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Listen while you read: "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning"1 (Lyrics) |
A few years ago, I wrote a devotional entitled "Tiny Running Feet". The story revolved around a little boy running towards the front of the church with outstretched arms in order to help carry a huge cross to its final destination: a stand at the entrance of the church.
It has been four years since that incident, and during that time, much has happened. I also wrote about selling our church building in "Church For Sale", due to a huge mortgage debt and low attendance. It was during this time of uncertainty that an amalgamation of two local denominations became a reality.
There are customs and practices of each church that both congregations, even little boys, are slowly getting used to as we strive to become "one in Christ".
And then one Sunday, it happened. At the end of the service when the assistant started to walk down the aisle with cross in hand, the little boy, now four years older, with his smaller brother in tow, walked up towards the altar to help carry the cross again to its final destination.
Isaiah 11:6 – The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. (NRSV)
It was this action from their small hearts that meant so much to all of us: two little children finally accepting our amalgamated congregation as their new home.
No matter where we live or what congregation we attend, there is hope for our future, as we continue to serve one another and our community, confident in God, Who leads us ever onward and forward to bring about His kingdom on earth.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You continue to surprise us through deeds of the heart from the actions of children and individuals. Be with us on our own personal journeys as we work together for the love of the world. Amen.
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Tuesday, October 15, 2024 – In Paris, Ontario — Pray for the fall Alpha series that is running at Paris Community Church, Paris, Ontario, that through this ministry, people may be better connected with one another and take a step closer in faith to Jesus.
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I remember those Rosemary.
Dear Rosy,
I enjoyed reading your three devotionals. What a time then and now with the child leading the way to unity in Christ. You have given me us a real source of inspiration today. Thank you.
God bless.
Dear Rosemary, I want to share with you that there was a “conference” In Ottawa in September gathering evangelical churches and the Catholic Church as we worshiped and prayed for ONE Church on earth as Christ instructed us. Let us pray that all Christians embrace such unity.
Dear Rosemary,
I especially appreciated:
Isaiah 11:6 – The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. (NRSV)
It was this action from their small hearts that meant so much to all of us: two little children finally accepting our amalgamated congregation as their new home.
Thank you.
Hi Rosy.
Your devotional hits home with a lot of churches who split, have disagreements and low attendance. Many times the elders or deacons think they know more than the pastor determine unscriptural policies. Also, there are a lot of liberal colleges and seminaries who claim different bents on the Bible; the reason for so much diversity. However, we must remain true to Christ — the real Head of the church. We must remember the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation (Rev 2 & 3). They had the same problems in their historical days. Too bad Satan attacks lie a prowling lion seeking whom he may devour. We must keep strong.
Thanks for pointing this out.
Hi Rosemary,
Thanks for your devotional today.
It’s great how the Lord knits the past and the present together, even through tough circumstances.
It was sad to read about how your church building had to be sold due to low attendance. But I’m glad that two congregations could merge.
Many years ago I traveled to Saskatchewan and attended a little country church. The congregation was mostly farmers and their wives. The average age of that church was in its 60s with a couple of young families. Years later that church aged and the remaining congregation moved into a newer church building closer to town.
Year later I went and visited my uncle & aunt. They were both very involved in that church and I went along to a prayer meeting. It was wonderful to see how the young and old pray together.
Hi Rosy,
Enjoyed your message. There are so many changes in our lives. We have lived in different places and countries during my working career and as a consequence we attended different Churches. I was thinking the other day in most, sadly not all, churches the word of the Lord was always brought in an easy to understand and truthful way. Regardless of where we were, Christ was worshipped. And it brought all of us together and gave us comfort as we we sometimes lonely and homesick in a new place of residence.
It seems like the amalgamation in your church has worked well.
Blessings.