Loving God found in all places, place Your touch upon the needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 145: 8 God is all mercy and grace - not quick to anger, is rich in love. 9 God is good to one and all; everything he does is suffused with grace. 10 Creation and creatures applaud you, God; 11 your holy people bless you. They talk about the glories of your rule, they exclaim over your splendor, 12 Letting the world know of your power for good, the lavish splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal; you never get voted out of office. God always does what he says, and is gracious in everything he does. 14 God gives a hand to those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit. (The Message)
I stand amazed at the number of pastors whose stories include moments like mine, moments when we have been ready to walk away and quit. I had one colleague who would joke, "Next year when I'm selling cars." Or he would change it to "Next year when I'm selling insurance." I had one who said, "The situation with my church and superintendent was so bad that I almost bought a lottery ticket! And if I had won, I would have left it all behind!" You perhaps have been there too. Your job situation is not what you signed on for or your relationship has lost some of the zest or (fill in the blank!). God remains constant and steadfast. God is, as the Psalmist knew, "all mercy and grace." Thankfully, neither is God quick to anger; God's rich in love. It seesm everything we are, God is not. We select the people we want to be good to; God's good to everyone. We lack grace, God doesn't. If we could hear the applause of the trees, the song of the birds, the praises of the beasts, we would know and we would join all creation in praising God.
God will always be with us, no one can overthrow God. God is faithful in doing all that we need or ask. And God can give us a hand up especially when we need it the most. Ready to quit? God gives you instead a fresh start! Amen!
PRAYER: Thank You, Loving God for all that You are and all that You do. Help me in my greatest need this day. I trust in You and Your wisdom. I praise You and lift up this prayer of faith in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
"Send an Angel to Find My Angel"
God of new days and blessings, bless richly the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Genesis 24: 34 The servant said, "I'm the servant of Abraham. 35 God has blessed my master - he's a great man; God has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, servants and maidservants, camels and donkeys. 36 And then to top it off, Sarah, my master's wife, gave him a son in her old age and he has passed everything on to his son. 37 My master made me promise, 'Don't get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live. 38 No, go to my father's home, back to my family, and get a wife for my son there.' 42 "Well, when I came this very day to the spring, I prayed, 'God, God of my master Abraham, make things turn out well in this task I've been given. 43 I'm standing at this well. When a young woman comes here to draw water and I say to her, Please, give me a sip of water from your jug, 44 and she says, Not only will I give you a drink, I'll also water your camels - let that woman be the wife God has picked out for my master's son.' 45 "I had barely finished offering this prayer, when Rebekah arrived, her jug on her shoulder. She went to the spring and drew water and I said, 'Please, can I have a drink?' 46 She didn't hesitate. She held out her jug and said, 'Drink; and when you're finished I'll also water your camels.' I drank, and she watered the camels. 47 I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel whose parents were Nahor and Milcah.' I gave her a ring for her nose, bracelets for her arms, 48 and bowed in worship to God. I praised God, the God of my master Abraham who had led me straight to the door of my master's family to get a wife for his son. 49 "Now, tell me what you are going to do. If you plan to respond with a generous yes, tell me. But if not, tell me plainly so I can figure out what to do next." 58 They called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you want to go with this man?" She said, "I'm ready to go." 59 So they sent them off, their sister Rebekah with her nurse, and Abraham's servant with his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah saying, You're our sister - live bountifully! And your children, triumphantly! 61 Rebekah and her young maids mounted the camels and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and set off for home. 62 Isaac was living in the Negev. He had just come back from a visit to Beer Lahai Roi. 63 In the evening he went out into the field; while meditating he looked up and saw camels coming. 64 When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, "Who is that man out in the field coming toward us?" "That is my master." She took her veil and covered herself. 66 After the servant told Isaac the whole story of the trip, 67 Isaac took Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah. He married Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother's death. (The Message)
When I was called into ministry and I finally made it to seminary, the unwritten rule was that all ministers should be married. I did not fight this rule I just was not married. My first year in seminary was a grave concern for the upperclassmen (yes, all men) and so suggestions and invitations were offered. Somehow I knew this would not be the way to find my wife. I remember finally praying, "Lord, I am just going to trust You and not worry about it." Amen. It was shortly after that prayer that I met and married Nellie. There is a spiritual side to marriage that many either overlook or forget. Today's passage was the process Abraham employed to find a wife for his son Isaac. It was a God-trusting, God-led, and God-answered process where Abraham believed that God's angel would find the "angel" for his son. So, Abraham sends his most trusted servant on this journey. Among the things that made this man Abraham's most trusted was his personal belief and trust in God through prayer. The man prayed a prayer putting the condition that needed to be met as a sign that this woman would be the one intended for Isaac. Yes, these were the days of arranged marriages but it's interesting to note that both the father and the agent charged with finding the wife trusted God. It was a God-arranged marriage.
It was an interesting condition placed on the right woman. She would be a woman of character and compassion for she would not only offer this servant a drink of water, she would offer to water his camels as well. Not a small nor easy task, but one that a caring woman would undertake. And the servant found such a woman in Rebekah with whom Isaac was well pleased and he took her as his wife.
It is spiritually beneficial for us even today to trust the God of our relationship with our relationships. The one who enjoys a daily and close personal relationship with God knows to trust God in all things, especially relationship with others. To seek a lifetime partner in marriage requires a deep trust and commitment to God to provide such a person. And not just the encounter and the wedding, but the entire marriage as well should be covered in prayer.
Do you trust God enough to talk to and listen to?
PRAYER: Loving God of my very being, allow me to trust You and walk with You to be the person You would have me be. I ask a blessing on those who are seeking life partners for marriage that it be You who provides the person best suited for such a journey. Not not just in the meeting and romance, but in every day and detail of the life that is to follow. I ask a blessing on all who are married that we might continue to trust You in our daily dealings; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Genesis 24: 34 The servant said, "I'm the servant of Abraham. 35 God has blessed my master - he's a great man; God has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, servants and maidservants, camels and donkeys. 36 And then to top it off, Sarah, my master's wife, gave him a son in her old age and he has passed everything on to his son. 37 My master made me promise, 'Don't get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live. 38 No, go to my father's home, back to my family, and get a wife for my son there.' 42 "Well, when I came this very day to the spring, I prayed, 'God, God of my master Abraham, make things turn out well in this task I've been given. 43 I'm standing at this well. When a young woman comes here to draw water and I say to her, Please, give me a sip of water from your jug, 44 and she says, Not only will I give you a drink, I'll also water your camels - let that woman be the wife God has picked out for my master's son.' 45 "I had barely finished offering this prayer, when Rebekah arrived, her jug on her shoulder. She went to the spring and drew water and I said, 'Please, can I have a drink?' 46 She didn't hesitate. She held out her jug and said, 'Drink; and when you're finished I'll also water your camels.' I drank, and she watered the camels. 47 I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel whose parents were Nahor and Milcah.' I gave her a ring for her nose, bracelets for her arms, 48 and bowed in worship to God. I praised God, the God of my master Abraham who had led me straight to the door of my master's family to get a wife for his son. 49 "Now, tell me what you are going to do. If you plan to respond with a generous yes, tell me. But if not, tell me plainly so I can figure out what to do next." 58 They called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you want to go with this man?" She said, "I'm ready to go." 59 So they sent them off, their sister Rebekah with her nurse, and Abraham's servant with his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah saying, You're our sister - live bountifully! And your children, triumphantly! 61 Rebekah and her young maids mounted the camels and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and set off for home. 62 Isaac was living in the Negev. He had just come back from a visit to Beer Lahai Roi. 63 In the evening he went out into the field; while meditating he looked up and saw camels coming. 64 When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, "Who is that man out in the field coming toward us?" "That is my master." She took her veil and covered herself. 66 After the servant told Isaac the whole story of the trip, 67 Isaac took Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah. He married Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother's death. (The Message)
When I was called into ministry and I finally made it to seminary, the unwritten rule was that all ministers should be married. I did not fight this rule I just was not married. My first year in seminary was a grave concern for the upperclassmen (yes, all men) and so suggestions and invitations were offered. Somehow I knew this would not be the way to find my wife. I remember finally praying, "Lord, I am just going to trust You and not worry about it." Amen. It was shortly after that prayer that I met and married Nellie. There is a spiritual side to marriage that many either overlook or forget. Today's passage was the process Abraham employed to find a wife for his son Isaac. It was a God-trusting, God-led, and God-answered process where Abraham believed that God's angel would find the "angel" for his son. So, Abraham sends his most trusted servant on this journey. Among the things that made this man Abraham's most trusted was his personal belief and trust in God through prayer. The man prayed a prayer putting the condition that needed to be met as a sign that this woman would be the one intended for Isaac. Yes, these were the days of arranged marriages but it's interesting to note that both the father and the agent charged with finding the wife trusted God. It was a God-arranged marriage.
It was an interesting condition placed on the right woman. She would be a woman of character and compassion for she would not only offer this servant a drink of water, she would offer to water his camels as well. Not a small nor easy task, but one that a caring woman would undertake. And the servant found such a woman in Rebekah with whom Isaac was well pleased and he took her as his wife.
It is spiritually beneficial for us even today to trust the God of our relationship with our relationships. The one who enjoys a daily and close personal relationship with God knows to trust God in all things, especially relationship with others. To seek a lifetime partner in marriage requires a deep trust and commitment to God to provide such a person. And not just the encounter and the wedding, but the entire marriage as well should be covered in prayer.
Do you trust God enough to talk to and listen to?
PRAYER: Loving God of my very being, allow me to trust You and walk with You to be the person You would have me be. I ask a blessing on those who are seeking life partners for marriage that it be You who provides the person best suited for such a journey. Not not just in the meeting and romance, but in every day and detail of the life that is to follow. I ask a blessing on all who are married that we might continue to trust You in our daily dealings; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Who Can Help Me?
Loving God of all days, bless this day as a special, grace-filled day in the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Romans 7: 15 What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. 16 So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary. 17 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! 18 I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. 19 I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. 20 My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. 21 It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. 22 I truly delight in God's commands, 23 but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. 24 I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? 25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. (The Message)
The season of Pentecost is the time to remember that even our best intentions to do right and well fail. We're just like St. Paul who wrote that he tried and tried and tried on his own to do the things he knew he had to do, but couldn't. The reminder is that Christ's Holy Spirit came down to help us in our daily living. We try to avoid being like people we despise, but there we are, right next to them in terms of similar actions. We know what God wants, we do what we want. We know the commandments but we choose the pleasure we get from things that go against the commandments. What Paul realized is that sin has power. Sin has the power to tempt us and deviate us from the right path of God. And like Paul wrote, "The moment I decide to do goo, sin is there to trip me up." And not every part of us delights in the Lord. Who can help me? Who can do something for me?
The answer, as Paul says, "thank God, is that Jesus Christ can do does." Amen.
