THE CHILDREN’S BREAD
– MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL –
1st. APRIL 2024
SCRIPTURE
‘” The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.’”
Jeremiah 1: 11-12, NIV.
Child of God, please, for transparency’s sake, let me begin by saying, that the house in the picture is not where I live. On a particular day last month, I had to go to work by train as my car was with the mechanic for inspection. On that note, as I was passing by this house, my eyes could not just stop admiring the blossoming tree in front of it. I found this tree so beautiful, so much so, that I could not help, but stop for a while to admire it even more, and eventually I just had to pull out my phone to take a picture of it, in order to share with my beloved ones, who love the good things of life, instead of hating on it, envying it, or trying to become a tree to compete with it! As I stood there admiring the sight of the tree and it’s blossoming flowers, a woman who, either owned, or lived in the house drove past me, but eventually pulled back a bit, to stopped beside where I stood, and with a huge smile which suggested that I was not the first she had seen admiring this beautiful sight, in German she said, “very beautiful isn’t it?!” I replied, while smiling back at her, “beautiful, is an understatement!” She laughed and drove into the garage of the house, and having captured this beauty with my camera, I continued walking, and though I missed the particular train I had initially wanted to take, yet, it was worth it, as I still made it to work on time!
As a result of Who the Holy Spirit of God Almighty is, child of God, during Spring, and wherever I see such blossoming trees, I am always reminded of the promises of God Almighty to me, some of which had already come to pass, while some others are yet to come to fruition. Therefore, when I stop to admire such sights, I am literally smiling with the Holy Spirit within me as He would always remind me of things which He had already spoken forth, either to me or through me with regards to myself, His children, the Church, or some other things, which has already come to pass, while making me observe the mysteries of many other things which He had hinted me about, unfolding before my very eyes. In the same vein, He is reminding me, that just like the different seasons of the earth, which comes and goes, and till the earth ceases to be, the seasons will keep on rotating. Likewise, His words to me, to His chosen ones, and through us, will keep on flowing like a beautiful river, and will never cease, in order to bring about the manifestations of the the will of God Almighty. Thus, this is a new season and it is time for new words, new songs, new prophecies, new blessings, miracles, insights, revelations, new mercies, and new move of the Holy Spirit of the only Holy and ETERNALLY LIVING GOD!!!
ANOTHER SCRIPTURE
“’Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” (2: 29-33)
“’For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’ (2: 30-34)
“’Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (2: 36-39)
“’And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.’” (2: 40-41)
Acts 2 : 29-41, NKJV.
Child of God, what is so remarkable about the Bible portion, which is directly above is, that these were both the words and quotations of Apostle Peter, shortly after the Ascension of Jesus Christ. It is just so remarkable that though good news it was, that the Messiah, Who was at the same time, their Master, Teacher, Helper, and Friend was risen. That notwithstanding, a bitter-sweet feeling, it certainly must have been, as they had to continue their lives preaching the Gospel without Him. I do believe, that it definitely would not have been easy for them after three years of ministry together, to now have to do ministry without HIM. I mean, the realization that they would not hang around town, or fellowship together like they used to do, must have been initially very difficult for them to deal with.
Yet, despite what people must have thought or said about them, and despite the fact that they must have been afraid of those who hated them because of their affiliation with Christ, they continued believing in what He had called them to do, knowing that they were on the right course. I am really inspired by the courage of these Apostles, especially after they had finally parted ways, bodily, with their Friend and Master, Jesus. Therefore, it should likewise encourage us who are His true followers to emulate them, that although the path would most definitely have been much harder without the One, Who was their “Navigation system” as well as their “Protector,” yet, they never gave up or felt the need to quit the ministry! As a result, whenever we are faced with the end of a chapter of our lives, be it the end of a job, death of a loved one, partnership, friendship, marriage, or a phase in our lives, which we hoped or never even anticipated would be a reality, we are to remember the Apostles of Christ; how they too, must have felt alone, lost, and fearful, even despair at times, without the help or reassuring voice of the One, Who had been their Friend, Way, Counselor, and Confidant for so long. Like I started off with, relative to the blossoming tree, which for me was a harbinger of spring, it is worth noting, that when a chapter is about to close, sometimes, if not most times, it is an indication of the beginning of a new one, and at this juncture, I could pause to say a lot about how, or what it feels like when phases of our lives are at the verge of ending, but it would be a lot to speak on, therefore, in a nutshell – IT IS A BITTER, YET, SWEET FEELING.
