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11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" 14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:11-14 NRSV)
May the Lord bless you on this Tuesday, dear Friend. May the wonders of God shine in and through you as you seek to bless others throughout this day. At this writing I am thanking God for some much needed rain. It is such a pleasing sound to hear rain on our room. May God renew and refresh the earth and may we be a part of this renewal too! May we continue our prayers for the newborn twins in San Antonio, the recovery of pain and hypertension of Mrs. Gaytan, and the continued recover of Rev. Gomez. Late night word is that he was placed back into ICU as he had some complications today, Monday. Late minute notice from Mission, Texas; prayers for Mrs. Gloria Martinez of El Mesias UMC, the church I pastored for 11 years. She suffered a stroke tonight (Monday) and is recovering well. Pray for that recovery to continue. Gloria was a faithful woman of God and a leader in our church. Pray for one another, for the various needs shared with us and the needs of the world. Also, Mrs. Gloria Neri Duran, from Harlingen, TX, is close to passing from this life to the next, and we ask prayers for her to be comfortable and peaceful and that God's will be done. Prayers for her family as they have said goodbye to her but are mourning this moment. Gloria's sister was one of my staff members at First UMC of Harlingen and I ask prayers for her as well; Isis Montes.
Heaven is a realm that is on another level beyond most people's grasp of understanding. The Apostle John in receiving the vision wrote as told by Jesus, and in his vision was allowed to go in to Heaven's realm to write what he saw. He hears and sees the wonders of another world. He saw angels. Many of us have seen or been blessed by the works of angels, but no one that I know of has ever seen an angel. John saw many angels. And he heard them all. The passage says "myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands," meaning a great number too great to count. All of them were singing in full voice a song that goes, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessings!" The Lamb that was slaughtered has received gifts that the dead would not normally receive; but this was not an ordinary lamb, this was the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, Who is endowed with the ways and means to bless humanity; which He has, is, and will always do. The heavenly choir is aware of the Lord's power and mission and so they sing praises of worship and honor for Him to continue this important work. Then John hears every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, meaning every possible realm, singing as well, their praises to Jesus, for He is the One who is "seated on the throne," and He is the Lamb, who deserves and receives blessings and honor and glory and might that He will have and use now and forever and ever. And the four living creatures share their "Amen!" The elders present at this worship fall down in worship.
Our finite minds cannot begin to understand the joy and blessings that this scene is meant to convey. We have, thank God, caught glimpses of glory here on earth and when those do come, enjoy them and remember them, for one day that will be our reality and our joy. For now, may each answered prayer, each blessing, each unexpected joy, hug, kiss, and sweet and kind word shared with you reveal to you what is yet to come in bunches!
PRAYER: Loving God, bless our finite minds with the abilities to enjoy the precious glimpses You so lovingly share with us. May we endeavor to be glimpses that bless others by living in love with all people; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a glimpse of glory for someone today!
Receive my love and blessings of peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
