H. PAUL ADAMS

Good day dear friends. I write to let you know that a dear friend
and former church member from Mission, TX, died early this morning.
H. Paul Adams was a living example of the power of God to transform
and reshape a person. From his own testimony Paul said the Lord
changed him into a more loving man, which I knew to be a fact.
Paul's wife, Mercedes was very active in our church singing in our
choir and other activities, but Paul never did follow her. I visited
Paul early in my ministry and made a fast friend. I will never
forget the night he called me after the death of his son, who had
died in New York and whose ashes were shipped to Paul without his
knowing such was going to happen. I went to his house and found Paul
weeping as he hugged a can similar to a paint can which held his
son's ashes. From that moment on I could count on Paul being in
every church function and activity. Paul also joined the choir and
sang solos in special Easter and Christmas Cantatas. Paul was gifted
with a great voice which he used to glorify God.

Paul was the first person from El Mesias who was convinced to attend
a Walk to Emmaus so that he could help us as we shaped the Walks in
Spanish. I drove Paul over to Cone Oasis and will always smile as I
remember that he was caught at the payphone calling his son-in-law
asking him to come and get him. Thank God Paul didn't pay attention
to the way I drove and that one of the lay directors caught him
trying to get out. Paul went as part of a ten-man team I took to San
Juan, Puerto Rico to help with Caminata #1, held in El Yunque Rain
Forest outside of San Juan. Sadly, Paul suffered a minor stroke upon
arrival to the island and was hospitalized during the entire time we
were there, checking himself out when he knew we were flying home.
The Lord working through the Walk helped in making Paul Adams who he
was.

Paul loved his family, taking great pride in all his children and
playing the typical husband when it came to his wife, but we all knew
that he loved and appreciated Meredes very much. Paul loved to cook
and loved to share his cooking with everyone. Numerous are those who
counted on Paul for several of his specialties from time to time. My
favorite was his Panamian menudo served over white rice with a side
dish of plantanos and cucumber slices. My daughters loved the soups
he made with hot dog slices. On occasions when I needed him, he was the girls' grandfather in picking them up when I was not able. Paul was a person I could count on.

Paul had a mischievous side but that only helped others love him. A
retired INS officer, he first came to the Valley from New York as one
of the first truly Spanish-speaking officers; his stories of those
early days made us all roar with laughter.

The funeral arrangements are pending, but what is not pending is our
missing him very much. Heaven is richer with Paul's entrance.

Rest in peace dear friend.

e.v.

CHRISTMAS DAY EN HARLINGEN, TEJAS

LA FAMILIA EN HARLINGEN

MERRY CHRISTMAS!/¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Felíz Navidad / Merry Christmas from Eradio and Nellie Valverde, pictured here with their two precious grandchildren, Saraí Evangelina Cortez, and grandson, Liam Carlos Vasquez, taken last night prior to the 7 o'clock worship service at our church. To the top left is Liam Carlos Vasquez in his new Christmas outfit! Que chulo boy! At his right is our granddaughter, Saraí Evangelina as she opened gifts last night.

"For unto us a child is born!" Of all the wonderful and precious and meaningful songs we sung or heard last night at three wonderful worship services I had to wake up with the following lyric in my mind, "He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day, When the New York Times said God is dead, And the wars begun..." The words are by Bernie Taupin who years ago answered an ad for someone wanting to partner with a singer. The ad was placed by a record company and the other person who answered was Reginald Dwight, known now to the word as Elton John. This song is "Levon." I've since put on Amy Grant, thank God.

God is not dead, He's very much alive and living in the hearts of those who have invited Him in. Last night at all three services that offer was made and only Heaven knows how many took advantage of it. That's what Christmad is; God's renewed offer to be our God and to be in relationship with us. May we take advantage of that. As Pastor Katy said last night, "Let's take away the garland, the strings of light, and see Christmas for what it truly is." Amen.

PRAYER: God of Christmas, I thank you for your precious gift of Jesus. May He come to live in my heart. Let my relationship with You be stronger than ever. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed Christmas!

Eradio Valverde

SINGING AND SHOUTING GOD'S PRAISES!

Gracious God shine Your love and grace on this dear reader. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

We continue studying and receiving God's love. The Psalmist loved God and many of the compositions we call the psalms reflect that. Psalm 126 shows the Psalmist singing praises for God for the way God continually demonstrates His love for us. God is a God who restores in such a way that many times we think we're dreaming because of God's goodness towards us. This in turn should fill our mouths with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy. What a scene if we would all act that way every time we received a blessing from God. Such is God's love for you.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank you for Your love. Let me show it to others. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Special Prayer Request: This ConCafe comes a bit late because of the goings-on of last night and this morning. FIrst, I thank God all four of our daughters are here. The last one to arrive was Caitlin and she and Liam arrive last night after 11 p.m. Liam had been sick this week with a cold and last night he had a crying fit unlike any Mom or grandparents had seen, he coughed a lot and had much drainage, so we took him to the ER at Harlingen Medical Center. We arrived right at 12 midnight and we finally got home at 5 a.m. All the tests came back great, a dose of Motrin and Benedyrl which helped calm him down. Blood was drawn, a breathing therapy given, and an X-ray was taken. Everything, as I said, was great but as we're leaving the doctor says, "I could be misreading this X-ray but," pointing to stuff only doctors understand bascially said that Liam might have a collapsed lung. He let us go home and we're still awaiting word from the doctor who was to read the Xrays again to let us know for sure about the lung. So, please keep the Vasquez family in your prayers. Liam's dad, Joaquin has to work in San Marcos until tomorrow and he can't come down until then and he's very worried about his little boy. Liam this morning looks great and is in good spirits but we're anxiously awaiting results. Thank you for your prayers!

