Make Yourself at Home in Christ's Love!

Image from agnusday.org

"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done - kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.  "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.  "You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. "But remember the root command: Love one another. (John 15:9-17 The Message)

Dear Friend, may this find you ready for a new work week, having been blessed by the weekend.  May this time of devotion be a time of renewal and refreshing for our souls.  Jesus has our back!

I once had a friend who made himself at home with Nellie and I.  He came down to visit us and spent the entire day with us.  What I loved about his visit was that he said yes to everything we proposed and offered.  Most will ponder a bit, or may say, "I'm good, but thanks anyway" but not this guy.  Would you like some coffee?  Yes!  Coffee would be great!  "Would you like to join us for lunch?"  I'd love to.  How about some tv?  Sure!  And it went on that way until he left.  He left us with smiles on our faces.  I have prayed to have that much comfort and ease when I'm with my friends .

Jesus, in this modern version of this passage says we are to make ourselves at home in Christ's love; because that's how much He loves us!  The love that blesses and refreshes.  And, Jesus further says, we should make ourselves at home in His love.  A relaxing, releasing sort of love much in the way we make ourselves in our own homes.  The old saying, there is no place like home, is true.  For many of us home is where we find freedom to be ourselves; and if we are believers in Christ Jesus, we are free to be like Him. We know we are loved and welcomed; and more so in Christ:  He loves and welcomes us.   In Christ we have a loving, listening ear.  We're free to share our worries and concerns with Him.  We're free to love Him and to know that He loves us.  And of the commands Jesus has shared, we are to love one another in the way that Jesus loves us.  We are to be compassionate, forgiving, grace-filled and grace-full towards others.  We should welcome and love all.  And, if need be, "put your life on the line for your friends."  One thing I know about being at home, is that I will protect my family and my home, as well as any guests that I may have welcomed.  We don't have that worry in Christ, other than to know that if need be, we should be willing to lay down our lives for our friends.  You and I were chosen by Jesus to be His friends and to be at home in His love.  What more could we possibly ask?

PRAYER:  Loving God, please make me feel at him in Christ Jesus' love.  May I strive to make others at home in my love and care as well.  This I pray in Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Be a Friend to Jesus and all of Jesus' friends!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST & UPDATES:  Please be in prayer for Deannie Ploeger as she undergoes knee replacement replacement surgery (yes, they're removing the first replacement with another one).  Please continue praying for Debbie Robinson, who today may go to a rehab center after hip surgery.  Pray for one another.  Bless one another.  And, yes, love one another.

Those Who Said Yes to Jesus: John the Beloved

Image from motha.com

As He went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. (Matthew 4:21)

Happy Friday, dear Friend!  I pray this day bless you in wonderful and unexpected ways!  And may we learn to share those rich blessings with others, especially those in need.

I wonder if John knew what that day held for him in terms of a life-changing decision he was about to make.  I mean, this would be the second decision that had changed his life, and the first certainly prepared him for the second.  He was hiatus from the first when he and his brother James, were mending the fishing nets of their father's trade.  This was something he could do with his eyes closed as he did it so often; but on that day, the one they had heard about, the traveling rabbi, came to visit their place of business.  And Jesus called the two into full time ministry with Him.  Both said yes, and their lives were never the same again.

The first decision was to follow John the Baptist.  Something about this wilderness prophet caught his attention, and it may have been that John the Baptist preached forgiveness of sins.  John needed that and said yes to grace and forgiveness and yes to traveling with John the Baptist.  John preached about Jesus and when in John's gospel (John 1:35-40), John the Baptist pointed Jesus out, James and John followed Jesus.  

John became a part of the inner circle of the disciples, and of the 12, John was the closest to Jesus. It is believed that James and John, always acting as one, and hardly ever separated from each other, were first cousins to Jesus.  William Barclay, in his book, The Master's Men, states the list of women who followed Jesus and who were present at the crucifixion, and in that list suggests that Salome was the mother of James and John, and that she was the sister to Mary, the mother of Jesus.  This may explain some other things we know about John.  1)  He was a man of ambition.  Remember it was his mother who asks Jesus to give her boys a special place in the coming kingdom.  2)  John was a man of means.  His father appears to have been prosperous in the fishing business, and as such, he may have felt special enough to request a special place as a ruler in Jesus' kingdom.  We also have to note that James and John were men of violent tempers.  Luke 9:51-56 shares how after a door seemed to close for Jesus' visit through a Samaritan village, both ask the Lord to command fire to come from heaven to consume the village.  Jesus reminds them He came to save, not destroy.

John and James were also known as the Sons of Thunder, Boanerges (Mark 3:17); could that be because of their explosive and violent character?  When John sees a man casting out demons in Jesus' name in Mark 9:39-40, John forbids it.  But, we have to note that his time with Jesus changed his heart and made him become known as the beloved disciple, who leaned on Jesus' right arm at the Last Supper, and to whom Jesus assigned the care of His mother.  It was the Beloved Disciple who arrived at the tomb on Easter Sunday.  Tradition holds that John cared for Mary until her death and shortly thereafter was banished to the Isle of Patmos, where he authored another book, the final book of the Bible with visions revealed to him.

Dear one, the greatest lesson we can learn from this man's life is the power of Jesus to change our hearts. Many are the people whose hard hearts have been changed by the Son of God.  John is a prime example.  If we are to have ambition, it is to serve the Lord more faithfully and fruitfully, not seek power and position. May our hearts be open to what Jesus still offers, and may we receive all with joy and gratitude.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for the witness of John.  May my heart be always changed by You for the better.  Remove from me anything that limits the love that could be mine in serving You.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  May the thunder in your life today be the sound of love in action for all people!

Eradio Valverde

Having a Praise Life!

Image from rebeccashearthandhome.provers31heart.blogspot.com

Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I'll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers. Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. "Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!" From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him.  God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word. All the power-mongers are before him - worshiping! All the poor and powerless, too - worshiping! Along with those who never got it together - worshiping! Our children and their children will get in on this As the word is passed along from parent to child.  Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news - that God does what he says. (Psalm 22:25-31 The Message)

Dear Friend, of all the possessions you have, what do you count as the greatest?  The psalmist considered his "praise-life" among the greatest thing he could possibly possess, and it was what saw him through many a dangerous day.  May we come to discover what a praise-life is, and how we may be blessed by it.  I trust you are well!

As a United Methodist for all of my life and as a pastor for over half of that life, the vows we took upon joining the church still hold a special place in my heart.  We vowed to support our church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.  Each is special and each is powerful.  And I love the order in which the church has placed them.  They're all a part of a praise-life, but notice where it starts:  Prayer.  Methodists were once known, and in many parts of the world still are, as people of prayer.  The early circuit riders impressed people by praying from the heart and not from a book of prayer.  That helped started the spiritual journey of Francis Asbury, leader of the Methodist movement here during the Revolutionary War; he went to check out some girls he liked at a meeting and was taken aback by the preacher who did not use the Book of Common Prayer, instead he prayed from his heart and that touched Asbury's heart.  Your prayers are part of a praise-life; it's the way to receive the "oxygen" of our spirits - touching God's heart and receiving from God the blessings of strength, peace, comfort and direction as we pray.  Presence refers to our needing to be present in worship as often as we can.  We miss a lot when we are absent; in my case, the week does not seem complete as it usually is when I'm in worship with fellow believers.  Gifts is sharing from everything we own and possess.  Yes, money, but time, talent, love, compassion; all serve to glorify God as we give.  We serve a giving God (remember John 3:16?) who gave from all He had.  And the last is now ten years old; the 2008 General Conference added witness as the last part of our praise-life.  How are we sharing with others that which we call our faith?  Witness is a life-line we can throw to those in need.

