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28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen. 37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” 41 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. (Luke 9: 28-43 New International Version Bible)
Happy and Blessed Monday, ConCafe people! May the blessing of yesterday spent in the presence of God radiate from you to others in ways that blesses them, dear Friend, is my prayer for you. I thank our pastor, Rev. Dr. Matt Pennington, for allowing me to preach at his church. I was warmly received and I always feel loved by those of that fine church. The American Medical Association some years ago determined that for every 20 minute sermon, the stress placed on a body is equivalent to an eight hour workday. So, when your pastor preaches two or more sermons per Sunday, you can imagine the stress, and wear and tear on her/his body. May it allow us to be more understanding of Mondays for them. May we pray for our pastors as they prepare the coming journey that is Lent; that God use them to share with us that which will prepare us spiritually, and physcally to more deeply understand appreciate the events of Christ Jesus during His Passion and death. A reminder that Wednesday, March 2nd is Ash Wednesday when our Lenten journey begins. May we start now in our prayers for each other, for ourselves and for our families.
This coming Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday, the day Jesus revealed the Glory of Heaven to the inner circle of disciples that followed Him to the mountain to pray. One of two, among many, holy habits, was to pray. The other, as we discussed a few days past, was to be in worship as often as He could. Prayer was Jesus' way of staying connected to God. It was through prayer that Jesus and His Father communicated and shared that which Jesus needed to continue forward in His ministry. On this day, Jesus goes to pray and He takes with Him, Peter, James, and John. During this particular prayer, Jesus' appearance of His face changed, and even His clothing radiated the reality of that which was happening; Heaven shone through Him! And if that was not enough to scare the three of the inner circle, they soon saw two figures they recongnized as Moses and Elijah, also in "glorious splendor" meaning radiant clothing, and these two were in conversation with Jesus about upcoming events. What comes of this very special time is the declaration from Heaven from God, Who says, for the second time, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him." At that pronouncement, they were alone with Jesus. This was needed confirmation they were indeed following the Son of God, the Messiah, the Anointed One of God, the Redeemer of Israel.
Almost immediately, the Twelve were in ministry again. Ministry is an interesting adventure, for when one leasts expects it, there is the opportunity or the challenge. In this case, it was a father, crying out to Jesus for help for his only child, who was demon-possessed. The demon would cause the boy to scream and made him convulse and foam at the mouth; it was a constant, but sure destruction of the child. The disciples had been asked by the father to deliver the boy, but they could not. Jesus rebukes the "generation" for being perverse and unbelieving, but still asks to have the boy brought to Him. Even in the presence of Jesus, the boy is convulsing and in agony. Jesus rebukes the spirit, and the boy is healed, and Jesus hands him back to the father, healed. And the reaction from all who witneessed this was to be amazed at the greatness of God.
In the highs and the lows, God is with us. During our mountaintop experiences, God is with us. This means our retreats, our Sunday mornings, our Sunday school classes, or devotional time, God is there. And just as surely, when we're in the midst of the lows of life, God is there as well. So, in the good and the bad, God is there. And to be delivered, we have but to trust and ask of Him, and His will will be done. Whatever the challenge or obstacle you are encountering, God is with you and me. Our time spent in prayer, like Jesus, will guide, strengthen, and deliver us. We can trust God to see us through!
PRAYER: Loving Father, guide us and bless us, in the highs and the lows. May our journey be a faithful one, and may we defeat whomever comes against God and our attempts to serve Him. Be a blessing to all; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Seek to be faithful to God today in all ways.
Receive my blessing of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
