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Ecclesiastes 3:1 – To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (KJV)
Things come. Things go. Life changes. Often these changes, even in keeping with the times, can throw a person for a loop.
Such was the case when Rev. Robin Ross called to inform me that March 31, 2025, would be the last day of publishing new material for the PresbyCan Daily Devotional. It all began on May 25, 1996, as his brainchild, and has been a huge part of his life's passion and work for almost 30 years … learning to grow it as each new phase of technology advanced. He has told, in four devotionals, the story of how it developed: What God Has Prepared, Death Of A Vision, Bread On The Waters, and All One Body.
But much, much more than that, is how he patiently worked with each of the contributors through the years. Some were accomplished writers, and some, such as myself, were not. In response to a single question to him in 1997, he suggested I write about it — although I stated that I wasn't a writer. In the following years, guided and edited, I ended up writing some 400 devotionals.
The Daily (as it used to be called) was one of the families that Rev. Ross raised and/or guided to a point in time where his part in each one's purpose was fulfilled: his children, his congregations, and now Daily.
Though Rev. Ross is the impetus that kept Daily moving, it was not without the help of staff and writers — volunteers all — and the thousands of devoted readers, each and every one of whom will feel some degree of loss.
The numbers are staggering … from a handful of writers in the beginning to a total of 516, and from 700 readers to a peak of 6,200.
What does one do when their life's purpose as they knew it is fulfilled, when what was familiar to them is over?
Or is it?
Take the words in Isaiah 30:21 – "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left." (NKJV)
Or those in Psalm 32:8 – "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (NIV) This is a prime example of the sayings, Let go and let God or Thy will, Lord, not mine.
New devotionals for the Daily may have ended their season, but what they were will never end as they'll be on the Internet in perpetuity. What a legacy for Robin Ross to leave behind: minister, editor, teacher, mentor.
After allowing ourselves a time to grieve this loss, we hope we can come to a place best stated by that famous writer of children's books … Dr. Seuss: "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."
It seems only fitting to close with Rev. Ross's prayer in his devotional entitled, All One Body.
Prayer: Today, Lord, we give You thanks for Your wisdom in making us part of the body of Christ. We rejoice in the volunteers that You have placed in the Daily family: writers, readers, prayer warriors, and staff. May our lives together give You the glory that You deserve above all others. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Encourage Today's Writer
My Closing Remarks
Since I announced the end of new material for the PresbyCan Daily Devotional, I have been greatly encouraged by the outpouring of appreciative messages which I have received. Thank you for letting me know what the Daily has meant to you!
Since my announcement two weeks ago, my thinking has evolved full-circle in regard to my plan to turn Daily into a low-maintenance website. I had originally thought of ending the daily emails and presenting ten random devotionals on the home webpage. But my son suggested presenting automatically each day a pre-selected set of devotionals from either that date or the special day in previous years, so that, for example, on Easter Day, Easter devotionals would appear.
I had also announced, however, that we were going to continue the PrayerLine feature, because it is the most-visited page on our website. Last Friday evening, a reader asked whether the PrayerLine requests could continue to go out automatically in a daily email. It was only then that I realized that such an email could also automatically contain a selection of devotionals just like the website. So, the Daily emails will continue! The key words are "automatically" and "low-maintenance", which mean that I will be able to watch over the website — from a distance! My responsibilities were getting too heavy. It was just time!
There are a few thoughts that I would like to share with you as we close this chapter of life. Firstly, we have no idea of what effects may result from the actions that we do in obedience to the Lord. Undoubtedly, the devotionals were read by thousands more than just the people who read them by email, on the website, forwarded by friends, or as "likes" on Facebook. We also have very little or no idea how the written word influenced the spiritual lives of those who read it. What a great day it will be when the Lord finally reveals what our efforts have contributed to fulfilling His plan for His people!
Secondly, I want to encourage every Christian to bend every effort as an obedient disciple to do what the Lord desires us to do. May we all look forward, as I do, to the possibility of hearing those amazing words that the Lord spoke first to His disciples in a parable: "Well done, good and faithful servant; … Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:23 NKJV)
I especially want to recognize the faithful work of our dedicated volunteer staff. Jane Anne Waller was the first to come on staff to help with the subscriptions and feedback. James T. Hurd has been my backup for reviewing theology and proper editing. Mary Jane Hanson, Elaine Ingalls Hogg, and Sharon Cook have assisted in receiving and processing devotionals. Garnet Schenck and George Myers have moderated the PrayerLine requests, and Terry Folster has posted devotionals to Facebook each day. Thank you, all!
I would also like to thank my wife, Evelyn, and our children for the uncountable hours that they gave me away from them, and for their support over all those years.