David's life was a praise-life in key moments.  His faith slew a giant, and later kept him alive when the very king of Israel sought to murder him.  And when he finally received the throne as king, he united the two kingdoms and served as one of Israel's greatest kings - all because of his praise-life.

Dear one, my prayer is that you would grow and develop your praise-life in a way that blesses God and those around you.  The hurts are real and strong of those around us.  Just yesterday we heard of a 16 year old, top student at The Science Academy in South Texas, who took his own life because of sadness.  A mother of twin babies, lost one to SIDS, only days old.  Share a word of hope and encouragement to all you meet today; your nice comment may truly give life to someone thinking of other options instead of life.  Christ gave us fullness of life so that others may not lack for anything in theirs.

PRAYER:  Loving God, fill my cup; let it overflow and from that richness, let me share with those whose cups seem empty.  Grant me beautiful, powerful words to bring comfort, joy, and hope to those in need.  Point out those nobody talks to or sees, that I might be the one to share You.  It's in Christ Jesus' strong name that I pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Shine brightly the light of love in the darkness of those wanting out.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER UPDATES:  Just a quick word of thanks for your prayers for me.  I saw the retina specialist who offered surgery as one option.  The other was that if I don't mind my vision as it is (and it's pretty good with both eyes open!), I could live with it.  He believes it won't get worse and I should get it checked every year, which I do anyway.  Surgery soon would quickly advance the need for a cataract surgery that I will need in about ten years.  So, I'm praying and trusting God.  Blessings for a great day!  Pray for one another!  Love one another.

Grab Your Chance to Share Jesus!

Image from bellatorchristi.com

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation For his life is taken away from the earth.’ The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philipbaptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8:26-40)

God's blessings be with you, dear Friend!  May the time spent in devotional reading and prayer be the foundation of a great day in the Lord.  May you, like Philip, grab the chance to share Jesus with someone in need today.  (And there are plenty!).

Philip was one of Jesus' Twelve.  This passage shares the account of his witness to Christ and leading someone, a foreigner, to Jesus.  Philip, ever obedient to the Spirit's leading feels the Spirit guiding him on a road that leads out of Jerusalem and south towards Gaza, the wilderness part of that area.  Without hesitating or trying to talk his way out of this obligation, he gets up and goes where the Spirit has led him.  He happened to come right behind a chariot carrying an important official from Ethiopia.  The man was the minister of finance for the queen of Ethiopia, and he is known as an "Ethiopian eunuch."  The man happened to be reading from the prophet Isaiah, whose writings foretold of Christ's coming and life.  The custom was to read aloud from the scriptures, so Philip hears what he is reading and so he asks if the man understands what he is reading.  The man admits he needs someone to guide him to a deeper understanding.  The passage was about Jesus' crucifixion.  The Message version says that Philip grabbed his chance and shared the good news about Jesus.  He explained Jesus' life, our needed response to that life and our need for baptism, because the man seeing water asks to be baptized as a believer in Jesus Christ.  And having fulfilled his call, Philip is whisked away by the Spirit to another place in need, and there he starts over and begins to share Jesus with the people in the towns leading to Caesarea.

God gives the attentive and receptive believers chances like Philip to share Jesus; and sometimes we can even use words!  Your kind act, your smile, your willingness to listen to someone in need, and a bunch of other opportunities that may come are way, open up a chance to share our faith.  "Let me tell you what God has done for me through Jesus..."  and you fill in the blank, and as you do, you are filling in the void in the life of the person listening to you.  Think about this Ethiopian official.  He was rich.  He was powerful.  He was a believer in God, but lacked the fullness of life as found in Jesus Christ.  I believe it was God who led him to Jerusalem to worship and as he completed his worship obligations begins his trek home when God sends him the completion of his faith through Philip.  It may well be that today God may use you to help someone find meaning and purpose in their lives through what you may share.

Dear One, it begins with a willingness to be obedient and receptive to God.  And God will take care of the rest, including the sharing of the words needed to bless someone's life into fullness.

PRAYER:  Loving God, may You pour out upon this dear reader, that which will bless him into being a blessing to others.  Guide his/her thoughts, his/her response and her/his willingness to fulfill what You see as a need in someone special today.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Say Yes to God's leading today!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST AND UPDATES:  Prayers for the family of Col. Bill Weaver who passed away late Monday night.  Bill fought a valiant fight against cancer and is now in the arms of his Savior Jesus.  Prayers for our sister Bernice Haldersen who underwent knee replacement surgery in Seguin yesterday.  Bernice is our child care worker who cares for our children during worship. Prayers for me as I see a retina specialist tis afternoon in San Antonio.  Pray for one another and lift high the name of Jesus in all you do today!

God is Love!

Image from vimeo.com

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. (1 John 4:7-21)

Dear Friend,  a good preacher story to start the day:  A couple wanted to marry and made all the arrangements.  During the out-of-focus-phase when they were ordering this and that, the bride said, "I want a perfect Bible verse to go on our cake!"  The groom agreed and they searched the scriptures and decided on one in today's passage, 1 John 4:18:  "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear."  "Yes, that's the one!" exclaimed the bride and the groom beamed.  They wrote it down on a napkin but also wiped away their tears of joy with it.  On the day of the wedding, ceremony over, they waltzed over to the table and gasped when they saw the verse from John 4:18:  "for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband."  I trust your day go better than this joke!

Love is very important to God and to our Lord.  Love is something God expects from us.  God pours out His love to us and we, as vessels of that love, in turn share it with others.  But sometimes "dams" or "obstacles" block the flow of love from our hearts to others.  Many times we have placed those dams there ourselves.  We decide we don't like someone for various reasons and justify the lack of love on our part.  Or, we say they don't love us and so we don't have to love them.  The writer reminds us, "everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love."  And then the ways God showed His love is shared:  "God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins."  We should love one another is repeated again and again.  It was the reason we have the name Maundy Thursday on that special night of the start of the Lord's Supper:  Love one another was the new commandment (mandatum, thus "Maundy.")

I once counseled a woman whose husband was very abusive.  She would not leave him because she thought loving him meant her staying with him.  The abuse was at times, life threatening.  I shared how we can still love someone from afar, and still not be guilty of not loving them; God understands situations and people, and there are times we should distance ourselves from those whom we should love.  Tough love is also something some parents from time to time have to show their disobedient, unrepentant children who love addictions or habits more than they do themselves and parents sometimes may show them the door.  Many have been those who have been robbed from top to bottom by children addicted to substances that they best remedy is to distance themselves from these children, and leave them to God's care.  If you are experiencing something along these lines, please be in prayer about decisions you have to make, and seek the counsel and prayer of a pastor.  