Study Guide: In Psalm 126 we find the Psalmist singing God's praises for the way the Lord has demonstrated His love for His children. Please find that passage and discover what God can do for us because He loves us.

GOD GIVES!

God of Christmas and all good gifts, shower this dear reader with Your grace and whatever it is they need and are facing. Amen.

We pondered God's great gift of love yesterday in worship. The Annunciation to Mary was a gift and visit of love. Mary was a devoted woman and God knew that. She loved God and knew that God loved her and because of God's love for us, God chose Mary to be the vessel to carry, birth, nurse, instruct, and pray for God's Son, Jesus. It's an incredible story as Luke tells it in chapter one of his gospel. So, our theme this week is about God's love for you and me.
We find one such example in 2 Samuel 7:1-11 where God shows His love for one of His kings,

Here is that pasage:

2 Samuel 7:1 Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." 3 Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you." 4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: 5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" 8 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.

In this powerful passage, God chooses to give David a house, meaning a lineage, a long line of descendants blessed and protected by God, rather than having David built God a house, namely a temple. We see there that our faith is in a God that gives, and all we should do is love God back by our faith, our heart, our thoughts, and our actions.

This Christmas season is about God giving to you and me the greatest gift, Jesus our Lord and Savior. God continues to give. The question becomes, what do we give God? I shared with the congregation that our oldest grandchild, 21 months old, does not know yet about the concept of Santa Claus. I asked her about it and she looked puzzled; she said, "Christmas is Jesus birthday!" And so it is. May she and we never forget that. God giving us a precious gift on Jesus' birthday.

PRAYER: Loving God, shower us with faith to receive all You have to share with us. Let us be a blessing to You and Yours. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Study Guide: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 speaks of the love God has for one of His kings. Please find and read this passage to discover what God has to say about this relationship with his king.

A CHECKLIST FOR FAITH

Gracious God, look down with Your love upon this faithful reader; bless and protect him/her and fill their needs. In Jesus' Name, amen.

As we have journeyed this week on the road of faith we have discovered that it is not easy. We find as a help, a checklist of sorts, in 1 Thess. 5:16-24:

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil. 23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

We can make it a checklist as we say, number 1: Be filled with joy. 2: Pray all the time. 3: Give thanks regardless of circumstances. 4: Be filled with God's Spirit; don't resist Him. 5: Learn from those who have spoken for God. 6: Through prayer and reflection, know what is of God and what is good; stay away from the opposite. 7: Pray that God will make us completely holy, and finally, 8: Know that God will do just that.

PRAYER: God of our faith, may that list bless me into being Your person; not only today, but all days. May I seek to be more of a person who talks and walks with You. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 contains a checklist of sorts for a strong faith. Review the list and make it your own!

SING A JOYOUS TUNE TODAY!

Mighty God, as this dear reader reads and prays along with this devotional thought, bless her or his life with that which You deem best. In Jesus' Name, amen.

A dear colleague recently wrote that we don't whistle enough any more. I fear that we don't sing enough any more. When was the last time you heard someone humming a tune? Does that reflect the times in which we are living? Is fear draining our soul's best way of expression, music? In a very beautiful passage we hear Mary, the mother of Jesus, singing this song:

My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

This was Mary's faith song. After being told she was to be the mother of the Anointed One, Jesus our Lord, she sang this song. Read that out loud in a musical way, hear the faith she shows in the act she will participate in. It was a faith act, a worshipful act, a joyful act. God had remembered God's people and Mary sang of God's mercy for her and "for those who fear him from generation to generation."

I strongly believe that our singing should be based on our faith not our fears. Our lips should be singing praises to God out of hope if nothing else. We should lift high the praises due our God because we are still in God's hands and God will not let us down. God's great gift of faith is ours. Receive it. Unwrap it. And make it yours.

PRAYER: Living God, let my voice sing today. May the tunes of hope spring forth victorious over those thoughts of dread and doom. May I witness to the Living God that lives in me, rather than the negative thoughts of fear and worry. May I be truly, in every sense of the word, an instrument that glorifies you! I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Study Guide: Luke 1:46b-55 contains the song of Mary contained The Magnificat. Some have called this the first Christian declaration by anyone and who better than His mother to declare her faith in Jesus?

THE GIFT OF FAITH

Loving God of life and its fullness, bring rich, wonderful, unexplainable blessings to this dear reader at this start of the work week. In Jesus' Name, amen.

The third gift from God at Advent is the gift of faith. The passage for the sermon came from John 1:6-8, 19-28 and we centered on the faith of John the Baptist, his probable upbringing in faith and the personal courage that comes from faith that allows all of us to take that first step of obedience to going where God would have us be. I mentioned the testimony of the late Rev. E. V. Hill of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles, California. E. V. was born in, of all places, Seguin to a impoverished family with a mom of deep faith who told E. V. he was to go to college and make something of his life. E. V. obediently took those steps of faith to get in a long line of students awaiting to register at Wiley College, a UM college in Marshall, Texas. He noticed all the students were dressed nicely and they all seemed to have envelopes with cash and checks and he realized they were paying for their registration. E. V. had only faith, but he still began to sweat as the line moved ever so slowly to the table where the students were leaving their money. Just as he's one person away from having to embarrass himself, as E. V. described it, a nicely dressed gentleman in a suit exited from the building walked right up to him and asked, "Are you E. V. Hill?" E. V. meekly replied he was, and the gentleman, who it turns out is the president of Wiley said, "You've already been taken care of! Come with me." It turns out that his momma's faith had provided for E. V. to receive a scholarship to pay for his college education.

We find that same faith in a passage from Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 that reads (see text below) of the prophetic word uttered, in faith, by the prophet Isaiah concerning the coming of He who is faith and in whom we place our faith. Isaiah heard God speaks of just what Jesus would do for us in bringing good news, release, restoration, etc. Your need is found in that list. Do you have the faith to claim it? Do you have the faith it takes to stand in line to claim what God has given you, even if you don't dress as nicely or have the envelope of financial resources?