To you, dear reader, thank you for sticking with us. Although we may not have met in person, I look forward to seeing you in heaven!
Robin Ross <rross@telus.net>
Mission, British Columbia, Canada
Encourage Today’s Writer
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Thank you, Mary.
A great tribute to a man of God!
Beautiful tribute and so well deserved, a huge thank you to Robin and all the volunteers!
Thanks Mary, these devotionals will be greatly missed by all who daily read them; many thanks to all who contributed to them and blessings to you all.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. As one who will miss the Presbycan Daily Devotional, I share your sentiments. To God be the glory! Blessings.
Thank you, Mary, for today’s devotion.
I have latched onto the Daily since the end of 2004, and it has been my regular morning reading since then.
Thanks for your contributions and giving us readers good morning thoughts.
(Quebec)
Good morning, Mary and many thanks for preparing a “closing day” devotional and including recognition to Robin Ross for his dedicated work over the many, many years. We do have to accept changes that happen over our lifetime, but we can be consoled that the love of our Lord is unchanging, and He will provide sufficient fulfillment of our needs. Blessings for preparing this closing devotional and for your previous very special writings.
Good Morning Mary,
I was touched by your kind and thoughtful devotional today. I don’t think there is anyone who could have written a better summary and tribute on the last day of publishing new material.
Thank you for your writing of thoughtful and meaningful devotionals over the years. May God bless you!
Thank you for your message today, Mary. A season for Everything. Each day I look forward to a devotion time to start my day. The passage you so fittingly chose to centre your thoughts is one of my favourites. I always come back to it when I am grieving change, especially at a death of a loved one. I appreciate the history you shared about the Daily. What a remarkable run, and a mammoth legacy. And I read in the notes after your devotion there may still be a daily format possible that links to previous writings.
I’m grateful for all the work that has gone into providing the Daily and I thank all of the writers (and you did 400 devotions!) and the folks involved in all the other tasks to support the finished product that I enjoy and think about through the day. I wished I had written more thank you notes to the authors to thank them for the spiritual centering. To the writers and other folks for all the countless hours poured into this outreach.
I wasn’t aware of the beginning of this project and I’m going to look up the devotions you cited from Rev. Ross.
I’m deeply appreciate all the work that has gone on over the years. I also am a firm believer that we need to give people time to rest too, although it sounds like there is work ahead to get to that point too.
Wishing you, other writers, the staff and Rev. Ross blessings and thanks.
Thank you, Mary, for this summary of the ministry. I only joined in the last few years so I had no idea of all of this information.
Thank you To Robin Ross
Great news…praise the Lord.
Thank you, Robin. What a wonderful solution.
Thank you thank you May God continue to bless you.
Thank you for your help with daily devotions-may our Lord richly bless you all!
GOD BLESS, Robin.
SHALOM!
It’s great that you will continue in the new format. Thanks so much, may God continue to bless you all!
I am very grateful for the daily devotionals, especially when the church was closed during COVID. Thank You.
Once again, thanks to everyone involved!!
I have signed up for “UP”, but it is not the same. I’ll continue watching for both The Daily and UP.
I just want to Thank you for all your work over the years. I have followed the Devotionals for over ten years, and it is a special time for me to start my day. Thank you and Blessings to you, your wife and family. May our Lord continue to Bless you.
God Bless you Rev. Ross as you journey in this next stage of serving God and mankind. Thank you for all that you have accomplished. I’ve enjoyed each and every devotional and it has been a blessing to my spiritual growth. But do take time to enjoy your retirement!!
Thanks, Ross, for all the time you put into providing these devotionals over the years, much appreciated by all who read them. Do take care and enjoy your retirement. Blessings to you and your family.
Thank you so much for each devotional as they were so encouraging to me; and I know so many others. May the Lord bless you in the years ahead. You do deserve it.
Blessings.
This will surely be missed , when I read these devotions, it brings a positive energy to me daily.
So with that I say God bless you in yet another journey of your life . May God continue to bless you and your family.
Congratulations on a job well done! I have a lot of unwritten devotionals, mostly because stuff has continued to happen at such a rate, I couldn’t process it all. Thank you for your faithful encouragement! May our Lord bless your new beginnings, whatever they may be!
Thank you, Robin, for your many years of faithful service and dedication. The PresbyCan Daily Devotional has been a source of inspiration and strength to many. May the Lord bless you and keep you as you continue in His service.
(B.C.)
Many thanks Robin for your dedicated work, over so many years, in overseeing of the devotional writings. May you enjoy many relaxing and special times ahead with your wife and other family members.
Lord’s many blessings.
Beautiful devotional today !
Thank you for everything, to you and your family for giving of your time for us !!
I am very grateful every morning to see the devotional in my inbox.
