Today’s Reflection
GROWING UP, I spent my summers in the state of Washington. Now and then when my family would drive by the apple orchards, I would stare out the car window, amazed at the splendor of the trees. I was mesmerized by how enormous the orchards were and how perfectly the trees were aligned.
As I got older I realized this beauty was a sign of the labor put into the orchard. Each tree had to be watered, pruned, inspected for insects – and that is just the beginning. Off in the distance I could see younger trees maturing, getting ready one day to be harvested. While these trees were not bearing fruit, they were tended to with as much, if not more, attention, than the trees bearing fruit. I realized that none of this beauty, and especially none of the fruit, could occur without care, patience, and endurance. For neglected trees wither and eventually die.
Paul first speaks of “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23 and continues the metaphor again in Colossians. This image of fruitfulness is very appropriate. The gospel message is indeed a living, growing reality for those who receive it. It dwells with us, taking root and maturing as deeply as we care for it. As fruit bears seeds that then spread and germinate, we are able to share and spread the gospel with others so that they may bear fruit as well.
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Disciplines 2010
From the reading for July 9, 2010, by Dee Dee Azhikakath (that week’s theme: Are We As Faithful As We Think?), page 202 in The Upper Room Disciplines 2010: A Book of Daily Devotions. Copyright © 2009 by Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
Where is the Spirit inviting you to spread the gospel? Share your thoughts.
Today’s Scripture
“My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.”
Mark 5:23, NRSV
This Week: pray a prayer of praise every day this week. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.
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This week we remember: Irenaeus (June 28).
Lectionary Readings
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24 Comments
Thankful for a very positive day yesterday with my son, meals together, site seeing, Crawford Notch, the White Mountains, Cranmore Resort in North Conway, NH, waterfalls, and a quick thunderstorm. It was a long day, but all went well. Hope to do some more today to move things along.
Thankful for the supportive posts from the UR family. I’ll respond individually as well. Very helpful and encouraging.
Have a railroad historical society director’s meeting midday today. While I travel to a town to be with others, the meeting will happen over the phone with people up and down the railroad’s route. This is a new attempt to enable more participation in an easier way.
Church with communion tomorrow.
Yes, prayers for Marcy, your very comprehensive posts under ,tough
conditions amaze me. Praying for your progress with health and well being.
Safety, improved hands and foot, and the assurance all will work out well I pray for Julie. Lord open the hearts of all concerned. God’s peace, comfort,
and assured presence for Gloria, Larry, Jill, and Becky. I echo Marcy’s wish to hear frequently from all the UR posters. Your messages are missed.
May you all have a wonderful weekend, many of us need to stay as cool as we can with the heat wave in effect, have a blessed Sunday, hopefully with the joy of communion. Thank You, Lord.
Robert, how wonderful to hear of your day traveling with Erich yesterday. I am keeping you both in prayer. Thank you for your prayers, as I continue to “hang in there.” Allprayers to God are strengthening me.
If you have time, I would enjoy reading more about your trains. I had questions and cannot find them. I will go back and read what you posted not so long ago (a month?)
Blessings!
Had a board of directors meeting for the Central Vermont Railway Historical Society today, This was the first one done by conference call and it worked out quite well. Worked on ways to add younger people to our membership, where we’ll meet for our 2019 convention, getting back issues to a member, the possible new location of the archive, finances, and the society’s magazine.
We were done in an hour, that was a first.
Had a tour of the old CV HQ photo display and then a tour of the St Albans Museum CV and agriculture collection. Wonderful what has been collected.
Outdoors is a whistle /mile post and a humpty do – hand powered rail car.
Am sending photos, articles, and a journal to Germany. Brill cars, gas-electric powered rail cars, were built in Philadelphia by the J. G. Brill Co, Brill came from Kassel in Hesse so there’s a German, even Hessian, connection to the CV.
Hope all this railroad talk puts a little steam in your tank. Thanks so much for your interest.
With God’s help you are good hands.
Praise God that Robert and Erich had a very positive day yesterdsy! May both of you have many more very positive and happy days ahead!
Blessings!
I am trying to be ultra aware of The Spirit’s leading, as I long to share truth with my mom. My counselor encouraged me to meditate and pray on the Fruit of the Spirit passage from Galatians, and how I can very simply bear evidence of this fruit when I am with my mom. Never anticipated that my mom would become my “mission field”. Just look for openings/opportunities to quietly, not obtrusively, demonstrate fruit to her. May have the opportunity today, as I have asked her to go to an arts festival with me this morning. She has a birthday party later in the afternoon, and with the heat, may not be able to do both. I am to call her this morning and see how she is doing.
