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"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion - do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6:25-34 The Message)
Happy Thanksgiving, dear Friend! I pray this be a time of joy and reflection and a time when we truly give thanks to the Lord for all the Lord has done since last Thanksgiving. I pray that if there is a place empty this year, give thanks to the Lord for the love that ushers us into God's presence, and ask God's comfort be with those who miss those absent from the table. I also pray that we would be mindful of those who do not have the opportunity to be with family and loved ones; may God bless them and be with them is our prayer.
The Message gives Jesus' Sermon on the Mount a fresh perspective. It was an invitational sermon calling on those who heard it to decide to be God's people and live in ways that gave honor and glory to God. It was also a "hang in there" type sermon asking that God's people know what truly matters and counts in this life. It is NOT about the food on the table or what you wear to the table; it's about knowing the Who is behind all our blessings. Spoiler alert! It's God.
My prayer is for you to enjoy these days of holiday; may they truly be holy and filled with our awareness of the presence of God in our midst.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM NELLIE AND ALL THE VALVERDE FAMILY!
Eradio Valverde
