Leading or Following, Do it for God!

1 Peter 5: 1 I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. 2 Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously.[ 3 Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. 4 When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he'll see that you've done it right and commend you lavishly. 5 And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for - God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people. (The Message)

It still awes and amazes me that those who were with Jesus could share those experiences in writing as a help and encouragement to us. St. Peter, writes about knowing what Christ experienced and what it meant for him as a leader under Jesus. There's no doubting Peter's leadership as chief among the disciples. Peter had his life transformed by being around Jesus and by giving his heart to the Lord. Peter's heart was broken several times during the short three year journey as a disciple. He knows what it's like to see people suffer and encourages those who work with other believers and his main encouragement is for us to care for those in our flock. The true shepherd is Jesus, but many of us have oversight over those who look to us for spiritual leadership and guidance. "Tenderly show them the way" we also work with and among them not for our personal gain but for the glory of God. And those of you who are not leaders, but who work with leaders, you should follow faithfully and prayerfully. Leaders are not perfect, but seek to do their best. Pray for your leaders as your leaders are praying for you. Above all, be genuine with one another, not making yourself to be better than you are, but a humble servant and servant leader among all people. God takes delight, Peter say, in those who relate well with others out of love and caring.

PRAYER: Blessed God, may I be faithful in my service to You and to those whom You have entrusted to my care, be it my church members, my family members, my co-workers or employees. And for those with whom I serve, I pray Your blessings of peace and protection in the work they undertake for You. In all things, be glorified; I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God is On The Job!

1 Peter 4:12 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. 13 Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. 14 If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. 15 If they're on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that's a different matter. 16 But if it's because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! 17 It's judgment time for Christians. We're first in line. If it starts with us, think what it's going to be like for those who refuse God's Message! 18 If good people barely make it, What's in store for the bad? 19 So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it. (The Message)

God is on the job. I can think of no better thought especially when I go through suffering or pain. If anyone knew suffering and pain it was Jesus. But alongside Him were the twelve who also experienced the pain of doubt and fear as they saw what their Teacher was going through. It would be years later as Peter writes these words that he does so in an encouraging way. "Don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job" because we find life getting really difficult. (v. 12). Peter saw it as a "refining process" which is taking the crude and making it pure and useable. Glory is just around the corner. With so much oil and gas exploration going on in our area, we see the results of new buildings and companies in place where there once were none. And we think of what is being pulled out of the ground as crude oil that must be refined to become the useable fuel for our vehicles. In the same way, our life experiences, however bad or painful, are helping to purify us and make us useable for God's work in reaching and teaching others about God.

Any abuse or suffering that may come our way because of the name Christian, Peter says, God's Holy Spirit is right alongside us helping and blessing us. We should take pride that we, like the disciples did on several occasions, were found worthy of these experiences. We, as Christians, Peter says, are "first in line," but God's Son will stand with us. And you have to love the last verse of this chapter, "So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust Him. He knows what he's doing, and He'll keep on doing it." And it is so!

PRAYER: Loving God, you know the life and experiences of this dear reader; bless and protect him or her and help them realize that You are on the job in whatever it is that they may be facing. Guide and strengthen their steps as You are being glorified in their lives. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Wide Awake in Prayer and Service

6 Listen to the Message. It was preached to those believers who are now dead, and yet even though they died (just as all people must), they will still get in on the life that God has given in Jesus. 7 Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. 8 Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. 9 Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless - cheerfully. 10 Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: 11 if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything - encores to the end of time. Oh, yes! (The Message)