Bless you all who make it possible every day.
I have followed the Daily Devotional for many years, and really appreciate the time the writers and staff put into it. They were encouraging and I loved the insights into daily living with the Word. I would read the devotionals every night before I went to bed. Thank you for being such a blessing to me. May God bless you and your family in your retirement!
Hello Robin:
To add to your reader numbers, I have forwarded each day to my son and a previous neighbour who came to a believer by attending church with me.
Thank you so much. Hope to see you soon.
Blessings to you and Evelyn.
Thank you for your untiring efforts over the years. I started my days with the Daily and kept the hymn softly playing while I prayed. Truly a Blessing.
In the final season of your life, may God’s Blessings rest upon you and your family. Be assured of my prayers. Well done, good and faithful servant!
Thank you, Robin, and to all your team for your and their hard work and dedication over the years.
As a retired Anglican Priest, I have truly been blessed by your ministry here but also our joint ministry during my years in Mission.
May God continue to bless you, Evelyn and your children.
Thank you again for all you have done for the Presbycan Daily Devotional website and emails. I’ve personally looked forward to receiving and reading them. The Prayer Line has been my guide for morning devotional prayers. Many devotionals have inspired my own contributions to the website. So glad to hear they will continue if in a new format. Blessings.
Thank you for your many years of devotionals. I have read these devotionals for years, but I also understand that you are wishing to retire from these many years of this wonderful service.
Enjoy your retirement, these devotionals will truly be missed.
God Bless you as you go forward into retirement.
Thank you so much for your dedicated work in hosting the PresbyCan website over so many years. Thanks also to your whole team for all their work. I have read the devotionals daily for many years and have appreciated the variety of devotionals which have been such a blessing in my life.
Glad you are taking some time for yourself. Well deserved.
(ON)
Good Morning Robin,
First of all thank you for today’s devotional. It was good to hear from both you and Mary on the last day of publishing new material.
As one of your mentees and colleagues I want to express my sincere gratitude to you for all the work you have done over the years to keep this ministry alive.
Thanks also for the opportunity to participate as a writer and volunteer staff member. And lastly thank you for your friendship over these many years.
Best wishes to you and your family.
I cannot express how much I’ve looked for it each day and I have had two people that I forward to also.
All I can say that I have appreciated all your work over the years and how much it has surprised me ones that have sent ones from all over.
You cannot grasp how much you have touched ones.
(Ontario)
I have been in this devotional every day.
The Lord encouraged me to pray and read your daily food of my spirit .
I’m hoping your day will be blessed with many more to come so I can continue to get some encouragement from your ministry.
Thanks so greatly for your service in the Almighty Lord.
(Ontario Canada)
Good morning, Pastor Ross,
My husband and I have enjoyed reading the PresbyCan Daily devotionals each day and wish to thank you and all of your team members for providing these devotionals. May all of God’s blessings be with each one as this chapter comes to a close. Thank-you for arranging to have previously seen devotionals still be available as well as the prayer line. May you enjoy many years of retirement!
Thank you for providing for me and many others with a daily quiet time, a time to reflect and time to pray. I started each day for many years with PresbyCan devotionals. My husband was very sick for 5 years, and his treatments alone, and then his treatments that took us away from our home, family, and friends on three different occasions. One being over Christmas. I am not sure how I could have survived without my daily prayers, music and of course those praying for us. I thank you for your service. May you enjoy your retirement, God Bless for your life journey.
PS. Our prayers were answered, my husband is cancer free. Thanks be to God.
Thank you, Robin, for your labour of love in creating the Daily and making it sustainable for so many years.
I know very well how much care and dedication you put into this outreach mission.
I have read the Daily faithfully for years and even received God’s prompting to make a submission many years ago. I feel I got to know a little bit about the lives and prayer concerns of writers who contributed often.
I’m happy to hear that the daily emails will continue.
Thank you again for this creative form of Christian outreach.
With all God’s blessings upon you and your family.
Dear Rev. Ross,
Thank you for a job well done!
About 30 years ago, I became disillusioned with my local Presbyterian Church and no longer attended. Not long after, I found “The Daily” and employed it as my daily devotional. It kept me engaged, even though we haven’t attended Church.
We moved not long ago and have found a new home with a local church, and my Wife and I became members last year!
Please know that YOU were partly responsible for that. Thank you!
Well done, good and faithful servant!
(ON)
Hi Robin
I too am feeling a deep sense of loss with the close of this devotional. It has been a part of my daily reading and a guiding light for my spiritual life for many years.