PRAYER: God of short lines, we thank You for the gift of faith. I ask that I be given that faith that I need to receive for my ministry exactly what I need. May I receive it in faith, may I use it in faith, to honor and serve You! I ask this in the Name of He who brought the reason for this special season, Jesus the Christ, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US

All powerful God of the unexplainable, bring a special blessing of the unexplainable kind, to this dear reader; in Jesus' Name, amen.

As we continue to consider the issue of forgiveness, we find in 2 Peter 3:8-15a, these words:

8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. 11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.

Peter's understanding of Christ's second coming is a matter of what have we done and what are we doing as a result of that first coming? Those who know Jesus, Peter says, live lives that show we are awaiting the return of the perfect one, who desires we be as perfect as we can in all our relationships. And key to this, is how we forgive one another. Christ wants to have a relationship with all, and our entering into such begins with our asking for forgiveness for all we have done wrong. Our staying in that relationship means we learn to forgive those who have done us wrong. Isn't that found in something we pray often, what is it, what is it? Could it be ... The Lord's Prayer? Yes, you're right!

PRAYER: Loving God of mercy, be merciful to me today. And later today, let me be merciful to others. Let me live a life that shows I belong to You. Let me do my part to reach others for You as well. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

2 Peter 3:8-15a speaks of our waiting for something God is doing on our behalf. Please find that passage and apply it to your life.

OUR DAY OF PRAYER

Loving God touch the heart of this dear reader; may all that is troubling them be in Your hands. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Sunday's sermon, like John the Baptist's sermon, touched a lot of hearts, because forgiveness is such an important part of life. If we don't grant forgiveness, Jesus says, we won't be forgiven. And if we don't ask for forgiveness we carry around the heavy burden of guilt and shame. So, today's prayer focus is on forgiveness. Our study guide calls for us to
...pray for the spirit of forgiveness to take hold even in the hearts of the most hardened folks who cannot and will not forgive. Hear our prayer, O Lord!

Here's a sample prayer: Loving God of all, today may Your Holy Spirit move first in me. May I know that I am forgiven by You for all the things that I have done. I can't begin to list them all, just lump them all in whatever category is appropriate. And as I feel the forgiveness that You grant me, may I show the forgiveness that others are expecting from me. I know I may still carry the hurt from hurtful remarks, or dumb comments on work performance evalutation, or actions show me during a family reunion; but let me let You carry those things to the deepest part of the sea as Your word says in Micah 7:19 ("He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our F34 sins into the depths of the sea."). And I look forward to the fulfillment of Rev. 21:1 that says "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." Grant me the fullness of life as I cast aside and away the hurts, pains, memories and baggage of days past. Into Your hands I place myself for the joy that is mine in knowing You. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

ALL THIS CAN BE YOURS!

Loving God, in the midst of all that is around them, continue to rain down Your grace on this dear reader. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Here's today's question: Is it easier to ask for forgiveness or to grant it? Well, it depends you may say, on whether I am right or wrong. Compare that to our situation with God? Should God forgive you or should you even bother God? The Psalmist confirms what we know but what we sometimes forget, God loves us so much that God forgives us if we but ask. If ever there were a people who wore out their forgiveness, it was Israel. Their's was a history of loving, abandoning and forsaking God. And yet in the midst of this, the Psalmist said, God's day is coming with a wonderful blessing to all of us. In beautiful poetic language he shares the message that ours is salvation and ours is the great rejoicing when love and faithfulness will meet, not in the sky, but in our hearts! And righteousness and peace will kiss each other and again, not in the sky, but in our lives! God gives only that which is good. All we have to do is ask.

PRAYER: GOD of salvation, love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace, send those gifts to me! I ask this in the Name of He who died for me, Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Text for today Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13: Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. 9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. 12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.

The Psalmist in Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13 sings a song of forgiveness. Read that as an answered prayer from God to you and your situation. Hear God’s wanting to forgive you of your sins.

GOD'S PLAN FOR THE FULLNESS OF LIFE

Gracious and loving God, bring Your favor upon this dear reader; in Jesus' name, amen.
Sermon two of the Unwrapped Series was yesterday and the gift we unwrapped was God's Gift of Forgiveness, based on Mark 1:1-18. We continue to study the theme of forgiveness in the reading of other passages this week. Today, let us find Isaiah 40:1-11 and let's see what God is up to in that passage. If you do not have your Bible handy, please look below the devotional for a copy of the passage.

As we talked about sin yesterday, we realized that sin is a heavy weight to carry. To have that burden lifted is God's job and when God does lift it, it is incredible to walk forward toward Him and know we are no longer alone, no longer burdened with the weight of that which we have said, thought or done, that hurt God or God's creatures and creation. In Isaiah, the prophet says that "Jerusalem...has served her term,...her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins." This is then followed by the prophetic reference to John the Baptist who would prepare the way of the LORD Jesus Christ. We know that in Christ everything was made level, everything was squared away.
The passage concludes with the loving image of a shepherd caring for his flock; lovingly gathering them and carrying them in his bosom. We would think the opposite would be true. We are aware of the consequences and penalty of sin, and that is death; but Christ came that we might have life and that to the fullest as He said in John 10:10.

What's keeping you from life's fullness? God invites you to confess and turn away from your sins. Invite the Lord into your heart and begin to feel release from that which has kept you down for so long. Enter into a relationship with God today!

PRAYER: Loving God, I confess that I have done, said and thought more than my share of things that were not to Your honor or glory. I confess I am a sinner. I repent of my sins and with Your help I will turn away from them, turn them over to You and walk after You into the fullness of life. I pray this prayer of faith in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde
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1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." 6 A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" 10 See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

Isaiah 40: 1-11 speaks of God's care for us. Please find and read that passage and see what God wants to offer you.