In an earlier, not as common version of our Apostles Creed, there is the part that says, "I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead (hell, some other version says). The question was asked, "What of those who did not hear the Gospel or Good News about Jesus?" The answer, Jesus took care of it. While dead, Jesus visited and preached the good news to those who were dead, and as Peter shares, "they will still get in on the life God has given in Jesus." We can spend days and weeks discussing this point, but what Peter is saying is that is how powerful this Message is, that it even reached those who died before Christ was born. For us the living, Peter continues, that he believes Jesus is coming soon and we must be busy at work reaching those who have not yet heard nor believed in Jesus. I love the phrase, "Stay wide awake in prayer." In other words, work and pray, study and pray, live and pray; never stop praying! But beyond prayer, we are to love each other as if our very lives depended on it. Peter knew the power of love and thus shares, "Love makes up for practically anything." (v. 8) And then a brief list of things we should as believers do, either through our individual efforts or through the ministries of our church: Feed the hungry. House the homeless "cheerfully." Be generous with what God has given you, sharing them with those who need them, denying no one. And I love that Peter adds, "If words, let it be God's words." In other words, our sharing of the good news should be in our actions and the way we live our lives, and if necessary we can use words and if we do need to use word, let them be those God has shared. Our assistance to others should be abundant in love and in the way it meets the needs of those whom we are led to help.

Our lives should reflect the presence of God in our lives. It should be so in all things we do, so that all honor and glory be given to God, not us.

PRAYER: God of love and compassion, may I seek to live a life that radiates Your presence and love in a way that helps bring hope and comfort and the needed things of my neighbors who live in need. May I truly be about sharing what You have shared with me in ways that helps the Message of Your love be spread throughout the world. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

P.S. Prayers for personal matters in our family, and for safe travel for Nellie and I as we fly tomorrow to Chicago for a meeting. Blessings!

Think like Christ!

1 Peter 4: 1 Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. 2 Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. 3 You've already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it's time to be done with it for good. 4 Of course, your old friends don't understand why you don't join in with the old gang anymore. But you don't have to give an account to them. 5 They're the ones who will be called on the carpet - and before God himself. (The Message)

Jesus identifies with you. The least you can do is identify with Jesus. Peter knew life before Jesus, life with Jesus, and life after Jesus. Peter knew that once he encountered Jesus, his life would never be the same. Peter knew there is nothing we have experienced that Jesus does not know from His own personal experience, so we should think like Him. The main difference is that as we think like Jesus we see the possibility and hope that we did not possess before we had Jesus in our hearts. And if we are suffering or experiencing challenges that we did not expect, Peter says that these can serve to help us learn that we are growing toward Jesus and away from our old sinful life. Peter puts it more bluntly; we no longer get our own way. It is now about Jesus and Jesus having His way. If our pursuits are for the things of God, we will be free from the desires and demands of our old life. Our days now are no longer "God-ignorant," our days now are God-savvy, and should be consumed by pursuing the things of God. Our old days should be over and our days with God should be new days, striving to grow closer to, and more Christ-like. Our old friends may not understand but Peter says that it is alright, because they will be the ones "called on the carpet - and before God himself." (v. 5)

If we spend time with Christ, we will know Him more intimately and we will possess the mind of Christ, a clear way ot thinking, free from despair and filled with hope. No longer troubled with fear and doubt, but filled with the thoughts of possibility and triumph when it seems all is lost. Christ kept His eyes on God and thus His mind was guided and blessed by God. We should do the same.

PRAYER: God of life and fullness of life, grant to me the mind of Christ. I want to have the hope and faith of He who knew and suffered all things for my sake. Give me hope enough to share, and peace enough to endure. I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Remember Your Baptism!

1 Peter 3:18 That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all - was put to death and then made alive - to bring us to God. 19 He went and proclaimed God's salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment 20 because they wouldn't listen. You know, even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then, eight to be exact - saved from the water by the water. 21 The waters of baptism do that for you, not by washing away dirt from your skin but by presenting you through Jesus' resurrection before God with a clear conscience. 22 Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He's standing right alongside God, and what he says goes. (The Message)

Every baptism celebrated in every church carries with it powerful reminders of God's actions throughout history. The water used in baptism is a symbol of Creation, Salvation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Justification, and Sanctification. Peter, in today's text, reminds us of that. For him, Christ's submission to God to die for us all, was the event that brings us all to God. Peter knew that Christ had no sin and should not have to die, and in fact, part of Peter's story was him rebuking, yes, rebuking Jesus for that, and having Jesus call him "Satan" for that thought. (Tell me that wouldn't stay with you had Jesus called you that). It was a lesson learned hard but that impacted Peter for all eternity. Peter reminds us of Noah's faith and his willingness to suffer ridicule from neighbors and strangers as he built his ark, only to have eight people saved in that flood, "saved from the water by the water." (v. 20) And our baptism, Peter reminds us, is not to be washed clean of dirt from our bodies but a presentation before God through Jesus' resurrection, that in faith, we stand before God with a clear conscience. Jesus, Peter says, "has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies." And Jesus is standing right alongside God as our advocate.