In searching for something to replace yours, I have found a number of interesting devotionals – but none with the breadth of authors of your daily. Most are written by only one author, and I only just now realize the blessings of having so many different and varied authors to enrich my spiritual being …
So, again, thanks for your faithfulness in providing such a wealth of insights, challenges and encouragement over the many years
Continued blessings,
(BC)
This vision the Lord placed before you has helped me during some of my most difficult times in my life and brought me through my husband’s cancer, our daughter’s divorce with two very young children, the passing of a dear sister and brother both of cancer and a grandchild’s diagnosis of epilepsy.
I have shared devotionals numerous times over the almost 15 years with my children, church family, and my pastor who have also needed to hear a message guided by your devotionals.
These emails have been part of my quiet time every morning and will be missed greatly but have also planted the need for my time with our Lord and Savior to continue every morning.
May God bless you and keep you today and always.
Peace be with you,
(WV)
Thank you so much for this site and all the hard work you have done over the years. Many years ago I did a couple of devotionals. However, a few years ago I had a terrible fall and somehow lost my ability to write like I use too. I have a chronic illness that keeps me in my bed a great deal of the time. I have not been to church in years as I react to people’s perfumes and other chemicals.
This web site has been my go-to every morning for many, many years. I have a minister that will come and bring me communion and visit with me.
I often print the devotionals so I can read them again and again.
Thank you again for doing the Lord’s work and reaching out and allowing us shut-ins to feel a part of a caring group of people that love our Lord.
Blessings to you and your family and all those that have worked on this for years. Well done.
Good morning, Robin,
It is wonderful that a devotional will continue to be emailed to the readers. Definitely a good idea. It is true that there is a season for everything, and I am glad this season will continue to pop into my email.
The volunteer staff for PresbyCan is dedicated to help us all continue to grow our faith in so many different ways as people share their faith. Community is an important part of our faith journey.
Thanking everyone for their amazing dedication to others. Praying for others as well as ourselves is important and knowing that God hears us. Prayers work.
Robin, I am smiling knowing that God guided you to understand how important a daily email is to others. May many more blessings come your way.
Thank you, Robin, for all your work and devotion to our Daily lives.
I have picked up Daily since the end of 2004 and look for it every morning after my coffee.
All these submissions from all those writers from all over the globe has all of us readers joined together as one community with a common love of the scriptures.
The best part is the theology that has come from these submissions has put Christ in all our (readers) lives and held us together with high hopes that our days will always be comforted with the readings of these daily submissions.
Many of these devotions have touched my heart and pulled out some old experiences that I had, and they were showing me how God accepted us with all our faults, and we all played an intricate part of God’s world and society.
We are united over scripture, we are people from all over the world, who have come from all different backgrounds.
I myself served as well as I could as a servant to God’s will.
I was born of a mother who was a slave, a family of eight children.
We were the poorest family in our community.
God and faith played a big part in our home and we all survived from lowest of what life can be like, to being a servant in God’s world was a good achievement.
God put me in places, that I feel that I could not do, but He gave me the courage and helped me through it all. At the end, He blessed me with several grandchildren, which bring me joy and reminds me of how powerful God can be in one’s life.
Like in Mary’s devotion, today, my time is running out, and my church still accepts me to help in our summer VBS still.
As I fad away, the children don’t even know my name.
Ten years ago, everyone in my Presbytery knew me, which included most of my church.
Now I’m just a bench warmer in the pews every week.
Thank you for bringing to us readers such a good “Daily” reading, which pushes up our faith as the days go by.
May God bless you, your family, the staff, and the PCC for having such an impact on our lives.
May God keep you and all our readers to be always faithful in the days to came with the new arrangement for this “Daily” devotion.
I am so thankful that you did such a tremendous job every day.
(Quebec)
Congratulations on your retirement Robin, Well done, good and faithful servant.
I wish you and your wife every blessing after all being such a blessing for so many.
Thank you to all the team as well. So much hard work for so many years. You all did such a fantastic job, it seemed to seamless; It all came together, but I know there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than ever let on. Genius.
It has been a privilege and honour to be a small part of this special ministry.
As Bob Hope said (I think?) “Thanks for the memories.” Boy are there lots.
I look forward to that great day when we will meet up and the banquet with our Lord.
May the Lord bless and be gracious to all of you.
Yours in Christ,
Blessings.
Thank you, Robin!
Thanks Robin, we’ve all been blessed by your work. Thanks brother, rest easy.
I have followed the Daily Devotional for many years and really appreciate the time the writers and staff put into it. They were encouraging and I loved the insights into daily living with the Word. I would read the devotionals every night before I went to bed. Thank you for being such a blessing to me. May God bless you and your family in your retirement!
Thanks again Robin for this amazing ministry, and for encouraging me to subscribe a few years ago. The dailies have been so seamless to add in as a daily part of my life.