Onward and upward we should march, seeking perfection of love in this life.  This requires daily steps of seeking to be better today than we were yesterday; and tomorrow, when it arrives, we seek to be even better.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, we pause to pray for those in love and also in situations where some difficult decisions have to be made.  May Your presence, power, and peace be with them to guide and bless them.  I pray for the protection of any little ones who may be involved in abusive situations; be present Lord.  Bless this dear reader and all s/he may face today.  Guide us to faithfulness and fruitfulness, in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Love one another in ways that build up and bless God!

Eradio Valverde

Live in Jesus

Image from agnusday.org

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. (John 15:1-8)

Good day dear Friend! May this find you and me ready for today and all that the week may hold for us! May the words of our Lord grant us more strength, power, and peace to live out our faith.

This passage is about connectedness. It's about being connected to Jesus and how necessary that is. As I was reflecting on this passage, I thought about times I have been at a grocery store or somewhere in public and I see a church member; there's that moment of "I know you!," a smile (usually) and a word or two of greeting. My wife as a teacher went through that as well, usually the student would smile, turn to her/his mom and then point to Nellie and say something along the lines, "That's my teacher!" That is being connected. A deeper connection is with our Lord. He knew life is at times tough. There come moments we don't want in our lives and we face them, we grieve, sob, say things we don't want to; or we can face them knowing we don't face them alone. One cannot get more connected than being a grape on a vine. And no better vine on which to grow and bear fruit than Jesus. And then Jesus adds the words, "Abide in me as I abide in you." More modern language says, "Live in me as I live in you." If we have given our heart to Jesus it came with the invitation for Jesus to live in our lives. The truth is where Jesus says, "because apart from me you can do nothing." I can't begin to list the times I have done something or received something with Jesus on my side. Apart from Him I would have done nothing and received nothing. The major blessings in my life came through prayers of faith and my willing to trust Jesus to provide all that I needed. I married at the right time, though my grandma thought it was getting a little too late; God provided the right wife. My education was provided at the right time for me to enter ministry just as God had asked. Our daughters' births were just as we had wanted. Some sermons have blessed people when I thought I had failed in delivering what God had asked. And people have come to faith in Jesus through something He allowed me to say or share.

Living in Jesus will bring us much fruit; apart from Jesus will make us worry like the sheep above about some branches being thrown in the fire. We avoid that be staying connected.

Dear One, stay connected with Jesus. It starts with devotional time like you're doing now. Throughout the day, share think-prayers as you face challenges or obstacles. Spend time reading your Bible; read a book or commentary on God's word; find time to worship the Lord through prayer and other ways, and you will be not only connected, but blessed!

PRAYER: Loving Father, thank You for being the vine-grower. I ask that I might live in Jesus and be connected to You. I seek to be faithful and fruitful. May this week be a glorious week that blesses You and those who need blessing. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Live in Jesus and the moments will be wonderful!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST: Our prayers for Ms. Betty Sample, who fell on Saturday and was facing surgery yesterday or today. Pray for her healing and comfort. Our continued prayers for Rev. Harry Kahl and his hospitalization. May the Lord bring healing to our brother. Pray for one another; bless the Lord with joyful kindness.

Those Who Said Yes to Jesus: Mary Magdalene

Image from federalist.com

Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. (Luke 8:1-3)

Wonderful Friday  to you, dear Friend.  My prayers are this find you well and ready to hear a word from the Lord through His word and through this devotional.  May our spirits be blessed on this last day of the work week.

On Fridays for this season I have been devoting time for those who said yes to Jesus and HIs earthly ministry.  We started with Peter, then Judas, and today the woman known as Mary Magdalene.  She was an important person in Jesus' life and ministry and was the first of the resurrection witnesses.  The Roman Catholic Church holds her as a Saint for her life's work and witness. Ironically, it was a Pope centuries later that associated her with "illicit acts," and many thought her to be a woman of ill repute.  I have to point out that Mary Magdalene was not the sinful woman some have painted her to be, nor was she a prostitute.  From the passage for today, we know her faith began out of gratitude for Jesus' power to deliver her from demon possession.  Luke records that seven demons were driven out of her, and she joined the company of other female disciples who also received freedom and fullness of life through Jesus.

Mary, as you can imagine, was among the most popular names for first century Jewish women.  Thus, her being named Mary Magdalene was a way to identify her by the gospel writers.  We do know she was from the fishing village of Magdala, on the Sea of Galilee.  We also know her to have been wealthy, and out of her own money she supported the ministry of Jesus and the twelve. She is mentioned by name 12 times in the synoptic gospels, more than some of the disciples.

We know Mary Magdalene was a witness to Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.  All four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John list her being present for all of Jesus' passion.  It was early on Sunday morning that the gospels share that she was present, either alone or in the company of other women, and find the tomb empty.  It is the Gospel of John that has Jesus addressing Mary and telling her to share the good news with the disciples, thus making Mary the first apostle to the apostles.  

Biblical professor and author Bart Ehrman states that "it appears virtually certain" that the stories of the empty tomb, regardless of whether or not they are accurate, can definitely be traced back to the historical Mary Magdalene, pointing out that, in Jewish society, women were regarded as unreliable witnesses and were forbidden from giving testimony in court, so early Christians would have had no motive to make up a story about a woman being the first to discover the empty tomb. In fact, if they had made the story up, they would have had strong motivation to make Peter, Jesus's closest disciple while he was alive, the discoverer of the tomb instead.He also points out that the story of Mary Magdalene discovering the empty tomb is independently attested in the Synoptics, the Gospel of John, and in the Gospel of Peter.  Noted author and Bishop Dr. N. T. Wright states that "it is, frankly, impossible to imagine that [the women at the tomb] were inserted into the tradition after Paul's day." 

What we can learn from Mary:  We can sum it up by saying she was a woman of gratitude and generosity. A life of gratitude towards Jesus can open many doors of opportunity to grow in faith and witness.  Walking with Jesus can result in a stronger faith and a certain boldness with which to face and enjoy life. She walked in darkness until she saw the light in Jesus, and He delivered her from it, as He has so many of us.  The Lord still has the power to deliver us from whatever may be holding us back from fully serving Him.  The Lord still opens doors for us to give and serve.  Her blessing was to be the first to see Him resurrected and glorified.  May others see Him that way in us.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, for the faith of Mary of Magdala and all those who followed You, we thank You.  May our faith be like theirs; may people see in us a spirit of gratitude and generosity. Bless this dear reader in all that is ahead for them; we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen. 

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Walk in the Light!

Eradio Valverde

My prayers for a great weekend!  Make it even greater by being in worship in the church of your choice!  And, if you haven't been in some time, surprise your preacher!  Blessings!

What An Awesome Shepherd We Have!