This passage comes at the end on this section on suffering for our faith, with baptism a reminder that we carry in us, that seal of God that we have been presented through Jesus before God, and we are marked by faith as belonging to God and belonging to others who have also been baptized. Our mission and goal is to do and live right, so that the message continues and more can come to know about God's love and mercy for all people. Because of Christ's suffering for us, we have had the price paid and we need to continue to tell others about that.

May it be so.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for all that Jesus did out of love for You and for us. May I seek to be like Christ Jesus in all my dealings. May my words, thoughts, and deeds reflect a faith that puts You and Yours first, not me nor my intentions. I seek to please You and You only. Grant me wisdom, strength, and courage; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Living Mud-Free

1 Peter 3: 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. 16 Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. 17 It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. (The Message)

The definition of "clean" varies from person to person and even within ourselves depending on age. To live clean also may mean different things to different people; but Peter says our starting point should be our heart and the attitude we have towards God. No matter what circumstances we may be going through, our hearts should be always praising God. Our lives should reflect that attitude of gratitude towards God and what God has done for us, and if we should be asked why we live the way we do, we should take advantage of any opportunity to give a testimony or witness about our faith. I love this version's verse 16 where Peter says basically, we should live mud-free. "Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick." There were times in this writer's life when I loved all things dirt and mud. Days were spent playing along Tranquitas Creek in Kingsville and I'm thankful for an understanding mom that knew that little boys can and will gete dirty and muddy. And as an adult, clean living allows, as Peter says, for anything to be thrown our way, and even if it's "mud" being thrown about our way of life, it won't stick. I love his line about them "realizing...they're the ones who need a bath." Ours is to push onward towards Christ's leading, not worrying about what may be coming our way, for we will not be punished for doing bad if we lived a life that was good.

Are you living "clean"? If not, Christ Jesus offers the "bath" mentioned above!

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Your presence and for guiding our hearts towards how we should live. Our prayer is to live right and clean before You, with no malice nor harm towards anyone, even those who persecute us for being believers. May we be a living witness of a life lived in love before You; we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS I pray God's blessings be upon you all during this Thanksgiving Weekend. May God's calm and peace be with you if you happen to be standing in line awaiting that perfect deal during the madness of this day!

Job One: Be a Blessing!

1 Peter 3: 9 That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless - that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. 10 Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; 11 Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. 12 God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things. 13 If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? 14 Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought. (The Message)

John Wesley called it three simple rules. Or, maybe we did in summing it up; Do no harm. Do all the good you can. Stay in love with God. The passage for today is part of that inspiration. Our job is to bless. I remember my Dad telling me when he and Mom dropped me off at college, that my job was to study and do the best I could. I accepted and believed that and I did pretty well. God is telling us here, our job is to bless. No retaliation, as hard as that is sometimes for some. No sharp-tongued sarcasm, ouch! "Bless - that's your job, to bless." And the payment? We'll be a blessing and get a blessing! And Peter says if you want to embrace the fullness of life and see our days fill us with good, "Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth." The Christian life is above and thus more difficult than what the world dictates. We're all familiar with the says and quotes about revenge and vengance. God inspires us to do the opposite and live a life that shows a better way to live. Peter knows that those who live a life that is a blessing will never be stopped. Even if we happen to suffer as a result; God will have the last word.

For many this is the week to give thanks and celebrate God's goodness with family and friends. Wouldn't it be wonderful if one of the things others are grateful for, is you? I am!

PRAYER: Loving God, let me be a blessing. Help me to take seriously and joyously my job of blessing others. May I be quick with words that bless and heal rather than harm or hurt. May I seek understanding rather than revenge. May I come to be someone that others, especially You, are thankful for. I ask and pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Advice for Great Relationships!

