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Listen while you read: "O Master Let Me Walk With Thee"1 (Lyrics) |
One of the dearest memories that I have from my teenage years is living in an old two-storey cement block house that had very little insulation. In the winter, we put plastic on the inside of the windows in the upstairs bedrooms to reduce the chilly draft. I used to watch the plastic bulge when it was windy outside, and I was sure that it was going to break. Through the night, the upstairs was heated with an oil space heater under a grate in the ceiling of the living room. We kids slept in our winter coats and socks. I had a dog who kept my feet warm through the night.
Through the school year, the day started before six a.m. There were three siblings at home at this time. We had to walk three-quarters of a mile down to the end of the side road to catch the school bus. The driver would not wait even if he saw us coming.
The memory etched in my mind to this day is that no matter how early I got up and came downstairs for breakfast, Mom would have the wood stove fire started for the day. She would sit with her feet on the oven door trying to keep them warm, reading her Bible. Her Saviour was very precious to her. Mom taught her children the importance of knowing Jesus personally. This legacy goes beyond the grave.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (NIV)
I hear many advertisements on media through the day concerning leaving inheritance to family. The ads are from insurance companies. Tragically, our society thinks that money is everything in life.
Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV)
The home that I grew up in never had much financial wealth, but we had parents who told us the good news of Jesus' love. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin at Calvary. We need to say thank You and live for Him.
We believers need to leave our children and grandchildren the legacy of knowing that Jesus loves them and died to forgive their sin. Encourage them to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Talk to them about eternal things no matter their age.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Calvary. Thank You that Jesus forgives sin. Help us to raise our children knowing that Jesus loves them. Help each of us to love You with all our heart, soul, and strength. Help us to extend Your love to our family, friends, and neighbours. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
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Sunday, September 8, 2024 – In Central British Columbia — Pray for the Cariboo House Churches in British Columbia as the people gather from across the Cariboo region to celebrate 35 years of mission outreach. Pray for a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit to empower people to reach out in their own communities.
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Thank you.
Thank you for this Devotional. God bless you.
Precious memories and a good challenge, Ruth.
A moving story with an important message, Ruth. God bless!
Thank you for sharing this precious Christ centred heritage of your family!
Excellent!
God bless and Keep the Faith! (and your sense of humor!)
Good picture of your circumstances in childhood, Ruth. Thanks for sharing your understanding and faith today.
Yes, Ruth, eternal treasures trump earthly ones! Yes, Jesus! Yes!
Blessings.
Amen Ruth!
As a school bus driver, l always waited for my kids. I’m sorry yours was such a meany.
Loved your story of your Mom with the Bible on a cold day, Ruth. Her legacy to you was much more valuable than an insurance policy. Thanks for sharing.
Dear Ruth:
Another thought-provoking message. Looking forward to your next one.
Blessings.
Thanks for today’s devotion Ruth,
God’s perfect love is indeed the perfect inheritance to pass down to our children.
Thank you and God bless you.
Ruth, your stories from childhood warm my heart. My mother was cut from the same cloth. Life on a farm made great demands, and our great God always met our needs.
Thanks for sharing.
I know about cold, growing up in Kenora when the frost covered the windows inside and out and the wood burning stove kept the house warm. The centre of our lives was school and the church, Sunday school, choir, young people’s group. Off to university, married a minister, teacher, and mother and now grandmother. Faith and Hope in the Lord is a rich life.
Greetings Ruth,
Thank you for another of your deeply meaningful devotionals. Sounds like your early living in a house that had little insulation was very much like the one I was raised in, but what we did have was the warmth of Jesus and His love. Those early days of Sunday school and learning about our Saviour and now sharing that learning with others is the positive outcome. Blessings for your service to our Lord through your special writings and sharing them with us through devotionals.
Thank you, Ruth, for today’s devotion.
It brought back many memories of my childhood when we were going through tough times.
My Mother was a slave and didn’t know about Jesus. But the Deaconess who picked us up for kindergarten, took time to explain to my mother about Christ and God and what was being taught in church.
My father told my mother that church was not for her. But many years after my Father passed away, Mom took up the courage and attended church.
Our pastor was able to instruct her and baptized her.
She passed away at 99 and always believed that God looked after her.
Thanks again.
Blessing to you,
(Quebec)
Good morning, Ruth,
It is wonderful that you remember the love in your home and not the cold of the weather. We had a coal furnace in the basement and my mom would have to get up and remove the clinkers and put in fresh coal to warm up our home. She did this so when we got up the house was warm. She never complained. My dad worked on the railway and was gone for a few days at a time, so this was my mom’s job. Then mom made porridge for us which would keep our bellies warm. My parents also showed us the love of Jesus and I remember Saturday evening they would polish our shoes so they would shine as we walked to church. Good memories.
Your prayer is a blessing as I start my day. I know God will help me extend His love to others as He loves me. It is good to pray and ask for his help. Thank you for sharing part of your journey and to remember what is important each and every day. May you continue to inspire us all to be better. Blessings.
Dear Ruth,
Thank you so much for this very important devotion that Christian parents teach their children about God, Jesus Christ our only Hope and Savior, our Rock and Salvation! We need Him every second of our lives!
God bless you and yours!