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7 I'll make a list of God's gracious dealings, all the things God has done that need praising, All the generous bounties of God, his great goodness to the family of Israel - Compassion lavished, love extravagant. 8 He said, "Without question these are my people, children who would never betray me." So he became their Savior. 9 In all their troubles, he was troubled, too. He didn't send someone else to help them. He did it himself, in person. Out of his own love and pity he redeemed them. He rescued them and carried them along for a long, long time. (Isaiah 63:7-9 The Message Bible)
May this be a wonderful Wednesday for you, dear Friend. May we continue to lift up prayers for the brokenhearted, for the wounded, for the lonely, for the oppressed, for the abused. Pray for one another. Pray for the needs of those around you. Pray for yourself that as this year ends, the New Year will find in you a new heart filled with the joy and peace of Jesus! The memorial service for Rev Dr David Alvirez will be in March. The family is having David cremated and this will give the family time to process, and plan for his service.
I read the cutest story today on FaceBook about one of our little ones from church who turned 5. I was there when he was born, so I feel a special bond with him and his dear parents. His grandpa called and this little one said, "Come to my house and bring me a lot of presents!" The grandfather is a hard working man, who works hard at home and at work. He underwent some serious medical things in Houston and when we talked on the phone he asked me to go and free him from the hospital. I came this close to doing that, but didn't want legal trouble! Anyway, grandpa dropped everything he was doing, rushed over to the store and brought lots of presents to give his grandson. I thought it was a cute story. It strengthens my faith in fathers who become grand - fathers. A true grandfather will drop everything (if he can) and rush to his grandchild's side and provide presence and presents.
Isaiah is saying something along those lines when he's talking about our Heavenly Father. It is fitting as we prepare to bid farewell to 2022 to read that the prophet is saying he is going to make a list of God's awesome work, and to make a list of "all the things God has done that need praising." In other words, the prophet knows that to end the year we should make our own list and do the same. God has done a lot for me and I know that God has done a lot for you. He includes, as should we, all the good God has done for our community, our nation, and our world. We have rejoiced in receiving "Compassion lavished, love extravagant; God has indeed shown us that we are indeed God's children, members of His family, in Whom we have indeed, found a Savior. We are the result of God singlehandly helping us and saving us. God has, praise His name, carried us to where we are now.
PRAYER: Loving Father, as we conclude this year, let us remember that we have been richly and wonderfully blessed. We thank You and praise You for the countless blessings we received from You and the ways You have carried us when we were weak. Grant to us new strength and energy to move confidently towards the New Year; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: PRAISE THE LORD!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
