Coronavirus Response

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Cross & Flame Logo

Lent 2021

  • Discipleship
    • Christian Formation
      • Children
      • Church & Society
      • College
      • Differently Abled Persons
      • Educational Ministries
      • Older Adults
      • Status & Role of Women
      • Young Adults
      • Youth
    • Church Revitalization
      • Coaching
      • Disciple Making Way
      • Evangelism
      • Grants
      • MissionInsite
      • Real Discipleship Survey
      • Shift
      • Spiritual Life
    • From the Bishop
      • Bishop’s Bookshelf
      • Bishop’s Sermons
      • Church Transformation
      • Conflict Transformation
      • Connections
      • Discipleship & Learning Plan
    • Multicultural
      • Anti-Racism
      • Asian
      • Hispanic-Latinx
      • Native American
      • Strengthening the Black Church
    • Stewardship
      • Apportionments
      • District Remittances
      • Financial Discipleship
      • Grants
      • Insurance
      • Mission & Service
      • Pension
      • Treasurer Training
  • Leadership
    • Bishop’s Office
      • Appointment Book
      • Bishop’s Sermons
      • Church Transformation
      • Conflict Transformation
      • Connections
      • Discipleship & Learning Plan
    • Ministerial Relations
      • Board of Ordained Ministry
      • Called to Ministry?
      • Extension Ministries
    • Board of Laity
      • Certified Lay Minister
      • Lay Servant Ministries
      • Local Church Lay Leaders
      • United Methodist Men
      • United Methodist Women
      • United Methodist Youth
    • New Faith Comm.
      • Called to Plant?
      • New Room Society
      • Our Communities
    • Conference Offices
      • Center for Leadership Excellence
      • Christian Formation
      • Communications
      • Conference Secretary
      • Connectional Ministries
      • Information Technology
      • Multicultural Ministries
      • Outreach Ministry
      • Treasurer’s Office
  • Service
    • Local Outreach
      • Church Construction
      • Church Loans
      • Restorative Justice and Mercy
      • Disciple Bible Outreach
      • NCC UMVIM
      • Seed Funds
      • Mission Projects
        • Health Ministry
    • Global Outreach
      • Imagine No Malaria
      • Love for Liberia
      • Missionaries
      • Project AGAPE
      • Sierra Leone: Mission of Hope
      • ZOE
    • Disaster Ministries
      • Donate to Storm Response
      • Hurricane Florence
      • MERCI
      • Response Plan
      • Response Team
      • UMCOR Kits
    • Giving
      • Advance/Rainbow Covenant
      • Apportionments
      • Give to Storm Response
      • Mission & Service
      • The Gary Wayne Locklear Mission Endowment
      • New Room Society
      • Special Sundays
    • Ministry Partners
      • Camps & Retreats
      • Partners In Ministry
      • Robeson Co. Church & CC
      • UMF
  • Resources
    • Conferences
      • Annual Conference 2020
      • Annual Conference 2021
      • Charge Conference 2020
      • General Conference
      • Pilgrimage
      • SEJ Conference 2016
    • Media Center
      • Catalog
      • Labyrinth
      • Ministry Tools
      • Online Resources
      • Weekly Newsletter
    • Online Resources
      • Anti-Racism
      • Archives & History
      • Church Lookup
      • Online Data Collection
      • Online Learning
      • Pastor Lookup
      • Podcasts (NCCUMC.FM)
      • Ramus: Web Hosting
      • Video (Vimeo)
    • Publications
      • Advent 2020
      • Appointment Book
      • Bible Study
      • Conference Directory
      • Conference Journal
      • Every Day Grace
      • Lenten Reflections
      • Mission & Service
    • From UMC.org
      • Agencies
      • Communications
      • Discipleship
      • Finance & Administration
      • Global Ministries
      • Graphics Library
      • Relief
      • Status & Role of Women
  • Lent 2021

Day 25 – Rev. Ernesto Barriguete

March 17, 2021

“The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.“ - Isaiah 58:11

While in seminary, I was struggling financially. One day, all I had left was five dollars. That day, I walked to the gas station and bought a Coke and a sandwich. I had two dollars left and I wondered if I had enough to continue? I decided to buy two lottery tickets. After all, I left everything to serve God, I deserved a miracle, right? While I was walking home, I heard a voice saying in my ear, “This is the way you are going to teach people to trust Me?”

Isaiah 58:11 reminds me of that specific moment in my life. Israel’s people are praying and fasting and waiting for a miracle, wanting their lottery ticket. However, the prophet responded to them that, “the day they start working to break chains of injustice, free the oppressed, and give to the poor, God will satisfy all their needs, and they will be like a watered garden, whose waters never fail.”

Many times, while trying to serve God, being faithful to my spiritual call, and working for issues of equity and justice, I have wondered if I have enough to continue?

The day I heard God’s voice whispering in my ear, I threw the lottery tickets away. God has provided every step of the way. Isaiah reminds me that when we take action in our faith and toward God’s heart to love others and fight for equity and justice, God will always provide like a watered garden, whose waters never fail. God always provides.

Prayer

Lord, Let me take bold actions toward equity and justice, that my life can reflect others of your providence. Amen

Rev. Ernesto Barriguete is the Director of Racial Equity and Justice Ministries for the North Carolina Conference

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

NC Conference of The United Methodist Church · 700 Waterfield Ridge Place · Garner, NC 27529
Phone: 919.779.6115 · Toll-free: 800.849.4433 · Fax: 919.773.2308


Copyright © 2021 · Privacy Policy · Powered by WordPress · Log in

  • Español
  • 한국어