PRAYER: Loving God Your Holy Word contains so much about my life and my attempts to be and do good, but I fail. Help me to realize that by myself I can do nothing; I require and request the assistance and presence of Your Holy Spirit to guide me and bless me. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Romans 7: 15 What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. 16 So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary. 17 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! 18 I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. 19 I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. 20 My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. 21 It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. 22 I truly delight in God's commands, 23 but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. 24 I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? 25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. (The Message)
The season of Pentecost is the time to remember that even our best intentions to do right and well fail. We're just like St. Paul who wrote that he tried and tried and tried on his own to do the things he knew he had to do, but couldn't. The reminder is that Christ's Holy Spirit came down to help us in our daily living. We try to avoid being like people we despise, but there we are, right next to them in terms of similar actions. We know what God wants, we do what we want. We know the commandments but we choose the pleasure we get from things that go against the commandments. What Paul realized is that sin has power. Sin has the power to tempt us and deviate us from the right path of God. And like Paul wrote, "The moment I decide to do goo, sin is there to trip me up." And not every part of us delights in the Lord. Who can help me? Who can do something for me?
The answer, as Paul says, "thank God, is that Jesus Christ can do does." Amen.
PRAYER: Loving God Your Holy Word contains so much about my life and my attempts to be and do good, but I fail. Help me to realize that by myself I can do nothing; I require and request the assistance and presence of Your Holy Spirit to guide me and bless me. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Monday, June 27, 2011
FINDING REST IN JESUS!
Loving God for the gift of this precious day let the spirit of this dear reader be thankful and blessed; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Matthew 11: 16 "How can I account for this generation? The people have been like spoiled children whining to their parents, 17 'We wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk, but you were always too busy.' 18 John came fasting and they called him crazy. 19 I came feasting and they called me a lush, a friend of the riff-raff. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating." 25 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. 26 Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work." 27 Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. 28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (The Message)
I have shared with you before that my daughters' tastes in television shows vary just a bit from mine. There are some that I just will not watch, others that I have come to tolerate, and some that I actually like. One that I am not a fan of is "I Survived." As the name implies it is a show about those people who have had life-threatening experiences and have survived somehow. In recapping last night's episode my daughter did share something that was important; all the people in the different experiences said that they prayed harder than ever and all survived. Prayer is a basic teaching of the church and yet it is one that is being ignored and discounted more and more. In this gospel passage Jesus is talking about Who to know and what to know. The generation He mentions is out of touch with God, then He prays, and then He explains that in having a relationship (prayer) with God one learns the real stuff, the basic but powerful stuff that is needed to survive. Underlying that all is the simple message we also should be sharing: Never give up. Never give up on God for God never gives up on you.
Come into that relationship, turn over your biggest burdens to God and rest!
PRAYER: Loving God, bring me into the fullness of life through a relationship with You. Help me to find relief from the loads I have been carrying. Help me to trust You more. I ask all of this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Matthew 11: 16 "How can I account for this generation? The people have been like spoiled children whining to their parents, 17 'We wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk, but you were always too busy.' 18 John came fasting and they called him crazy. 19 I came feasting and they called me a lush, a friend of the riff-raff. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating." 25 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. 26 Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work." 27 Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. 28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (The Message)
I have shared with you before that my daughters' tastes in television shows vary just a bit from mine. There are some that I just will not watch, others that I have come to tolerate, and some that I actually like. One that I am not a fan of is "I Survived." As the name implies it is a show about those people who have had life-threatening experiences and have survived somehow. In recapping last night's episode my daughter did share something that was important; all the people in the different experiences said that they prayed harder than ever and all survived. Prayer is a basic teaching of the church and yet it is one that is being ignored and discounted more and more. In this gospel passage Jesus is talking about Who to know and what to know. The generation He mentions is out of touch with God, then He prays, and then He explains that in having a relationship (prayer) with God one learns the real stuff, the basic but powerful stuff that is needed to survive. Underlying that all is the simple message we also should be sharing: Never give up. Never give up on God for God never gives up on you.
Come into that relationship, turn over your biggest burdens to God and rest!
PRAYER: Loving God, bring me into the fullness of life through a relationship with You. Help me to find relief from the loads I have been carrying. Help me to trust You more. I ask all of this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, June 23, 2011
A Wedding! How awesome!
Chapter Two: A Wedding in Cana of Galilee
Somehow Jesus got invited to attend a wedding in a small town by the name of Cana in the region of Galilee. Many believe it was the wedding of a relative because Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also present. The disciples also got the invitation to attend the wedding. Weddings in Jesus' day were big celebrations that lasted for days for the richer of the people, but even the poor would save or go into debt to throw a party to celebrate the special occasion. In Spanish we had the expression "¡no es boda!" (It's not a wedding!) whenever we asked for seconds or thirds on a meal. I never knew what the expression meant until one of my cousins got married and we attended her wedding. They were sharecroppers who lived on a patch of land and there were many tables all laden with food. It was nonstop food! "Ah!," thought I, "Now I know! ¡Esta sî es una boda!(This IS a wedding!). The drink for celebration in Jesus' day was wine and it was usually the product of fermented grapes. The thing that happened was that at this particular wedding the bridal party ran out of wine. This could be a big embarrassment to the bride, her family, the groom and his family; but this proved to be the setting for Jesus' first miracle.
It was Mary who sensed the coming tragedy if wine was not present. It is Mary who tells Jesus that there is no more wine in a, we sense, do-something-about-it tone. Jesus responds with a son-mother response, Why do you want me to get involved in this? Or some say, "What concern is that with you and me?" Jesus did not believe the timing was right to do a miracle. Yet Mary is not concerned because she goes ahead and tells the servants to do whatever Jesus asked of them.
There were six stone jars that were used mainly for ceremonial purposes, namely washing. it was believed that each jar could hold twenty to thirty gallons of water. Jesus orders the jars filled with water. And these were filled to the brim.
Jesus tells the servants to take the water to the person in charge of the banquet. As this person tastes the wine he discovers that it is not water, but a fine wine. He doesn't know where the wine came from but he is impressed. His declaration is that usually the finest wine is provided first, then after enough of that expensive wine is drank, they change it out and serve cheaper wine. The implication is that by that point the quality of the wind does not really matter much anymore.
This was the first of the many signs that Jesus did to reveal his glory. And as that section closes out, the disciples put their faith in Jesus.
With his presence at this wedding a lot is said about having God present in the everyday and special celebrations of humanity. The formal wedding ceremony says something about "With his presence and power, Jesus graced a wedding at Cana of Galilee." And he still does. If invited. I love the sign that says, "Thanks for inviting me to the wedding, now invite me to the marriage."
Jesus returns from Cana to Capernaum with his mother and siblings and disciples. They stayed there for a few days. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for his participation in this high holy day. What he finds in Jerusalem is what he did not expect: People selling cattle, sheep, doves, and other exchanging money. Some have said they were giving out change for $20 bills and higher so they could drop in a $5 or less. Hmm. Jesus' reaction is to make a whip out of cords which he used to drive out everyone involved in this marketplace that should have been a temple. Jesus' declaration says it, "You have turned my Father's house into a market!" The disciples wrote it down in their hearts that this was a fulfillment of what was contained in the prophets, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
The actions of Jesus upset the Jews. Where do you get this authority to do such a thing? What sign can you do to prove it?
Jesus responds by saying that if they destroyed this Temple, he would raise it up in three days. They did not understand this for the Temple had taken 46 years to complete and no one could re-build it in a mere three days. The disciples later knew that what Jesus was talking about was His body that on the third day would come back from the dead.
Jesus did some signs and wonders and many believed in His name. He knew the hearts of the people and so he did not reveal much about himself for he did not need human testimony from them; he knew what was in them.
Somehow Jesus got invited to attend a wedding in a small town by the name of Cana in the region of Galilee. Many believe it was the wedding of a relative because Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also present. The disciples also got the invitation to attend the wedding. Weddings in Jesus' day were big celebrations that lasted for days for the richer of the people, but even the poor would save or go into debt to throw a party to celebrate the special occasion. In Spanish we had the expression "¡no es boda!" (It's not a wedding!) whenever we asked for seconds or thirds on a meal. I never knew what the expression meant until one of my cousins got married and we attended her wedding. They were sharecroppers who lived on a patch of land and there were many tables all laden with food. It was nonstop food! "Ah!," thought I, "Now I know! ¡Esta sî es una boda!(This IS a wedding!). The drink for celebration in Jesus' day was wine and it was usually the product of fermented grapes. The thing that happened was that at this particular wedding the bridal party ran out of wine. This could be a big embarrassment to the bride, her family, the groom and his family; but this proved to be the setting for Jesus' first miracle.
It was Mary who sensed the coming tragedy if wine was not present. It is Mary who tells Jesus that there is no more wine in a, we sense, do-something-about-it tone. Jesus responds with a son-mother response, Why do you want me to get involved in this? Or some say, "What concern is that with you and me?" Jesus did not believe the timing was right to do a miracle. Yet Mary is not concerned because she goes ahead and tells the servants to do whatever Jesus asked of them.
There were six stone jars that were used mainly for ceremonial purposes, namely washing. it was believed that each jar could hold twenty to thirty gallons of water. Jesus orders the jars filled with water. And these were filled to the brim.
Jesus tells the servants to take the water to the person in charge of the banquet. As this person tastes the wine he discovers that it is not water, but a fine wine. He doesn't know where the wine came from but he is impressed. His declaration is that usually the finest wine is provided first, then after enough of that expensive wine is drank, they change it out and serve cheaper wine. The implication is that by that point the quality of the wind does not really matter much anymore.
This was the first of the many signs that Jesus did to reveal his glory. And as that section closes out, the disciples put their faith in Jesus.
With his presence at this wedding a lot is said about having God present in the everyday and special celebrations of humanity. The formal wedding ceremony says something about "With his presence and power, Jesus graced a wedding at Cana of Galilee." And he still does. If invited. I love the sign that says, "Thanks for inviting me to the wedding, now invite me to the marriage."
Jesus returns from Cana to Capernaum with his mother and siblings and disciples. They stayed there for a few days. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for his participation in this high holy day. What he finds in Jerusalem is what he did not expect: People selling cattle, sheep, doves, and other exchanging money. Some have said they were giving out change for $20 bills and higher so they could drop in a $5 or less. Hmm. Jesus' reaction is to make a whip out of cords which he used to drive out everyone involved in this marketplace that should have been a temple. Jesus' declaration says it, "You have turned my Father's house into a market!" The disciples wrote it down in their hearts that this was a fulfillment of what was contained in the prophets, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
The actions of Jesus upset the Jews. Where do you get this authority to do such a thing? What sign can you do to prove it?
Jesus responds by saying that if they destroyed this Temple, he would raise it up in three days. They did not understand this for the Temple had taken 46 years to complete and no one could re-build it in a mere three days. The disciples later knew that what Jesus was talking about was His body that on the third day would come back from the dead.
Jesus did some signs and wonders and many believed in His name. He knew the hearts of the people and so he did not reveal much about himself for he did not need human testimony from them; he knew what was in them.
