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Hear the devotional read here: https://bit.ly/3ovFdnE
Wonderful List of To-Do's and To-Be's! 16 Be cheerful no matter what; 17 pray all the time; 18 thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 19 Don't suppress the Spirit, 20 and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. 21 On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. 22 Throw out anything tainted with evil. 23 May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together - spirit, soul, and body - and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. 24 The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it! (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 The Message)
Well, a wonderful Tuesday be yours, dear ConCafe Family! And may this day be a day of wonderful opportunities for you, dear Friend is my prayer. As we pray, we ask prayers for John Reaves, son of Bill and Ann, of FUMC-Gonzales. He has contracted Covid-19. Pray for all who have the illness and pray for healing and comfort. Pray for one another; pray for yourselves.
I love cheerful people. You meet them in the most unexpected places, and sometimes even in churches! The old story of the little boy who raised his hand when the preacher was asking for prayer requests; "Preacher, I'd like to ask God to send us some more cheerful people around here!" Mark Twain said something about having seen more smiles on undertakers than on church members. Okay, I will stop. But it does make you wonder, right? Which attracts more? The sullen or the cheerful? Yes, there are times when being cheerful is difficult, but the Apostle is addressing what should be deep within, and that should be a strong faith with a strong positive outlook that looks beyond and above what may easily drag others down, but the believer with a cheerful heart and spirit will know what to ask, and to do, to be lifted daily into the realm that others perhaps do not fully understand; because, dear friends, we are supernatural people, called out and set apart for something better. Paul's command, "Be cheerful no matter what." Evidence of cheerfulness? A smile. A contagious smile. It goes a long way touching others in a positive way.
The second is a no-brainer; "Pray all the time." There is something to prayer. As one writer called it, a "holy habit" used by Jesus, and one we should use as well. Imagine life as a constant conversation with someone who listens to you. We all have those friends who never let us have a word in their "conversation" with us; God does. God listens. God answers. And a necessary component of our side of the conversation? "Thank God no matter what happens." It won't be easy at times, but a grateful heart blesses God as it blesses you ultimately. And Paul adds, "This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live."
Another component is to be in a fellowship where you know the Holy Spirit is present and active; such as a church where the pastor delivers a word from God about how to better live and treat others. Listen, reflect, review, and cut out that which is not truly from God. Avoid all things that have no place in the Christian life. And ask the only One who is holy to make us holy as well; in all areas, spirit, soul and body. God can do it, for God is dependable. Don't you love the closing line of this passage, "If He said it, He'll do it!"
PRAYER: Loving Father, move among the sick and bring healing. Move among the unhappy and broken-hearted and bring joy and hope. Move among the unmovable and make change happen for the better; and to those who doubt, bring a dose of faith so strong it will be spread to all; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Smile, yes, even behind the mask because people can tell!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
