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Hear the podcast read here: The passage is from Psalms 37, and not Genesis! (I'm not overworked!) https://bit.ly/3JzJssR
1 Don't bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. 2 In no time they'll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun. 3 Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last. 4 Keep company with God, get in on the best. 5 Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done: 6 He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon. 7 Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top. 8 Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes - it only makes things worse. 9 Before long the crooks will be bankrupt; God-investors will soon own the store. 10 Before you know it, the wicked will have had it; you'll stare at his once famous place and - nothing! 11 Down-to-earth people will move in and take over, relishing a huge bonanza. 39 The spacious, free life is from God, it's also protected and safe. 40 God-strengthened, we're delivered from evil - when we run to him, he saves us. (Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 The Message Bible)
Well, a blessed welcome to Thursday, again! When you have the super-budget (cheap server) one cannot cancel a scheduled email blast. You may have received two emails today, one from a week ago, because of a mix-up in the date, and another was the draft version that I was going to complete today (Wednesday) and mail early tomorrow. And so, you will receive, again, two emails. The first will be the original for tomorrow that I messed up in formatting, and you will get this one. I apologize for that, but I'm thankful you're along for this adventure! Please continue in prayer for those for whom we are praying; pray for yourselves; and pray for one another. Blessings for you, dear Friend, in your life and that that you may be facing, and doing!
It was as if King David read social media on a regular basis, and saw how some promised to make him richer, thinner, healthier, more productive, more handsome, and quite frankly, the list is too long to continue; but hear what he wrote in that first verse. David knew, as should we, that there is really no future in what the world promotes as good or enriching. Ours should be to "keep company with God," and we will rejoice in "getting the best." God offers to us forgiveness, grace, the fullness of life, and the hope of eternal life. What in the world compares to that? Nada.
David knew for us the best road is the way of God. We should be prayerful people, We should strive to know the ways of God for our lives, and be blessed in that way. Anyway, our lives are better spent in doing for others in positive ways than in comparing ourselves to what we would like to have that others have. As David wrote, "The spacious, free life is from God, it's also protected and safe." We say every time we celebrate Holy Communion, "Free us for joyful obedience," and that resonates with this psalm. The one who finds life in God can enjoy a spacious, free life that comes with God's protection and safety. Who can argue against God's strength and deliverance from evil. And when we run to Him, He saves us!
PRAYER: Loving Father, for all that You offer to us, we are thankful and excited! Help us to truly live a contagious and free life that blesses others to join us. Truly free us for a joyful, obedient life. Help us to keep company with You and to live a life that exemplifies a better choice of living. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show off your freedom in Christ today!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