1 Peter 3: 1 The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated 2 by your life of holy beauty. 3 What matters is not your outer appearance - the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes - 4 but your inner disposition. 5 The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. 6 Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as "my dear husband." You'll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated. 7 The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God's grace, you're equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don't run aground. Suffering for Doing Good 8 Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. (The Message)

Why would the Apostle Peter share marriage advice to Christians? The same reason Jesus told believers to "love one another." Even in a setting or in a person from whom you expect better, there is the reality of our humanness coming out and sometimes winning over our beliefs. Peter was married, for we remember that Jesus healed a fever in the body of Peter's mother-in-law; and we know that among those who were married, their three years with Jesus forever changed their lives. In any relationship, but especially among those who have taken and received vows, understanding and cooperation are key. Peter addresses these and even those of husbands who do not yet believe; Peter believed the living of a good, loving life towards your husband would help in his conversion. Peter knew it was all about what is within, that "inner disposition." And an inner disposition posed towards God and receiving and sharing of what God offers changes everything. Husbands, according to Peter, were expected to do the same, with honor being one of the things husbands should show towards their wives. And Peter shares a radical thought, that "in the new life of God's grace, you're equals." (v. 7) As we treat each other as equals our prayers will not "run aground." To sum up, and again, this applies to all relationships:

Be agreeable. Be sympathetic. Be loving. Be compassionate. Be humble.

A recipe for a great relationship!

PRAYER: Loving God of love, may I seek to be the best towards those with whom I am in relationship. For those who are married, dear God, may we be the best spouse we can, and may our lives be a part of the sharing of the Good News with those who have not yet heard nor believed. May my life lived with special people in my life reflect that I am agreeable, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus, Shepherd of our Soul

1 Peter 2:18 You who are servants, be good servants to your masters - not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. 19 What counts is that you put up with it for God's sake when you're treated badly for no good reason. 20 There's no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you're treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God. 21 This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. 22 He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. 23 They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. 24 He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. 25 You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls. (The Message)

The stained glass image above is from my boyhood church, El Buen Pastor UMC in Kingsville, Texas. It is an image of Jesus that calms my soul as it did when I was a boy. Peter shares in this passage, that we are to do the best we can in every situation in which we find ourselves whether we want to be there or not. We may not yet know the purpose for our being where, or suffering what we are, but with Christ in our presence we soon can shine even in the darkest of places. Jesus was no stranger to suffering, neither should we, His servants. Even in the midst of wrongdoing towards us, we should do no wrong against others, knowing that God will make right whatever is wrong. Jesus, Peter reminds us, carried our sins in His body all the way to the Cross and there, our sins were removed, our burdens lifted, and our brokenness made whole. Our wandering as lost sheep ended, and we found our way home to the Good Shepherd, the Shepherd of our souls.

The name of my church in Kingsville is The Good Shepherd. So, the image of the center stained glass window is the image of the Good Shepherd, who is holding a little lamb. Though the dark clouds may be looming in the background, there is still light and Jesus is holding us. The picture also shows the lushness of the area in which the sheep have been led, with still waters behind and a tiny brook near them as well. So it is with and in our lives.

The Shepherd knows your name. He's called you to faithfulness. Listen and obey.

PRAYER: Loving Shepherd, hold me when I need holding, release me when I need to go and do your bidding. Remind me of how much I am loved by You so that I can share that love to those who have not yet heard. As You call me by name, let me listen and obey. I pray this in Thy name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Living as Servants of Jesus

1 Peter 1: 1 Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. 12 Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives. 13 Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; 14 they are God's emissaries for keeping order. 15 It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. 16 Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. 17 Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government. (The Message)