HELP US BE READY

Loving God in spite of the uncertainty of these times, Your faithfulness upon this child of Yours who is reading this devotional, remains steadfast. Thank You! In Jesus' name, amen.

My being away for a couple of days made it impossible to send out ConCafe as I would have liked. We stayed in some cabins where we could not get internet access.

Our theme this week has been on that part of Advent that says, Christ is coming again. It's reflected in our creeds, and in our orders of worship, especially those related to Communion; in fact, part of celebrating the Lord's Supper is that which says one day we who love the Lord will all sit together in that Heavenly Banquet.

As we read in 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 we find Paul saying,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul was reminding the church in Corinth that they had God's grace working in them. This was evident in the work they were doing. The more they did for the Lord, the more the Lord blessed them. "You have been enriched in him," Paul writes, "in speech and knowledge of every kind -- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you." He reminds them also that they are rich in all spiritual gifts as they were waiting for the "revealing" (return) of Jesus. Paul's promise is that they, and we, will be made stronger until the end, and we will be blameless on that day. It is all a part of the fellowship of God's Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We don't think much about Jesus' return do we? How can we, some may ask? We're too busy just trying to live this life that we don't have time to think about a "next life!" The reality is that that day comes regardless of whether we want it to or not. Two days ago I learned of the death of a colleague in ministry, The Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball of Allen, Texas. Kathleen was a wonderful pastor and more recently had been elected to chair her conference's Board of Ordained Ministry. As a result of her election, and mine, we were trained together this past August, in Nashville, Tennessee. She was an extraordinary person. She had learned Spanish so she could minister in a West Dallas church that she started. She served there for seven years before being convinced to leave to help young churches. Her present appointment was this church in Allen that grew from 396 to 1,600 members. The last Sunday she was able, she preached all three services and welcomed in six new members and baptized 35 children. Because of her illness (cancer), Jesus came for Kathleen when her body gave out. All that Paul mentions in the above passage, Kathleen lived out. As should we. We work for the Lord because we love the Lord. And when our work here is done, the Lord who loves us, will return for us.

Prayer: Lord of life, we know You have received your daughter Kathleen, into Your eternal rest. We thank You for her life and ministry. Bring Your comfort and peace to her husband and her four-year-old son, Skylar. Be with us here as we seek to love You more. May our works give praise to You in the faith we have, that one day You will return for us. Help us be ready we ask, in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

ADVENT: A TIME FOR SALVATION

We started a new sermon series called "Unwrapped: Unwrapping God's Gifts at Christmas." Our first sermon was on Mark 13:24-37 with the emphasis being on verse 27, so the sermon was called "God's Gift of Eternal Family." We easily overlook that verse during the Lectionary reading and see all the signs foretelling the Second Coming of Christ and miss that the whole point of Jesus' second coming is to reunite us all as God's eternal family.

We find the Psalm reading for yesterday, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 sharing with us these words:

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth 2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. 4 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. 6 You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. 17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself. 18 Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name. 19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

The concept of salvation for many is simply being saved FROM our sins. I've shared many a time that in seminary the hardest question I encountered was when my theology professor asked, "What are we saved TO?" I had to confess as did the entire class that we had thought only about being saved from something rather than to something. And that "to" factor was the restoration factor of salvation. We are saved from our sins and to a new life, restored into a full relationship with God. We are saved from death to life, and not just any life, this is the "full meal deal, baby" life of abundance in Jesus Christ.

Advent is the right time to think about that. God had a purpose in sending Jesus the first time. And God will have a purpose in sending Him a second. What have you done about the first visit? And are you ready for the next?

PRAYER: Loving God, I celebrate my salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus has saved me from my sins, and He has saved me to the fullness of life. Help me share that today with all who might listen. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS FROM GENESIS

Gracious God, as the stresses of this holiday week fall upon this dear reader, grant him/her Your peace. Bless those of their loved ones traveling to be with them or with him/her as they travel this week. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Our theme this week in our sermons was VOTE FOR JESUS: The Hope of The World. Its message is simple, yet powerful. In Jesus we have that hope that defeats sin, worry, sickness, and even death. Our text for Sunday was John 11, the story of Lazarus and his sisters. It was a resurrection story right before this Sunday's start of the glorious Advent season.
We find death first mentioned in Genesis 3:3 and Eve understands just a part of it; the frightening part. Some of us may still have only that view. In John 11, Jesus relates death to being "asleep," and He tells his disciples He is going to "wake (Lazarus) up." The disciples didn't fully understand until Jesus stood triumphantly with the dead man outside of the tomb. If our hope is in Jesus, we live fuller lives and when our time comes to pass from this life to the next, we can die in Jesus as well. That was yesterday's message.

Today we are still in Genesis, this time chapter 4 where we find the very tragic tale of Cain killing Abel. This was the first human death, sadly, a fraticide; brother killing brother. This might not be a bad message for our Thanksgiving table and visits. David Letterman once said, "If I wanted to negociate with terrorists, I would have gone home for Thanksgiving." He meant it as a joke but someone wrote it with truth in mind. We sometimes find it very difficult to get along with our "loved" ones during the holidays. Our attitude should be that what happened yesterday should stay there and we should enjoy the time we have left with one another. The Cain story simply tells our story carried out to the extreme: We may not get along with even our siblings, but we still should love them, even from a distance, but never resort to physical violence or harm.

