Saint Mark Daily Advent Devotional – December 28, 2014

by Jan Bethards

Scripture: “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness.  As the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.”  Isaiah 61:10-11

I had a rough life during my early adulthood. My mother died unexpectedly during my teens, and my family basically disintegrated afterward. I moved to Georgia and shared an apartment with my best friend, and that relationship quickly fell apart too. I was earning low wages and struggling a great deal financially.

I finished my first degree at KSU in my mid 30’s, but I still needed a better quality of life. Through God’s grace, I finally got the insight and courage to begin nursing school. I worked very hard to get through the program successfully. Nursing has changed my life considerably and I’m very grateful that I was led to this calling.

Through Saint Mark, I have had the opportunity to join two mission trips to Honduras. Although there is a big difference between the American culture and the Honduran one, I still have some understanding of what it is like to struggle on an ongoing basis. I’ve been grateful to have the opportunity to use the gift that God gave me to help those folks have better access to healthcare.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for giving me the wisdom and courage to take the necessary steps to improve my quality of life here on earth. I pray for more opportunities to use this gift to help others improve their quality of life as well. Amen.

Saint Mark United Methodist Church