In the aftermath of any election of any year, people play the "what if" and "what will become" game. Sadly, some, out of anger, carry it to the "what can I do about it" game and plan action, however foolish, hateful, or dangerous it may become. I wish I could say it was different this year after this election. If you look at your watch you'll see it's the year 2012 A.D. (Year of our Lord), yet it seems like some want to set the clock back to the 1850s. Almost all Southern States voted along a line and in those states talk has turned exactly to where Peter is saying it should not go. Peter had the view that believers, because of our new life in Christ and relationship with God, belonged to another world, the spiritual realm of God. We are but pilgrims on this earth trying to invite others to join us now so that when the Day comes when we are called, and listen to this word we all use, "home," others would come with us. Yet, just as Peter has urged us not to do, many have become too "cozy" here and because of ego are wasting our souls. We think we are natives here and instead of being examples to those who truly are natives for now, we are living just like them, acting like them and even encouraging them to be unlike those who belong to God. We are called to win people over to God not the other way around. We want the people who celebrate Christ's return to be a numerous group, but it is up to us to invite and win people over to the side of spirit and truth.

Peter believes that good citizens are those who make Jesus proud by their thoughts, words, and actions, among them respecting "the authorities, whatever their level," for Peter also believes, "they are God's emissaries for keeping order." We are called to do good, to serve God, to treat all with dignity and respect, to love our spiritual family, revere God, and respect the government, yes, regardless of how we voted and what we expected.

As US Citizens, we do not have a perfect government, but it is the best around. It works when we allow it to work and it exists to serve a common good, however you define that. It works better when we treat each other as brothers and sisters, not hating each other because of differences real or perceived.

PRAYER: Loving God of our homeland, bless and watch over us while we are on this pilgrim journey. Help us to truly follow Your words through Peter, to do good, to serve God, to treat all with dignity and respect, to love our spiritual family and all people, to hold You in reverence, and even to respect our government. It is not easy, but with Your presence and blessing, it can be done, so be it. We pray in Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

JESUS THE CORNERSTONE!

1 Peter 2:4 Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. 5 Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. 6 The Scriptures provide precedent: Look! I'm setting a stone in Zion, a cornerstone in the place of honor. Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation will never have cause to regret it. 7 To you who trust him, he's a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him, The stone the workmen threw out is now the chief foundation stone. 8 For the untrusting it's . . . a stone to trip over, a boulder blocking the way. They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted. 9 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you - 10 from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. (The Message)

In the foundation of a believer's life, Jesus is the cornerstone. Peter says that Jesus is the "living Stone," and we are to be "building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life." In Jesus, we find life unlike that found in the world. Jesus spoke of an abundant life in John 10:10 where He summed up His life's purpose; "I have come that they may have life and that in abundance." The fullness of life as found in Jesus cannot be compared to any other life. In Christ Jesus we find the perspective of appreciation and gratitude towards all things. In Christ Jesus we find love unlike it is found in any other place, and the deepness of that love makes us unlike those who do not believe, but not for personal glory but for service and example. In Jesus we find a strength that will not shame us. In Jesus we will find a steadiness along life's rocky paths. In Jesus we find purpose for our own lives as we seek to live out a life that looks out for others and to help others. In Jesus we have come "from nothing to something, from being rejected to accepted."

In seminary, in the days before videos and the Internet, we had 16 mm film. You will remember that the guys from the AV department would wheel down a squeaky cart to the classroom and on it was the ancient projector (talk to your parents, kids) and two spools, one loaded with the film, threaded through the projector and onto the empty spool. The projector had a noise unlike any other and I can still hear it. The movie that day was about a boy badly burned in a house fire in which he lost all his family. He was forced to live on the streets of this Latin American country town. People would avoid him and children were scared of him because of the awful scarring on his face. It was a priest who saw him and came to him and held him. The film had no talking, it was all action. The priest leads him by the hand to a large mission outside of the town and the huge wooden doors open as the boy is brought into what we now can see is an orphanage. The children in the orphanage are at first reluctant to approach the boy but when signalled by the priest they all run and hug the boy. We finally get to see the boy's little face as it turns to the camera and we see a smile. That boy's life as capture on that film is the last verse of this passage; you and I have truly been brought from a nothing existence to a full life; from being rejected, unwanted and unseen, to being accepted, loved, and wanted.

In your life and in the life of your worship fellowship, make that the prayer for today, "Lord, send us those nobody else wants or sees, amen."

