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Hear the devotional read here: http://bit.ly/384HFf2
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 19 The Message Bible)
A gracious and blessed Thursday to you ConCafe Family; and may the joys of life bring you an abundance of peace, dear Friend! May the blessings you seek for your prayed for's bring you deeper faith is my prayer. I trust that this finds you well. May our time be a blessing to your soul is my desire.
Years ago, prior to the reading of the scripture for the day at a national campus ministers event, the preacher shared a story of a young man who went on a spring day's walk through some woods. The day had been specially made for a walk; the sun was bright but partially covered by clouds, the air was crisp and clean, and the morning was decorated with the scent of fresh flowers. Birds added their song to the young man's soundtrack as did bees buzzing about. As he ventured further, the man felt he was not walking alone. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as he saw that he was being stalked by a bear. The bear appeared to be thinking of his next meal and this young man was just what he ordered. The young man not wanting to be a Door Dash delivery, dashed as fast as he could through the trail away from the bear! He kept turning to see if he was indeed making any progress away from the bear, when he felt the sensation of falling! He had come to the edge of a high cliff and down he flew. Thankfully he grabbed wildly and caught some exposed roots which stopped his certain death from the fall. As he's holding on for dear life, he peeks down and sees that some hungry wolves were aware that Door Dash had indeed delivered their next meal (This is not an ad for Door Dash). The man then heard the gnawing of teeth on the root by some rats who were helping themselves to a root snack, which also happened to be his life line! The man looks to the root and notices that near the roots were some wild strawberries growing, plumb and red. The man reaches and takes one and eats it and says, "How delicious!"
The campus minister then went on to describe that life is like that sometimes. We venture out on a walk and then life starts to close in on us, we may even find ourselves falling and barely escaping, while still facing another certain death, but when we look closely we can find in God's word, something delicious. And indeed, as we read the psalms or the gospels or Proverbs or any passage, we find just what we need regardless of that which is around us.
David has penned such a "strawberry" in this passage. The language of this modern version paints such a delicious picture of what God can and does do for us by sharing His word with us. God's revelation as shared in verse 7, "is whole and pulls our lives together." Many have been the times we could have fallen apart, but reading and praying over our scripture reading has pulled us together and helped us see that God has shown us the right road. "The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy." And later, "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."
And the taste of forgiven is sweet, too. Sweeter than California strawberries in the spring, allowing us to know that our slate has been wiped clean and our prayer can truly be, "Keep me from stupid sins." Amen.
PRAYER: Loving Father, for the sweetness of Your Word I am thankful and blessed; for the hope You share through it, I am made stronger and more hopeful. May the taste of ripe, fresh, sweet strawberries as found in Your Word bless me over and over; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Help someone find the "strawberries" that will bless and keep them today!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