It is so good to know that members of this community are lifting each other in prayer throughout the day. Father – I bring before you Robert and Erich – their great relationship and care for each other; Andrea – her husband, daughter, son-in-law and grandson; Lou and her time traveling with her youngest; Mary and her many responsibilities with school, as well as caring for her parents; Betsy and her friends’ loss; Marcy and her physical needs; Julie and her daughter and their future well being. Father – You know us intimately and You see to our needs – increase our trust in You and Your timing. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
I am grateful for an afternoon walk yesterday with one of my graduated seniors – the one who invited me to her baptism a few weeks back. How she loves The Lord and it was pure gift to spend time with her. She was such a quiet support for me during my mom’s operation, diagnosis and recovery. We walked for over two hours. She has been in foster care for over three years and I learned a bit more about her mom at her baptism. Yesterday she shared with me some more about her mom. We both were honest and vulnerable when talking about our moms and will be holding each other in prayer moving forward. I praise God for His work in Stevie’s life.
Bless your family and you. Your words are an inspiration and a “light unto our path”.
Thank you, Jill for your prayers. You and your family are deep in mine! Lovely to hear about Stevie, your graduated senior, who walks and talks with you. Sending Love and well wishes!
I praise God for saturday work. Managed to prepare the lessons and also think of how to help my new colleague as she is new in this teaching line. Hope i can give her some tips with my experience.
Thank you Jill for your post and prayers. May God grant you strength as you work on your mum.
For me, it is to spread love at my work place.
Blessings to all!
You also spread love here.
Sweet sister Mary, thank you for your Love and light!
Thank you Connie and Marcy!
Both of you are so encouraging!
May we continue to uplift and edify one another in the body of Christ!
Blessings!
God spoke to me today!!!!!
This morning I had enough of fear and I remembered some words of a verse of scripture about God not giving us a fearful spirit but a strong one. I then read my morning emails, the one from Guideposts includes an invitation to share a prayer concern which I have been doing since the my current issue began. After the concern is submitted a Scripture verse and message are returned. This mrnings scripture was 2Timothy1:7: For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but of stregth, love and sound judgment. I am shaking.
Prayers for Marcy and thankful for her post.
Prayers for Robert and Erich and continued success.
Prayers for Jill and Gloria. May Goria have ears to hear.
Prayers for Mary. May she have a restful and stress free weekend.
Prayers and blessings to all and thank you for your prayers and kind words
You are strong, you are fearless, and you are loved.
Julie, I am praising God for His Word to you today! I used to ask myself, “What would I do if I wasn’t afraid?” What a great answer in 2 Timothy 1: 7! I am praying for you always, friend…..
Praise God for removing your fears!
God’s word is powerful!
May we all be rooted firmly in God’s word so that when we face storms in our luves, we will not be easily uprooted and be paralyzed by fear!
Spreading the Gospel? In my daily life, I hope. My daughter-in-law and I share sermons we have heard, scriptures, and our thoughts. I mentioned the book of Ephesians and the scripture in which a group tried to heal a man of a demon in Paul’s words and the demon said “Who are you?” and drove them out, naked and battered.
I am here every day, but I tend to not post when I feel discouraged. I follow you all faithfully.
Thankful for:
Dinner with a Granddaughter.
Robert’s amazing prayers.
Coolness in very hot temps. 96+
Have a safe holiday weekend and week, dearest Reflection Friends. Every day I think of you and love you all.
Connie, I have missed your comments and am glad to see your comment today but sad to hear you have been feeling discouraged. Prayers for you. Your daughter- in-law sounds like a real blessing, and you to her. God bless you.
Connie, I don’t like to post when discouraged either and try not to go on about my health, but it is overwhelming. I tried, for awhile, to wait to comment until I had “good news from the doctor” or am having a “great day.” Now, my vision is affected.
So I praise God for your uplifting and encouraging words. Thank you! I will be keeping you in my prayers!
Thank you, Marcy. Remember, every one shares in their own way and you do just fine! We love you just the way you are!
Thank you all and Marcy. Thank you Jesus. I was given a cross made of cedar. I hold it in my hand easily. The person who gave it to me said hold it and say “Thank you Jesus” aloud. This is an ever present visual reminder to be grateful and vocal. Blessings to all.
Gail, I also have a wooden cross that was given to me by a Bible study member who has passed away some years ago. The next time I have some help, I will look for it. Thank you for this inspiration!
Thank you, Marcy, for your thoughts and prayers, and for your model to us of your faith and persistence. I pray you will get stronger and regain your health. God bless you.
Thank you, Andrea, for your prayers. I’m praying so hard for you and your daughter and your concerns. Thanking God you and your daughter are taking a class together and spending time together with your grandson. Time is precious and I pray she will see that this so. Blessings!
Thank you, loving siblings here in the UR Reflections family, for your prayers! I am embarrassed to tell you I was off one year, in knowing my age after my birthday this month. My Pastor pointed it out just last week when we spoke on the phone. It’s possible, that now I may be able to get help at home, but if I have to pay, I can’t. I think the loss of my best friend and sister in Christ, in January 2017, put me in a time warp! Seriously, I’m still missing her terribly. It’s selfish, for she is completely healed from all her earthly infirmities. I must do better!
Sending you all Loving thoughts and prayers today and every day!
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