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Hear the devotional here: https://anchor.fm/eradio-valverde/episodes/Where-Are-You--God-e1pp2vc
1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw. 2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save? 3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. 4 So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous— therefore judgment comes forth perverted. 2:1 I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint. 2 Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. 3 For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. 4 Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith. (Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 New Revised Standard Version)
A blessed day for you, Friend, on this Wednesday! May it truly be a wonderful Wednesday in all respect and regards. Our prayers for Mr. Jorge Saenz who is having a tele-visit with his doctor about the results of a biopsy he underwent. Mr. Saenz had the tele-visit and found that the spot was cancerous. The doctor was grateful for the cardiologist who ordered an X-Ray that found the spot. The doctor believes it is Stage One, and that with surgery to remove that lump, there may not be a need for chemothereapy or radiation. The doctor will schedule the surgery soon and we pray for a successful removal and a complete healing of our brother, Jorge Saenz. I also heard from the brother of Rev. Arturo Perez, who suffered a stroke some time back, that he is not responding as he should and the family is asking for prayers. Please pray for healing of Rev. Perez and for the comfort of his family; wife, Sylvia, and their daughter and two sons, along with other family members who love Arturo. Let us continue to pray for one another, pray for those who have asked prayers of us; pray for the world and all its needs.
The hardest question anyone tries to answer from someone in need is the one that asks, Where was God when this happened? It is perhaps a question as old as time. Jesus heard it twice from the two sisters whose brother had died and he did not arrive in time to heal his disease. Jesus asks as He hangs from the cross, as He quotes Psalm 22, the same question. The prophet Habakkuk is asking the question on behalf of the people of God. "Why so much violence?" We are asking that question as we read day after day, of senseless shootings and murders of people in random places. The prophet even asks, in a selfish way, "Why do You make me see 'wrongdoing and look at trouble?'" The sight of destruction and violence seemed to be ever before him; as hatred demonstrated among people who should be loving each other increases. We even hear, "How come people don't seem to go to jail any more?" The prophet was asking that too. Yet, the prophet knew that God was still in control, and that patience would help him as he awaited God's answer for his questions, and remedies to the violence.
God answers and says, "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it." The prophet's job was to speak on God's behalf and having a runner run from town to town with a tablet from which to read, would get God's word out sooner, rather than later. The message was clear, "There is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay." Again, God is in control, and God says that the needed action would happen in His time, not ours. He also says as we look to the proud and haughty, we can see their spirit is not right in them, but that those who know God, also known as the righteous, should live by faith, walking and trusting in faith. God will make all things right, at the right time. .
The graphic for today says it all; Faith during troubled times. Faith is the anchor that keeps us grounded when everything else seems to be floating away. Faith is that which provides hope when everyone else seems to have lost it. Faith is strength when stress and worry are weighing us down. It is the one or two who hold on with faith that many times bless the others who need to see faith in us.
PRAYER: Awesome God, grant us the faith that inspires others while fueling us to faithfulness. Help us be the examples others need as they see us. We want to glorify You as we serve You and praise You. We pray for healing of those who are ill, and comfort to those who mourn; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Be a faith bearer!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr,