PRAYER: Loving God, grant me Your peace as I begin to receive or see loved ones. May the memories of yesterday's harms stay where they are and not come out of my mouth or worse, out of my hands. Lord, help me to put those memories of insults, wrong decisions, hurtful words or actions to eternal rest. Let me simply enjoy being alive and being able to be with all of my family. Again, I pray for safe travel for loved ones coming or for my going to wherever it is I may need to go. May we truly pause as a nation and as those who make up this nation, to truly give You thanks. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde
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Genesis 3:3 but God said, "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.' "
Genesis 4: 1-11 Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the Lord." 2 Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" 10 And the Lord said, "What have you done? Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

THE GATE TO YOUR LIFE

God of all people, smile down upon the needs of this dear reader right now. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

My first Bible was a King James Bible, which I still have. It was given to me in 1961 when I was confirmed as a member in The Methodist Church in Kingsville, Texas, at El Buen Pastor (The Good Shepherd) Methodist Church. My pastor was The Rev. Refugio Castro. One of the first verses I remember wanting to learn was the one from Revelation, chapter three, verse twenty: Jesus speaking saying, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me. Following our theme of Jesus being the gate, we control the gate into our heart and thus into our lives. While Jesus offers to lead us out of our corrals or prisons, we'll stay out only as long as we follow Him and as long as we allow Him in.

I remember thinking this was an awesome verse and I could see that famous Warner Sallman painting that hung somewhere in our little church. You will remember that Sallman also painted one of the most famous of the Jesus pictures where Jesus seems to be posing for his picture to be painted.

With Jesus at the door seeking us, how can we feel if not wanted and loved? Imagine how we would feel with Jesus inside? "Supping" with us? The fullness of friendship is allowing someone in to our homes and inviting them to eat and be our guests. Jesus desires more than being our guest; He desires to be our friend, Lord, and Savior.

Won't you invite Him in to your life through your "gate?"

PRAYER: Loving Shepherd, enter my life today. I know You have stood outside long enough and I open the door to my heart and my life so that You might come in and have fellowship and friendship with me. Let my life radiate Your presence with me! I ask this in Jesus' precious name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

OUR GOING OUT AND OUR COMING IN

God of peace and blessings, pour out a generous gift of peace and blessing on this gracious reader. In Jesus' Name, amen.

As you arose this morning from bed, what were your thoughts? Did you think of the good awaited you? Did you smell the coffee or food being prepared and think, "I am so blessed to be enjoying a cup of coffee and my favorite cereal?" Or, did you awake and think of the mountain of paperwork on your desk that needed your attention? Worse, did you think, "I'm not looking forward to my 9 o'clock, because she has it out for me!"

David on his campaigns to protect Israel on some mornings awakened not to the smell of coffee or cooking food, but to the sound and sight of his enemey camped around him on the hillside near his camp. His beautiful Psalm of faith as found in Psalm 121 tells that story, "I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. "

David could see beyond the threat of an enemy ready to trounce him. He knew in Whose hands he found himself and he knew the power of God to protect him. And his closing verse should be our assurance as well, as we leave our home and enter the workplace or treatment center or fellowship area or wherever it may be, God keeps our going out and our coming in, not just this morning but "from this time on and forevermore."

PRAYER: God of watchful eyes and endless strength, bless my going out of my home today into the world. You know the places I need to go and the things I need to do, keep me from harm and danger. Let me be one whose life shows that I follow The Shepherd, the gate of my going out and my coming in. Let me glorify You, I ask in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

---Please keep Alma Lightley in your prayers. She is in hospice care and has taken a turn for the worse. Alma is Darlene Topp's mom. Please keep Darlene and her sister and their families in your prayers as well.

JESUS IS THE GATE!

Loving God, at the start of this work week, send your blessings upon blessings on this gracious reader, amen.

Our sermon yesterday was on Jesus' "I Am" promise that He is "the gate." This was the third in our Vote for Jesus series which has blessed us more than I anticipated, and for that I praise the Lord!

As Abraham gets his second call from Heaven we find the angel’s words in Genesis 22: 17 that make a reference to a "gate." Please read the verses leading to verse 17 and try to understand what the Lord is saying to Abraham in that reference to a gate.

The text below shares that famous, but difficult story of Abraham's reluctant willingness to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. I say difficult because no parent can put themselves in Abraham's place and fully understand all that he was going through and many of us would quite honestly say, I don't know if I can do that. It was a very heavy heart that Abraham made that trek to the place where he thought that would be the end of his son. Thankfully, at the end of that journey, God provides and in that provision we find the promise "I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies." In this usage of "gate" we find that what God means is that God will allow the offspring of Abraham to control the cities of all their enemies." Yesterday I made reference to the gate being that which Christ offers to us if we find ourselves corraled or imprisoned by our own choosing and bad decisions. Today, God is saying you will be so blessed that you will control your enemies instead of being controled by them.

Jesus is the gate. Through Him, as we walk and talk and listen to Him we find the better way to live, the fullness way, the way to eternal life. Jesus offers our escape from sin and the consequences of sin if we would just call on Him.

PRAYER: Eternal Gate, fling open the doors of those corrals that imprison us and keep us from the fullness of life. May our faithfulness be such that You will allow us to control the gates of the same who sought to corral us. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Here is that text from Genesis 22::1 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. 9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill {Or [to slaughter]} his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13 And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." 15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Be'er-she'ba; and Abraham lived at Be'er-she'ba.

HEARING THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE

Lord of power and life, grant Your blessings on this dear reader for this day and all days. In Jesus' Name, amen.

The love of our Heavenly Father Jesus compared to that of a true, loving Shepherd. We find that in Matthew 18:12 and 13 which reads as follows:

12 What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

We can never wander away from the Shepherd without Him looking for us. We may try to hide or run away, but we won't be successful. God never gives up on us and always desires to be in relationship with us. In speaking with someone recently who felt they had let God down, they were verbally beating themselves up for what they perceived to be something they had done. "God must hate me and must think I am a loser, He's probably saying, 'You're no good and I give up on you!"" I replied, God would never say that, what God may say is, "You can do better and you will, if you trust me and allow me to be in your life."

