Image from FB
If you'd like to hear this devotional read, click here: http://bit.ly/2NsXrJN
23 Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers; give glory, you sons of Jacob; adore him, you daughters of Israel. 24 He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening. 25 Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I'll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers. 26 Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. "Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!" 27 From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him. 28 God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word. 29 All the power-mongers are before him - worshiping! All the poor and powerless, too - worshiping! Along with those who never got it together - worshiping! 30 Our children and their children will get in on this As the word is passed along from parent to child. 31 Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news - that God does what he says. (Psalm 22:23-31 The Message Bible)
Happy Thursday to you, dear ConCafe Family; and a double portion of God's Spirit be on you, dear Friend! May the blessings of the Lord find themselves on your lips today, as you freely and willingly share them with so many others! Answered prayer for our dear sweet sister on her challenge; God is good. We continue to pray and wait on the Lord for all things; pray for those on your heart, mind, spirit, and tongue! Pray for other readers of this devotional, for God knows and loves them all; and pray for yourself, because you, better than anyone else, know that God loves you! And if I could, I'd like to take a personal privilege in thanking and praising God for on this day, just 43 years ago, a wonderful, beautiful, and extremely smart lady said yes to marrying me! Happy Anniversary to my love, Nellie Valverde!! Thank you for putting up with me for these years, which for me have been so blessed and wonderful! I love you!
Psalm 22, in the King James version begins in this way, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And we recognize those words from Jesus' last moments on the cross. You may have also heard some versions quote the original tongue, " Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" Sadly, most of us rarely, if ever, read beyond verse one of this powerful psalm and prayer of faith. For instance, today's passage dwells on praising God and taking reassurance in God's faithfulness always with us. And as we read in verse 26 we read the words, "Don't ever quit!" It is indeed a victorious psalm that speaks of what God will ultimately do. Yes, from here to there is a long distance, and the road varies from person to person, but the end result is that God is with us the entire way, and the outcome is always a check in the win column for God.
The image shared by the psalmist is end-times reunion among all people; from all walks of life, from the richest to the poorest, those who ultimately surrendered to God, find themselves, very un-Covid-like, elbow to elbow and sharing a feast of celebration and worship. (Think Thanksgiving with both sides of the family! In-laws and out-laws!); all there because, "God does what He says!" And this dear one, is indeed, Good News!
PRAYER: Journeying Father, hold our hand as we walk together. Some of us can see the end from here, others still caught up in the awe and wonder of the here-and-now, cannot. Yet. But, together, holding and supporting one another, we will make it. Some are so close, yet not completely in, some have indeed heard the Good News, all of us should be sharing those with all; so that when the day comes and we find our place at Thy table, help us now and then to shout and praise, God our Father, does what He says! Amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Help a fellow journey person on his/her way today! Lead, guide, follow, assist, love and embrace all!
Receive my blessings of love and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
