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
 

Psalm 23:5b – My cup runneth over. (KJV)

You may be familiar with the exercise of filling a jar to the half-way mark with water, putting it in a prominent place, and, upon rising, seeing if you view it as "half-full" or "half-empty". Some may even check on it throughout the day, and/or again upon retiring.

When I was introduced to this exercise, it seemed that my jar was more than half-full. Had I cheated, miscalculated? I carefully measured and re-measured. No, mathematically, it was exactly half-full, but still, every day, it seemed to be more than half-full.

We all know the purpose of the exercise has nothing to do with the water in the jar, but how we view our lives.

Some people see their "jars" as "half-empty" … they are missing something. Some others, who may be seen by some to have "half-empty jars", feel their lives are at least "half-full" or more so. The "fullness" of their lives is not measured by the clothes they wear, the material goods they've acquired, or the status they have attained. No, their "fullness" is in direct correlation to their spirituality … their relationship with the Creator in their belief system.

Still for others, the perception of the "fullness of their jar" fluctuates. Upon greeting those whom we know to have "fluctuating fullnesses", instead of using the standard, no-answer-really-required, "How are you doing?" how about stretching it just a bit to "How are you doing today?" or "How are you doing right now?" It can be a big help. So can sharing some of the fullness of your jar, for it seems that when we share, the level of the fullness of our jar is not only maintained, but "runneth over".

What is the "fullness" of your jar?

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we know our "fullness" comes through our relationship with You and our ability to share with those who may not feel the "fullness". We ask that You would guide us as we strive to help them see their jars as "half-full" rather than "half-empty". Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.

Mark 11:25-26 – And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (KJV)

A common theme these days seems to be focusing on forgiving. Several news stories have zeroed in on it and a couple of documentaries have featured people who have forgiven someone and how healing it has been. A woman forgave her husband; a mother her daughter, and so on. In one article, a minister was careful to point out that although it seems to be popular just now to forgive perpetrators "en masse", it is not our place to forgive anyone for something they have done to someone else.

It would be truly wonderful if we could come to a place within ourselves to forgive those whom we deem to have "trespassed" against us. How wonderful for us to be able to look our transgressor in the eye, embrace them with open arms and say, "I forgive you." How wonderful for them to feel our forgiveness.

But just a moment. Is that all there is to it? Do we just have to garner up what it takes for us to forgive them? Is that not a bit righteous? Should we not also ask for God's forgiveness? For when we experience His forgiveness, it enables us to forgive others.

Is there always "the wronged" and "the wrongdoer", or are they at times interchangeable? Have the "wrongdoers" been wronged? Do they perceive things as we do, or did they, in their "wrongdoing", believe either that they had done nothing wrong, or that we or someone else, had done them a "wrong"?

One of the most courageous examples of forgiveness that I remember must surely have been when the mother of a young girl murdered in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, embraced one of her daughter's murderers and forgave her. Our Lord's words echo, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34a KJV) And who among us can say that we, too, can be so forgiving?

We must start young, with the young, and with the "young" things. Forgiving the little things will surely enable us to get to the place where we are able to forgive the larger ones — for ourselves, and for others.

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, guide us in seeking Your forgiveness for our own trespasses, and our own thoughts of being "wronged". Guide us to look within ourselves first, to enable us to forgive others. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.

Philippians 2:1-3 – If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (KJV)

Psalm 16:11 – Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (KJV)

Hanging on a wall in our guestroom is an old framed piece of linen on which someone long ago laboriously embroidered:

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, "Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown," and he replied, "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God; that shall be to you better than light and safer than the known way." (from "The King's Message" 25 December 1939)

The "King" to whom that refers was King George, before my time, but it speaks the message of the King of kings. As we stand close to the gate of a new year, there is bound to be much darkness, much uncertainty. We might think it would be safe to know exactly what lies ahead, but only God knows what paths will be offered to us. He has, however, given us the gift of choice.

We can choose to continue on our same path, the safe path, the known path, or we can choose to put our hand in the hand of God. We might think that we are already doing so, but maybe we could do a little more. Maybe we could check our motives in some of the things we do, and see if indeed we do them for "vainglory" or from "lowliness of mind".

