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39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:39-55 New International Version of The Bible)
A blessed Monday to you all, ConCafe Family! And may the Advent journey today bring you closer to the joy and love of Christmas! Pray for one another; share your needs with the Lord in faith today. LATE NOTICE: Thank you all who prayed for The Rev. Virgilio Vasquez Garza who underwent successful surgery this morning in San Antonio. We praise God and we pray for his quick recovery. Also, please keep Baby Hudson in your prayers, as he is battling pneumonia for the third time in his short life. May God free him from this enemy and grant him health and wellbeing; may the Lord's peace and joy be with his parents and grandparents in a wonderful way. We pray because God answers prayers!
A businesswoman due to board an airplane later in the day, discovered that her one power suit was in desperate need of being cleaned and pressed. At the hour she discovered the need, there was no ready solution available until she remembered that across town was a dry cleaning place called One Hour Cleaners. She threw the suit into the back seat of her car and rushed across town and rushed into the shop. "I'm desperate and I need to have this suit back in an hour, or I'm sunk!" She rapidly fiflled out the card and awaited the clerk's response. "Okay, this suit will be ready on Thursday after 4 pm." The woman was flabbergasted and shouted, "Thursday? I need them today in one hour." The clerk simply said, "No, Thursday is the soonest I can get this suit back to you." "Your sign says 1 Hour Cleaners!" "That's just our name."
There are so many names we may use as labels or titles, but the truth may show that we only like using the name and not live up to the responsibility or role to which they belong. For our devotional, I want us to look at the name of Mother. There are great mothers, who live up to the title in exemplary behavior and make proud those who call them mother. There are others who like to use the title but show no motherly responsibiity or behavior that shows them to truly be as the name says, mother. We will look at two mothers as shared by this passage. The first one named is Mary, espoused to Joseph, pregnant with child who is the Son of God. She is, as most scholars believe, in her teens. She is a young woman of faith, chosen by God as the only one worthy to bear this anointed Son. And she is related to the second mother, Elizabeth, an older woman, also known for her faith and devotion and service to God. We already know that Mary is carrying Jesus, and Elizabeth is carrying John. Both are spiritual women, connected to God, who talk to and listen to God. Already we have examples of what great mothers should possess and utilize. We know that great mothers are those women who never stop worrying, caring, worrying, and watching out for their children; more reasons to be spiritual mothers, and fathers, to receive the strength and peace that only God can provide to them.
When Mary reaches Elizabeth something marvelous happens; the baby in Elizabeth's womb hears Mary's voice and leaps for joy within her, and she tells Mary so. Her exclamation is poetic, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" This mother knew of the sacredness and specialness of the baby Mary was carrying. Elizabeth continues, "But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Already, Elizabeth knows that this baby insdie of Mary will be her Lord; a revelation of the Holy Spirit; for she already knows of her baby's sacredness and mission. but it is verified by the Holy Spirit Who has filled Elizabeth; and she praises Mary, "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!"
Advent is a journey of personal faith; and it requires our intentional examination of ourselves, our abilities, our talents, and our faithfulness to God. No one is perfect, but those who are faithful about their journey will seek to better themselves and their relationship with God and with those in their lives. The two mothers in this story set an example of spiritual preparations we can make this truly a journey where we receive the full blessings of He who was born to save us from ourselves and our sins. Advent can mean all parents can become better, more caring, more attentive parents for their children. And all who seek to better themselves can find in God and this journey He has provided for us, new strength, new wisdom, new abilities, and talents to become a better whatever title/label/name you carry. And, we can start with our name as Christians. If we hve professed to be Christians, let us live as such; loving all, serving all, and trying to win the world for Jesus.
PRAYER: Loving Father, bless us on our journeys. Whatever name we have received during our lives, let us live faithful lives that glorify You. Bless us in our journey and our walk with You. May we bless all; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show someone that you live the name you have received.
Receive my blessings of love and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
