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Listen while you read: "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"1 (Lyrics) |
Recently, I spent time with my four-year old grandson. We played ball with the dog. I pushed him on a swing set with fits of glee and laughter. We took a walk to Locust Grove under a warm sun and blue sky. Yet, over the day hung a dark cloud from the mass shooting in our city that morning. It almost ruined the time that I had with my grandson. Almost.
Just because there is craziness, destruction, and evil in this world, it does not mean that we need to be part of it. We are in this world, but not of it. Of course, we want to leave the world a better place than we found it.
There are polls and surveys that tell us that people in North America are less religious. I am concerned about the vacuum, the emptiness, the amoral approach to life for young people growing up today. I'm also troubled by drugs — both legal and illegal — and what impact they have on the development of emotions, intellect, social togetherness, community life, and ultimately our spiritual growth or lack thereof.
Many Christians celebrate a seven-week "Easter season" until the day of Pentecost. This season carries with it a promise. Recall the risen Lord's conversation with His disciples who were hiding behind closed doors because of fear:
John 20:21a,22 – Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (ESV)
Jesus gives us His Spirit and — like grace — it is sufficient. His Spirit is all we need. He is enough. He keeps us going. He reveals our character and forms our convictions. With Him, life with God is lived to the fullest. And more importantly, it is through the Holy Spirit that we plant seeds and bear fruit. We leave this world less concerned about problems and more hopeful for the seeds that we have planted.
Life is about planting seeds. It is about trees under whose shade we will never sit. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23a NIV) The promise of Easter will not die but only grow from generation to generation, from what we produce.
Now is the time. It is not time to give up or throw in the towel or hide in fear. It is time, however, to trust God with all that we have and allow His Spirit to manifest Himself in the darkness of the tomb and in the brokenness of this world for future generations who will bear fruit in a world that is a better place tomorrow because of the seeds that we plant today.
Prayer: Risen Lord, fill us with Your Spirit, so that we may do the work that You have prepared for us to do with courage through Your grace. Help us to plant seeds and bear fruit always to Your honour and glory. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
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Amen!
Thanks, Robin, for the encouraging words.
Thank you for your message. It spoke to me.
Good Morning:
Thank you for today’s devotion.
Thank you, Robin, your devotionals are always so comforting and inspiring, we must trust in God. Blessings.
Thank you, Robin, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today.
May God’s grace be yours! Blessings.
Thank you for this morning’s devotional.
The thought and prayer that is required to write is appreciated.
(PA)
Thank you for your encouraging words as we attempt to live in the dark world of today with God being our helper! It is good to remember the joy of childhood pursuits and bold innocence. Have a great day.
Thank you, Robin, for your devotional today. We all need constant reminding in the midst of life today, that we are blessed with the spirit and grace of Jesus Christ…always.
(Texas)
Many thanks for your encouraging devotional this morning Robin. Yes, we need to plant good seeds in today’s world so that the young ones of today will have a better world ahead. Blessings for your thoughts and words in your writing today.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts today. Your writing reflects my heart exactly. I pray that I can plant seeds also that will give the generations to come hope in our Lord. You are a beautiful writer! Keep doing God’s will as he encourages you to witness through your words.
A wise word for us, Robin! It’s tempting to discount what we cannot see. A song comes to mind: “In the Bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree”. God knows how many seeds may begin sprouting in hearts through the tragedy. it’s the way God works, isn’t it?
Dear Lord, protect those hidden sprouts, and we trust you to bring them to fruition in your time.
Robin, your devotional today resonated with me in many ways… reflecting firstly on your experience pushing Grandchildren on swings as my husband and I did many a time (and blink, now they’re in university and my husband has died). You spoke with such hope and encouragement. I especially appreciated your prayer and the paragraph just before it, but then again, as I reread, each paragraph had gems to absorb! Thank you so much for such a timely and valuable message. It has truly been God-inspired!
Dear Robin,
A very powerful encouraging devotional you have shared with us today. You have taken a dark moment and shown that there is still light in this world given to others by Jesus.
This is a time in Toronto to think about planting seeds for our vegetables as the risk of frost is coming to an end. It reminds of us planting the seeds of our faith also so that others can have hope.
Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts with us to provide a message of hope and the promise of Easter. May you have a blessed day.
Good.
“come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle in us the fire of Thy love….”
Thankyou Holy Spirit, as You do this, and thankyou for this brother in Christ who writes to share God’s Truth.
Keep going and giving your time and love.
Good morning, Robin,
Thank you for your good devotional. May we indeed do the work the Lord has set aside for us and do it to the best of our ability. Thank you for writing.
Blessings on your weekend.
Amen Robin!