so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…
Ephesians 3:17-18 NIV
Rooted and Grounded
In 2018, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Burin Peninsula became the first of eight communities to sign on to the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Roots of Hope project — a community-led suicide prevention initiative that aims to prevent suicide with strategies adapted to the local context. All community initiatives are centred on Roots of Hope’s five pillars, which include everything from building public awareness to reducing access to potentially dangerous situations. On Burin Peninsula, public awareness has been at the heart of the effort thus far, and with great success.
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A number of years ago we planted a Weeping Cherry tree in our backyard. Where we wanted to put it is at the bottom of a hill where runoff water often gathers. We were concerned that the ground would be too wet, but the tree is doing well. It put its roots deep and now is of a size where it is using that excess water to flourish. This is an example of what the Bible speaks about in Ephesians 3:17-18: “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…” As we put our roots down deep in Jesus, we are better able to connect with the spiritual nutrients and living water that is available to live a life that brings Him honour and glory. Jesus loves you, and the more you grasp that, the closer you will walk with Him. Take time today to be rooted and grounded in Him.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley