As I was seating on the bus reading on my way to a meeting, a senior lady came to seat next to a rather big women on the seats assigned to the Senior citizens, the older lady losing her balance sat on the women. She did not say sorry but kindly move and sat on what was left of her seat. The other lady started a big argument. As the older lady didn’t reply she look around to find support but everybody on the bus decided to ignore her. As not one pay her attention she then phoned someone to tell what just happened. But by the sounds of it the person on the phone did not tag alone so she hanged up.

We use the name of the Lord in our mouth all the time. And use His name in our conversations on our daily life. A lot of the time we are like this lady, we are acting rather wrong but we think the Lord is on our side.

Read the following Psalm and see what the Lord says to that specially verses 20 and 21.

Psalm 50: 14-23

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfil your vows to the Most High, 15 and call on me in the day of trouble; 
    I will deliver you, and you will honour me.”16 But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws
 or take my covenant on your lips? 17 You hate my instruction
 and cast my words behind you. 

18 When you see a thief, you join with him; 
 you throw in your lot with adulterers.  

19 You use your mouth for evil
 and harness your tongue to deceit. 20 You sit and testify against your brother 
 and slander your own mother’s son.21 When you did these things and I kept silent, 
 you thought I was exactly like you.
But I now arraign you
    and set my accusations before you.22 “Consider this, you who forget God, 
    or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: 23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honour me,
    and to the blameless I will show my salvation. ”

Take time to Read, Pray and Meditate

God bless you all. 

Rev. Francisco Rivero 

We all have those days when we start late. We get up late, and from then on everything suffer the nocking effect of being late. I must admit for the first few years of my adulthood that was my life. I was always running behind, always catching up with life. Today was one of those days when I just woke up very late and I had to apologized to my first meeting of the date for no making it on time. Before I left the house I did the basic stuff to be presentable to go out. However, praying didn’t make it in the list of necessary things to do before leaving the house.

We could miss the time to pray and to read the scripture before leaving the house, which for me is the ideal time. However, does this mean that we are not to have that time with God at all during the day once we miss our morning shot?

In the following passage David Calls the Lord his portion. Take time to read and reflect, and ask yourself if God is your daily portion. The portion of your life.

Psalm 16

Keep me safe, my God,
    for in you I take refuge.2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; 
    apart from you I have no good thing.” 3 I say of the holy people who are in the land, 
    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
    or take up their names on my lips.5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; 
    you make my lot secure.6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance. 7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; 
 even at night my heart instructs me.8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, 
    nor will you let your faithful[b] one see decay. 11 You make known to me the path of life; 
 you will fill me with joy in your presence, 
 with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Take time to Read, Pray and Meditate

God bless you all

Rev. Francisco Rivero

After a long day at work the last thing you want is to get home and find out that you need to go out again to do the shopping for the week! But against all the odds I did it. As we walked through the aisles getting the things we needed, I found myself saying the following sentence again and again “let’s get plenty of this or that so we have enough”. We work so hard to secure security in our life. As we grow older all we want is to be farther and farther away from anything that put our security at risk. We want to be safe. We try not to risk anything.

In the following two passages Paul speaks of himself and others who have risk everything for God, socially, financially speaking even their life were at risk. But they trusted God. The God they wanted to follow and obey.

Read the following passages and Ask yourself ‘do I trust you even when that means being at risk? This risk could be social risk standing out among your peers for what you believe as many more things.

^{2 Corinthians 11}

I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

^{Acts 15: 25-26}

²⁵ So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Take time to Read, Pray and Meditate

God bless you all

Rev. Francisco Rivero

Going to church is one of the highlights of my week, I want God to touch me and fill me with His Presence, for the rest of the day I feel good! I have been to Church I am good guy sort of feeling, but by Monday Morning Sunday is a far distance thought. We are back to work, to the stress of life. The anointing, the refreshment the Word in Church the day before was not just for Sunday. It was for the week. Read the following passage and think how good we use the anointing of God to be good at what we do throughout the week. By being an example to others. He anoint us to do daily work and to do it WELL

Colossians 3: 18 - 25 18

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers,[c] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favouritism.

Take time to Read, Pray and Meditate

May God Bless you ALL

Rev. Francisco Rivero

Every one knows or have heard the story of the good Samaritan. In the story Jesus says that are three types of neighbours; a priest, a Levite and a Samaritan. When in fact there are four possible options, but why the fourth is not mention as an option? The fourth is the robbers. Even when the priest and the Livy were not good neighbours they are counted as neighbours. But a robber will never be one. A robber is the one who only takes, use and dispose but never gives; a robber will never be a neighbour because all they know is to use people for what they have, they are always on the lookout what it is for me in that person or that situation.

Read the story bellow and ask God to tell you where and who you could be in this story. Hint everyone want to be the Good Samaritan, but are we always are?

Luke 10:25-37 25

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself. 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarius and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Take time to Read, Pray and meditate on what is saying to you

May God bless you all

Rev. Francisco Rivero

I have a friend who from time to time comes to me for advice, usually she ends up in some sort of difficult situation for luck of judgement. Every time I give her advise she listens but then argues that what I've said is not possible for endless reasons. Conclusion she goes back to her mess. We call God prefect his word says that He is flawless; however, we ask Him and go back to do what we think is best.

Read the following passage and reflect on it. Remember the LORD'S Word is Flawless.

Bible reading: Psalm 18:30-33
30 As for God, his way is perfect: 
The LORD’s word is flawless; 
he shields all who take refuge in him. 
31 For who is God besides the LORD? 
And who is the Rock except our God? 
32 It is God who arms me with strength 
and keeps my way secure. 
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; 
he causes me to stand on the heights. 

Wether you gather somewhere to worship today or not, make time for Him today. Read, Pray and meditate.

May God bless you all
Rev. Francisco Rivero

The Disciples ask Jesus DONT YOU CARE 'IF WE DROWN'? we are so worry about us, we keep asking what about me, and my problems. God had a bigger plan with the apostles, a plan beyond their own lives and everything that surrounded them. He stood up calm the storm and then spoke to them. They did ask who is this that even the wind obeys him? Although they were following him, and even complaint to him because of the wind, once Jesus got up and commanded the winds to stop. They ask Who is this? They follow but they weren't sure that EVERYTHING is under His command even nature something that humans have not been and will not be able to control.

Read the following Passage and allow God to speak to you

Bible reading: Mark 4:37-41
37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” 

May God bless you all.

Rev. Francisco Rivero