PRAYER: Loving God of all, thank You for wanting, accepting and loving me. Thank You for taking my life from having little to no meaning to a life filled with meaning and purpose. Thank You also for helping me to do the same with those who may come into my life. May my heart truly pray for You to send to my worship community those whom nobody else wants or sees. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

1 Peter 2: 1-3 So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God. (The Message)

We've gone through it eight times already. Four with our daughters, and four with our grandchildren. Wondering if our babies would know to nurse. And through that miraculous touch that is God at work, all eight have had no problem. And even though we have experienced it so many times, each time is a joy and time for giving thanks to Almighty God for that special blessing that brings needed nourishment to our children. (The baby in the above picture is our latest grandchild, Eliana Beth Garcia of Mission, TX. I love the pose because it says as her mommy described, "Enough with the pictures already - let me sleep!"). Peter as he writes these words has shared some basic instruction to believers; we must learn the proper way to live. We must rid our lives, our thoughts, our deeds, our words that are harmful and hurtful towards others. We must learn an attitude of gratitude for what we have and not envy what others have. We must be genuine and down-to-earth, not putting on airs about our importance or position; we're all the same in the final analysis. Peter adds, We've "had a taste of God." We know what goodness and purity is; why can't we be the same? "As infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness." There are too many "feeders" ready to feed us what is not good nor helpful for us, we must stay with God and feast on God's Word and Truth. The way to a strong future and great maturity lies only in God. God's way provides for wholeness. And there's no better way to be given the broken world in which we live.

We're basically given a menu each day; Talk radio. News channels. Zoo radio. Television. Negativity. Gossip. Complaints. Or, God's Word. Prayer. Devotional time. Positive attitudes towards self and others. Help and service to others. How will you choose? And it doesn't not matter your chronological age, you can mature starting even today!

PRAYER: Living God, I thank You for Your Word and the purity and nourishment found in it. May I nurse deeply on Your love and truth so that I may be a blessing to others. Help me to choose that which helps me mature into fullness as Jesus meant, a life lived in abundance. I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Obedient Children

1 Peter 1:14 Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. 15 As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. 16 God said, "I am holy; you be holy." 17 You call out to God for help and he helps - he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living. 18 It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. 19 He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. 20 And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately - at the end of the ages - become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. (The Message)

This summer I had a chance to visit my brother in Florida. He very happily showed me that he had just bought a new turntable. For those of you too young to know that word, a turntable is what used to also be called a record player. I know, sadly, there are some reading this who do not know what a record is. It is a round, CD (yikes, another dated term?) looking thing made of black vinyl that plays when the needle of the turntable hits the grooves of the record. The turntable does not stand alone, it is connected to an amplifier and the amplifer to speakers. Many will argue that the sound produced by a record beats CD sound or even, or especially MP3 or digital sound. I describe all of this because of the first verse of this passage, Peter says to believers, do not be lazy and just "slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing." Like the record, once the needle is in the groove it spins round and round and plays the same sound found on each groove as was recorded on it originally. Peter says, when we didn't know Christ, we did not know better. But we know better now! Once we entered into a relationship with Jesus we became children of the Most High God, and as such, we have to be obedient to God. God can and will lead obedient children into a new way of life, which Peter describes as "energetic and blazing with holiness." Peter knew that God has asked of us to be holy as God is holy. Being holy does not mean assuming a posture or attitude of being "holier than thou" or looking down our noses towards those we deem as unholy; being holy means being open to and blessed by God, seeking the spiritual things of God over the earthly things that are not of God. Our relationship is thus, we call out to God and God helps us; God is a loving, good Father. But as children we should have an obedience to God. We cannot and should not think we can get by living sloppy, meaning choosing those things that are not good for our relationship with God. For us to be children came with a great price paid by Jesus Christ. The blood that Jesus shed, He shed for us; and it was not an afterthought, it was intentional. God loves us that much.

It is our choice how we live, but I would pray that we would take our relationship with God seriously, and choose the things of God for our lives. It comes through prayer, devotional time, Scripture reading, worship, fasting, making choices that bless us and others.