Image from dreamstime.com

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. (Psalm 23 King James Version)

Dear Friend, I pray this finds you doing well.  I pray this ancient psalm speak to your heart today like never before, as it has mine.  I remember having to memorize this psalm as a boy in Spanish.  I had to recite it often to my parents and I suppose Sunday school (remember Sunday school?) as well.  Countless have been the times I have read this to patients in hospitals, or to mourners in funeral services.  My mentor pastor, The Rev. Jose Galindo used to say each time he read this in a funeral or memorial service, "This is the psalm of presidents and generals; it spoke to their hearts, may it speak to ours as well."  And indeed, one can only imagine the relief these words would bring to a president with the stress of that job or a general in the thick of battle or in the wee hours leading to war.

Let's look at this psalm with new eyes.  Not a month ago, Nellie and I and a group of dedicated Christian leaders whom I now consider dear friends, were gazing at the Judean Wilderness.  My thoughts were on Jesus' temptation and then our professor guide, Dr. Jack Beck said that this was also the setting for the 23rd Psalm.  It changed my entire outlook on the idyllic photos I had seen of lush, green pastures, with not a hill in sight, maybe one added as a backdrop; this was the wilderness as you can see in the above photo.  The job of a shepherd took on a new meaning.  Considering the psalm from the viewpoint of a lamb, it speaks an awesomeness to the responsibilities that shepherd has for the flock.  Providing and protecting are keys to the job.  The lamb, we, say, "God is my shepherd, God provides everything!  We have nothing more to desire, for God has taken care of everything!"  As we survey the rugged terrain, the shepherd knows where the green pastures are and once there, we get to rest.  Think of laying where you can both rest and eat.  Then, the shepherd leads us to drink cool, refreshing, life-giving water; and the trek begins again, the sheep and us seeing this as God leading us in the right direction with the right purpose, righteousness if you will; all because His name is God.  Yes, there are dangers; the Message version calls it Death Valley; this ancient version says it pretty plainly as well:  Death's shadow is cast around us - but bring it on!  We are not afraid nor alone!  God is with us!!  God has the gear to protect us and guide us safely away from harm.  Rod and staff; one to drive away, the other to rescue; God is prepared.  

The table is set; we're ready to eat!  How many times have we heard that and think back to times when our grandmothers and mothers were there to say these words to us; now our spouse has taken those duties or we have, and that is a call to celebration, to a time of renewal; come and eat.  How about come and eat in the presence of those or those things that seek to harm or destroy us?  A banquet where cancer is defeated, yes, even by death, sadness but triumph is ours; God is here!  The meal ends with an anointing; we give thanks to God and God gives thanks for us, yes, you, dear reader! Our cup runneth over, and our celebration hymn is "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."  

We're home when we're with God; all our days.  Forever.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, thank You for timeless words.  Thank You for the strength and comfort we need at time moment and as our day proceeds.  Grant us grace to share comfort with those in need.  Again, we pray for the peace and pace that only You can provide.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Smile, you're a sheep in God's flock; live like it!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Please be in prayer for Ms. Belle Witt who was in ICU at Gonzales Hospital.  For Nate Pennington, ill at home.  Prayers for continued  recovery for Barry Boothe.  Prayers for you and me!  Pray for one another.  Love one another!

No Other Name Under Heaven!

Image from slideplayer.com

The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.”  There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’ (Acts 4: 1-12)

Good day, dear Reader!  I trust this finds you well and may all the blessings God has in store for you begin with this devotional or at least open the doors for those.

There is power in knowing names.  People respond better when you call them by name.  If you're in a business where you call on customers, it helps your business to know people's names.  I once introduced a pastor to a church where there were about twelve people present (sounds Biblical right?), and by the time each person had introduced themselves, the pastor went around the room, and greeted each person by their name.  Needless to say, they were impressed.

Speaking of impressed, today's passage has a list of names of people who were NOT impressed with what was going on in their holy space.  Annas, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, all members of the high-priestly family, the powers-that-be at First Church Jerusalem, and all very upset that healing had taken place within their temple.  They arrested Peter and John for having healed a man who had been lame for over forty years.  It seems they were more content seeing this man by the side of the entrance to the temple begging for money.  Healing was something that did not happen inside or outside the temple.  Their first question asks, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"  Give them credit for believing that by some names wonders could be done.  And give Peter boldness points for his Spirit-filled response:  "This man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth..."  He states he was crucified by them, but raised from the dead by God, and further, Jesus is the cornerstone that was rejected by you.  And, Peter adds, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."  There was no salvation happening in their holy space either we must assume.

What we the Church should know and proclaim, along with our acts of love, is that in Christ Jesus, we can find salvation; that right relationship we should have with God, through which we find healing and wholeness for our needs.  We should not allow happen to our local churches what had happened to the temple.  It had become a very exclusive club with strict membership rules and dues, and holy events such as one finding peace in Christ and healing through God were no longer happening nor allowed.  People knew the motions and they went through them faithfully; power and purpose beyond that was nonexistent.  We should still offer the power and purpose of Jesus Christ to all people; to set free, to bring fullness and meaning into our lives, and to set us on a path that blesses God and all of God's people; all in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

PRAYER:  Loving God, bless and protect this dear reader and their loved ones.  Remind us again of Who Jesus is, and what He offers to us.  May we proudly proclaim and share the name above all names with those who have not yet come to know Him; and it is in His name that we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Say the name of Jesus today in all you say, think, and do!

Eradio Valverde

Got Love? Show It & Live It!

Image from facoc.org

This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.  My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality.  It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.  And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God!  We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:16-24)

Good day dear Friend!  I share with you a devotional thought that I pray blesses you in whatever you're facing in your life.  I pray that in Jesus' name we might read and receive with His grace guiding us to a deeper walk with Him today and all days.

We are so blessed in having the Savior we have.  Jesus modeled a life of love for us; His demonstration of love included the ultimate sacrifice of giving Himself for us.  The writer of this letter is thankful for it, and he's intent on sharing what he believes to be our duty; to live a life of love that shows it!  He knows that in showing and living love, we begin to address within ourselves the things that plague us and those around us.  Notice the verse that says that if we see someone in need and we fail to help others because of Christ's love in us, soon God's love begins to disappear; and we were the cause.  "My dear children, let's not just talk about love; lets' practice real love.  This is the only way we'll know we're living, truly living in God's reality.  It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there's something to it."  Isn't that a great thought?  A lot of what we suffer sometimes comes from within; the more we learn to give love away, the stronger it grows in us and soon the root causes of our self-criticism begin to disappear.  And we love ourselves again in the way God intended, and soon joyful acts will pour out to bless others.  How great it would be to no longer accuse or condemn ourselves; we can become bold and free believers of Jesus Christ.

