Pastor's Weekly Musing
Hey everyone!
This week I've asked my mentor, predecessor, pastor, and dad -- Pastor Ron Flores Sr - to bring the devotional for this week's Musing.
If you don't know my dad, you're missing out. He's pastored for over 35 years, leading churches in Southern California and Las Vegas for over a decade each. He and my mom have given their lives for the church, and he brings with him a tenderness marked by wisdom.
Enjoy!
This week I've asked my mentor, predecessor, pastor, and dad -- Pastor Ron Flores Sr - to bring the devotional for this week's Musing.
If you don't know my dad, you're missing out. He's pastored for over 35 years, leading churches in Southern California and Las Vegas for over a decade each. He and my mom have given their lives for the church, and he brings with him a tenderness marked by wisdom.
Enjoy!
______________________________________________________
I'd like to share with you a powerful truth found in the very middle sentence of the very middle verse of most beloved chapter in the entire Bible, Psalm 23. It says in Psalm 23:4, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
I cannot think of a more powerful promise than God being with me in life's valleys. He promises His presence. We will never go through a valley in life by ourselves. We will never go through a dark day alone. God has said, "I will be with you in your valley."
God does not sit up in heaven, looking down on me saying, "Wow! I sure hope Ron makes it!" He's there with me in the valley, walking with me, hand in hand. God says, I will lead you through this.
In the first part of this beautiful Psalm all of the pronouns are in the 3rd person -- David talks about God: "He leads me beside still waters, He guides me into green pastures, He restores my soul." David is talking about God.
But when David gets in the valley it changes to second person pronouns. He starts talking to God. "You are with me. Your rod and Your staff comfort me." In this season of life I am experiencing this profound promise; it's the valleys of life that bring me face to face with God.
When I'm going through the valley I don't want to talk about God, I want to talk to God. Any mature believer will tell you that the times they have been closest to God were in those face-to-face encounters that happen only in the valley's of life.
When you're in the valley and you're spent, depleted, perplexed, in despair -- and you're talking directly to God, He becomes real and God says, "I'm with you. You're not in this by yourself."
I've heard our Pastor Ron say, "we all want to enjoy the mountaintops but we come face to face with God in the valleys of life." If you let Him, the Shepherd will never be closer to you than when you're in a valley.
"Your rod and staff comfort me" A rod was basically about two feet long and at the end is a heavy knot. Shepherds were very skilled at hurling the rod, like a missile, at anything that would attack the sheep. God is saying, "When you go through the valley, I'm defending you. I'm protecting you." The Good Shepherd fights for you. While you're fighting for your life in that depression, God is fighting with you. He's fighting off spiritual forces. He is your defender and protector.
"Your staff comforts me." The shepherd uses a staff to draw the sheep in close to him. He will use the staff to lift them up when they're down.
Folks, believers go through valleys just like everybody does. Believers have disappointments. Believers get sick. Believers experience tragedies. Believers lose loved ones. Believers have financial challenges. Believers go through valleys just like everybody does. But there is one huge difference.
The difference is the presence of the LORD in the valley with you. God is with you. Loved ones; God is with us!
I cannot think of a more powerful promise than God being with me in life's valleys. He promises His presence. We will never go through a valley in life by ourselves. We will never go through a dark day alone. God has said, "I will be with you in your valley."
God does not sit up in heaven, looking down on me saying, "Wow! I sure hope Ron makes it!" He's there with me in the valley, walking with me, hand in hand. God says, I will lead you through this.
In the first part of this beautiful Psalm all of the pronouns are in the 3rd person -- David talks about God: "He leads me beside still waters, He guides me into green pastures, He restores my soul." David is talking about God.
But when David gets in the valley it changes to second person pronouns. He starts talking to God. "You are with me. Your rod and Your staff comfort me." In this season of life I am experiencing this profound promise; it's the valleys of life that bring me face to face with God.
When I'm going through the valley I don't want to talk about God, I want to talk to God. Any mature believer will tell you that the times they have been closest to God were in those face-to-face encounters that happen only in the valley's of life.