PRAYER: Loving God, may I bless You with the choices that I make today and all days. I don't want to slip into the grooves of sinful living, instead the spontaneous and wonderful joy of living as You lead me. May I be a blessing to others with the choices I make that help make me holy. I pray a blessing on our nation that we might indeed move forward to doing those things that will bless not only our citizens but the citizens of the world. I pray this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Rolling Up Our Sleeves!

1 Peter 1:10 The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. 11 The Messiah's Spirit let them in on some of it - that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. 12 All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves - through the Holy Spirit - the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this! 13 So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. (The Message)

Our hall closets are filled with surprises for the little one in our house. Our son-in-law works at a store where he has had great discounts on the gifts that he and our daughter will be sharing with their son. You know that our grandson has no idea of what is there, but if he did, I venture to guess that not one surprise would be left unopened. Peter is reminding us that thousands of years ago, the prophets wondered, What is this message God has asked me to share, all about? They were not privileged to know what we know. Theirs was but a piece of an awesome puzzle that we have seen completed in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit did share with them that this Messiah, the Anointed One of God would experience suffering, then would experience glory. They wanted to know who and when. All they were told, and it was enough for them, was that they were serving God. We, on the other hand, we have heard the complete message, we know the story of Jesus. We are blessed, but what are we doing about it? Peter says, "Angels would have given anything to be in on this!" What we can do is to "roll up (our) sleeves," and put our mind in gear and be completely ready to receive the gift that is coming when Jesus returns.

It's a divine coincidence that today, Nellie and I, and a group of about 30 from our two conferences, will be rolling up our sleeves and taking to the streets of South Corpus Christi to share the news of the coming new church to their area. Groups have gone before us and they have been blessed with divine appointments, prayers offered for people who could not believe that at the right time, God sent them someone to pray for them. One of the most moving stories is that of a couple outside, asked by the new pastor of that church if he and his prayer partner could pray for them. They said Yes, pray for our marriage. They had been discussing divorce and this divine appointment blessed them and their relationship.

Are your sleeves rolled up to share in that which you have received the precious and powerful message of Jesus Christ?

PRAYER: Awesome God, bless us as we seek to bless You and Yours. Help us to not find excuses, but instead to roll up our sleeves to do Your work. We pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS This message comes a little late because we got up early and stood in line to vote. We were about 12 from the front and it took us 40 minutes to vote. If you have not yet voted, please do!

With Laughter and Singing!

1 Peter 1: 8 You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him - with laughter and singing. 9 Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation. (The Message)

One thing I've shared with all my newborn grandchildren was to sing to them when I first held them, "Jesus Loves Me." I strongly and firmly believe in the power of music to teach trust. I have been challenging my churches during church conferences to think about those children in their areas and community who have not yet been taught to sing songs of faith because they do not yet have faith. It's not hard to imagine as you read this that not too far from your home is a little girl playing alone, who has not yet heard how much she is loved by God; and not too far from her are two little boys playing together, whose innocence has kept them thus far from thinking of harmful things, also not yet reached by God's love. The children laugh and they probably sing, but is it laughter from the pure joy we as believers feel? Are the songs, songs of hope and faith?

Peter's instruction for today says that though we have never seen God, yet we love God. We have never seen God, but we trust God, with our laughter and singing. As we keep on believing, that will be what keeps us moving forward to the great reward, full, face-to-face relationship with God and Jesus. It's in the meantime, that we seek to reach others, especially the children, so that they may have songs to sing and laughter that shows the true happiness that has come to their hearts through Jesus Christ. Those of us who are in relationship with God, need to invite others to join us!