Dear one, may our prayer be to truly love the Lord, receive His love, apply it to our way of life to become giving people, helping people that soon find ourselves more blessed than when we started out.  God is the source of peace, pace, and patience if we invite Him to come in and guide us.  Whatever pressures you're feeling, shoo them away in Jesus' name, invite the calm and peace of Jesus and respond with love to all things.  It's easier to react than it is to reflect and respond, but as believers in He who loved and prayed and responded after prayer, we can be like Jesus.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, my prayer begins with this dear reader; may they be blessed in new and wonderful ways.  May love guide and bless them, and as they give of themselves to others, shower them with peace, the pace they need for their lives and the patience that only You can provide.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Pace yourself with peace as Christ shares it with you!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER UPDATES AND REQUESTS:  Barry Boothe underwent successful surgery yesterday here in Seguin.  He'll recover for a couple of days and return home soon.  Pray for his comfort and recovery.  Pray for one another, even those we don't know.

Been Snatched by a Wolf? Get a Better Shepherd!

Image from agnusday.org

‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’ (John 10:11-18)

Dear Friend, here's hoping you had a great weekend and found time to worship the Lord in a way that gave Him thanks for all the blessings God has shared with you! I pray today's devotional will be but one of many blessings that awaits you this day, and all this week is my prayer.

Imagine if the sheep could choose a shepherd; what would they think? If they had a checklist based on the 23rd Psalm (which will be our Thursday text), would they check off: Leads me to still water? Check. Green pastures provided? Check. The main question: Does this shepherd love me and protect me or is this one a hired hand? Gulp. Have you made a decision to make Jesus your Good Shepherd? Do you sometimes feel as if a wolf, or worse, is chasing you, trying to snatch you? If you haven't made a choice for shepherd, one will be appointed for you - and you won't like the choice! Choose Jesus, and here's why:

Our good shepherd is Jesus. He meets all the requirements and checks all the boxes. Jesus laid down His life for you and me. Jesus never ran away, and when we call to Him, no wolf can come and snatch us away. Jesus knows us and calls us by our name; we know Jesus' voice. Jesus, while having the power to save Himself, still chose to die for us and to save us from sin and death. Can you beat that? And the answer is no. Thanks be to God!

PRAYER: Loving Father, grant to us the blessings of the Lord Jesus on us; we seek to be sheep, obedient and fruitful sheep to the tasks asked of us by Jesus. Grant us strength for today; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Don't make a BAAd choice of shepherds!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST: For 11 year old Trinity Good, battling a brain tumor and Hodgkins disease. Pray for her healing. For Col. Bill Weaver, battling a cancer that seems to be winning. May God's comfort and peace be with him and loved ones. Pray for one another; God's blessings for a great week for each of you!

Judas Wanted to Call His Hand; You Drew the Judas Card? What Does That Mean?

Image from pinterest.com

 Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. (Luke 6:16)

Hello Friends!  As this writing, it is Friday!  Those who are happy say, Yay!  (In a loud voice).  If you're not, say, Yay. (In a soft voice).  Either way, it's a gift from God for you and me to be alive and whatever awaits us on this day, we can face and overcome through Jesus Who gives us strength! 

Today's BONUS ConCafe, is about Those Who said Yes to Jesus.  We will study the Twelve and then add in some of the women who followed Jesus.  I wanted to share this devotional since Maundy Thursday since our church did something new for them.  We started worship at 6 and I had set up two tables, covered in a black cloth.  Twelve chairs were placed around it, so families could come as a group and be served, or as many who wanted, could sit around the table.  Each place had a card face down on it, and each was the name, traditional symbol, and brief narrative of each disciple.  We had marked the Judas card with a small x so that if we saw a child sit in that space we would quickly exchange cards.  I explained there was nothing associated with drawing any of the cards, especially the Judas card, other than for you to know the names and some of the history and legends of each of the 12, but I did want all to ask the question, "Is it I?"   My wife, Nellie, drew the Judas card though she prayed she would get it so that no one else get it at her table.  And one person was shocked, from a later table that she had drawn the Judas card.  It means absolutely nothing, unless I say, you plan to betray Jesus; and I added, we betray Jesus all the time in ways that we don't plan.  So, whether you drew the Judas card or not, our call is to be faithful to Jesus all the time!

The image above shows one traditional painting of the Last Supper; guess which disciple, holding a bag of money, does NOT have a halo?  Yup.  Judas Iscariot.  His surname means he was from the village of Kerioth, a village south of Hebron.  That makes Judas the only disciple not from Galilee. The name “Iscariot” probably comes from the Hebrew “Ishkeriyyoth” or “man of the village of Keriyyoth.”

We read in John 6:15 that a movement started to make Jesus king of Israel by force.  It is believed that Judas was a Zealot, one who believed that a revolt over Rome was necessary and saw in Jesus the power and potential to win such an uprising.  As Jesus' ministry moved away from such a reality, it is believed Judas did what he did to call Jesus' hand and force such a revolt to begin.  But we also know that not all of his motives were good.  When John's Gospel has Jesus anointed by Mary of Bethany, Judas say it was a waste of good money, saying it could be sold for 300 denarii, and the proceeds given to the poor.  John comments that Judas really wanted the money for himself, since he was the treasurer or money-handler for the 12. Please keep in mind this is something that says he was trusted initially, to handle the money.

As the ministry draws to a close, at the Last Supper Jesus makes it clear that someone is to betray Him which caused the 12 to ask the question "Is it I?"  John's account found in John 13:18-30 shows the drama involved in this, and explains that John sat at Jesus' right possibly because he was the youngest and had to ask the traditional question of "Why is this night different from any other night?" and that Judas Iscariot occupied the seat of honor.  It was the guest of honor's privilege to get the bread dipped in the sop first, thus Jesus indicates who was to betray Him.  Judas leaves to do his deed, and had the others known they would have prevented it.

We believe Judas did not want Jesus crucified.  Once he discovered that was the intention of the Pharisees and the Council, he tried to return the money. But it was too late.

The greatest thing said about Judas was the Church father, Origen who suggested that, "when Judas realized what he had done, he rushed to commit suicide in order that he might meet Jesus in Hades, the world of the dead, and there with bared soul implore his Lord's forgiveness." (Sermons on Matthew, 35).

It is William Barclay who closes today's devotional with how he closes his chapter on Judas:  "When we feel ourselves mercilessly condemning Judas Iscariot because he betrayed his Lord, let us remember that Jesus once said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone." (John 8:7) The Master's Men:  Ordinary Humans Made Great by the Transforming Power of Christ. 

PRAYER;  Loving God, may my life be one who affirms and shares You.  My heart's desire is for service and faithfulness; may You strengthen me for such.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Betray yourself today as a Follower of Jesus!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Please pray for Barbara Brandon, who underwent successful shoulder surgery yesterday and is home recovering.   Pray for one another and pray for your church as preparations continue for Sunday's worship services!  Find time to worship the Lord this weekend!

You, God, Have Put Gladness in My Heart!

