Daily Devotion

As we kick off our month long theme of Joyful Generosity here is a story shared by the Gaskey Family regarding what they did when they received a check on God’s Grace Your Hands Sunday last September.  

Several years ago, we were invited to attend a breakfast fund raising event for Teen Challenge Cincinnati. Established in 1972, Teen Challenge is a faith based residential program for men and women, ages 18 and up, struggling with drug addiction and other life-controlling issues. During the breakfast program, we were moved by the stories from young men and women who shared their past struggles and their redemption through the relational discipleship and counseling of the residential program. It was also at that morning’s breakfast when we learned that our neighbors, Char and Gordon Lumley, faithfully ministered at the residential program for more than 25 years. With much family discussion and prayerful discernment, we decided to donate the $100 gift from our congregation to Teen Challenge Cincinnati. As a family, we decided to triple the original gift. We wanted to honor our neighbors for their service and support the men and women who seek physical and spiritual renewal at Teen Challenge Cincinnati.

Mark 5--Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. ²³ He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” ²⁴ So Jesus went with him.

Reflection questions:

Have you ever had a chance to mentor a young person?  How did you share the love of Jesus with them?  How might God have used your relationship to bring healing and wholeness into his/her life or into your life? 

Today pray for teenagers who are struggling, especially those who are finding this “shelter-at-home” time to be difficult because they don’t feel safe at home.