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Revelation 2:10b – Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (NKJV)
Recently, I moved to a seniors' residence. I am trying to make the adjustment to living in a different setting without my wife of over 60 years and with daily mingling among people that I never knew previously.
Drawing on my personal experiences, I have tried to be friendly and helpful. On January 20, 2018, the PresbyCan Daily Devotional published Choose To Be Positive. I shared that devotional with several of my new neighbours, and I received many comments stating that this approach had been helpful.
On February 23, 2018, the Daily Devotional published Can You Be Kind To Someone? This was the story of someone being kind to my grandmother. Again, I shared the devotional with residents and staff in my new home.
I was surprised to receive an e-mail from a staff member saying, "What a wonderful story and thank you so much for sharing. Your grandmother has left behind quite a legacy, and no doubt, you will, too. Vince, you are such an inspiration. Thank you for always being you!"
Suddenly, I realized that the "inspiration" was "always being you". As that thought sunk in, I began to realize that if the Holy Spirit is working through us, nothing more is needed.
God expects us to do our very best with the talents that we have been given, whether they be many or few. The best thing that we can do in gratitude to Him for His salvation in Christ is to faithfully obey the guidance that God gives us. However, the enemy also subtly encourages us to keep trying to do better and thus be viewed by others more positively. This seems to be a good idea, but this can amount to encouraging us to follow our own will and not God's will. The temptation to try to please others is difficult to resist.
God has given us the Holy Spirit to continually guide us. I always find comfort in this Scripture: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12b-13 NKJV)
I am very fond of this chorus:
- Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all thy wondrous power
Flowing through us, thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.
– Mary E. Maxwell
And so, dear reader, I share with you the challenge that I face. Can I live so close to Jesus that the Holy Spirit can work through me to help others? If you can answer positively, then I can safely say, "Just be you!"
Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to enable us to continually understand the great love that You demonstrated through Jesus. May we follow the Holy Spirit's guidance as we react to others. May we constantly demonstrate Your great love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Keep shining the light Vincent. God bless.
what a great loving, helpful devotional. Thank you, Walter!!
Blessings upon you in this next step of life God has blessed you with!
Thanks for sharing this great ‘common sense advice’ backed by the One who gave us the common sense to share in the beginning.
Thank you, Vincent, for this reflection – it is so true that God uses each of us in our own unique way! Blessings on you this day.
Thank you, Vincent, for giving me the getup and go that I need it. I can tell it comes from the heart. You gave me a God instrument in your serenading.
Vince thanks for sharing this important message.
The North American mystique is to be successful, bold and always on top.
But it is the Holy Spirit who empowers us!
Good Morning, Vincent,
Thank you for your thoughts and experiences as written in your devotional this morning.
(Texas)
I received today’s devotional three times, so I think God is trying to tell me something! It’s a good one, Vince. We should just be the person God made us to be and allow him to continue to mold us. May you be content and at peace in your new home.
Vincent – I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you now to have to live apart from your wife of 60 years. Your positivity is an inspiration to us all. Thank you for this devotional. I found the concept of “just being you” as long as you are led by the Holy Spirit, to be very helpful. God Bless you and keep writing.
Dear Vincent
It took me many decades to “just be me” and to be happy with me as God made me. I am forever grateful to Him for this. My church family know me as I am and love me. It is all about Him and how I can serve Him. Thank you for being such a blessing to so many
Hello
Thank you for this devotional. What a challenge put before us and a great one at that.!
Sounds like you are exactly where you are supposed to be at this stage of your life, being a blessing at your new residence.
God bless you as you touch others with the love of God.
Dear Vince
Thank you for your devotion today. Yes, I know how you feel as I am living in the apartment of a lovely home, alone and it is an adjustment, and I have to make still my meals and hate eating alone. But I keep reminding myself that I still am never alone, as I have Jesus, yea, yea, yea.
Blessings
Thank you for this. Thank you, Lord, for Vince Walter, who continues to share his insights into Your Ways, even reaching out beyond the walls of his new home, to strangers who also are so in need of Your Truth. May I be changed, may my struggle to please others subside, so that I can “just be me” living for You alone. God bless you as your new life produces more fruit for the Kingdom than you could ever have imagined or even hoped for.
What an inspiration!
At any age, at any place, in any circumstances, we can just be ourselves, guided by the Holy Spirit.
God will do the rest!
Many thanks, Vince, for this encouragement.
Bless you,
(BC.)
Thank-you Vincent Walter for this message. I moved to a Senior’s Residence a year ago. It is different, but there comes a time when our circumstances must be adjusted. (“There is a time for everything”.) It is comforting to learn that we are in our particular Residences for a purpose. Yes, “just be who the Lord meant us to be”.
Blessings on your days!
(Ontario)
Enjoyed your reading we still have each other and keep saying we must die together – married young and it will very soon be 64 years.
We have been fortunate that we are still reasonably lucky. I had some foot and knee surgery so still use a walker but otherwise we are both ok. We have children and grandchildren so God has been good to us. I hope you continue to enjoy adjusting as one of our relatives said they enjoyed the senior’s home. They decided when they went in they would be happy there, so they were, and you have a good attitude and it will go well for you too.
(ON)
I was very interested with your devotional today.
I tried to copy and paste your devotional but couldn’t print it. I want to share it with a friend who has no access to a computer. I would appreciate a pdf of your devotional and I would print it out and give it to her at church or take it to her.
My friend is a wonderful person but right now is not outgoing, still wanting to be alone but has been in and out of hospital before her move.
Thanks (and keep it up)
(BC)
Good Morning Vince Walter, Thank you for today’s devotional which resonated with me, as my mum always used to say “Thank you for being you” to my brothers and me, to which we sometimes would say to each other in jest, not fully appreciating what her words meant until much later in life.
In answer to your challenge to us, your readers, “Can I live so close to Jesus that the Holy Spirit can work though me to help others?” It is something I hopefully accomplish by following my mother’s example of always thinking of and doing for others rather than myself, as she continued to do so by playing the organ for Sunday services in her care residence even as her mind descended into dementia.
It’s not easy for most folks such as yourself to make that transition from all that was your normal life into this new one in every single way. In your mingling, and through your writing for “Daily” you seem to be rising to the challenge by Just Being You with God’s guidance. Keep it up and may we do the same.
Amen.
Dear Vince,
A very inspiring devotional. Thanks for sharing and being you. Best wishes with enjoying your new home.
Hi Vince Walter:
I really appreciated your devotional. It is a great reminder to always be yourself and to realize that those around us, family, friends, we need to look at each of them individually for their strengths.
Thank you again for sharing.
Thank you for your words of inspiration! I am sure your presence is an added bonus to the folk where you reside. Transitions are always a challenge and you seem to be meeting yours with insight and action. Kudos and hope things continue to unfold favourable!!
Good morning, Mr. Walter
Excellent devotional as usual, I look forward to seeing many more.
I pray that God will continue to bless you each day.
God Bless.