Tears on My Pillows
Loving God of calm and peace, in the storms that may rage in the life of this dear reader, may Your Presence be known in a calming way; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 13: 1 Long enough, God - you've ignored me long enough. I've looked at the back of your head 2 Long enough I've carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me. 3 Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye, 4 So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face. 5 I've thrown myself headlong into your arms - I'm celebrating your rescue. 6 I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers. (The Message)
There have been nights when our pillows soak up more than the sweat from the toil of our daily work. Those are the nights that without warning we have wept and wept long into the pillow, hoping our tears won't disturb those near us. My first night away at college I wept. Earlier that day as my family drove off I thought I was finally a man. Later a new friend invited me to the movies and I caught myself saying, "Let me go in and ask..." A man does not need permission from anybody! Or so I thought. I met my new roommate who was an upperclassman (Sophmore in a junior college!) and thought I could learn more about being a cool man for he wore expensive aviator glasses and drove a convertible import sports car. That night I wept like a baby. I wept because I realized I was away from home and as cool and as freeing I thought it would be, I knew I missed them. There have been other nights that I have wept and I believe the psalmist was no different from me nor you. The difference is that he put his thoughts to paper and shared them with others to read. This psalm is the result of his feeling alone and apart from God. In the Psalm he is telling God that no longer does he want to feel this way like he's facing only the back of God's head. He wants to have the sort of relationship where he can let it all out and know that God has not only heard but has responded.
Guess what? God does listen. God hears. God answers. The answers are not always yes. But we rejoice in knowing that we can and most of us do have that sort of relationship with God. And my our lives reflect the bountifulness of answered prayers.
PRAYER: God of our love and our need, may today be a day when more will see the rich ways that answered prayers have blessed my life and can bless theirs as well. Help me to help others know of the great relationship they can have with you. I ask this in the name of Christ Jesus my Lord and my Savior, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Psalm 13: 1 Long enough, God - you've ignored me long enough. I've looked at the back of your head 2 Long enough I've carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me. 3 Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye, 4 So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face. 5 I've thrown myself headlong into your arms - I'm celebrating your rescue. 6 I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers. (The Message)
There have been nights when our pillows soak up more than the sweat from the toil of our daily work. Those are the nights that without warning we have wept and wept long into the pillow, hoping our tears won't disturb those near us. My first night away at college I wept. Earlier that day as my family drove off I thought I was finally a man. Later a new friend invited me to the movies and I caught myself saying, "Let me go in and ask..." A man does not need permission from anybody! Or so I thought. I met my new roommate who was an upperclassman (Sophmore in a junior college!) and thought I could learn more about being a cool man for he wore expensive aviator glasses and drove a convertible import sports car. That night I wept like a baby. I wept because I realized I was away from home and as cool and as freeing I thought it would be, I knew I missed them. There have been other nights that I have wept and I believe the psalmist was no different from me nor you. The difference is that he put his thoughts to paper and shared them with others to read. This psalm is the result of his feeling alone and apart from God. In the Psalm he is telling God that no longer does he want to feel this way like he's facing only the back of God's head. He wants to have the sort of relationship where he can let it all out and know that God has not only heard but has responded.
Guess what? God does listen. God hears. God answers. The answers are not always yes. But we rejoice in knowing that we can and most of us do have that sort of relationship with God. And my our lives reflect the bountifulness of answered prayers.
PRAYER: God of our love and our need, may today be a day when more will see the rich ways that answered prayers have blessed my life and can bless theirs as well. Help me to help others know of the great relationship they can have with you. I ask this in the name of Christ Jesus my Lord and my Savior, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Spiritual Gospel
I've started re-reading the Gospel of John. Nellie and I have been having long discussions about its content and our (my) struggles understanding some parts of it. I will post here my thoughts on each chapter and I do it only for myself and you're welcome to read what I share.
Like the title says, this is considered to be the most spiritual of the four gospels. It is not one of the Synoptic Gospels because it does not follow the same basic timeline of the three, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Some actually call it the Spiritual Gospel. Some call it that because it breaks the original one-volume Luke-Acts work into two different books. Those who came before me and who knew much more than I ever hope to know, decided that because John's gospel speaks more of the Holy Spirit that it would be best for a volume on the Holy Spirit to come between Luke's foretelling of the coming and then Acts' recording of the actual arrival of same. I'll try to share that in my daily postings.
I started last night in a Days Inn Motel room in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. It's one of the smallest US motel/hotel rooms that I have ever seen. It was about the same size as a Days Inn hotel in London, England. It had a bed. We were tired. We slept. It had a shower and toilet in it so that fit the bill. But it was tiny.
Chapter One: Creation Revisited.
The gospel shares a viewpoint not found elsewhere about Creation. John's gospel affirms that Jesus is the Word. In Spanish, the word is literally "Verb." An active, working, involved Presence in the act of creation. Jesus is given credit for being a part of the making of all things. And because of that, John says that in Jesus we find life and that life is light for all people. You'll notice in this gospel that several images of Jesus will be presented; the first is Word, second is Life, and third is Light. John knows there is darkness and that darkness is powerless against light. Light always wins. Even the darkest cave in the deepest part of the earth is no match for a match. Get it? John affirms that darkness will never overcome light. Amen.
John then introduces a namesake, John. This first reference in verse 6 is to the John we know as John the Baptist. John is seen as a witness who would and did testify positively about light, with the hope that all would believe in Jesus. John is clear to share that John is not himself light, he's only a witness. John is aware that the world, in whatever way you may choose to define it, does not know nor recognize Jesus. But the ones who did received the right to become children of God. Children born of God.
Jesus became flesh and lived among us, John says. In Jesus we have seen glory and this glory is the reflection of the Son who came from the Father and He came full of grace and truth. This grace was so awesome that it replaced the grace God had already shared with the world. The giving of the law by Moses was an act of grace, but through Jesus we have received grace and also truth. John will state several times that in Jesus we find truth. When John the Baptist was asked by the religious of his day who he was, John was quick to say he was not the Messiah, the expected one from God. He denied being any of the prophets but quoting scripture says that he is the one whose voice cried in the wilderness as the Prophet isaiah declared. John also is questioned about his act of baptizing those believed to be born clean. Baptism was known as a cleansing act used to symbolically welcome non-Jews into the faith. But John the Baptist knew the need in the hearts of those who knew sin and alienation from God; they needed to be washed clean in a symbolic way of that sin, knowing that within, in the spiritual realm they were being washed by God's love.
John is baptizing at Bethany near the Jordan River. On one of those days, Jesus makes an appearance and John announces him as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John also affirms that standing next to Jesus, he does not measure up. Jesus is the One. John declares that at Jesus' baptism, an act much debated as to its necessity, the Spirit came down from heaven like a dove and as the baptism is being celebrated a voice from God tells John that Jesus is to be the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John's testimony continues that Jesus is the chosen one of God, and even loses two of his own disciples to Jesus. They responded to John's second declaration, "Look, the Lamb of God!" That was all they needed to hear and they decide to follow Jesus.
Jesus asks the two what they're looking for. and the address Jesus as rabbi and ask, "Where are you staying?" Jesus replies that they should come and see. They spend the day with Jesus and Andrew, one of the two goes to find his brother, Peter to tell him about the discovery of this Lamb of God. His direct declaration is that they had found the Messiah, the Christ. And Andrew brings him to Jesus. Jesus in this first encounter with Peter calls him "Cephas," which is Peter (Petra, rock). Jesus then calls Philip with a simple, "Follow me" invitation. Philip in turn goes and finds Nathanael and also tells him his faith in this Christ.
The encounter between Jesus and this new disciple has powerful impact on Nathanael who in turn calls Jesus not only Rabbi but also Son of God, and King of Israel. Jesus promises him that he would see great things including the opening of heaven and visions of angels ascending and descending on 'the Son of Man.'
Powerful is the one word that comes to my mind and heart about this very short chapter in this short Gospel. But it's Good News. It's news that can save our lives and our very souls.
Like the title says, this is considered to be the most spiritual of the four gospels. It is not one of the Synoptic Gospels because it does not follow the same basic timeline of the three, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Some actually call it the Spiritual Gospel. Some call it that because it breaks the original one-volume Luke-Acts work into two different books. Those who came before me and who knew much more than I ever hope to know, decided that because John's gospel speaks more of the Holy Spirit that it would be best for a volume on the Holy Spirit to come between Luke's foretelling of the coming and then Acts' recording of the actual arrival of same. I'll try to share that in my daily postings.
I started last night in a Days Inn Motel room in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. It's one of the smallest US motel/hotel rooms that I have ever seen. It was about the same size as a Days Inn hotel in London, England. It had a bed. We were tired. We slept. It had a shower and toilet in it so that fit the bill. But it was tiny.
Chapter One: Creation Revisited.
The gospel shares a viewpoint not found elsewhere about Creation. John's gospel affirms that Jesus is the Word. In Spanish, the word is literally "Verb." An active, working, involved Presence in the act of creation. Jesus is given credit for being a part of the making of all things. And because of that, John says that in Jesus we find life and that life is light for all people. You'll notice in this gospel that several images of Jesus will be presented; the first is Word, second is Life, and third is Light. John knows there is darkness and that darkness is powerless against light. Light always wins. Even the darkest cave in the deepest part of the earth is no match for a match. Get it? John affirms that darkness will never overcome light. Amen.
John then introduces a namesake, John. This first reference in verse 6 is to the John we know as John the Baptist. John is seen as a witness who would and did testify positively about light, with the hope that all would believe in Jesus. John is clear to share that John is not himself light, he's only a witness. John is aware that the world, in whatever way you may choose to define it, does not know nor recognize Jesus. But the ones who did received the right to become children of God. Children born of God.
Jesus became flesh and lived among us, John says. In Jesus we have seen glory and this glory is the reflection of the Son who came from the Father and He came full of grace and truth. This grace was so awesome that it replaced the grace God had already shared with the world. The giving of the law by Moses was an act of grace, but through Jesus we have received grace and also truth. John will state several times that in Jesus we find truth. When John the Baptist was asked by the religious of his day who he was, John was quick to say he was not the Messiah, the expected one from God. He denied being any of the prophets but quoting scripture says that he is the one whose voice cried in the wilderness as the Prophet isaiah declared. John also is questioned about his act of baptizing those believed to be born clean. Baptism was known as a cleansing act used to symbolically welcome non-Jews into the faith. But John the Baptist knew the need in the hearts of those who knew sin and alienation from God; they needed to be washed clean in a symbolic way of that sin, knowing that within, in the spiritual realm they were being washed by God's love.
John is baptizing at Bethany near the Jordan River. On one of those days, Jesus makes an appearance and John announces him as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John also affirms that standing next to Jesus, he does not measure up. Jesus is the One. John declares that at Jesus' baptism, an act much debated as to its necessity, the Spirit came down from heaven like a dove and as the baptism is being celebrated a voice from God tells John that Jesus is to be the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John's testimony continues that Jesus is the chosen one of God, and even loses two of his own disciples to Jesus. They responded to John's second declaration, "Look, the Lamb of God!" That was all they needed to hear and they decide to follow Jesus.
Jesus asks the two what they're looking for. and the address Jesus as rabbi and ask, "Where are you staying?" Jesus replies that they should come and see. They spend the day with Jesus and Andrew, one of the two goes to find his brother, Peter to tell him about the discovery of this Lamb of God. His direct declaration is that they had found the Messiah, the Christ. And Andrew brings him to Jesus. Jesus in this first encounter with Peter calls him "Cephas," which is Peter (Petra, rock). Jesus then calls Philip with a simple, "Follow me" invitation. Philip in turn goes and finds Nathanael and also tells him his faith in this Christ.
