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Listen while you read: "Ivory Palaces"1 (Lyrics) |
Matthew 9:20-22 – Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment. (NIV)
Have you ever noticed how frequently God ministers through simple things? A simple touch — a kind word — even just a smile. Since we expect to see results immediately, it often seems strange that blessings come long after that simple act, whether it is a touch, a word, or a smile.
In 1991, a grandson, Matthew, arrived. He lived only three days. But I remember very clearly his putting tiny fingers around my much larger finger and holding it. God somehow gave him the strength and direction to take that action and communicate his love for his grandfather. It was a precious moment that I cherish to this day.
In 2015, our 41-year-old son died. On the final day of his life, he didn't appear to be conscious. As I prepared to leave his hospital room, I took his hand and said, "This is your earthly father saying good-bye. Your heavenly Father will soon say hello." He squeezed my hand. I will never forget that touch.
My wife was born on February 1, 1929, in a Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, hospital. Accidentally, she was fed formula for a one-year-old rather than for a new-born. At three months, she weighed less than her birth-weight and was sent home to die. God had other ideas, and her mother nursed her to grow into a healthy young girl.
In 1956, we married, and for over six decades, we lived in 19 different locations in three countries: Canada, USA, and India. For 20 of those years, we led a large group of teenagers weekly, and hundreds of young people strengthened their relationship with God, influenced by my wife's simple touch, kind word, and smile.
In 2015, she was sent home from hospital with only a few days to live. But God kept her alive for more than a year, ministering by her gentle touch, caring words, and smile. Recently, two of the Filipino "angels", who were part of the team helping to care for her, visited me. They talked of her ministry while suffering. They were the last to feel her touch, hear her speak, and see her smile, and they still feel blessed.
A year later, our daughter-in-law died in March, 2017. She had sung This Day at my wife's funeral, and a recording of her singing was played for approximately 1,000 at her own funeral, a wonderful example of ministering after she was gone.
- This Day
This day is fragile — soon it will end
And once it has vanished, it will not come again
So let us love with a love pure and strong
Before this day is gone
This day is fleeting — when it slips away
Not all our money can buy back this day
So let us pray that we might be a friend
Before this day is gone
This day is frail — it will pass by
So before it's too late to recapture the time
Let us share love, let us share God
Before this day is gone
Lyrics by Lowell Alexander ©1993 Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol Christian Music Group
Will you join me in offering a simple touch, a kind word, or even just a smile, before this day is gone?
Prayer: Dear God, help us to realize that You can work through us in simple ways. Help us to give a touch, a kind word, and a smile to show Your love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Sunday, May 28, 2023 – Worldwide — Day of Pentecost—Pray that our churches worldwide may experience a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, so that we may be better enabled to share our faith with our families, friends, and communities.
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Beautiful.
A truly beautiful Devotional!
This moved me to tears. Thank you!
A wonderful testimony, Vincent. God bless.
This is a lovely message Vincent. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Vince. I really do enjoy reading your devotionals.
Thanks, touch is so important for feeling connected and blessed.
Thanks for a good word today Vincent.
Blessings.
A very touching remembrance of love and the touch of us ministering for God.
Dear Vincent,
What a beautiful devotional. You touched me this morning!
Thanks for sharing today’s devotion, a wonderful message. May the Lord continue to bless you.
Thank you, Walter, for a very moving devotional. You did touch me this day – even from far away.
Thank you for the reassurance of God ‘s love and care and the importance of sharing it with others. Shalom.
Oh, my, Vincent, what a testimony to a life well-lived. Your focus on the blessing of touch in all these experiences is a blessing to me.
So Good, So Good, all I can say is your devotional today was… SO GOOD!
Thank you, brother Vince.
Thank you for sharing these important memories, Vincent. Great reminders to share God’s love every day.
Blessings.
Thank you for sharing. We need reminding of the value of small kindnesses.
You are an example of God’s grace!