Months prior to the season, when I saw this very beautifully blossoming tree, I had driven past the same house many times, and walked past it once in a while, yet, not even for once, did I stop, in order to admire that house because to me, just like many other houses, it didn’t have anything that was attractive as to draw my attention in such a way, that would make me stop to admire it, even for a second. This is so, because the season which had just passed was winter, and winter like we all know is when things die…. In winter, there was no leaf on the tree, nothing about this tree to behold, which to me, made the house seem all the more, very ordinary. In contrast to Spring, which is a time of new beginnings, when new things begin to blossom where the old had just died, the dull house, due to the blossoming tree turned into a stunner! Child of God, we have to consider that the house in and of itself, had not changed at all, as it is still the same; had not been renovated, nor repainted, no, it is the same house. That notwithstanding, within the season the tree was blossoming, the same boring house was suddenly commanding such standing ovation which in the previous season it didn’t, and without thinking deep, my perception would be, that this is solely because of the tree in front of it!
Yes, THE TREE – In comparison to the tree, many months prior, the house, just like many other houses, was boring to by-passers as it was without leaves, nor flowers, or anything, that was worth giving it a second glance, not to talk of making people to stop in their tracks, just to admire it for a longer period. I was one of such admirers, and like I had already said; I did not only turn to admire it, but I stopped, walked back, in order to stand directly opposite to it, and eventually took few pictures to have a lasting memory of it!
WORD OF WISDOM
What are you driving at with this, sister Susan? Well, child of God, all what this is about is, that for a genuine child of God Almighty, whenever you realize, that a chapter of your life is about to end, and especially when you know that this imminent ending is inevitable, I have come to understand that regardless of what is to come, it is for your good as it is an indication of a new chapter of your life, which is according to the will of God Almighty for you. I want you to know one thing, and that is this: Regardless of how much hatred that particular house seemed to attract because it doesn’t seem to measure up with mine and other people’s requirements, I want us to be reminded, that the house possesses what we all admire, thus, would wish could belong to us. It possesses something that is so beautiful, that although it’s beauty is not always there for us to behold, but just seasonal. Nonetheless, whenever that season comes around, we all can’t help but to wish it belongs to us, thus, would be willing to pay anything to have it standing before our beautiful houses – It possesses the beautiful tree, which blossoms every spring to the admiration of all, both the poor, the rich, and the very wealthy. Therefore, even though we may all hate the house for it’s simplicity or ordinary state, but since we love the tree for its flowers, we would have to also admire the house for being endowed with such a tree 😊! This is where the wicked ones will definitely say to themselves, ‘“Now we know “sister” Susan, therefore, we are either going to cut off the tree, or uproot it and plant in front of our own houses ☹!’” But to them, I would say, “No – You can’t, as this same wickedness has been done to this particular tree a billion times and counting. Therefore, it will grow back again, and each time it does, it becomes even more beautiful than before! That notwithstanding, even if you believe to have succeeded in uprooting and planting it before your own house, it will not die, if anything, it would wither in the ground that belongs to another, and could even permanently poison the ground where you planted it because it is not just about the tree, but rather, the beautiful tree is only beautiful because it gets its nourishment out of the beauty of the house. On that note, the tree is only beautiful because it is receiving its nutrients from the ordinary, simple or for the lack of a better word, poor looking house, but also for the fact, that it is standing in close proximity to the house – The tree is just a reflection of the beauty, that belongs to the house. Thus, in the real essence, it is not about the tree, but rather – It is all about THE HOUSE (Job14:7).
In conclusion, precious ones, let us all learn to appreciate the little things of life because that is where the beauty of life is truly found!
Child of God, be happy and stay blessed
Jesus loves you.
Sister Susan