The encounter between Jesus and this new disciple has powerful impact on Nathanael who in turn calls Jesus not only Rabbi but also Son of God, and King of Israel. Jesus promises him that he would see great things including the opening of heaven and visions of angels ascending and descending on 'the Son of Man.'
Powerful is the one word that comes to my mind and heart about this very short chapter in this short Gospel. But it's Good News. It's news that can save our lives and our very souls.
Man, You Must Be Puttin' Me On!
God of sacrifice and love; share with this dear reader that which she or he needs to live life to the fullest; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Genesis 22:1-14 and this passage can be summed up by a contemporary prophet who penned a song called "Highway 61 Revisted.:
Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son”
Abe says, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on”
God say, “No.” Abe say, “What?”
God say, “You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin’ you better run”
Well Abe says, “Where do you want this killin’ done?”
God says, “Out on Highway 61” - Bob Dylan.
You know the story and you may have heard a sermon or two about this very difficult passage. Difficult in that no parent who truly loves his or her child, wants to see harm in any fashion come to the child. Ask my wife about our early decisions to have our daughters' ears pierced while they were six months. Ask her about the "great" reception we got from others about our decision. This may help explain why our youngest had to wait until she asked. She was six. And she didn't cry. So, don't even think about asking a parent to sacrifice the life of a child. The story, in my opinion, shows a parent of faith who knew and trusted God. He trusted God to provide a son for him even in his old age. His wife did not yet share the same faith so she allowed Abraham to father a child through the maid (Don't try this if you're governor/former actor in California). And yet later a son was indeed born to Abraham through Sarah. And this is the same son that God requires as a sacrifice. Set in the time when child sacrifice was common on the neighbors of this family, the request is difficult but not unheard of. The thing that had set the faith of Abraham from the other faiths was the absence of child sacrifice, among others. Yet, that did not make this request any easier.
The story provides a strong thought about the future event when God does not hold back His only begotten Son for the sake of the world (John 3:16). Verse 12 says, "(F)or now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." Compare Bobby's lyrics to this famous hymn:
And when I think that God his son not sparing, Sent him to die - I scarse can take it in; That on the cross my burden gladly bearing; He bled and died to take away my sin." - How Great Thou Art
It's not a question of what YOU have to do (just believe and receive); it's about what God was willing to do (and did) for you.
PRAYER: Lord, I tend to make all things about me. I measure too easily the cost of things and of reasons why I shouldn't do this or that; yet You withheld nothing for my sake. Thank You. I pray asking for a deeper faith, in Christ Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Genesis 22:1-14 and this passage can be summed up by a contemporary prophet who penned a song called "Highway 61 Revisted.:
Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son”
Abe says, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on”
God say, “No.” Abe say, “What?”
God say, “You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin’ you better run”
Well Abe says, “Where do you want this killin’ done?”
God says, “Out on Highway 61” - Bob Dylan.
You know the story and you may have heard a sermon or two about this very difficult passage. Difficult in that no parent who truly loves his or her child, wants to see harm in any fashion come to the child. Ask my wife about our early decisions to have our daughters' ears pierced while they were six months. Ask her about the "great" reception we got from others about our decision. This may help explain why our youngest had to wait until she asked. She was six. And she didn't cry. So, don't even think about asking a parent to sacrifice the life of a child. The story, in my opinion, shows a parent of faith who knew and trusted God. He trusted God to provide a son for him even in his old age. His wife did not yet share the same faith so she allowed Abraham to father a child through the maid (Don't try this if you're governor/former actor in California). And yet later a son was indeed born to Abraham through Sarah. And this is the same son that God requires as a sacrifice. Set in the time when child sacrifice was common on the neighbors of this family, the request is difficult but not unheard of. The thing that had set the faith of Abraham from the other faiths was the absence of child sacrifice, among others. Yet, that did not make this request any easier.
The story provides a strong thought about the future event when God does not hold back His only begotten Son for the sake of the world (John 3:16). Verse 12 says, "(F)or now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." Compare Bobby's lyrics to this famous hymn:
And when I think that God his son not sparing, Sent him to die - I scarse can take it in; That on the cross my burden gladly bearing; He bled and died to take away my sin." - How Great Thou Art
It's not a question of what YOU have to do (just believe and receive); it's about what God was willing to do (and did) for you.
PRAYER: Lord, I tend to make all things about me. I measure too easily the cost of things and of reasons why I shouldn't do this or that; yet You withheld nothing for my sake. Thank You. I pray asking for a deeper faith, in Christ Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
A Whole, Healed, Put-Together Life Right Now!
Amazing God of second chances, make new the possibilities for discipleship in the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Romans 6:12 That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. 13 Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time - remember, you've been raised from the dead! - into God's way of doing things. 14 Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God. 15 So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? 16 Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. 17 But thank God you've started listening to a new master, 18 one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom! 19 I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing - not caring about others, not caring about God - the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness? 20 As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn't have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. 21 But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you're proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end. 22 But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! 23 Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. (The Message)
Thanks be to God, it has been about fifteen or so years since I've had a drop of coffee. I love coffee. I love the smell of coffee. The idea of exotic "latte, matte, whateeheck" names of coffee I hear ordered in the fancy $5 a cup stores. But coffee was not agreeing with me and I discovered that I could not walk past a pot of coffee. Being a solo pastor with an administrative assistant, the coffee brewed every morning I knew was (or thought) was just for me, so I felt compelled to drink it all. Pretty soon that one pot was not enough, so another one was brewed and I realized I was drinking something like 12-15 cups of coffee a day. My body was also telling me that as well. So I prayed and asked God to give me the strength to quit. And thanks to God, I quit. It was the two most miserable weeks in my life quitting coffee just like that. I had headaches and headaches that had headaches and my body was giving me pain and misery for having quit something that it had grown accustomed to. Shall I tell you it's been years since I've had a flour tortilla? (Smile).
Sin is just like coffee if we're not careful. This passage really puts it into perspective about what sin can do. The title for today's devotional comes from this passage and it speaks of the positive side of giving up sin. We can be whole. We can be healed. We can be put together once again if we ask God to help us be free and forgiven of our sins. And I love what follows, "More and more of life on the way"! Sin can be like an addiction. We can think of wonderful reasons why we need to be "doing" this particular thing, not being honest with ourselves, that it is a sin. We will say, like true addicts, that we're not hurting anybody and think we're immune from the hurt and harm that comes to us. Wrong. That last verse in this passage sums it up, "Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death." The alternate is what God offers: A whole, healed, put-together life. Right now.
What are you waiting for?
PRAYER: Lord, You above all, know how subtle and deceiving sin can be. You more than me, know the harm and destruction that can and does come my way if I don't repent and walk away from sin. Help me. Free me and forgive me. Send to me that fullness of life that can come right now. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Romans 6:12 That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. 13 Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time - remember, you've been raised from the dead! - into God's way of doing things. 14 Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God. 15 So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? 16 Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. 17 But thank God you've started listening to a new master, 18 one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom! 19 I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing - not caring about others, not caring about God - the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness? 20 As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn't have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. 21 But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you're proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end. 22 But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! 23 Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. (The Message)
Thanks be to God, it has been about fifteen or so years since I've had a drop of coffee. I love coffee. I love the smell of coffee. The idea of exotic "latte, matte, whateeheck" names of coffee I hear ordered in the fancy $5 a cup stores. But coffee was not agreeing with me and I discovered that I could not walk past a pot of coffee. Being a solo pastor with an administrative assistant, the coffee brewed every morning I knew was (or thought) was just for me, so I felt compelled to drink it all. Pretty soon that one pot was not enough, so another one was brewed and I realized I was drinking something like 12-15 cups of coffee a day. My body was also telling me that as well. So I prayed and asked God to give me the strength to quit. And thanks to God, I quit. It was the two most miserable weeks in my life quitting coffee just like that. I had headaches and headaches that had headaches and my body was giving me pain and misery for having quit something that it had grown accustomed to. Shall I tell you it's been years since I've had a flour tortilla? (Smile).
Sin is just like coffee if we're not careful. This passage really puts it into perspective about what sin can do. The title for today's devotional comes from this passage and it speaks of the positive side of giving up sin. We can be whole. We can be healed. We can be put together once again if we ask God to help us be free and forgiven of our sins. And I love what follows, "More and more of life on the way"! Sin can be like an addiction. We can think of wonderful reasons why we need to be "doing" this particular thing, not being honest with ourselves, that it is a sin. We will say, like true addicts, that we're not hurting anybody and think we're immune from the hurt and harm that comes to us. Wrong. That last verse in this passage sums it up, "Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death." The alternate is what God offers: A whole, healed, put-together life. Right now.
What are you waiting for?
PRAYER: Lord, You above all, know how subtle and deceiving sin can be. You more than me, know the harm and destruction that can and does come my way if I don't repent and walk away from sin. Help me. Free me and forgive me. Send to me that fullness of life that can come right now. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Monday, June 20, 2011
Linked with Jesus!
Blessed Lord, take the hand of this dear reader and guide them gently into the fullness of life; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Matthew 10:40 "We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. 41 Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. 42 Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing." (The Message)
When I joined a service club in San Marcos, I had to attend a fire-side chat. These are orientation meetings about the club and the club's principles. My club is big on service and thus the motto: Service Above Self. Okay, you guessed it, I joined the Rotary Club in San Marcos. The gentleman giving the club told of his introduction to service while being a member of the then-world's largest Rotary Club, the one in Manhattan, New York. He happened to share a birthday with two famous men and the custom in that club was to sit at the Birthday Table on your birthday. He told of sitting between Norman Vincent Peale and J. C. Penney. Okay, the man was really old. But the two older men told this young man that that Friday they would be doing a service project together. He remembers that he was not invited nor asked, "If you can make it;" they said be at this particular place at this certain hour. He was there. I would have been there too! Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, and Mr. J. C. Penney! THese two great men spend the day taking children of Harlem to the movies. They knew the kids who normally would not be taken to the movies so they did this service for others.
Being always linked to Jesus is what helps us in life. It is also what helps us help others. Jesus was big on the disciples doing things for others. Self-service as it were, was not a mark of a good disciple; a true disciple is one who gives of themselves in doing for others. In the above shared story, it was not the matter of the movies as it was showing a youngster that one cares. So Jesus says that our service can start with the sharing of a glass of water with someone. The work of Jesus is a large work and anything and everything we do for Him helps others. What are you doing?
PRAYER: Loving Lord, I know that sometimes I prefer to do nothing, but help me change that and help me be a person who cares and who gives to others. I want to be linked with You in service to the world. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Matthew 10:40 "We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. 41 Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. 42 Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing." (The Message)
When I joined a service club in San Marcos, I had to attend a fire-side chat. These are orientation meetings about the club and the club's principles. My club is big on service and thus the motto: Service Above Self. Okay, you guessed it, I joined the Rotary Club in San Marcos. The gentleman giving the club told of his introduction to service while being a member of the then-world's largest Rotary Club, the one in Manhattan, New York. He happened to share a birthday with two famous men and the custom in that club was to sit at the Birthday Table on your birthday. He told of sitting between Norman Vincent Peale and J. C. Penney. Okay, the man was really old. But the two older men told this young man that that Friday they would be doing a service project together. He remembers that he was not invited nor asked, "If you can make it;" they said be at this particular place at this certain hour. He was there. I would have been there too! Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, and Mr. J. C. Penney! THese two great men spend the day taking children of Harlem to the movies. They knew the kids who normally would not be taken to the movies so they did this service for others.
