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I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. (Psalm 34: 1-8, 19-22 The Message in honor and memory of Rev. Eugene Peterson)
A wonderful Thursday to you and yours, dear Friend! It's already a wonderful one over here, as early as it is, for it is our granddaughter Eliana's 6th birthday! And we plan to drive down in a bit to be with her and enjoy the October Birthday party for her, Liam, Carli, and yours truly. Eliana and I share the same birthday! What a marvelous gift that was to me six years ago; and still is. So, Happy Birthday, Eliana, and all who have birthdays in October! A great month to be born! Weren't you glad you chose it as your birth month? I was blessed to have visited Kathleen Bowman yesterday at The Heights care facility. She's doing good, all things considered and ready to come home! The doctors have a different view, but that's how it usually goes; but her heart is set on getting well enough to return to her home and that is blessing her. Please continue to lift her up in prayer. Prayers for those whom you carry in your heart with needs that remain unshared or unspoken; God hears our thoughts and answers our prayers. Pray for one another, pray for yourselves.
Nellie and I were blessed with a birthday meal at Cow Palace in Gonzales by Laverne Brzozowski and Rosannah Green. These gracious ladies were in my Wednesday Bible study and decided to treat us in this way. This meal, like all good meals involves taste. I shouldn't confess that last night our daughter Carli surprised Dad with a small birthday cake. Yes, taste again. Taste is a doorway to great experiences, an amazing creation of God's handiwork that allows the mouth to tell the brain and all points in between - This is good! Enjoy! And for the psalmist, God is so awesome and good, that he decides we can taste God and if we do, we realize that God is good! God is a blessing and presence for all the senses! And to enjoy those is to fully immerse ourselves in worship and praise of Him! Imagine Sundays being a time to truly enjoy the taste of the Lord; more people would want to go to church if they had that mindset! Most of the things we enjoy in taste come well prepared, as labors of love and those are the ones we enjoy the most - Imagine all that God has labored just for you! With His hands, He made you, shaped you, formed you, and placed you in a place to be a blessing for Him and His - enjoy! Taste that! If the seasoning is not right, change it! Start in your heart and mind, and through prayer and obedience, the flavor will be just right. Imagine if Jesus had said you and I were salt - wait! He did! We add the flavor to life; we can make other people glad to be alive because we are!
PRAYER: Lord, as the psalmist said, so say we. We want to praise You all the time. We want praise to be part of the taste that lingers on our lips long after the meal of worship. Let our hearts rejoice, let our lives be flavor that blesses the lives of others. We sought You and You were there for us; You answered prayers and delivered us in times of need. We have found the fullness of life in You. You taste good! Hear our prayer, bless our lives and loved ones; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Use all your senses today to realize how good and tasty God truly is!
Eradio Valverde
Prayers for Nellie and I, and all the members of our family, as we all travel today and tomorrow to be together in Mission, Texas! Thank you!
