Image from verseoftheday.com
Hear the narration here of this devotional: https://bit.ly/2GlS1MA
1 God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. 2 Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. 3 Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded, 4 But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. God makes a huge dome for the sun - a superdome! 5 The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape. 6 That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith. 7 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. 8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. 9 God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. 10 God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries. 11 There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. 12 Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? 13 Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. 14 These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar. (Psalm 18 The Message)
Happy Thursday, dear Friend! I pray this finds you well and enjoying God's rich blessings on your life. We continue to lift our prayers for Ms. Elizabeth Alegria Riley, who is holding her own, and we're trusting God for recovery in her life. I share a praise; Mrs. Eva Boscamp today, Oct. 1st, celebrates a birthday! Those who know her, know of her love for God and God's children; and she is a faithful member of First UMC in Gonzales, TX. She was a teacher in Sinton, TX, for some years and we pray God bless her with a wonderful day and many more! And in case you're wondering, she is a nickel shy of a dollar! And blessings upon blessings to you who join us in this faith journey that is ConCafe!
I love living in Seguin. At a retirement workshop the year I retired, we had to share where in the world we were going to land after retirement and I will never forget that right after I said, "Seguin!" A voice yelled, "Why Seguin?" I answered, "Why not, Seguin??" I love the morning sky when stars and planets are still visible more so than a large city and when the moon is right there alongside them. It makes me sing inside of the joy I have for God's great creation. We're close enough to big cities, and we're also growing as two or three new subdivisions are making their appearance within our city limits. The more the merrier! But, I can see why David wrote these awesome words, and why Rev. Eugene Peterson, adapted them in his The Message Bible. Dr. Peterson tried to modernize it, and in most cases knocked it out of the park. Indeed, God's glory is on tour in the skies, all examples of a lovingly crafted masterpiece by God all across the horizon. No better classes in which to sit and study, listen and learn, that those of "Madame Day and Professor Night,." Listen closely to their "words" silent as they may indeed be to the ears, but blast away in our sight; God has been, is now here, and will always be here! This psalm very fittingly frames the scriptures for the week, and would make for an awesome sermon of what God has done in our midst.
We are indeed creatures made by the Creator who choose to worship Him and not creation. Creation blesses us with richness and joy, but all they offer has come from the hands of the Master Builder, God Himself. All things created and shared form the perfect picture of Who God is, and what God has to offer us now and forever. Don't you love the psalmist's take on "God's reputation?" It's "twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee"! And God's word? "It's better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds." As we study it, we are blessed with something better and sweeter than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries," yet, it is that word that guides and warns us about where we could end up.
Listen to the prayer towards the end, "Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin." Amen!
PRAYER: Loving God, we stand in awe of all You have made and shared with us. Let us never wander far from child-like awe and wonder of this; lead us closer to You and to each other. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share some of your childlike awe and wonder with someone who may have misplaced theirs!
Receive my blessing of hope and healing,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