If you know the Shepherd you will know His voice. And His voice will always be one of love, hope, and encouragement.

PRAYER: Loving Shepherd, let me hear Your voice today. I know so many voices throughout the course of my day; family, co-workers, friends, co-students, myself. Let me hear what You have to tell me even in the midst of what others may think is best for me, You dear God need to speak words of love, hope and encouragement to me. I ask this in Jesus' precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

OUR DAY OF PRAYER

Gracious God of all life, we celebrate this day as a day of prayer; yet my soul would be even more blessed if I made it a full-blown day of prayer and praise! Lord, this week I have been reminded of You being my Shepherd and my heart is glad because of that. In the midst of economic worries and troubles in the world I find hope in You and Your word: You do indeed lead those who would follow to the still waters and green pastures. Lead me, O Lord. As I may face aches and pains of a body that is not quite as young as yesterday, remind me Lord that You anoint my head with healing and I know that all will be well.

Lord, help me take the message of Your love to someone today. Show me who it is and what I should say and I will do it.

Bless and protect my family, my church, my pastors, my mentors and guides; for I glorify Your name through this prayer and I trust through my life today, in Jesus Christ's precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

THE 23RD PSALM

Good day dear friend, my prayer for you this morning is for God to share the fullness of life with you as you go about your daily chores and tasks. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Our sermon yesterday was entitled, "It's a Matter of Spiritual Security," and we talked about national security, personal security and spiritual security. We used Jesus' I Am claim of being "The Good Shepherd" from John 10. That leads us to today and our study of a well-known beloved Psalm, the 23rd Psalm. I will paste it here in the version most of us learned growing up, The King James Version (KJV): The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Read it out loud now. It doesn't matter who's listening, right where you are, right now, read it out loud as an affirmation of your faith. Didn't that feel good? Now read it quietly as a prayer, adjusting it to fit your needs. You could pray, "Loving God, you are my shepherd and because of that I need nothing. You provide all I need if I just make time to listen and follow. You supply nourishment for my body and rest for my soul, and if I listen even harder, You guide me in the path that leads to life and life in abundance. Yes, there are days I walk where I don't want or should walk, but You are with me, so how can I be afraid? You are mighty and You protect me. Even in the presence of those people or things that might want to claim my very life, be it an illness or a real political enemy, they will not triumph, because You are with me. Where You lead I will follow and there will I find goodness and mercy. May Your house be my house, whether I am at home, traveling, or in church. And I want that forever. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

GOD TAKES CARE OF US

God of mercy and provision, bring that which this dear reader needs, I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

The idea of eating poses for most of us only the question of what to eat? In Jesus' day it was a bit different and much harder for the common person. Here and now sadly, there are places not too far from where you are reading this to know there are folks who rely on dumpsters, handouts, charity, etc. to be fed. Jesus knew that for the majority of those following Him that finding food was a challenge. In Matthew 14:13-21 we find the story of how Jesus fed the multitude.

Matthew 14:13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." 16 Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." 17 They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." 18 And he said, "Bring them here to me." 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

This version omits the part about this being a boy's sack lunch. His mom cared enough for the boy's daily activities that she made him that lunch of five loaves and two fish. "Go out and play!" "Yes, Mom, but I think I'm going to go see this man Jesus today!" "Be careful!" It's quite a testament to that young man that he was willing to share his lunch with Jesus. And the stories he shared the rest of his life after seeing what Jesus did with that small sack lunch: He fed five thousand men, not counting women and children and he had twelve baskets full of leftovers.

The point of the story is that God takes care of you and me. If we seek to be God's person and if we seek to please God and serve God, God provides in wonderful, unexplainable ways. What do you do in return? Are you willing to share your sack lunch?

PRAYER: Help me Lord God to share what I have with those who don't have. Let my blessings from you bless others. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

OUR DAY OF PRAYER

Gracious God pour out Your blessings upon this dear reader. In Jesus'Name, amen.

As we live out the first day after the national elections let us jointogether in this prayer and your prayers:

Loving God, We awake not in a new United States of America but in onewhere we have brought to fullness of life the fundamentals of our greatnation, where our founders declared, "We hold these truths to beself-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed bytheir Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these areLife, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Lord, You know that notall are rejoicing this election of our new president, but remind us thatwe are united in all things as one nation. Ours are still the strugglesboth at home and abroad. Ours is still to be able to provide for ourfamilies and as Your Son taught us, our neighbors as well; and ourneighbors are those who are in need. We continue to affirm our need toprovide for one another for in the Day of Judgment, the nations, and we as individualswill be judged as to how we shared the basics: food, water, clothing,hospitality, care, compassion, and love.

Bless the United States of America as You have always done, not forprivilege but for the responsibility we hold before You. Bless ourcurrent president and his family, bless our president-elect and his family, bless those who sought to serve.

We pray for the end of conflict and bloodshed, truly bring peace on theface of the earth. While we await that day, bless and protect those whoserve in the keeping of the peace. Bring an end to the war in Iraq butwhile our men and women are there bless and protect them and we pray ablessing to those who find themselves involved as both innocentbystanders and those who fight against us. Bless and protect thespouses, children, parents, loved ones of those who serve.

May this day bring peace and comfort to those who need them. We ask forhealing of those reading this and for their loved ones as well.

Forgive us our sins. Free us for that obedience that bring honor andglory to you. Open our eyes to see one another as brothers and sisters,seeing beyond our bodily differences to see that which is Yours within.

We pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

VOTING FOR JESUS BRING GREAT BLESSINGS!