Vincent, Thank you for this moving devotional and the reminder that it is “through simple things, God ministers”. Today, I needed this message.
Hello,
Another great one, very touching and encouraging at the same time. Loved it.
God bless.
Vincent, thank you for sharing these encouraging examples of people being touched by our Heavenly Father through a human touch, kind word, or a smile. May our Lord Jesus continue to bless you in every way. Blessings.
Dear Vincent – you write so movingly and full of love for these who have gone before you, ready to welcome you when you move on to that final home. You have helped countless many today with this heartfelt devotional.
Dear Vincent,
Thank you for sharing your story today.
May the Lord bless you and all dear to you today and always.
We are blessed to bless.
Thank you, Vincent, for this moving testimonial of God in your life, and the life of your family members. It has been a blessing reading your message, and your call to serve this way.
(BC)
Thank you, Vince. I found this to be a very emotional read. You have a unique way of connecting your life stories to a word of encouragement.
God bless you.
Dear Vincent,
You have lived a very interesting life, but one filled with loss and great pain and heart ache. Thank you for sending the lovely song and May God bless you as you continue to love His people.
Thank you for a moving devotional. I am so sorry you have endured so many losses. May God comfort you with his companionship and peace – and wonderful memories of the days gone by and great hope for the future He promises.
(BC)
Thank you for sharing this beautiful message with us. I wish I could tell you how inspired I feel. My pastor and I went to visit some of our members who cannot get to church due physical limitations. It was such a pleasure to see my friends again and spend some lovely time with them.
Hello Vince,
Thank you for another heartfelt & heartwarming devotional. You do a special job of writing about the special love & care we receive from our loving God.
Bless you for your dedicated service of honouring God.
(B.C.)
Vincent – what a wonderful and inspiring devotional. Thank you for sharing how some of life’s difficult moments have become enduring memories for you. I don’t know how people without faith survive life. We are blessed that we have our faith and that we can rely on God to be our strength when we are weak. God Bless your continued writing.
Dear Vincent:
I’m smiling at you, dear Vincent, and reaching out to touch you, to thank you for sharing yourself with us. You have outlived so many loved ones. How I pray that you too will have ‘angels’ to take great care of you when you are in need. Blessings on you for this loving advice, that each day is a gift for which we give thanks and allow God to work through us for the healing of those with whom we come in contact.
Hello Vince
I was pleased to receive the March 5th edition of the Daily Devotional. Your words captured the sharing of what people in your own family gave to their friends and loved ones, despite the fact that they were about to depart on their most important journey, was truly inspiring.
Thank you for your special messages and best wishes on your continued work to help comfort and inform those that you come in contact with through “Daily Devotional”.
Thank you for your devotional you certainly have had your losses.
I think we have been looking at things wrong. My sister was told she had two weeks to live. She say BUT I have tickets for a cruise. The Dr said if you have insurance then go. She went the following spring and other one in June for seniors so they had a nurse on the trip. She went to the hospital after that trip and my sister never left the hospital. She died in the fall. Now I realize she lived almost 14 months from when she was told two weeks. God is Good.
I do not centre on what I cannot do but I am 84. Even the Bible says we will get dressed and carried around not necessarily where we want to be. God is Good.
(ON)
Dear Mr. Walter,
I love your Daily Devotionals. They are so warm and gentle, just as I picture our Lord is. Today’s Devotional was beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to write your Devotionals. I look forward to them as I imagine you too area kind and gentle soul. Many Blessing to you.
Hello Mr. Walter!
I so enjoy reading your devotionals.
It’s been a rough week for my family. My uncle passed away tragically.
I found comfort in your writing. You have been through so much and your faith / belief in God our savior is so vibrant. Your messages are proof that God is good, and that he works in mysterious ways.
Thank you for writing and look forward to reading many more.
God Bless.
Thank you so much for writing and sharing this devotional.
I have made a copy of it and will share your message with our congregation.
A simple message yet very powerful…because we know WHO is at the heart of it.
Blessings on you and your loved ones