Image from christinslade.com

Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Offer right sacrifices,and put your trust in the Lord. There are many who say, ‘O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!’ You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound.  I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. (Psalm 4)

Dear Friend, happy day!  Don't you have mile markers or milestones during the week that bless you?  I'll start with today; I know it's Thursday because it's our day to study a psalm!  For those of you new to my e-devotional, which I call ConCafe, we work through the Lectionary from Monday through Thursday.  I start with the Gospel lesson on Monday, the Epistle on Tuesday, the Old Testament lesson one Wednesday, and yay, Thursday, cuz tomorrow's Friday, my day of rest!  And most Fridays I do a bonus and during this season we're studying Those Who Said Yes to Jesus. I pray the blessings of God be yours today in a way that prepares you for a great weekend, a great day of worship, and an occasion in which to share God's love with new people.

I started to use the last verse of this psalm as the title, but since most of you read it early morning I didn't want to entice you to go back to sleep!  It's a powerful verse, one that my Grandpa loved and quotes at night as he prayed, kneeling by his bed, in the loudest voice he could muster (which was super loud!).  I think he wanted to save the neighbors!  But, like most of King David's work, it contains a message or two about his faith and either his joy or anger, and like most of his work, it is a testament to believing that God hears and answers our prayers.

This could be called an evening psalm because of what it says.  But it is also a call to action, yes, he's calling God to action, but we do that from time to time as well, don't we?  We've all been in distress and we've had no where else to call, and it is God we know who answers!  We've heard people lament we no longer have prayer in school; I guarantee you this week in Texas schools prayers have been going up as our little ones have been taking the STAAR test!  This psalm also calls out to readers and listeners to his writing to be made right with God.  He speaks of something most United Methodist pastors should be familiar with, and that is the "setting apart" that comes with our calling.  I personally believe it applies to all baptized believers, to live out a life that calls out to others to live a holy life before God; to show that God's presence in our lives is there for a reason; to seek righteousness, be faithful and fruitful.  And if we're not there yet, today is time to seek that; for as we've said already, God answers prayer.

Show some good in your life today; and tonight, smile, and say what my Popó used to say, "I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for You alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety."  Amen.  Now, let's get busy!

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for this dear reader and their faith; bless and watch over them in ways that bring glory to Your name.  Help us all to be those who show good in our lives, because there's enough bad and meanness already.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Show the love!

Eradio Valverde

Healed and Whole

Photo by Eradio Valverde. In the lower center you will see a tree or trees. To the right of them are the Temple stairs where this healing of the crippled man occurred.

When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, ‘You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. ‘And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, (Acts 3:12-19

Good day dear Friend!  I pray this finds you well and blessed.  May the reading and sharing of God's Holy Word bless your day, your life, and the lives of those near and dear to you is my prayer.

It's hard to believe less than a month ago we were on the very steps that Peter used in today's passage.  The steps were designed for people to ascend upward and in thoughtful and prayerful reflection, thus the way the construction made them.  You cannot run up in a rhythmic way; your steps must be slow and cautious.  It was near the steps of the Temple that a man born lame, called out to them for alms.  Peter asked the man to look at he and John.  This was a blessing, for most people like us when we're at a traffic light and there's a person with a sign begging for assistance, never looked at him.  Peter invites his gaze and then offers him what he had, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."  Boom.  Healed and whole!  I love the reaction of the man for he was told to walk, but scripture says, "he entered the Temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God."  Wow.  Not only healing and wholeness, but true joy entered his life that day.  Once inside the Temple, Peter begins today's passage, the first Christian witness after the Resurrection where 3,000 people were saved.  Peter gives credit where credit is due, to God.  It was God who healed this man, and mentions God as "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors," referencing the truth of God to those listening.  And then he talks about Jesus, and people responded; just like you did, I pray, one day when someone shared Jesus with you.  For me, it was a Sunday morning when I was about 8 or 9, a preacher, preaching in Spanish told me I needed to surrender my heart to the Lord, and I did.  No bright lights, no angelic choruses, just the quiet peace that Jesus was mine, and I was His.  Do you remember, dear one, when you surrendered your heart to Him?

I'm thankful that Jesus took (and takes) away my sin, and that I had a home and church home in which to continue my spiritual formation, ultimately leading to my call into ordained ministry, and the countess and endless blessings that have been mine since that day.  The Message version ends the above passage with ""Now it's time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you,"  Showers of blessings indeed, have been mine as they can be yours, by simply turning your life and heart over to Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God, Lord and Savior of our lives.  That decision will make you healthy and whole, not just today, but all days, and into eternity.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, thank You for Jesus and thank You for this dear reader.  I pray the endless showers of blessings be theirs today and all days.  Hear my dear friend's confession and forgive their sin; welcome them into the fellowship of believers, and the priesthood of all believers.  Grant us all wisdom and grace to respond in love to You and Yours; we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Live a life that shows you're drenched in blessings!

Eradio Valverde

Love, Hope, Purity - All Free for Those Who Abide in Christ Jesus!

Image from Mission Concepción in San Antonio, Texas. Photo by Eradio Valverde

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. (1 John 3:1-7)

Dear Friend, may this find you drenched in the deluge of God's rich and wonderful blessings that have gone beyond the paper cup of expectation we carry around!  God's too big to be skimpy with His blessings!  Receive them and enjoy them, while sharing them with those who have not yet received God's love!

Nellie's paternal grandmother was really a great-aunt of hers.  Mana was what they called her and she dedicated her whole life to raising my father-in-law and his siblings when they died at a young age.  We talk about her often, last night being the most recent.  This Wednesday at our discussion we will learn that in Heaven we will open our homes for fellowship and meals to those who have gone before us and who have died in the Lord.  Among the ones Nellie and I are looking forward to seeing/meeting is Mana.  As I read this morning's passage last night she entered into the discussion of one who abided, that is lived deeply in the Lord.  Mana always had a Bible by her side and she always spoke positive, life-giving things to those around her, never condemning nor criticizing anyone.  Perhaps you know someone like her, or yourself are one such person.  I confess I am on my way there, but not quite there!

Hear what great things come to those who abide in the Lord:  The first is God's love.  Love so great from the Father that it makes us God's children!  And while that in itself doesn't mean instant fame or recognition among those who don't know God, as we share God and God's love, they will come to know God and will know us as well.  The second thing is that you and me are still a work in progress, under construction if you will.  We're like that stretch of highway that isn't quite ready yet and two lanes become one while work is done on one of them - that's us!  But the work will be completed, of that we should have no fear.  In our journey we should rejoice in every phase of that which is still being done in and for us.

The great news is that when we see Jesus, we will recognize Him and we will become like Him!  We saw the movie, Paul: Servant of Christ last week.  It is a powerful movie, slow at first, but then gets good.  And while this is a spoiler alert, you know that Paul saw Jesus and that first encounter changed his life and his last and final and eternal glimpse of Jesus was at his death; purity had fully become Paul's.  As it will be ours.

Through Jesus we have hope.  Hope is that ray of light that leads us through dark places with the expectation and knowledge that whatever has brought darkness or sadness to our lives will soon be gone.  That hope leads us to purification in Jesus and guides us to a better way of life, seeking not sin, but to serve. And if we are in Christ, we are righteous people, no matter what our critics or enemies may say!  If they see Jesus in us, they have seen righteousness!  We have or can become, the stairs that lead to light and life as seen in the photo I have shared from Mission Concepción in San Antonio, Texas.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, be glorified in the life of this dear reader.  Guide us to accept and be love, hope, and purity for those who do not yet have it.  Guide us all to be those who who have seen and received righteousness.  This we pray in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen!  