Great God in Heaven, pour down your blessings upon this dear reader. May that which she or he faces today be done in the strength of Your presence with them. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

The state of a widow in most societies even today, is a lowly one. For the Jews to be one who had lost her husband was to be without means of support. A woman could not go outside the home to work and if she was young with a young family without close relatives nearby, life would be difficult if not outright impossible. Such is the case the prophet Elijah as he himself is being cared for by God. God provided a location where he could have water and even had ravens come and feed him with bread and meat. Then the drought claimed even the wadi where he had been drinking water. God then sends him to the home of a widow.

The prophet asks the widow for a small cake of bread and this from a woman who thought she was preparing her last meal for herself and her son. She tells Elijah so; this is our last meal, for I have nothing left. Elijah then shares God's promise to provide for her if she will have faith to share with this man of God and then to provide for her son and herself. It took great faith on the part of that woman to go and prepare a small cake of bread for this stranger knowing that she might not have enough to feed her son and herself, but she had heard the promise from God and out of her faith does as she was told. God had promised she would never run out of oil and that was what happened.

As we elect Jesus as our Lord and Savior and make Him King of our lives, we too are blessed in incredible, unexplainable ways. It requires us taking bold first steps towards that faith and we are never disappointed. God blesses us.

What's keeping you from taking that first step of electing Jesus as Lord of your life?

PRAYER: Lord, our nation awaits the election of our new president today. May he be the one blessed by You to lead us in the ways that we should go. Forgive us our sins as a nation and make us again aware of our responsibility to the world. Like Israel we can and should be a nation of priests, of "bridge-builders" to You. Our wealth and propserity are meant for example not privilege, so let it be. And help me today take my first step towards that faith that shows the world that we have voted for You and have made You our Lord and Savior. King Jesus, I pray this in Your precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." 2 The word of the Lord came to him, saying, 3 "Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the wadi. 7 But after a while the wadi dried up, because there was no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." 10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." 11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." 12 But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." 13 Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth." 15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

1 Kings 17:1-16 tells a wonderful story of God providing more than enough for a person who normally would not have had a thing because of her social state. Please read the story and see how this applies to you.

I'M VOTING TODAY!

Gracious God bring blessing upon blessing on this person reading this devotional today. I ask it in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Our nation awaits tomorrow night. Tomorrow those who have not voted in early voting will line up at the polls to cast their vote for our next president. I voted yesterday and I'm voting again today. Yes, you read right. And no, I do not live in Duvall County. Close, but not quite. You see, I'm joining others in our church who are voting for Jesus. That's a daily vote and it simply means that I choose to live my life in a way that honors Him. Our new sermon series is called "Vote for Jesus" and yesterday's message was called "What If?" based on the fears that come with election years. Campaigns are great at making us fear so many things. (For those at 10:45 that did not get to see the ad, please see the link at the bottom of this message). Our text for the message was from John 6 where Jesus talked about His being the Bread of Life. The crowd had reminded Jesus of the "bread from heaven" that Moses provided for them during the Exodus.

Exodus 16:1-26 is that story and here it is:
1 The whole congregation of the Israelites set out from Elim; and Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days." 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?" 8 And Moses said, "When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord." 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, "Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.' " 10 And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 12 "I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, "At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.' " 13 In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: "Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.' "

Jesus knew of God's faithfulness to all of us and so should we. Through Jesus we have received victory over fear. The economy might be in trouble, our jobs may seem shaky, our relationships may not be as strong as they once were, etc., etc., but one thing we do have is the hope that we receive from Jesus. I don't know about you, but I'm voting again today. I'm voting for Jesus!

PRAYER: Lord, I cast my vote for You. Let my life show that I have victory over fear and that in Christ I am more than a conquerer in all things. Help me to get others to vote for You. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Link to Daisy ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVakvimpjRo

A LOVE OVERHAUL

Gracious God, pour your blessings upon this person reading this; may they know of Your great love for them especially in all they face. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

As we continue our theme of being "Overhauled spiritually," please find Mark 12:28-34 and read what it says there about love and how an overhaul of love might be in order if your priorities are not right.

The passage from Mark 12 reads "28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" 29 Jesus answered, "The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 32 Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that "he is one, and besides him there is no other'; 33 and "to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and "to love one's neighbor as oneself,'—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one dared to ask him any question.

We can take love for granted at times. Sadly, we take the ones we love for granted thus the commandment to love. Jesus as He recited the teaching that had been His since childhood spoke of the need to make an effort to love the One worthy of our love, namely God. Loving God is something we should not take for granted. We seek to love God with all our emotions, with our spiritual being, all our thoughts, and with all our physical strength. And, Jesus continued, we should love ourselves in the way God intended, not a conceited self-serving love, but a caring sort of love that we should extend to others, especially our "neighbors" which we know are all of God's people. Is it easy? Of course not, but it is or should be our goal.

You and I have probably driven our share of vehicles that many have questioned how they managed to still be on the road, and from time to time we'll see those type of cars on the road and the reality is that many if not all of the parts within have to be replaced, with a complete re-doing of the engine being an overhaul. God does the same for us as we ask, especially when it comes to love.

Don't take love for granted. Ask God to overhaul your heart, soul, mind and body.

PRAYER: My prayer is for You to overhaul me completely. Let me be a person of love as You intended. Let me love You as I should and let me love myself in a caring way and may that be the way I love others. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

OUR DAY OF PRAYER

Loving God, the person reading this as well as myself have at times found ourselves in the "Valley of Dry Bones" as shared in Your word in Ezekiel 37. Ours has at times been walking among the ruins of a relationship or financial venture or hard doubt in questions of personal faith, yet even then, You have been with us and have spoken the word of hope: Walk in faith and do things of faith even when it seems there is little to no faith left in you. And we thank You for those words and more importantly for Your presence.

