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1 You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ —by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (Ephesians 2:1-10 NRSV)
Happy Tuesday dear ConCafe Family, and a gorgeous day in terms of your faithfulness in service to the Lord, Dear Friend! Our thanks again for your prayers for our nieces, Gina and Nellie Rosales. Gina had to be re-admitted to the hospital because her oxygen level in her blood was too low; once in, she had good numbers thanks to the oxygen treatment she received there. Doctors are giving her new medicines to help her breathe easier. Please continue to pray for Gina and Nellie, and also for Officer Elijah Neely. We trust the Lord and He is gracious unto us. Also, just today we received word that Cindy Deaton, wife of retired pastor, Rev. Mark Deaton, was entering hospice care. Later an invitation was given to those near their New Braunfels home to meet this evening to sing. As about 60 people sang Amazing Grace, she entered into her rest. Pray for Mark's comfort and peace.
We come to yet another powerful message from God through Paul for you and me. Paul reminds his congregation of the reality of how God found us, as dead through missteps and sins; it seemed we lacked the right footing to live a life that God intended for us, and so we were rotting away spiritually; and sadder still it could have been said of any of us that we were disciples of the devil and not God. What a terrible title to have! For us to be governed, managed, ruled by our fleshy passions is not a way to live; but we were giving in to desires and impulses, and quite honestly, we were children of wrath. We looked and lived just like everyone else. God's original intention for all His creation, was for us to be different and set apart from others, to be an example to others; but if we just blend in and people out in the world can't tell the difference between us and those who are righteous, then we are failing in our lives, aren't we? Yet, it was while we were yet sinners, as another verse says, that God found it in His heart to reach out to us and make us "alive together with Christ." It was through grace, a free, undeserved gift of love from God, that salvation came to us; and "raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." And while God intended us for good works, it is solely through God's grace that we are saved. And that should be the way we live.
Please never think that you're too far to be brought back in to where you belong; yes, God's arms are that long. And never think that we have done such terrible things that we can't be forgiven; yes, God's heart and memory are full of love and God forgives all who ask, easily. If you hear otherwise, you're still tuned into the wrong station listening to the wrong DJ; ours is Jesus Himself and He blasts away our sins and doubts, erases our sins and makes us all the grand prize winners of salvation, free. Not by what we have done, but by what we have believed.
PRAYER: Loving God, speak to us when we need to hear loud and clear that which is from You to help us on our path. Forgive us our trespasses and sins, wife away the clouds of doubt and fear; and make us truly Thine. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be the sound of hope that someone needs to hear today!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
