Image from First United Methodist Gonzales, TX, photo by Eradio Valverde
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere, ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor, subjecting all things under their feet.’ Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying,‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’ (Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12)
May this be a Terrific Tuesday, dear Friend! I pray God's rich and powerful blessings upon you and yours. As we pray today, please remember these individuals and families; Martha Jo Whitt, underwent successful knee replacement surgery. I visited her as she was having supper and she had already gotten up twice with no effort nor pain. Pray she continue to heal comfortably. Prayers for the family of Rebecca Garza Esquivel, of Falfurrias, TX. who dies yesterday morning. She is Nellie's first cousin. Nellie was born in Falfurrias and upon leaving the hospital spent her first days on the ranch owned by Rebecca's mom and dad, Nellie's aunt and uncle. May God comfort the family is our prayer. Nellie and I will travel down to the funeral. Pray for one another, pray for yourselves.
The above photograph was taken this past Sunday. God has richly blessed our congregation with a great group of children. Pastor Matt is leading them during children's sermon and the kids had a ball. Today's passage underscores Monday's gospel lesson about the love and care that God has for children. Yesterday, as Jesus spoke about marriage and its seriousness before God, children tried to come and see Jesus and the always protective disciples tried to send the kids away; Jesus stopped them and spoke of the importance of children in God's kingdom. Today's passage shows the importance of Jesus as God's Son, and us, as God's children, for whom He came. And towards the end of the passage Jesus calls us brothers and sisters as we call him our Savior.
The scope of God's interaction and work among His people changed through the years as the passage says; God spoke through prophets then through a Son; whom we know to be the heir of all things, and through Whom He also created all things. Jesus is the reflection of God's glory and, I love this, "The exact imprint of God's very being." A mentor of mine in ministry when he baptized infants would hold the baby and look intently at it and would say, "This baby looks a little like Dad, and looks a little like Mom; but this baby looks more like God, in whose image he was made." That touched my heart as to the importance of us never forgetting that you and I are made in God's image. Too easily, we let political divisions, or other barriers or qualifiers erase that from our minds; Jesus would call us to rise above that, to loving one another in spite of who we're voting for, or the accent we may have in our speech, or the other countless things that can so easily divide. In God's math, we are to be specialists in multiplication as in "Be fruitful and multiply!" meaning the work of our churches; not to be ruthless dividers. All children, whether they are ours or not, look to us and learn from us. May the learn the lesson of love and harmony from us, as is the plan and purpose of God for our lives.
PRAYER: Loving Father, thank You for being our heavenly Father. We ask you forgive us for so easily forgetting how fragile life can be especially for those just starting their journeys here on the earth. May we be shining examples of those who know and love You and because of that, love one another. In Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name we pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a child of love today; the kind that smiles at everyone! Be a blessing!
Eradio Valverde
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