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Be not stumbling blocks, but building blocks of faith that lead every upward!

Eradio Valverde

A Hungry Jesus!

Image from holytextures.com

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, He said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate in their presence. Then He said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:36b-48)

Good day Dear Friend, I trust you had a wonderful weekend and found time to worship the Lord.  He is risen!  And that's the theme we will again proclaim through this passage and our devotional.

As you may have heard me share through these devotionals that on Wednesdays at First UMC of Gonzales I teach a class on the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn.  It is the biggest seller on that topic and it is a huge book that answers to tries to answer on biblical perspectives what we can expect upon our entering Heaven.  The book has almost all the questions and some I didn't think about or care about, for I have told the class and I'll tell you:  I just want to get in!  I'll leave the details to God; I trust God!  But one of the questions was this, "Will we eat and drink in Heaven?"  The author, based on scripture, including this one, is YES!  And he makes the case for the risen Christ who during His appearances on the earth after His resurrection ate.  In this passage, Jesus appears to the Twelve who are, as you can well imagine, still discussing all they had seen and heard.  They witnessed Jesus' death, mourned it, and then, to their great surprise, saw Him risen!  And this visit to them, Jesus grants them (again) peace.  Jesus knows their fears and calms them, and even their thoughts and tells them He is not a ghost as they were thinking.  He even shows them His hands and feet.  They were joyous, but still "disbelieving and still wondering;" but Jesus asks for something to eat.  Jesus rose from the dead in His body and as a risen person, He still had hunger and eats the broiled fish they had prepared. I must add Jesus was a healthy eater!  Most of us would have asked for the fried fish, side of fries, hush puppies, tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, and maybe a side of shrimp!  Okay, it's no longer Lent!

The powerful part of this passage to me, besides His hunger, is that Jesus feeds their doubts and fears and feed the hunger they had to more fully understand Him and God's plan and purpose for their lives.  Like He would do with the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, Jesus speaks to their hearts and minds by "opening" them to understand the scriptures.  He shared the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms; covering all the foundations and prophecies concerning the Messiah and says, "Here I am; I am the Messiah."  And, Jesus gave them homework:  You must share that everyone should repent of their sins and receive forgiveness of those sins from God; you saw it and heard it in me - now tell others!

Dear one, no better way to start the work week than by sharing with someone about what you heard yesterday in church; if you missed church, make something up!  Share this devotional if nothing else!  But tell someone about Jesus and His love for all people.  And then, live it!  Let people see in you the Risen Christ!

People are still hungry...

PRAYER:  Loving God, we praise You and thank You for Jesus.  What a joy is ours to know that You love us enough to forgive us.  Lord, lead us to the ones who think You have given up on them, and grant us the words of life that will bring them satisfaction to their hunger; in Jesus' precious and powerful name we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Feed the hungry people whose souls hunger and thirst for Jesus in whatever way God leads you to!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Please be in prayer for the family of Ann Robinson, who passed away yesterday. Please also remember the school children of Texas who are taking the STAAR exam.  May God grant them peace and clarity of heart and mind as they take this test. And remember to pray for one another.

Those Who Followed Jesus: Peter

Image from outlookmag.com

As he (Jesus) walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-22)

Good day dear Friend; today is Friday and I almost started to type "Good Friday.."  and that was last week!  I share this as a bonus devotional about those who followed and served Jesus.  I am basing a lot of what I share from the book by William Barclay called "The Master's Men."  I pray this bless our following Jesus and that it serve to draw us nearer to Him.

Peter reminds me of me in some ways, sadly, not the holy ones.  He tends to be impulsive and speaks his mind, then thinks about what he says or it is pointed out to him.  He was known as Simon, the brother of Andrew.  Both were fishermen who owned their own business.  Peter was married, for one of Jesus' miracles was to heal his mother-in-law (and we won't go there with any mother-in-law jokes especially since I had the best mother-in-law in the world!).  Barclay says that he was called Simon on domestic occasions such as references to Simon's house, Simon's fishing boat, and when Cornelius is directed to Peter it is Simon for whom he is told to inquire.  In those intimate moments with Jesus, Jesus calls him Simon, such as in his call story as found in Luke 5 (vss. 3, 10).  I also should add that Peter was called Simeon in two occasions; Acts 14:14 when James calls him that name; and in his second letter, 2 Peter 1:1, he is referred to as Simeon.  Simeon is the original Hebrew form of his name.  But, it was Jesus, in the story found in Mark 3:16 and Luke 6:14, Jesus calls him the Rock on which He would build his church.  Cephas is also another form of Peter, I should add.  Cephas is Aramaic for a rock.  

During our time in the Holy Land, we traveled to Capernaum and saw the ruins of what is believed to be Peter's house.  This served as Jesus' headquarters when He was in Galilee.  Josephus, a noted historian was also the governor of Galilee and he writes this about Galileans:  "They were ever fond of innovations, and by nature disposed to changes (get a busload of those for our churches!), and delighted in seditions... They were ever ready to follow a leader and to begin an insurrection."  He also says that Galileans were quick to get angry and to quarrel at a drop of a hat, but they were also known as the most chivalrous of men. The Talmud says this of Galileans: "They were ever more anxious for honor than for gain."  Barclay adds, "Quick tempered, impulsive, emotional, easily roused by an appeal to adventure, loyal to the end--Peter was a typical man of Galilee.

Peter was also a part of the three-man inner circle along with James and John; so he witnessed and experienced things the other 9 did not such as the raising of Jairus' daughter, the Transfiguration, and were sent to prepare the celebration of the Passover.  We can credit Peter with being among the first to make "the great discovery," that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.  He also received "the great promise" that he would serve as the foundation of Jesus' church.  Peter also received the "great rebuke" for trying to stop Jesus from being executed.  And the darkest time in Peter's life was "the great denial" when after having sworn great loyalty to Jesus, he denied Him three times before the rooster crowed just as Jesus had foretold.

Peter is said to be the first pope of the Catholic Church.  He is known for being bishop of the church in Antioch and served in Asia Minor.  Peter ended up in Rome and was martyred there, being crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

A man of great love and devotion; his life serves to inspire us to do all we can for Jesus.  We all have faults, but Jesus can build upon those to do the work of God in our midst.

PRAYER:  Loving God, may Your blessing be upon this dear reader today.  Bless them to be a loving and loyal follower of You in all they seek to do.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Do something so outrageous for God that He will change your name!

Eradio Valverde

Unity!

Image by Eradio Valverde

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!  It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard,on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.  It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life for evermore. (Psalm 133)

Dear Friend, may this be a great day for you!  God knows your needs, fears, doubts, worries, and He says, "I got this!"  May we trust Him like never before.  God holds us in the palm of His hand and walks with us.

