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23 Children of Zion, celebrate! Be glad in your God. He's giving you a teacher to train you how to live right - Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words to refresh and nourish your soul, just as he used to do. 24 And plenty of food for your body - silos full of grain, casks of wine and barrels of olive oil. 25 "I'll make up for the years of the locust, the great locust devastation - Locusts savage, locusts deadly, fierce locusts, locusts of doom, That great locust invasion I sent your way. 26 You'll eat your fill of good food. You'll be full of praises to your God, The God who has set you back on your heels in wonder. Never again will my people be despised. 27 You'll know without question that I'm in the thick of life with Israel, That I'm your God, yes, your God, the one and only real God. Never again will my people be despised. The Sun Turning Black and the Moon Blood-Red 28 "And that's just the beginning: After that - "I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters. Your old men will dream, your young men will see visions. 29 I'll even pour out my Spirit on the servants, men and women both. 30 I'll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below: Blood and fire and billowing smoke, 31 the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Judgment Day of God, the Day tremendous and awesome. 32 Whoever calls, 'Help, God!' gets help. On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be a great rescue - just as God said. Included in the survivors are those that God calls. (Joel 2:23-32 The Message)
Today is a special day as it marks what would have been my parents' 75th Wedding Anniversary. How I miss them! What makes it a special day is that I remember when I was a child I stared at the calendar and said, "Hmm, hey, wait a minute!" I went to my Dad and said, "Hey, you guys got married on the 22nd of October and then on the 25th, three days later, I was born!" My Dad laughed and said, "Yes, Mijito, but we were born two years before you were born!" Huh? Oh, okay! Then several years later, our oldest also stared at the calendar and asked the very thing. "Daddy, I was born February 1st and you guy got married on the 25th??" And I laughed and thought of my Dad, and say, "Yes, but we were married two years before you were born!" So, Happy Heavenly Anniversary Mom and Dad!
Last night right before I fell asleep Nellie said, "If you really think you can drive now, maybe you can try tomorrow when Carli gets home so she can go with you." That's all I needed to not sleep with excitement of my being able to drive after about three months of not driving. Would my house arrest finally be over? So, this morning after our breakfast I dressed and announced that I would go and try driving. "Do you want me to come with you?" sounding like she hoped not; "Yes! I'd love for you to come." So, long story short, I'm driving again and I'm excited! I praise the Lord that my initial excursions were successful. Thank You, Lord Jesus! So, watch out!
We come again to the familiar story of a prophet speaking to a defeated, destroyed people. This time it was to hear good news from God. The bad days were over and now the horizon was filled with the promise of renewal and restoration. This may be your story as it has been mine at different times. Because we trust the Lord, the Lord comes through; usually in some awesome ways, make that, unexpected ways. To the people of Zion God says, "Celebrate! Be glad in your God. He's giving you a teacher to train you how to live right - Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words to refresh and nourish your soul, just as He used to do." This is not mere encouragement—it is an invitation to expect restoration and participate in revival.
Joel reminds us that God is not limited by what was lost. The years consumed by destruction, regret, or rebellion are not beyond His reach. God does not just mend; He multiplies. The same God who allowed the land to be stripped is the God who promises overflowing harvests. The same God who calls us to repentance is the God ready to pour out His Spirit on all flesh.
God does not promise restoration so we can return to life as usual. He promises an outpouring of His Spirit so we can rise up in holy purpose. Sons and daughters will prophesy. Ordinary people will be filled with extraordinary power. Revival won’t be confined to pulpits or institutions—it will break out in living rooms, workplaces, farms, cities, and small towns.
But revival begins where repentance and expectation meet. When we humble ourselves, God releases His Spirit freely. When we turn back to Him, He turns devastation into destiny.
Joel proclaims a radical truth: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This includes the broken, the wandering, the spiritually dry, the young, the old, and the ones who thought their best days were behind them. It includes you.
God is gathering a people who will not sit on the sidelines of His promise but will step into the flow of His Spirit with boldness, believing that revival is not only coming—but is here.
Joel proclaims a radical truth: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This includes the broken, the wandering, the spiritually dry, the young, the old, and the ones who thought their best days were behind them. It includes you.
God is gathering a people who will not sit on the sidelines of His promise but will step into the flow of His Spirit with boldness, believing that revival is not only coming—but is here.
PRAYER: Lord God, we thank You for Your promise of restoration and Your outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We confess our need for You—we turn from complacency and call upon Your name. Send the rain of Your presence on our homes, churches, and communities. Revive our hearts and awaken our spirits to Your mission. Fill us with boldness to speak Your truth, love deeply, and live courageously in the power of Your Spirit. Let the promise of Joel be fulfilled in our time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Ask God today to show you one specific step of obedience to prepare for His outpouring—and do it immediately.
I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me. Make life better by how you share you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
