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17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. (Luke 6:17-26 NRSV)
Happy and Marvelous Monday, dear ConCafe Familia! I am trying out a sample webpage for the podcast part of ConCafe. Click this link to get to it. From there you can easily share invitations to friends and family that might want to subscribe and listen to our daily devotional. This is the part of ConCafe that goes to 26 nations! https://www.podpage.com/concafe-con-eradio-valverde/ Dear friend, please continue to pray for Ms. Allison Davis, our staff member of FUMC-Gonzales. Prayers for my brother-in-law, Mr. Hector Rosales, who's in a medically induced coma. Pray for his recovery and his wife, Anna and his family. Prayers also for the family of Mrs. Aurora "Yoyi" De Leon, who passed away after battling a long battle with Alzheimers. Yoyi was our longtime youth sponsor at El Mesias UMC in Mission. Prayers for her family who mourn her passing. Pray for one another. Pray for your needs, and for those who have asked prayers from us. Why do we pray? Because God answers prayers!
Jesus will draw crowds, so said a now deceased pastor of what was once the world's largest United Methodist Church. The late Rev. Dr. Bill Hinson, used to say that often, and more importantly he preached Jesus always. Here is where we see what Dr. Hinson said. Jesus, preaching God's truth and power, would always draw crowds. The regions listed show the widespread influence of God's truth. Verse 18 answers the why, "They had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured." And even in those crowds some just wanted to touch Jesus, because just in that touch would come the power from within Him to heal them. Then we get Luke's condensed version of the Sermon on the Mount; Jesus' blessings on the needy of the world, and those who are willing to take God's side in the world. The warnings of the Lord are for those who do not take God's side, choosing instead personal needs such as wealth, enjoyment of self satisfaction; and those who care more about what people say about them than what God does.
As we start this week can we resolve to examine ourselves and where we stand with God? Can we resolve to seek Him more than anyone or anything else? Can we fully put God first in our hearts, minds, and spirits? Can we seek to be truly better in how we interact with others and seek to be more like Jesus in how we love and serve others? I believe we can if we ask God to strengthen us and walk with us.
PRAYER: Loving God of miracles, create in me the miracle of loving like never before. May the love of Jesus shine brightly as I interact with others on behalf of God; this I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a mriacle of love today in someone else's life!
Receive my blessings of love and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