Psalm 133 is one of the shortest psalms in the Bible.  It has only three verses, but packs a punch!  It follows yesterday's reading from Acts regarding getting along and sharing.  This passage also stresses unity among all people, especially kindred.  Yet, we know from the first family (the one on the Bible not DC!) that Adam and Eve raised their two sons the same way; love and respect for God, prayer, worship, and giving.  The result was the first murder, a fratricide where Cain kills Abel.  And then... most of the Bible stories have the realities of human life, the dysfunction of family life in some cases; the breakdown of our relationship with God which prompted God to send Jesus.  We still have hope that we will work side by side together for the good of each other, otherwise, what's the point.  This holds especially true in churches.  A couple of weeks ago I trained the staff-parish relations committee of our church.  And the main job description is for this committee to "1.  To encourage, strengthen, nurture, support, and respect the pastor(s) and staff and their families.  2.  To promote unity in the church."  Did you notice number two is to promote unity in the church?  Why would this be in there?  Hmm, I wonder...

As the psalmist wrote this, he knew that unity is sometimes a fleeting thing.  David knew about having a divided family and like most royals we have studied throughout history, the claim to the throne and power causes many things to happen that are miles from unity.  To have unity, David writes, is like being anointed and having that anointing oil run down the head onto the beard, even over the collars of the robes; meaning it's like an anointing.  I'm sure he never forgot when the prophet Samuel came to anoint a new king and have gone through all of his older brothers, he was called out of the pasture by his dad, and there in front of his family, he was anointed as the king of Israel.  It was a memory and experience he never forgot and likens that to unity.  To have unity is like being anointed for good and service and it is a blessing, and like the dew he mentions, brings life for evermore.

My prayer is that God would bless every member of our families.  That He would bless every member of our churches and that He would work in our hearts to bring peace and strength to us so that we might be instrumental in bringing unity to our situations.  Easter was God's act, bringing life to the dead and may new life we ours in all places that matter.

PRAYER:  Loving God, pour out Your anointing Spirit on us today, especially where unity is concerned.  You know the flaws, the hiccups and the sins that have disrupted our unity - bring healing we pray, in Christ Jesus' holy name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Work for unity and may it start in our hearts.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  For Ms. Eva Boscamp, recovering from pain management treatments, may God bring her healing and peace.  Continued prayers for Jimmie Fogle and his battle with cancer.  For Pat Cochran in a hospital in San Antonio.  Prayers for Roger Gray, and Charlotte Wilson, who is recovering from surgery.  Please pray for one another.  And, in keeping with showcasing our grandchildren, our oldest, Saraí Evangelina Cortez from this past Saturday feeding a goat at the Snake Farm.

Give Witness to the Resurrection by Sharing!

Image of Liam and Caleb by Eradio Valverde

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. (Acts 4:32-35)

Good day Dear Friend!  I trust this finds you and yours doing well.  Happy Easter!  May the power of the Lord's Resurrection bless you and strengthen you in all you do and face today is my prayer.

I have always loved this passage, though we usually read it in the context of almost the whole 2nd chapter of Acts.  It still jumps out at me and tells me that the power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that raised the Lord from the dead, brought new life and joy to those gathered there in Jerusalem.  Though it had been some days since the Lord's resurrection and ascension into Heaven, the resurrection was key to their faith and preaching.  And that core belief brought them together to share "one heart and soul."  So much so, that "no on claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common."  The presence of Christ brings to an end that which started almost at birth; self-centeredness and selfishness.  One of baby's first words, besides, no, is mine!  If you were spared that, you were spared a great thing; but most of us remember having to teach our children how to share.  Even when there was only one, but other babies were introduced to them, the awareness was that this new baby has no claim on my stuff!  

The new believers loved the Lord so much and awaited to see Him that the things of earth became temporal things.  While awaiting Jesus' return, they cared for one another and shared all things.  This brought sharing and it also brought grace upon them all.  Incredible to see that among that group, "There was not a needy person among them;" and even those blessed with property and houses, sold them, and brought the profits to the disciples so that they could share with those in need.

Has the Lord's resurrection brought that power to you?  Recently, several people have, on television, and in person, especially among our grandkids, asked, "What's your superhero power?"  Can we answer, "I have the superhero power of sharing!"  Indeed, what greater power do we need?

PRAYER:  Loving God, grand me the grace and strength that comes with Your presence in my life.  Grant to me the loving heart to lovingly share with all whatever I see as a need.  Grant me the boldness and strength to share the good news of Your resurrection as that which brings peace and eternal life.  This I pray in Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Share with joy, as you see my two grandsons above, Liam Carlos Vasquez, and Caleb Eradio Garcia, sharing the joy of holding live butterflies that they released on Easter Sunday along with all the kids from our church.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER UPDATE:  Rev. Michael Dobbs underwent successful surgery yesterday and was released late afternoon to go home!  Power in prayer!  Thank you for praying!  And pray for one another; further witness to the presence of the Resurrection!

Is Your Joy Complete?

Image by Eradio Valverde

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 1:1-2:2)

Dear Friend, I don't know about you, but I'm still joyful at Easter Sunday and the joy that I saw in my little ones.  They were all with us, along with their parents, and they took advantage of the playground the church has for our preschool program.  Here is our second youngest, Eliana Beth Garcia, with whom I share a birthday - She's only 60 years younger than me!  She's on the see-saw (Teeter-totter) with her younger sister who photo you saw yesterday here on ConCafe.  Her joy comes in being with her mom and dad, her brother and sister and with all the family.  Add a see-saw and one could say her joy is complete!

The writer of John speaks of the joy in knowing Jesus for who He truly is, does, and will do for us all.  As an eyewitness to the crucifixion and the resurrection, he is joyful that he is a part of that.  And his joy also comes in sharing that joy with others.  As he writes this letter he wants those who read it to believe as he does so that his joy might be doubled (as The Message version has it).  His words in this NRSV is "We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."

John's excitement in this one passage almost needs a checklist of the things that are making him joyful:  1)  He's an eyewitness to the most critical event in human history.  2) Eternal life has been revealed to him and should be to you as well.  3)  He knows that God is light and offers light to those still walking in darkness.  4)  We have received forgiveness of our sins and that has brought us into fellowship with Jesus; but if we say we are in fellowship and still walk in darkness, we're still lost and living a lie.  5) If we say we have no sin, we are guilty of deceiving ourselves.  6)  If we confess our sin to God, God will faithfully forgive us our sin AND cleanse us from unrighteousness.  7) If we say we have not sinned, we're making God a liar.  8)  His word exhorts us to not sin.  9) If we do sin, we have the greatest advocate the world has ever seen, Jesus Christ.

I believe that completes our joy.  The gospel message in this short passage; powerful and to the point.  It is one we should share with those who might listen to us.

PRAYER:  Loving God, make my joy complete in knowing the fullness of Your love, compassion, and power.  Help me to boldly  and joyfully to share Your truth with all who are in need.  I cannot do it alone, I need You.  And this I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST:  The Rev. Michael Dobbs is set to undergo yet another surgery in San Antonio this morning at 7:30.  Please hold Mike and Olga in your prayers.  Thank you!