Being always linked to Jesus is what helps us in life. It is also what helps us help others. Jesus was big on the disciples doing things for others. Self-service as it were, was not a mark of a good disciple; a true disciple is one who gives of themselves in doing for others. In the above shared story, it was not the matter of the movies as it was showing a youngster that one cares. So Jesus says that our service can start with the sharing of a glass of water with someone. The work of Jesus is a large work and anything and everything we do for Him helps others. What are you doing?
PRAYER: Loving Lord, I know that sometimes I prefer to do nothing, but help me change that and help me be a person who cares and who gives to others. I want to be linked with You in service to the world. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, June 16, 2011
A Praise Song!
God of the Way, bless and direct the path of this dear read in all that they may face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 8: 1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies , that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger . 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained ; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (King James)
I should have known God was calling me into ordained ministry since my childhood because I remember my excitement at being in Sunday school on Sunday, telling my Mom I wished we had Sunday school five days a week and regular school just on one day. On Monday, I would tell my friends about what I had learned in Sunday school and they would stare blankly at me. I would then say, "Well, go home and find the same story in your Bible!" They would all say, "We don't have Bibles. Only the priest can have a Bible." I knew even at that early age that that was not right. The excitement has not ended for me. I still get a great thrill out of reading the familiar stories and passages and being amazed, without fail, at the new things I discover in each.
The Psalmist knew all about this too. In his reflective time, he wondered about God and how awesome God is and on one of those nights wrote this very famous Psalm. The key verse for many is verse 4: What are we, that You even considered us? The Message says, "that you even bothered." Indeed, such is the awesomeness of God; that God did bother and God does care and God does watch over us. This psalm is a praise song and we should sing it in our souls as we read it.
PRAYER: Loving God, You are an awesome God and I praise You. I thank You for having made me and for watching over me and being with me. May You be glorified in my life I pray; in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Psalm 8: 1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies , that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger . 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained ; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (King James)
I should have known God was calling me into ordained ministry since my childhood because I remember my excitement at being in Sunday school on Sunday, telling my Mom I wished we had Sunday school five days a week and regular school just on one day. On Monday, I would tell my friends about what I had learned in Sunday school and they would stare blankly at me. I would then say, "Well, go home and find the same story in your Bible!" They would all say, "We don't have Bibles. Only the priest can have a Bible." I knew even at that early age that that was not right. The excitement has not ended for me. I still get a great thrill out of reading the familiar stories and passages and being amazed, without fail, at the new things I discover in each.
The Psalmist knew all about this too. In his reflective time, he wondered about God and how awesome God is and on one of those nights wrote this very famous Psalm. The key verse for many is verse 4: What are we, that You even considered us? The Message says, "that you even bothered." Indeed, such is the awesomeness of God; that God did bother and God does care and God does watch over us. This psalm is a praise song and we should sing it in our souls as we read it.
PRAYER: Loving God, You are an awesome God and I praise You. I thank You for having made me and for watching over me and being with me. May You be glorified in my life I pray; in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
What Do You Reflect in Your Daily Life?
God of all people, bless and protect this dear reader from thoughts that deter them from realizing the worth and beauty of others; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Genesis 1 to Genesis 2:4a. I invite you to read that on your own; here are some key verses for today: 1:1 First this: God created the Heavens and Earth - all you see, all you don't see. 26 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." 27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. 2:1 Heaven and Earth were finished, down to the last detail. 2 By the seventh day God had finished his work. On the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 God blessed the seventh day. He made it a Holy Day Because on that day he rested from his work, all the creating God had done. 4 This is the story of how it all started, of Heaven and Earth when they were created. (The Message)
"Mommy, where did I come from?" "Daddy, where did people come from?" These are questions that humans have asked their parents since day one. "Where is God?" or "Where is Jesus?" These are questions parents have used to teach about God and Jesus. "Up there" or a simple point an infant will use to show that they've been paying attention. And the writer of Genesis is helping in that instruction of both adults and children. God made all things. God made all things good. God made people. God made people good. It's later on as they get older that choices are made and some don't turn out so good.
Our attention for Trinity Sunday is on God. God spoke and told someone, "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature." The question is who was God talking to? Some say the heavenly court; all the angels and beings that we don't see (refer back to verse one in this version). Most Christians believe it was a conversation between God, God's Son, and God's Holy Spirit and the heavenly court of those who serve God. Did the writer of this first book have that knowledge and where did he get it? Yes, this is a divinely inspired book so that knowledge came from God somehow to his life and as he wrote he wrote about the unseen.
This version of the Bible chooses the word "nature" versus "image" as most versions have. Most scholars believe that the two are interchangeable and correct. Not two humans look alike, yet we're all said to have been made in the image of God. Scholars believe because it's on the inside, where it truly counts, that our nature reflects God. Could you ask for anything better?
PRAYER: Dear God, may my nature and image today reflect You. May my thoughts, words, and actions shine brightly to others that I am blessed with having been made and claim Your nature. May it be so. I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Genesis 1 to Genesis 2:4a. I invite you to read that on your own; here are some key verses for today: 1:1 First this: God created the Heavens and Earth - all you see, all you don't see. 26 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." 27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. 2:1 Heaven and Earth were finished, down to the last detail. 2 By the seventh day God had finished his work. On the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 God blessed the seventh day. He made it a Holy Day Because on that day he rested from his work, all the creating God had done. 4 This is the story of how it all started, of Heaven and Earth when they were created. (The Message)
"Mommy, where did I come from?" "Daddy, where did people come from?" These are questions that humans have asked their parents since day one. "Where is God?" or "Where is Jesus?" These are questions parents have used to teach about God and Jesus. "Up there" or a simple point an infant will use to show that they've been paying attention. And the writer of Genesis is helping in that instruction of both adults and children. God made all things. God made all things good. God made people. God made people good. It's later on as they get older that choices are made and some don't turn out so good.
Our attention for Trinity Sunday is on God. God spoke and told someone, "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature." The question is who was God talking to? Some say the heavenly court; all the angels and beings that we don't see (refer back to verse one in this version). Most Christians believe it was a conversation between God, God's Son, and God's Holy Spirit and the heavenly court of those who serve God. Did the writer of this first book have that knowledge and where did he get it? Yes, this is a divinely inspired book so that knowledge came from God somehow to his life and as he wrote he wrote about the unseen.
This version of the Bible chooses the word "nature" versus "image" as most versions have. Most scholars believe that the two are interchangeable and correct. Not two humans look alike, yet we're all said to have been made in the image of God. Scholars believe because it's on the inside, where it truly counts, that our nature reflects God. Could you ask for anything better?
PRAYER: Dear God, may my nature and image today reflect You. May my thoughts, words, and actions shine brightly to others that I am blessed with having been made and claim Your nature. May it be so. I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Three Things We Find in The Trinity
Amazing God of blessings and peace, pour out Your healing touch upon the needs of this dear reader or their family; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from 2 Corinthians 13: 11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. (NRSV).
Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered, there's going to be trouble!" Well, okay, Jesus didn't say this, His promise was more powerful and positive; but the truth is that in the Church we find some of the most troubling things we can ever not hope to find, but do. It was no exception with the early church, people have a tendency to find fault either with each other or with the systems in place or whatever. The Corinth church was a source of great pain for the Apostle Paul. He wrote, it is believed, three letters to them, the second of which was lost, but our Bibles contain what are named 1 and 2 Corinthians. Some believe that portions or the main thoughts in the lost second letter are found in the closing chapters of 2nd Corinthians. The good news was that the church had finally solved its problems with each other and with Paul himself. This brought great joy to Paul.
Trinity Sunday is a great day to affirm the positive of the Church. At its best (or is it "our" best) the Church is a wonderful place to be. When we allow God's love to flow from heart to heart, the blessings cannot be contained in that one place and should be spread beyond the four walls of the church. Paul knew as should we that as we affirm the Triune qualities of God, we can affirm expressions of that source for great fellowship and mission: (v. 13) 1. We find grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. We find love in God. 3. We find common purpose (communion) and interaction with the presence of the Holy Spirit. And that is something the hurting world can benefit from if we just share it.
PRAYER: Loving God, we praise You and thank You for the way You express Yourself in our midst. May this Sunday's time together be a time when we can celebrate Your love, Your grace, and Your communion with us. And may it be something that we willingly share with others. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from 2 Corinthians 13: 11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. (NRSV).
Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered, there's going to be trouble!" Well, okay, Jesus didn't say this, His promise was more powerful and positive; but the truth is that in the Church we find some of the most troubling things we can ever not hope to find, but do. It was no exception with the early church, people have a tendency to find fault either with each other or with the systems in place or whatever. The Corinth church was a source of great pain for the Apostle Paul. He wrote, it is believed, three letters to them, the second of which was lost, but our Bibles contain what are named 1 and 2 Corinthians. Some believe that portions or the main thoughts in the lost second letter are found in the closing chapters of 2nd Corinthians. The good news was that the church had finally solved its problems with each other and with Paul himself. This brought great joy to Paul.
Trinity Sunday is a great day to affirm the positive of the Church. At its best (or is it "our" best) the Church is a wonderful place to be. When we allow God's love to flow from heart to heart, the blessings cannot be contained in that one place and should be spread beyond the four walls of the church. Paul knew as should we that as we affirm the Triune qualities of God, we can affirm expressions of that source for great fellowship and mission: (v. 13) 1. We find grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. We find love in God. 3. We find common purpose (communion) and interaction with the presence of the Holy Spirit. And that is something the hurting world can benefit from if we just share it.
PRAYER: Loving God, we praise You and thank You for the way You express Yourself in our midst. May this Sunday's time together be a time when we can celebrate Your love, Your grace, and Your communion with us. And may it be something that we willingly share with others. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Monday, June 13, 2011
Explaining the Trinity?
Loving God of the heavens, the earth and all places, be with this dear reader today in all that they may need; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text today comes from Matthew 28: 16 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. 17 The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally. 18 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: 19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." (The Message)
St. Augustine was an early Church Father and wrote much of what is the foundational theology for the Church today. There is a story about him that one day he was walking along the beach comtemplating the mystery of the Trinity. It may have been the Monday before Trinity Sunday and he had a sermon to write! But as he walked along the beach he saw a little boy who had dug a hole in the sand and was going again and again to the ocean to fill his bucket and then dump the water into the hole. St. Augustine asked him, "What are you doing?" The little boy replied, "I am going to pour the entire ocean into this hole!" "That is impossible, the whole ocean will not fit into that hole you have made," said St. Augustine to the child. The boy replied, "Neither can you fit the Trinity in your tiny, little brain." The story concludes by saying that the little boy vanished as St. Augustine had been talking to an angel.
