All the Saints

Good afternoon, Loved Ones,

Another Hump Day came and went without enough time to document my gratitude cybernetic-ally. Consequently, I have decided to roll with it. Consider this Thankful Thursday. Today I am thinking ahead to All Saints Day, Monday, Nov. 1, and sharing one of the lectionary texts for that day, Luke's version of the beatitudes..

Luke 6:20-23 (The Message)

Then he spoke:
You're blessed when you've lost it all.
God's kingdom is there for the finding.
You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry.
Then you're ready for the Messianic meal.
You're blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.

^22-23"Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don't like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.

Jesus Idea of blessings, of things we should be thankful for, seem to fly in the face of our expectations. The saints, those who follow Jesus, see challenges as blessings.

Thanks for the blessings Grandview Park has found in the midst of the tremendous loss, hunger and tears of the last couple of months.

Thanks for the 25 saints gathered for prayer on a cool Wednesday night at the church.

Thanks for the spontaneous lunch crew of Stella, Veronica, DeDe, Sonia, Maria, Carmen and others who have satisfied our hunger after church the last few weeks.

Thanks for Orlando Gallardo, the young seminarian who will bring the message to us this Sunday.

Thanks for all the saints, who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia!

2 Peter 2:10 reminds us of our call "to tell others of the night-and-day difference God made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted." So, all you saints, even though we are a day late, let's hear of your blessings.

Gimme cinco!

Pastor Rick