Perhaps our "New Year's Resolution" could be a "New Life Resolution". Perhaps we could make just one small change, do just one more "random act of kindness", or strive to understand some of the things which we haven't. Perhaps we can be the light in someone else's darkness and show by example what it means to be "like-minded, having the same love, of one accord, of one mind".

A little song from the 1960s,"Think a little more of others, and a little less of me", pops into my thoughts every once in a while. Perhaps when we are making our choices in the coming year, we can keep in mind today's passages and (if we remember it) hum that little song.

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, as a new year approaches, may our paths be guided by Your Spirit; may our choices be with Your love, Your guidance. Amen.

Luke 2:6 – And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (KJV)

I received a long-distance call from a friend a while back. She was awaiting news of the birth of her first grandchild, and, lest she be tempted to call and check on the progress every so often, chose to call and talk to me. We managed to avert her temptation for almost an hour.

I remembered the impending birth of our first child. I had called my husband at work, telling him it was "time". He dashed home, dashed in the door, said "I'm here!" and dashed out to the car, leaving me on the doorstep, mouth open, and a little suitcase by my side, as he called nervously in his excitement, "Hurry, we have to get to the hospital. You're going to have a baby!"

Awaiting a birth is a time of great emotion. We are excited, distracted, happy, nervous, apprehensive, in awe. The list is long, the reasons varied. It was no different during the days leading to the birth of Christ, and it is no different today, awaiting the celebration of His birth.

We are excited at the thought of being together. We are tempted by commercials to buy certain products. We plan Christmas parties and carol singing; we bake, buy, and decorate. We dash here and there to get everything done, sometimes leaving the reason for Christmas "on the doorstep with the suitcase".

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, as we dash about during this busy season; as we are tempted by the commercialism; as we ride the roller coaster of emotions such as joy, frustration, love, and sadness; as we feel we are overworked and maybe under-appreciated; as we fear we have overspent; may we take time to remember the real reason we have a Christmas: to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and all the blessings bestowed upon us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

John 16:22-23 – And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. (KJV)

A familiar tune that's heard throughout the Christmas season is Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas". Whether it's Presley's powerful voice, the strings of some instrumental, or the strains of friends pouring out their hearts in song, it is traditionally counted among the contemporary classics of Christmas music.

And although the words refer to the heartache of a love lost to someone else, it reminds us that there are those for whom Christmas is a pretty blue time — black, even — for they are without someone they love. Their loss is through death or impending death, and yet they must function in a world of joy and festivities. They hear repetitive phrases at checkouts telling them to "Have a good Christmas", or wishing them a "Merry Christmas" at a time when their world is falling apart.

Some churches and organizations have a special ceremony to acknowledge "Blue Christmases" where people can go and share their sorrow in a safe and understanding environment.

The world cannot stop around them. Store clerks cannot foresee their pain. What we can do, when faced with someone's pain in the midst of our joy, is to simply say, "I'm sorry". Perhaps in those few words, we are a part of God's answer to what they ask of Him. We can acknowledge their pain and let them know we care. By our actions we demonstrate how Christ's love may work through us to begin to ease their pain.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, help us to remember those for whom this is a painful and difficult time of year. Help us to be understanding of their reactions and of their needs. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Luke 6:38 – Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (KJV)

Christmas is coming, and as well as signifying and celebrating the birth of Jesus, it is a time of gift giving. We wander the stores for the "right" gift for family, friends, neighbours, and service providers. We want to choose something that will make them happy, something they have wanted, wished for, something that will give them great pleasure. But what gift will we give to God? What will we choose for Him?

What is something that He would want, that He might wish for? What can we give Him that will give Him great pleasure?

Though she may not have coined it, I think it was Dolly Parton who said a long, long time ago, "Our talents are God's gift to us. What we do with those talents is our gift to God." She surely has given her gift to God, and to many, through His gift to her.

This then, is what we may give to Him this Christmas. Whatever our talents, may we use them to their fullest, for Him. May we, through Him, realize and utilize those gifts He has given us; for in so doing, we will give to Him something that will give Him great pleasure.

Prayer: We thank You, Father, for even our most basic gifts: our sight that we may see for others; our hands that we may help; our ears that we may listen when someone needs to be heard; our hearts to open wide and share with others; our mouths to say kind words. May we use them well. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.