The disciples are told to go and do their work and among all that was expected of them, they were to baptize new believers into the new way of life in the name of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday when the church is asked to remember that ours is a God in Three Persons, yet one God. Yes, it is a mystery and our trying to make sense of it is like the task of that little boy to fill the small hole in the sand with the entire ocean. What we seek to do is to affirm our faith in a God who has made Himself know in these three ways: Creator. Redeemer. Sustainer. The work of God first was to create all things. The work of God through His Son, Jesus, was to redeem and save all people. And the work of the Holy Spirit was to be He who works and walks among us holding us and helping us when we need it most. You and I have seen the work of God in these three ways. Go for a walk today and look around. Listen. See if you can't come back and tell me you did not see the work of a Creator God in your midst? Then tell me about your faith. Have you not at one point or another had a heart-warming experience of faith when you invited Jesus in as your Lord and Savior? Then you have had an experience with our Redeemer. What about your prayer life? Have you not been facing some of what seemed like the most difficult things in all of creation when you understood that your prayers were being answered and you were being held in a warm embrace by Someone? That someone was the Holy Spirit. Re-read Romans 8, especially the part of interpretation the Holy Spirit does when we feel we can no longer pray.
The song we sing, "What a Mighty God We Serve," tells it all. Don't try to explain the Trinity, try to experience God.
PRAYER: Loving and awesome God, fill my heart with Your love. Fill my brain with faith. Fill my life with You. Let me experience You in all things. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text today comes from Matthew 28: 16 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. 17 The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally. 18 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: 19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." (The Message)
St. Augustine was an early Church Father and wrote much of what is the foundational theology for the Church today. There is a story about him that one day he was walking along the beach comtemplating the mystery of the Trinity. It may have been the Monday before Trinity Sunday and he had a sermon to write! But as he walked along the beach he saw a little boy who had dug a hole in the sand and was going again and again to the ocean to fill his bucket and then dump the water into the hole. St. Augustine asked him, "What are you doing?" The little boy replied, "I am going to pour the entire ocean into this hole!" "That is impossible, the whole ocean will not fit into that hole you have made," said St. Augustine to the child. The boy replied, "Neither can you fit the Trinity in your tiny, little brain." The story concludes by saying that the little boy vanished as St. Augustine had been talking to an angel.
The disciples are told to go and do their work and among all that was expected of them, they were to baptize new believers into the new way of life in the name of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday when the church is asked to remember that ours is a God in Three Persons, yet one God. Yes, it is a mystery and our trying to make sense of it is like the task of that little boy to fill the small hole in the sand with the entire ocean. What we seek to do is to affirm our faith in a God who has made Himself know in these three ways: Creator. Redeemer. Sustainer. The work of God first was to create all things. The work of God through His Son, Jesus, was to redeem and save all people. And the work of the Holy Spirit was to be He who works and walks among us holding us and helping us when we need it most. You and I have seen the work of God in these three ways. Go for a walk today and look around. Listen. See if you can't come back and tell me you did not see the work of a Creator God in your midst? Then tell me about your faith. Have you not at one point or another had a heart-warming experience of faith when you invited Jesus in as your Lord and Savior? Then you have had an experience with our Redeemer. What about your prayer life? Have you not been facing some of what seemed like the most difficult things in all of creation when you understood that your prayers were being answered and you were being held in a warm embrace by Someone? That someone was the Holy Spirit. Re-read Romans 8, especially the part of interpretation the Holy Spirit does when we feel we can no longer pray.
The song we sing, "What a Mighty God We Serve," tells it all. Don't try to explain the Trinity, try to experience God.
PRAYER: Loving and awesome God, fill my heart with Your love. Fill my brain with faith. Fill my life with You. Let me experience You in all things. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Ending of This Year's Family Reunion
Loving God of highways and byways, paths and trails, bless and protect the goings and comings of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from John 7: 37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.' " 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (NRSV).
I woke up wanting to write something about this being the last day of our 2011 Southwest Texas Annual Conference. I thought about it being a Family Reunion, but we didn't all wear the same t-shirts. Then I thought, what biblical text talks about something like what we do and experience when we're together as annual conference? Yes, in some ways it is like a family reunion; you both look forward and dread coming to it. There are "relatives" you look very much forward to seeing and some not so much. And then I looked at the Lectionary for this coming Sunday. Wait, that's tomorrow. And it's from the alternate recommended Gospel reading, the one above from John 7. Annual Conference is both a family reunion and a festival. We celebrate being a family, but we also celebrate both past, present and future events. We start, like most family gatherings, asking, "What have you been up to since the last time I saw you?' We ask our "young" that question in what is the Clergy Session, where someone will give a report on our "children" and who is up to what and then we celebrate. Then, like most family reunions, we spend time remembering those whom we have lost since the past year. We cry yet we give thanks to God for their lives. Our annual conference begins with a memorial service. We have a great meal after hearing someone speak fittingly about those who have gone on to the big family reunion in the sky.
As a festival we celebrate what God has been doing in our midst and we make plans and pray about what God can do next if we only allow God to move among us. And we hear from those leading us great, inspiring messages about precisely what we can receive to do what we need to do next. In this passage, Jesus boldly spoke of what He offered to those gathered, as He has done during our time together: No one should leave this place thirsty. And no one should leave the annual conference today without that hope that we have received more than enough water to share with others, especially those from the family-to-be that we have not yet met or invited into the family of God. We leave this place as believers with hearts filled to the brim with expectancy and joy of what is yet to be, because in some, the Holy Spirit has not yet entered in that mighty way that awakens the movement that is Christians alive and seeking to make new disciples, new members of this powerful family.
May it be that next family gathering, next festival celebration, God will ask (in the positive way!), "You did what?" and we'll respond, "We made new disciples, new friends, we shared the Living Water with them all." And God will say, "Well, all right!" Que asi sea! (May it be so!)
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank you for family and for festival celebrations. May I leave this place and this time filled again with the Living Water that is Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit to make new disciples and new family members of this great family of Yours. May the boldness that is the Holy Spirit alive and at work in me help me to reach more. I pray this in faith, in the name of Christ Jesus my Savior, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from John 7: 37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.' " 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (NRSV).
I woke up wanting to write something about this being the last day of our 2011 Southwest Texas Annual Conference. I thought about it being a Family Reunion, but we didn't all wear the same t-shirts. Then I thought, what biblical text talks about something like what we do and experience when we're together as annual conference? Yes, in some ways it is like a family reunion; you both look forward and dread coming to it. There are "relatives" you look very much forward to seeing and some not so much. And then I looked at the Lectionary for this coming Sunday. Wait, that's tomorrow. And it's from the alternate recommended Gospel reading, the one above from John 7. Annual Conference is both a family reunion and a festival. We celebrate being a family, but we also celebrate both past, present and future events. We start, like most family gatherings, asking, "What have you been up to since the last time I saw you?' We ask our "young" that question in what is the Clergy Session, where someone will give a report on our "children" and who is up to what and then we celebrate. Then, like most family reunions, we spend time remembering those whom we have lost since the past year. We cry yet we give thanks to God for their lives. Our annual conference begins with a memorial service. We have a great meal after hearing someone speak fittingly about those who have gone on to the big family reunion in the sky.
As a festival we celebrate what God has been doing in our midst and we make plans and pray about what God can do next if we only allow God to move among us. And we hear from those leading us great, inspiring messages about precisely what we can receive to do what we need to do next. In this passage, Jesus boldly spoke of what He offered to those gathered, as He has done during our time together: No one should leave this place thirsty. And no one should leave the annual conference today without that hope that we have received more than enough water to share with others, especially those from the family-to-be that we have not yet met or invited into the family of God. We leave this place as believers with hearts filled to the brim with expectancy and joy of what is yet to be, because in some, the Holy Spirit has not yet entered in that mighty way that awakens the movement that is Christians alive and seeking to make new disciples, new members of this powerful family.
May it be that next family gathering, next festival celebration, God will ask (in the positive way!), "You did what?" and we'll respond, "We made new disciples, new friends, we shared the Living Water with them all." And God will say, "Well, all right!" Que asi sea! (May it be so!)
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank you for family and for festival celebrations. May I leave this place and this time filled again with the Living Water that is Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit to make new disciples and new family members of this great family of Yours. May the boldness that is the Holy Spirit alive and at work in me help me to reach more. I pray this in faith, in the name of Christ Jesus my Savior, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Friday, June 10, 2011
Bless the Lord, O My Soul!
Loving God, bless and protect the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 104: 24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. 26 There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it. 27 These all look to you to give them their food in due season; 28 when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground. 31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works— 32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 35 Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord! (NRSV)
Since Tuesday, Nellie and I have been by "the sea." We never take it for granted that we live in a beautiful city by a beautiful sea (Okay, technically, it's a bay, but it's connected!). The crying of the sea gulls never grows old. The lapping of the waves is still music to us. All serves, day after day, to remind us of God's mighty creative power. In this passage, the Psalmist gives God praise and credit for all things and the passage that speaks to my heart, especially as we're right in the midst of our annual conference of ministers and laypeople gathered together to take care of the business of God, is that when God so desires, all things are created, and even the face of the earth can be renewed. All of it for the glory of God. Our church, we, I, stand in need of being made new for the work of God. We are not yet what God has created us to be, yet some give up or grow complacent. Our is to strive and ask and believing, receive what all God offers to us.
This Sunday, no, this day, can be a new day of Pentecost, where God's mighty Holy Spirit can make us all to be what God wants.
PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit, move among us, move in me. Make me new. Make me strong. Give me a new vision and purpose for that which You desire. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Psalm 104: 24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. 26 There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it. 27 These all look to you to give them their food in due season; 28 when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground. 31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works— 32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 35 Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord! (NRSV)
Since Tuesday, Nellie and I have been by "the sea." We never take it for granted that we live in a beautiful city by a beautiful sea (Okay, technically, it's a bay, but it's connected!). The crying of the sea gulls never grows old. The lapping of the waves is still music to us. All serves, day after day, to remind us of God's mighty creative power. In this passage, the Psalmist gives God praise and credit for all things and the passage that speaks to my heart, especially as we're right in the midst of our annual conference of ministers and laypeople gathered together to take care of the business of God, is that when God so desires, all things are created, and even the face of the earth can be renewed. All of it for the glory of God. Our church, we, I, stand in need of being made new for the work of God. We are not yet what God has created us to be, yet some give up or grow complacent. Our is to strive and ask and believing, receive what all God offers to us.
This Sunday, no, this day, can be a new day of Pentecost, where God's mighty Holy Spirit can make us all to be what God wants.
PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit, move among us, move in me. Make me new. Make me strong. Give me a new vision and purpose for that which You desire. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, June 09, 2011
What Kind of Leader Are You?