When you're in the valley and you're spent, depleted, perplexed, in despair -- and you're talking directly to God, He becomes real and God says, "I'm with you. You're not in this by yourself."
I've heard our Pastor Ron say, "we all want to enjoy the mountaintops but we come face to face with God in the valleys of life." If you let Him, the Shepherd will never be closer to you than when you're in a valley.
"Your rod and staff comfort me" A rod was basically about two feet long and at the end is a heavy knot. Shepherds were very skilled at hurling the rod, like a missile, at anything that would attack the sheep. God is saying, "When you go through the valley, I'm defending you. I'm protecting you." The Good Shepherd fights for you. While you're fighting for your life in that depression, God is fighting with you. He's fighting off spiritual forces. He is your defender and protector.
"Your staff comforts me." The shepherd uses a staff to draw the sheep in close to him. He will use the staff to lift them up when they're down.
Folks, believers go through valleys just like everybody does. Believers have disappointments. Believers get sick. Believers experience tragedies. Believers lose loved ones. Believers have financial challenges. Believers go through valleys just like everybody does. But there is one huge difference.
The difference is the presence of the LORD in the valley with you. God is with you. Loved ones; God is with us!
______________________________________________________
Our ROOTED groups had their Celebration Gathering on Tuesday evening, and what a night it was! Songs were sung, praises were lifted, testimonies were given, 8 people were baptized, and tacos were enjoyed. What an amazing 10 weeks it has been.
If you missed this go-around, don't worry: ROOTED is coming again in the Fall! Click HERE to be added to the interest list, and you'll get all the communication and correspondence about the upcoming Rooted gathering to come in September.
If you missed this go-around, don't worry: ROOTED is coming again in the Fall! Click HERE to be added to the interest list, and you'll get all the communication and correspondence about the upcoming Rooted gathering to come in September.
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Sunday May 21: BINGO NIGHT!
The legendary MYG (Meadows Youth Group) is heading to Summer Camp in July, so their annual fundraiser is coming: Bingo! For only $20, you get over an hour of Bingo (with a chance to win some cool prizes), snack, drinks, and child-care. What a deal! Every penny goes to reducing costs for students to get to Camp. Starts at 6 PM.
The legendary MYG (Meadows Youth Group) is heading to Summer Camp in July, so their annual fundraiser is coming: Bingo! For only $20, you get over an hour of Bingo (with a chance to win some cool prizes), snack, drinks, and child-care. What a deal! Every penny goes to reducing costs for students to get to Camp. Starts at 6 PM.
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This week will be a special Sunday, and we'll continue our series, APPRENTICE.
Disciples, followers, talmidim of Jesus -- their entire lives are centered around simply being with Jesus. Christ called it "abiding"; Paul instructed us to "pray without ceasing"; 3rd century believers called it "contemplation"; 15th century believers called it "practicing the presence of Jesus." It's the primary call of apprentices of Jesus, to get good at simply being with Him.
We're going to do exactly that this Sunday. With a message centered around Communion by Pastor Portia, we'll enjoy some time just being with Jesus, in worship, communion, and times of silence and reflection. It's going to be awesome.
Join us this Sunday for Part 4 - Practicing the Presence of Jesus.
Looking forward to seeing you on the walkway!
Pastor Ron
Disciples, followers, talmidim of Jesus -- their entire lives are centered around simply being with Jesus. Christ called it "abiding"; Paul instructed us to "pray without ceasing"; 3rd century believers called it "contemplation"; 15th century believers called it "practicing the presence of Jesus." It's the primary call of apprentices of Jesus, to get good at simply being with Him.
We're going to do exactly that this Sunday. With a message centered around Communion by Pastor Portia, we'll enjoy some time just being with Jesus, in worship, communion, and times of silence and reflection. It's going to be awesome.
Join us this Sunday for Part 4 - Practicing the Presence of Jesus.
Looking forward to seeing you on the walkway!
Pastor Ron
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