutenberg’s movable type press to print the scriptures.  You might ask the question, “Why is this fact important?”  Perhaps, we would not have had the early texts done at the important times in history for the great theologians.  Even King Henry the VIII who had opposed Tyndale published the Great Bible three years after his death in 1539.

While reading an article written by Tyndale, I was impressed with his zeal for his beliefs in God.  Do I have that kind of zeal for Jesus?  Do I worry too much about tomorrow?  The Bible says, “not to worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phillippians4:6,7)  That is a promise.

Wm. Tyndale believed in the desire for people to have that eternal confidence and so we should.  We will not be burned at the stake as he was for his faith.  Jesus died for our sins, rose again from the grave and yes, He’s coming again.  By faith let Him be your Savior for all eternity from today and always. 

God’s Word is Our Great Heritage And shall be ours forever; To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor…. Throughout all generations.   ~Nikolai Grundtvig

 cms / St. Petrie

The Glass Beach            February 2021

There is a beach near Fort Bragg, California covered with smooth colored pieces of glass and pottery.  Between 1905 and 1967 it was an active dump for garbage.  In 1967 it was closed.  Pounding waves broke down the glass and pottery into small, smooth pieces that came back on shore often in jewelry quality – hence “Glass Beach.” 

Don’t you sometimes feel like that piece of glass on Glass Beach before it is refined?  You are broken and rough – not good for much of anything.  How can you be like that smooth, beautiful piece of glass and be at peace in your heart and soul?

You can’t do this yourself?  Prayerfully, turn your eyes on Jesus and look to God’s Son right now.  Put your faith in Him.  He loves you so much.  Jesus forgives all your sins.  Yes, He died for you on the old rugged cross – yes, He died for you and arose three days later to take away your sins.  As you yield to Jesus, He takes the sharp edges and shapes us all to be more like Him.

Just ask Him into your heart.  He will begin to smooth off the rough edges in your life, keep refining you, loving you and staying with you forever and ever.

Romans 10:9 NIV “If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord. And believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

cms / St. Petrie

There is a simple New Year’s Resolution and one that you may find easy to keep.  Every morning ask Jesus to put a hymn or song of His into your heart and mind to begin the day.  He will do it.  Once in a while I wonder what the song is, but I just ask and one comes to mind!  Sometimes, there is more than one!

For example, songs or hymns like Jesus Loves Me, Sweet Hour of Prayer, Lord, You’re Beautiful, He Is Lord, In My Heart There Rings a Melody, or Hallelujah come to mind.  If you want, you can share your song and bless others  – don’t keep your light under a bushel!  Matthew 5:15*

So, what are you waiting for?  Don’t wait until tomorrow morning.  Start right now and ask the Lord for a song that honors Him.  Then, you will be ready for another hymn tomorrow!

*Matthew5:15 (KJV) Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

St. Petrie/ cms