Amazing God of all life, bless and protect the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Numbers 11:24 So Moses went out and told the people what God had said. He called together seventy of the leaders and had them stand around the Tent. 25 God came down in a cloud and spoke to Moses and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy leaders. When the Spirit rested on them they prophesied. But they didn't continue; it was a onetime event. 26 Meanwhile two men, Eldad and Medad, had stayed in the camp. They were listed as leaders but they didn't leave camp to go to the Tent. Still, the Spirit also rested on them and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!" 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' right-hand man since his youth, said, "Moses, master! Stop them!" 29 But Moses said, "Are you jealous for me? Would that all God's people were prophets. Would that God would put his Spirit on all of them." 30 Then Moses and the leaders of Israel went back to the camp. (The Message)
A good leader surrounds herself or himself with very capable people who can step in and take over and make decisions if needed. A good leader shares his/her spirit for the work or task at hand. A great leaders shows and desires his or her spirit be shared with their team or organization. A great Christian leader is one whom the Holy Spirit guides and directs and sometimes ignites those around him/her to do even better and unexplainable things than before. Such was the case with Moses and the visit of God shared here in this passage. The 70 leaders who worked under Moses were gathered around the worship area (This could have been the first "parking lot meeting" in history! If you don't know what a PLM is, you're blessed!). But as they're standing there God came down and spoke to Moses and took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and shared it with the 70. The first evidence of this was that they became spokespersons for God! Even those who did not attend the PLM received the Spirit and they also spoke on behalf of God. This was reported to Moses and Moses wisely replied, "How I wish all of you would speak on behalf of God! Oh, how I pray that God's Spirit would be on all of you!" Such a pastor. Such a leader. This was Moses.
What sort of leader are you? Do you speak up for God? Do you understand and capture the spirit behind the vision and purpose of your church and/or pastor? Have you asked God for God's Holy Spirit to come upon you and your work?
What are you waiting for?
PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit, be poured out on me and my ministry. Let it overflow on those around me and the work they share in so that we might all speak on Your behalf. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Numbers 11:24 So Moses went out and told the people what God had said. He called together seventy of the leaders and had them stand around the Tent. 25 God came down in a cloud and spoke to Moses and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy leaders. When the Spirit rested on them they prophesied. But they didn't continue; it was a onetime event. 26 Meanwhile two men, Eldad and Medad, had stayed in the camp. They were listed as leaders but they didn't leave camp to go to the Tent. Still, the Spirit also rested on them and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!" 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' right-hand man since his youth, said, "Moses, master! Stop them!" 29 But Moses said, "Are you jealous for me? Would that all God's people were prophets. Would that God would put his Spirit on all of them." 30 Then Moses and the leaders of Israel went back to the camp. (The Message)
A good leader surrounds herself or himself with very capable people who can step in and take over and make decisions if needed. A good leader shares his/her spirit for the work or task at hand. A great leaders shows and desires his or her spirit be shared with their team or organization. A great Christian leader is one whom the Holy Spirit guides and directs and sometimes ignites those around him/her to do even better and unexplainable things than before. Such was the case with Moses and the visit of God shared here in this passage. The 70 leaders who worked under Moses were gathered around the worship area (This could have been the first "parking lot meeting" in history! If you don't know what a PLM is, you're blessed!). But as they're standing there God came down and spoke to Moses and took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and shared it with the 70. The first evidence of this was that they became spokespersons for God! Even those who did not attend the PLM received the Spirit and they also spoke on behalf of God. This was reported to Moses and Moses wisely replied, "How I wish all of you would speak on behalf of God! Oh, how I pray that God's Spirit would be on all of you!" Such a pastor. Such a leader. This was Moses.
What sort of leader are you? Do you speak up for God? Do you understand and capture the spirit behind the vision and purpose of your church and/or pastor? Have you asked God for God's Holy Spirit to come upon you and your work?
What are you waiting for?
PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit, be poured out on me and my ministry. Let it overflow on those around me and the work they share in so that we might all speak on Your behalf. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Are You Popular? Living the Easy Life?
Blessed God of all journeys, travel safely with those who travel today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from 1 Corinthians 12: 1 What I want to talk about now is the various ways God's Spirit gets worked into our lives. This is complex and often misunderstood, but I want you to be informed and knowledgeable. 2 Remember how you were when you didn't know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it? It's different in this life. God wants us to use our intelligence, to seek to understand as well as we can. 3 For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say "Jesus be damned!" Nor would anyone be inclined to say "Jesus is Master!" without the insight of the Holy Spirit. 4 God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. 5 God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. 6 God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. 7 Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! 8 The variety is wonderful: wise counsel clear understanding 9 simple trust healing the sick 10 miraculous acts proclamation distinguishing between spirits tongues interpretation of tongues. 11 All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when. 12 You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts - limbs, organs, cells - but no matter how many parts you can name, you're still one body. It's exactly the same with Christ. 13 By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain - his Spirit - where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves - labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free - are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive. (The Message)
CBS Sunday Morning featured a touching story about a dad who made a commitment to his daughter when she was 11. The mother had walked out on them and the dad feared that being a single dad he would lose connection with his daughter quickly, so he and she agreed that every night at 9:30 p.m., they would read together. It was a commitment they never broke. The daughter was asked how it was in high school life to live this different way? She laughed and said she definitely was not "like all the other kids," she would go to friends' parties but at 9 o'clock, someone would have to drive her home and at 10 someone would pick her up and take her back to the party. When dad dropped her off at college they read in the stairwell of her dorm at Rutgers University. She graduated top of her class and the story ends with her reading to her dad from her own book; one she wrote about the reading life she and her dad had together.
To live as a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led Christian is to live a different life from "the others." It won't be the easy life nor will it be the popular one, but it will be the one that is noticed for getting results that bless God and God's people. The Holy Spirit has given to you and to me a unique gift of service. Once we discover it, we should use it and grow it so that more and more of God's people can be blessed and can be invited to follow the lead of those who ask for and receive the Holy Spirit for God's glory.
PRAYER: Loving God of power and might, fill me with Your Holy Spirit again today. May I be guided to faithfulness and service for Your honor and glory. May I also be faithful in serving You is my prayer. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from 1 Corinthians 12: 1 What I want to talk about now is the various ways God's Spirit gets worked into our lives. This is complex and often misunderstood, but I want you to be informed and knowledgeable. 2 Remember how you were when you didn't know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it? It's different in this life. God wants us to use our intelligence, to seek to understand as well as we can. 3 For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say "Jesus be damned!" Nor would anyone be inclined to say "Jesus is Master!" without the insight of the Holy Spirit. 4 God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. 5 God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. 6 God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. 7 Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! 8 The variety is wonderful: wise counsel clear understanding 9 simple trust healing the sick 10 miraculous acts proclamation distinguishing between spirits tongues interpretation of tongues. 11 All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when. 12 You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts - limbs, organs, cells - but no matter how many parts you can name, you're still one body. It's exactly the same with Christ. 13 By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain - his Spirit - where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves - labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free - are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive. (The Message)
CBS Sunday Morning featured a touching story about a dad who made a commitment to his daughter when she was 11. The mother had walked out on them and the dad feared that being a single dad he would lose connection with his daughter quickly, so he and she agreed that every night at 9:30 p.m., they would read together. It was a commitment they never broke. The daughter was asked how it was in high school life to live this different way? She laughed and said she definitely was not "like all the other kids," she would go to friends' parties but at 9 o'clock, someone would have to drive her home and at 10 someone would pick her up and take her back to the party. When dad dropped her off at college they read in the stairwell of her dorm at Rutgers University. She graduated top of her class and the story ends with her reading to her dad from her own book; one she wrote about the reading life she and her dad had together.
To live as a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led Christian is to live a different life from "the others." It won't be the easy life nor will it be the popular one, but it will be the one that is noticed for getting results that bless God and God's people. The Holy Spirit has given to you and to me a unique gift of service. Once we discover it, we should use it and grow it so that more and more of God's people can be blessed and can be invited to follow the lead of those who ask for and receive the Holy Spirit for God's glory.
PRAYER: Loving God of power and might, fill me with Your Holy Spirit again today. May I be guided to faithfulness and service for Your honor and glory. May I also be faithful in serving You is my prayer. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
What Language Do You Speak?
Amazing God of transformation; make new the life attitude in this dear reader when she or he faces challenges so that he or she may be lifted above them; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Acts 2: 1 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force - no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. 3 Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, 4 and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. 5 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. 6 When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. 7 They couldn't for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, "Aren't these all Galileans? 8 How come we're hearing them talk in our various mother tongues? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; 11 both Jews and proselytes; Even Cretans and Arabs! "They're speaking our languages, describing God's mighty works!" 12 Their heads were spinning; they couldn't make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: "What's going on here?" 13 Others joked, "They're drunk on cheap wine." 14 That's when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. 15 These people aren't drunk as some of you suspect. They haven't had time to get drunk - it's only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: 17 "In the Last Days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. 18 When the time comes, I'll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they'll prophesy. 19 I'll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, 20 the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous; 21 And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved." (The Message)
Dr. Tony Campolo, noted author and university professor and preacher, tells the story of a derelict named Joe, whose life was headed for certain destruction and death. He was addicted to booze and lived a life that reflected it. No one gave him much chance to make it to old age. Once in a homeless shelter there came an evangelistic message and Joe gave his life to Jesus. And he was made new by the Lord Jesus Christ. He became a volunteer at the shelter, doing things that others would not, such as cleaning up vomit when someone had had too much to drink and eat; he would scrub the toilets when no one else would. Whenever a new resident would come in too drunk to undress and ready for bed, Joe would help them. One day one derelict heard the same gospel message and went to the altar in tears and began to cry out, "God, make me like Joe! God, make me like Joe! Make me like Joe!" The director asked, "Son, don't you think you should ask to be made like Jesus?" The man asked, "Is He like Joe?"
You see, Joe spoke the language of love and compassion when he met Jesus. God gave him a language that others needed to hear. You've seen some in churches that speak the language of graceful, loving teaching in those now almost rare Sunday school settings. You've seen others with a language of visitation to those who are too sick to get out of their homes. Some take that language to hospitals. The Miracle at Pentecost still happens today. God pours out His Spirit to those who receive it and makes them new witnesses to the power and mercy of God. The language may still be English or Spanish or German or whatever, but the outward "language" they speak is now a heavenly tongue of caring and going beyond what is expected to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. I call that the most important language we could ever hope to speak, Jesus.
What language do you speak? Are you speaking "Jesus?"
PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit and make me a new speaker in a tongue and language that will bless You and Yours. I'm tired of speaking too quietly and softly the language of self-centeredness, of me-ness, and other unintelligible tongues. I want the loud, clear language of Jesus to by my language. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thanks to Dr. Richard and Jan Evans for their daily "God's Children" devotional where the Joe story appeared this morning. You can see www.tonycampolo.com for more about Tony and his ministry.
Our text for today comes from Acts 2: 1 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force - no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. 3 Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, 4 and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. 5 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. 6 When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. 7 They couldn't for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, "Aren't these all Galileans? 8 How come we're hearing them talk in our various mother tongues? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; 11 both Jews and proselytes; Even Cretans and Arabs! "They're speaking our languages, describing God's mighty works!" 12 Their heads were spinning; they couldn't make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: "What's going on here?" 13 Others joked, "They're drunk on cheap wine." 14 That's when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. 15 These people aren't drunk as some of you suspect. They haven't had time to get drunk - it's only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: 17 "In the Last Days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. 18 When the time comes, I'll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they'll prophesy. 19 I'll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, 20 the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous; 21 And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved." (The Message)
Dr. Tony Campolo, noted author and university professor and preacher, tells the story of a derelict named Joe, whose life was headed for certain destruction and death. He was addicted to booze and lived a life that reflected it. No one gave him much chance to make it to old age. Once in a homeless shelter there came an evangelistic message and Joe gave his life to Jesus. And he was made new by the Lord Jesus Christ. He became a volunteer at the shelter, doing things that others would not, such as cleaning up vomit when someone had had too much to drink and eat; he would scrub the toilets when no one else would. Whenever a new resident would come in too drunk to undress and ready for bed, Joe would help them. One day one derelict heard the same gospel message and went to the altar in tears and began to cry out, "God, make me like Joe! God, make me like Joe! Make me like Joe!" The director asked, "Son, don't you think you should ask to be made like Jesus?" The man asked, "Is He like Joe?"