Ezekiel saw a land where life had long been absent. The only visitors had been the blistering sun and those birds and animals that prey on the dead. Once the predators had gone, the sun still beat down on the bones and soon all signs of life were gone. Yet even in the midst of such finality You had not spoken the final word. So, speak today in my life that word that I need to hear. Like David, I am surrounded by those "enemies" that seek my destruction, be it an illness or a health condition or a fear I have about the pressures of today, but like David and others of faith, let me lift Your name high.

Blessed Father bless the person reading this with that which is best for their life. May they share this prayer with others, especially those beset by trials and tribulations. Ours is a living hope, a neverending faith, and a promise from You that You are always with us, even 'til the end of the world. And it is in Your precious Name we pray, Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

AN OVERHAULED FAITH

Loving God, please bring your blessings upon this person who reads this devotional. I know their heart yearns for You and for Your guidance and blessing in whatever they face today. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Hebrews 11 shares the stories of those whose faith was overhauled. They were not content to stay where they found themselves in their walk or lack thereof, with God. Verses 1 through 7 shares just some of a multitude who have asked of God, "God, increase or renew my faith!"

Hebrews 11:1-7: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God." 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith."

Look at that list: Abel offered to God what he knew God merited, not what Abel thought was best for Abel. This can only come through an "overhauled" faith. Enoch sought always to please God, not himself nor others, and because of that and because Enoch "walked with God" he did not experience death. And Noah, because of his faith in God was warned by God about that which was coming so that he might be prepared. And the list goes on and on and I suggest you read the entire chapter at your leisure. Could you add your name to that list? Of course, through a new, revitalized faith.

The pressures and worries of this time, the economy, the upcoming elections, relationships, illnesses, etc. can only be addressed with a faith that endures. God stands ready to share that with you, if you would only ask.

PRAYER: Loving God, increase my faith and increase my daily walk with You. You know my heart and the worries that have troubled me, but I trust in You and I know You will bless me. May I be a blessing to others. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

OUR "OVERHAUL"

Gracious God, please bless the person reading this in whatever he or she is facing. This is my prayer in Jesus' name, amen.

The study guide I provide on Sunday mornings shares this for today:

Exodus 4:10-17 tells the story of a needed overhaul in the life and spirit of a man who felt that he could not do anything for God. Yet God brought about exactly the change that this man needed. Please read this and be blessed in what it shares.

The text reads like this in the New Revised Standard Version:

10 But Moses said to the Lord, "O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." 11 Then the Lord said to him, "Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak." 13 But he said, "O my Lord, please send someone else." 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, "What of your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak fluently; even now he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you his heart will be glad. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. 16 He indeed shall speak for you to the people; he shall serve as a mouth for you, and you shall serve as God for him. 17 Take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs."

Have you ever needed an overhaul? Not of your car's engine but of you, your attitude and spirit towards God's work? This is exactly what Moses needed as he is being called into God's service. Moses has his excuses lined up: I am not a good speaker, in fact, I stutter. God has the answer for that: Isn't it I who gives speech to all mortals? I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to say. Then Moses finally says what he's truly feeling, "O my Lord, please send someone else." That angered God. Moses was still going, but God would use Moses' brother Aaron as his "mouth piece."

We are so clever when it comes to making up excuses why we cannot do things for God, when in fact the truth is we really don't want to do anything. Yes, some of us do have great reasons why we think we cannot serve God when in fact God will be with us and our excuse and help us overcome them so that God's work can be done.

PRAYER: Living God of all people, help me with my overhaul today. Remove all doubt and excuses from my mind, heart, and spirit. Let me see what I can do when I know You are truly with me. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

OUR DAY OF PRAYER

The uncle spoke about the time his work as a migrant farm worker kept him from buying Pampers for his baby. His nephew asked the uncle if he could take him to Wal-Mart to buy "something." The uncle said, "You can't buy Pampers for us!" The boy, about twelve years old said, "No Tio! I need to buy something at the store, please take me." The uncle complied and watched as his nephew bought the disposable diapers for his cousin.

Today, our oldest daughter buried one of her students, Jose E. Garcia. A seventh grader at Ann Richards Middle School, active on the football team, and always one ready to help his teacher and classmates, Jose died when fishing with his next-door neighbors in a canal near Mile 7 outside of La Joya, Texas. Jose slipped in and because he suffered from asthma those who dove in to try and save him say he may have suffered an attack that prevented his being saved. His body went under the water and it took police divers a while to find his body.

Jose's father was in Indiana working as a migrant worker and the La Joya school district paid for his bus ticket to return home to bury his son. One of the La Joya funeral homes donated the plot, the coffin, and the service. Our daughter's mother-in-law made a special white cloth with a dove that all his classmates signed. Two hundred red balloons lined the walk from the street into the church. As Jose's coffin passed the balloons were released, filling the sky with a display of love and sorrow. The football team came and sobbed openly at this unexpected death of a teammate.

The entire school district is taking this death very hard. Our daughter, Nellie and her class are suffering too. The visit of death is never easy and requires our prayers for God's comfort and peace to be with each who are hurting and mourning today. Jose's mother had been sedated for the burial and the white cloth when removed from the coffin and placed in her care became a baby she rocked and rocked. May God bring her comfort is my prayer.

PRAYER: Loving God of all life, we acknowledge our grief when someone dies. Though we did not know Jose Garcia personally we know that he touched lives during his short life. We cannot understand why this tragic accident robbed a family and a school from such a nice and thoughtful, loving boy, but we trust You to receive him and grand him eternal life through Christ Jesus in whom Jose believed. Comfort his mother and father. You know they're hurting not only emotionally but financially. Bless them with comfort and with the resources they need not only during this tough time, but at all times. Help those reading this, dear God with whatever they face. In You we place our hope and faith. We pray that this week may see us living the way of love. Your love as shared with us and as we share it with others. We pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

e.v.