Lent Day 11 – Lenten Devotion – Monday, March 17, 2025
Today’s Lenten Devotion Is Followed By An Extended St. Patrick’ Day Devotion!
“Peaceful Hearts!”
White as Snow
Olguin
White as snow
White as snow
Though my sins were as scarlet
Lord I know
Lord I know
That I'm clean and forgiven
Through the power of Your blood
Through the wonder of Your love
Through faith in You
I know that I can be
White as snow
“We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Believe it or not, the snow and ice of recent weeks, are about to melt away.
During the winter, clean snow falls and covers everything with a fresh blanket from time to time. When things get dirty during the winter, we like it when the snow comes and freshens things up. We see the snow, and we often say, 'The fresh snow cleans things up.' Not really, it just looks that way.
In Holy Baptism we are born anew, in water and Word. God in Christ invites us to be reconciled to God. God in Christ who knew no sin, comes to us for the purpose of helping us know and sing we are clean and forgiven. We do not just look this way, we really are, clean and forgiven and new. This Lenten journey, once again, trust the peace of being forgiven. God in grace keeps his heart on you, and in Christ alone, God showers us with the power of his blood and the wonder of his love; we are white as snow.
Let us pray: Jesus, I need your grace to freshen me up, to cover me. Keep your heart on my heart, for in Christ alone, I am clean and forgiven. I praise you and thank you for being made sin, though you knew no sin. By your grace, I know real peace, for in faith I know that I can be, white as snow, not just from time to time, but forever. In your name, in your peace, I am reconciled and I pray. Amen.
Here are couple special St. Patrick’s Day videos to enjoy!
Here is a special St. Patrick's Day devotion:
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.”
Happy St. Patrick's Day! So, do you have big plans to celebrate? Some people really get into it, even if they are not Irish. The music and people and gatherings and details and food and color add joy to the day.
What do you know about St. Patrick? Some historians tell conflicting accounts, but surprisingly many stories agree. St. Patrick was born in 385. His Christian family was of Roman citizenship. At the age of 16, St. Patrick was taken by marauders, sold into slavery, and taken to Ireland. After 6 years he escaped. Upon his escape he vowed to become a missionary. After completing his training, he then vowed to return to Ireland to evangelize the country and its people. In 432, St. Patrick arrived back in Ireland and began to Christianize the country. He died in the year 461.
It took great risk and a driven heart for St. Patrick to trust the same Spirit who raised Jesus, had come to dwell in him, to give his life to be a missionary. It took great risk to proclaim Christ. It took great risk to go back to the land and the people he had escaped from, the land and the people who had taken him into slavery, and to preach and to proclaim and to celebrate the grace of Christ which forgives and saves.
How does the same Spirit who raised Jesus, who called the Apostle Paul, who led St. Patrick, dwell in you and your heart today? Believe, The One who came to save and to guide St. Patrick, is glorified as he keeps his heart on you!
Let us pray: Jesus, it is easier for me to celebrate and not so easy to take risks. By your compassion and grace, help me hear your call, to trust your Spirit dwells in me. As I remember and celebrate the mission and ministry of St. Patrick, I surrender to the mission you have put on my heart. Keep your heart on me, and I will glorify you alone. In your name I boldly celebrate and proclaim the saving grace of Christ alone, as I pray. Amen.