You see, Joe spoke the language of love and compassion when he met Jesus. God gave him a language that others needed to hear. You've seen some in churches that speak the language of graceful, loving teaching in those now almost rare Sunday school settings. You've seen others with a language of visitation to those who are too sick to get out of their homes. Some take that language to hospitals. The Miracle at Pentecost still happens today. God pours out His Spirit to those who receive it and makes them new witnesses to the power and mercy of God. The language may still be English or Spanish or German or whatever, but the outward "language" they speak is now a heavenly tongue of caring and going beyond what is expected to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. I call that the most important language we could ever hope to speak, Jesus.
What language do you speak? Are you speaking "Jesus?"
PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit and make me a new speaker in a tongue and language that will bless You and Yours. I'm tired of speaking too quietly and softly the language of self-centeredness, of me-ness, and other unintelligible tongues. I want the loud, clear language of Jesus to by my language. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thanks to Dr. Richard and Jan Evans for their daily "God's Children" devotional where the Joe story appeared this morning. You can see www.tonycampolo.com for more about Tony and his ministry.
Monday, June 06, 2011
Listen Closely and You Just Might Hear the Holy Spirit
Loving God, creator of new days and new opportunities, grant that this dear reader take advantage of all that may come their way that serves You; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text today comes from John 20:19 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." 20 Then he showed them his hands and side. 21 Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you." 22 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. 23 "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?" 24 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, "We saw the Master." But he said, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it." 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." 27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe." 28 Thomas said, "My Master! My God!" 29 Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing." 30 Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. 31 These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it. (The Message)
This coming Sunday is the Birthday of the Church. It is Pentecost Sunday when the Church celebrates the coming down of power from the Holy Spirit among the believers of Christ Jesus in Jerusalem. The key verse for this Sunday from the Gospel is found in verse 22 where it says that Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." The fire of tongues did not yet come upon them as we will read tomorrow from Acts, chapter two, but it was a preparation for them of the greater thing that was to come. Nevertheless, notice the power given to them in this passage. The forgiveness of sins was given to them as was their not to forgive sins. This usually gets hidden in the story of Thomas not being present and then his doubting that Jesus was alive and had visited his followers. Many believe that what had once been a one-volume book, Luke-Acts, was divided precisely because of John's mention of the Holy Spirit and the powers that be felt that what Luke shares in Acts would be better understood if John's Gospel came between Luke and Acts. Now you know!
The power of the Holy Spirit is not understood as much any more. We fail to notice when things happen, opportunities present themselves or we hear nudgings in our spirits to do or say something and we don't. If we would be more open to listening for God, we might just hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to us about life and helping others. Last night at supper, Nellie and I were visiting with a new couple coming into our district for ministry and as we shared life experiences the pastor said, "That was the Holy Spirit." And of course we agreed. Another time, another story of incredible circumstances, again the pastor said, "that was the Holy Spirit." Yes.
What is the Holy Spirit trying to say to you today? Are you listening?
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the coming and power of Your Holy Spirit. May I listen more closely and may I be willing to be guided by whatever He may want me to do. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text today comes from John 20:19 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." 20 Then he showed them his hands and side. 21 Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you." 22 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. 23 "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?" 24 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, "We saw the Master." But he said, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it." 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." 27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe." 28 Thomas said, "My Master! My God!" 29 Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing." 30 Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. 31 These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it. (The Message)
This coming Sunday is the Birthday of the Church. It is Pentecost Sunday when the Church celebrates the coming down of power from the Holy Spirit among the believers of Christ Jesus in Jerusalem. The key verse for this Sunday from the Gospel is found in verse 22 where it says that Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." The fire of tongues did not yet come upon them as we will read tomorrow from Acts, chapter two, but it was a preparation for them of the greater thing that was to come. Nevertheless, notice the power given to them in this passage. The forgiveness of sins was given to them as was their not to forgive sins. This usually gets hidden in the story of Thomas not being present and then his doubting that Jesus was alive and had visited his followers. Many believe that what had once been a one-volume book, Luke-Acts, was divided precisely because of John's mention of the Holy Spirit and the powers that be felt that what Luke shares in Acts would be better understood if John's Gospel came between Luke and Acts. Now you know!
The power of the Holy Spirit is not understood as much any more. We fail to notice when things happen, opportunities present themselves or we hear nudgings in our spirits to do or say something and we don't. If we would be more open to listening for God, we might just hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to us about life and helping others. Last night at supper, Nellie and I were visiting with a new couple coming into our district for ministry and as we shared life experiences the pastor said, "That was the Holy Spirit." And of course we agreed. Another time, another story of incredible circumstances, again the pastor said, "that was the Holy Spirit." Yes.
What is the Holy Spirit trying to say to you today? Are you listening?
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the coming and power of Your Holy Spirit. May I listen more closely and may I be willing to be guided by whatever He may want me to do. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, June 02, 2011
God Rules!
Loving God, thank You for the rich blessings headed the way of this dear reader! In Christ Jesus I pray, amen!
Our text for today comes from Psalm 93: 1 God is King, robed and ruling, God is robed and surging with strength. And yes, the world is firm, immovable, 2 Your throne ever firm - you're Eternal! 3 Sea storms are up, God, Sea storms wild and roaring, Sea storms with thunderous breakers. 4 Stronger than wild sea storms, Mightier than sea-storm breakers, Mighty God rules from High Heaven. 5 What you say goes - it always has. "Beauty" and "Holy" mark your palace rule, God, to the very end of time. (The Message)
Today marks Ascension Day, the day Jesus left earth to return to Heaven. And it's only appropriate that a psalm that sings the praises of God be part of the recommended texts for this special day. In Heaven we place our faith in God the King. Heaven is God's dwelling place from which God rules. And the Psalmist sees God as robed in a kingly fashion, standing fast and strong against anything, including that which frightens so many, a sea storm. (Just watch one episode of "Deadly Catch" and that cures you of ever wanting that kind of job! And a good description of a sea storm). Yet, the Psalmist says, God is mightier than that! God is stronger than that! God rules! God rules now and until the end of time! Amen? Amen!
PRAYER: Loving and Mighty God, I praise You in the Heavenly places and we praise You here! Thank You for your strength and might and for ruling over our lives. Even when the sea storms in our lives get scary and more than we think we can handle, show Your strength and let me show my faith in You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Psalm 93: 1 God is King, robed and ruling, God is robed and surging with strength. And yes, the world is firm, immovable, 2 Your throne ever firm - you're Eternal! 3 Sea storms are up, God, Sea storms wild and roaring, Sea storms with thunderous breakers. 4 Stronger than wild sea storms, Mightier than sea-storm breakers, Mighty God rules from High Heaven. 5 What you say goes - it always has. "Beauty" and "Holy" mark your palace rule, God, to the very end of time. (The Message)
Today marks Ascension Day, the day Jesus left earth to return to Heaven. And it's only appropriate that a psalm that sings the praises of God be part of the recommended texts for this special day. In Heaven we place our faith in God the King. Heaven is God's dwelling place from which God rules. And the Psalmist sees God as robed in a kingly fashion, standing fast and strong against anything, including that which frightens so many, a sea storm. (Just watch one episode of "Deadly Catch" and that cures you of ever wanting that kind of job! And a good description of a sea storm). Yet, the Psalmist says, God is mightier than that! God is stronger than that! God rules! God rules now and until the end of time! Amen? Amen!
PRAYER: Loving and Mighty God, I praise You in the Heavenly places and we praise You here! Thank You for your strength and might and for ruling over our lives. Even when the sea storms in our lives get scary and more than we think we can handle, show Your strength and let me show my faith in You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
TRUST AND LOVE
God of rest and re-creation, bless and make new the life of this dear reader as they rest in You while reading Your Word; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Ephesians 1: 15 That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, 16 I couldn't stop thanking God for you - every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. 17 But I do more than thank. I ask - ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, 18 your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, 19 oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him - endless energy, boundless strength! 20 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, 21 in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. 22 He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. 23 The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. (The Message).
What have people heard about you? Have they heard you are a person of trust and love? Do they know you truly trust Jesus? And because of that trust, do they know you to be a person of love? Such was the knowledge of the people of Ephesus who were followers of "The Way." The Way was an early reference to Jesus' ("I am the Way, the Truth...remember?) followers. The Christians in Ephesus were getting known for their work for God and God's people. And as Paul heard about this he thanked God and asked God to help them get even more intelligent in their knowledge of God's presence in their lives. He asked for God to give them clear eyes focused on the work they were doing. And Paul knew of the energy that came from God to those who seek to do God's work. There's an often quoted passage in the Old Testament about this (Isaiah 40:31) that speaks of God renewing the strength (energy) of those who trust in Him.
The question can also be asked about how God knows your church. Is it a Christ-centered, Christ-ruled church? Or, it is a family-run business doing business as usual? Sadly, those churches being run in this "business as usual" way will soon have a "Going out of business" Sunday. May it not be so! May it be that God will bring it to one's (you?) attention so that we can once again be the Chuch Christ called us to be.
PRAYER: Loving God, may it not be so in my church or in my life; that I care only about never changing and never seeking to do more. May I seek to grow in You and be focused and strong in You. May it be so also in the hearts, minds, and lives of others in my church. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Ephesians 1: 15 That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, 16 I couldn't stop thanking God for you - every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. 17 But I do more than thank. I ask - ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, 18 your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, 19 oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him - endless energy, boundless strength! 20 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, 21 in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. 22 He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. 23 The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. (The Message).
What have people heard about you? Have they heard you are a person of trust and love? Do they know you truly trust Jesus? And because of that trust, do they know you to be a person of love? Such was the knowledge of the people of Ephesus who were followers of "The Way." The Way was an early reference to Jesus' ("I am the Way, the Truth...remember?) followers. The Christians in Ephesus were getting known for their work for God and God's people. And as Paul heard about this he thanked God and asked God to help them get even more intelligent in their knowledge of God's presence in their lives. He asked for God to give them clear eyes focused on the work they were doing. And Paul knew of the energy that came from God to those who seek to do God's work. There's an often quoted passage in the Old Testament about this (Isaiah 40:31) that speaks of God renewing the strength (energy) of those who trust in Him.
The question can also be asked about how God knows your church. Is it a Christ-centered, Christ-ruled church? Or, it is a family-run business doing business as usual? Sadly, those churches being run in this "business as usual" way will soon have a "Going out of business" Sunday. May it not be so! May it be that God will bring it to one's (you?) attention so that we can once again be the Chuch Christ called us to be.
PRAYER: Loving God, may it not be so in my church or in my life; that I care only about never changing and never seeking to do more. May I seek to grow in You and be focused and strong in You. May it be so also in the hearts, minds, and lives of others in my church. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
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