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1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God showed up and said to him, "I am The Strong God, live entirely before me, live to the hilt! 2 I'll make a covenant between us and I'll give you a huge family." 3 Overwhelmed, Abram fell flat on his face. 4 "This is my covenant with you: You'll be the father of many nations. 5 Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham, meaning that 'I'm making you the father of many nations.' 6 I'll make you a father of fathers - I'll make nations from you, kings will issue from you. 7 I'm establishing my covenant between me and you, a covenant that includes your descendants, a covenant that goes on and on and on, a covenant that commits me to be your God and the God of your descendants. 15 God continued speaking to Abraham, "And Sarai your wife: Don't call her Sarai any longer; call her Sarah. 16 I'll bless her - yes! I'll give you a son by her! Oh, how I'll bless her! Nations will come from her; kings of nations will come from her." (Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 The Message)
A blessed and joyous Wednesday, dear ConCafe Family! And may God bring you just what you need to better serve Him today, dear Friend! Please continue to pray for the needs of your church family and those whose names appear on your church's prayer list. Pray for one another. Pray for yourself.
God reserves the right to share Good News when and how, He desires. Take for instance, the stars of today's passage; Abram and Sarai. These two had just placed their names on the waiting list for the Mount Zion Nursing Home. Their financial advisor had helped them plan ahead, and they were, well honestly, way past the age of waiting list; he also sold them on the idea of final expense insurance, to cover whatever mortgage was left on their tents, and to help them buy nice, adjoining plots at the Shade of the Sahara Memorial Gardens; it also paid off what they still owed on the matching new camels they had purchased some years ago. The plan also provided for new burial robes and matching sandals for the pair. The Red Sea cruise might have to be placed on hold; and Caravan Cruise Lines were understanding. But when God shows up, God shows off! Here comes God again, and the good news He brings is just incredible! His attorney produces the paperwork of yet another covenant, this one stating that the party of the second part, Sarai, would be a mother, and the party of the first part, that would be Abram, would be a father. And the attorney had in her briefcase, both It's a Boy cigars in blue bubblegum, and smelling salts. She was very well prepared! And add to this that the paperwork also had Change of Name affadavits that now read that Abram would now be known as Abraham, wich means 'the father of nations,' and his wife, Sarai, would now be named Sarah; still meaning princess but the princess mother of a son. The fine print said she and Abe would be richly blessed; nations would come from her as would kings of nations.
A short discussion followed as to what they would tell their family members on their next FaceTime call back home. Sarah just knew that her sisters and cousins would want to plan massive baby showers, putting on hold the special cookies they promised family they would have for the funerals of the old couple. And now the family back home, and the new friends here would have to risk flooding the internet ordering from Amazon the latest in baby boy swaddking clothes; highchairs, building blocks, Legos, Hot Wheels, "Wait Abe, don't ask for those, the baby might try to swallow them!" As well as her taunting him that the kind lady down the lane, Betty White might not accept to be the boy's godmother. And he insisted they order a Tom Brady jersey regardless of that team he might play for next season! And yes, Keith Richards could stand with Betty White as godfather.
The God of covenants struck again. His faitfhfulness knew no limits and no boundaries. God would stand with them whenver and however was best for them. His promised made earlier that had made Sarai laugh, was coming true; instead of making plans for a nice cozy suite at the nursing home, they would have to get a larger one with a crib, a symbol of God's faithfulness and of His sense of humor. Just as nothing is impossible for God; nothing is ridiculous when God is moving and acting on our behalf. The God who spoke of death centuries later, is not speaking of life, new life, as in the birth of a baby with promise. The same of Whom was said was capable of bringing life, as evidenced by Peter's words from yesterday's passage, "who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist." Yes, this God can bring new life even from a womb long supposed to be barren, and new duties to a man ready for the golf cart races in Southern Florida; now he would be building downhill racers with his boy.
It's wonderful to me to just enjoy the brilliance of this passage and the explosions of oohs and aahs in our minds and hearts as we marvel at just what God can and does do, even among those who may have resigned themselves for those things reserved for those who anticipate death, not birth. Imagine, pampers and pablum instead of pain and pyers.
Are you expecting Good News? Or, have you given up on thinking anything good could happen or come into your life? I would say, be patient and rely on the Lord. Talk to Him and share with Him all that is on your heart and mind; then prepare to maybe be surprised in the wildest way possible!
PRAYER: God of life, speak to the life of this dear reader and all that s/he has shared with you about their need. Make real the joys and hopes that come from You. Bless them beyond stress, hold them in Your loving embrace; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a blessing to someone needing a surprise today!
Receive my blessings of life and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