PRAYER: Loving God, we pray for those we have not yet reached for You. We pray for the little girls and little boys of our areas and communities. Show us the way we can reach them for You. This is our hope and our prayer. In the meantime, help us remember that our laughter and our singing are signs of our love and trust in You. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

(Originally sent Nov. 2, 2012) God is Watching Over Us

1 Peter 1: 5 God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all - life healed and whole. 6 I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. 7 Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

I wish I had on my computer, a picture of my grandmother keeping watch over our second newborn at my sister's wedding. I saw the delight my Grandma took in seeing both of my children, but at the wedding, she assumed command of the nursery and she guarded the crib and access to it where our baby lay. The picture shows the love and care of this woman who was always grateful for the days she had. I am blessed to have the photo above which shows another grandmother with that same love and care for her baby, our newest, Eliana Beth Garcia. Strong and powerful as is the love of a grandparent and parents for their children, it does not match the love and care that God has for us. This short passage speaks to our hearts, especially on the occasion of today being All Saints Day. The day is set aside to remember those who have died and gone on before us. We remember those especially who suffered the pain and discomfort of illness before their death, and the second part of verse 5 speaks to that, "The Day is coming when you'll have it all - life healed and whole." Many are those we know, love, and miss, whose lives were testimonies to our faith, but whose last days were very painful. Their death was ultimate healing and a restoration to wholeness as only God can provide. For us, it should serve as comfort and encouragement to continue to move forward with our lives. Yes, we sometimes walk throughd ays that seem like days filled with fire, but verse 7 speaks of that, "Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine." No matter what it is we are going through, God is with us and the end result will be worth it.

The final victory will be when Jesus puts our faith on display as "evidence of His victory." Live a life that blesses others right now, and the faith that made it possible will be a trophy for Jesus. Your words, your actions, your deeds, may bless someone into not giving up or reaching a point of discouragement. God is with you and will see you through.

PRAYER: Thank You, Loving God, for keeping careful and loving watch over us and our future. We can't see the future from here, but we can see evidence of You present with us now. May that be what we need to move steadily forward towards You, helping and blessing others along the way. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Future Starts Now!

1 Peter 1:3 What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, 4 including a future in heaven - and the future starts now! (The Message)

Do you ever measure the future in terms of coming movies? Guilty confession, the trailers for upcoming movies are shown, the trailer makes the coming movie in your opinion, a MUST SEE, then it says something like Christmas 2025.... Okay, not everyone is weird like me. Yesterday, it was announced that the Walt Disney Company bought LucasFilms. For many, not a big deal, even, so what, who is Lucas and why should we care? But for those who know, it was also announced that a new Star Wars Episode would be out in 2015. For those who do know, this caused great excitement. For some who do know, it caused some fear; will Mickey Mouse make an appearance in this epic movie? I think that should not be a fear of ours. The future is in good hands.

For Peter, the future is in the hands of God. he says, "What a God we have!" Think about it; from the beauty of creation, the blessings of love, joy, hope, peace, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to the promise of a future that never ends - all in the hands of God. This is a God of life. This is our God. Our life is from God and stays in God. A God Who showed through Jesus Christ, that death is a part of life and death was conquered through Him, we have a "brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven." (v. 3-4). Think about that; we have the option to chose in Jesus Christ a brand-new life. And if we do, we find that we have everything to live for. Nothing you may be facing now, a decision or a fear, a worry or an illness, a debt or a payment, nothing, is worhty dying for; quite the opposite in Christ we have everything to live for. We all go through periods of life where we think that we couldn't get any lower or sicker or poorer, but if we hold on and hold on to God, when that is past, we think, thank God for God and for that option of trusting God. We did have everything to live for. Even in times of loneliness, God is with us and gives us hope for living. That verse, verse 4, about a future in heaven ends with "the future starts now!"

Your future, if you are in a relationship with Jesus Christ, starts now. And in Jesus Christ, nothing can hold you back or separate you from that glorious future which starts right now, right here. Claim it!

PRAYER: Loving God, I pray in the Name of Jesus for this dear reader and whatever it is that has my brother or sister feeling down. Lord, lift their spirits, their thoughts, their phsycial bodies of pain or discomfort, coughing or sneezing, up to a higher level where there is calm and peace. I further ask that if they have not yet entered into a loving, trusting relationship with You that they do it now, so that that glorious future, which starts right now, right here, might be theirs. I pray this with faith in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! And tell somebody, "The future starts now!"

Eradio Valverde