A Miracle Just Before Christmas; That's Advent!

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In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ (Luke 1: 5-17)

Happy Friday dear Friend!   I pray this finds you well and enjoying the blessings of life.  Please remember to share with me any prayer concerns you may have in your life; Why do we pray?  Because God answers prayer! And, sometimes prayer answers come many, many years later as we shall see in this Bible Story You Should Know.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were people of deep faith.  In her lineage, Elizabeth came from a line of the priests chosen by Moses as inspired by God.  These were holy, royal folks.  And Zechariah by his training and devotion to God was a special priest in his own right.  I love reading how they both lived "blamelessly" before God, living out the commandments and regulations of the Lord.  These were people who could see the Love behind the Law and lived life in that way.  Their only unanswered prayer was that they had not been able to have children.  Elizabeth was well beyond child-bearing years and both she and Zechariah were getting on in years.  It came to that one day when Zechariah was on duty, chosen by holy lot, to be the priest inside the holy of holies; the bridge between God and humanity, offering the incense, that strong smell that served to remain him and those who could smell it, of the presence of God.  As he worshiped alone, people outside were praying for him and for themselves, and for the people of God.  And as sometimes happens in worship, an angel of the Lord showed up!  God chose that day and that worship to send a messenger with a mouth-dropping word.  Of course, when a messenger from God shows up, the natural human reaction is to be afraid.  It is not every day that we see angels.  And, as most angel-trainees know, "The first response to humans is to always say, 'Do not be afraid.'"  And the instructor also said, "And it helps to show you know the frightened guy's name.  (I guess I due to watch Elf! Those who have seen it know the voice of the angel trainee and the instructor!).  Hear the angel's next words, "Your prayer has been heard."  At that point you and I would have said, maybe, which one?  Or, in the case of some who pray this often enough, Wow!  The angel says, "Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.  You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord."  Some instructions and clarifications followed.  At this point, I would have been frozen just like Zach!  A baby?  At my age?  That's all I would have heard.  Thank God, Zach heard it all.  And the part that blessed this priest's ears, "(he will) make ready a people prepared for the Lord."  Boom!

The entire story is worth reading!  It's almost comical to imagine the action after poor Zach leaves the sacred area.  "John?  We don't have any John's in our family; why that name?!"  And poor Elizabeth, "At our age?  What's going on Zach?"  But you will read, that poor Zach could not talk for the nine months while Elizabeth was pregnant.  His only job was to listen, obey, respond, and comply with Elizabeth's demands.  "I feel like a Whataburger; sweetie, could you go and bring me one?  Pretty please?  I'm eating for two now, you know!"  And the classic TV, "I want ice cream and pickles."  Okay, that didn't happen.  Israel only had Burger Kings.

The Advent of this child was very important to the coming of the Christ Child.  God prepared many people and many hearts for this wonderful birth.  For years, the people of God had known that God would send a Messiah, and in this event, God prepares in ways not understood by so many; God can and does, perform unexplainable things meant to be blessings, meant to be enjoyed, not explained, miracles.  When a miracle comes our way, we are meant to just say, "Thank you!"  Not, "How did you do that?"  Don't take away from the awe and wonder of our faith in our awesome God!  God does prepare for those events that will change the world; and this was one of them.

So, dear one, looking at the lights think of the stars in the sky that obey the commands of their Creator.  May the garlands and wreaths remind us that even in nature, there is praise for the work of God.  As wrapped presents arrive and you place them under the tree, remember the greatest gift God ever sent:  His only Son, Jesus the Lord, sent for you and me.  As you smell the scents of the season, think of the old man hard at work in the Temple and the aroma of the incense that prepared him for that unexpected visit that told of the coming of his son, John the Baptist, who, in the style of Elijah, worked hard to prepare the way of the Lord.  If you see a woman walking with the load of a baby, think of the old woman who thought she would never be blessed in this way; a child, a son, a gift from God.

PRAYER:  Awesome God of miracles and everyday happenings; let me be a part of the surprises You share with someone today.  Grant me peace, joy and boldness to share Your love with those in need.  Thank You for the gifts of John and Jesus.  Prepare my heart for the celebration of Jesus' birth and for the day He returns.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  You could be part of a miracle today!  Smile and go for it!

Eradio Valverde

Friends, we offer another t-shirt, hoodie, or mug that helps our ministry.  You can see it at this link and if you would be so kind, buy one for yourself, and a couple to share with those on your Christmas shopping list!  I believe this can give witness to your faith, start a conversation, and a way to invite someone to come visit your church!  Thank you all for your prayers and support of this ministry!  http://www.teespring.com/concafe-faith

From Now On Every Road You Travel Will Take You to God!

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My head is high, God, held high;  I'm looking to you, God; No hangdog skulking for me.  I've thrown in my lot with you; You won't embarrass me, will you? Or let my enemies get the best of me? Don't embarrass any of us Who went out on a limb for you. It's the traitors who should be humiliated.  Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways.  Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior, aren't you?  Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God; Rebuild the ancient landmarks!  Forget that I sowed wild oats; Mark me with your sign of love. Plan only the best for me, God!  God is fair and just; He corrects the misdirected, Sends them in the right direction. He gives the rejects his hand, And leads them step-by-step. From now on every road you travel Will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs; Read the charted directions. (Psalm 25:1-10 The Message)

Happy Thursday, dear Friend!  May this be a terrific Thursday for you and yours.  I almost said Taco Thursday, but that's terrific too if you like/love tacos!

Have you ever thought or been asked, "If you had to do it all over again, would you do it the same?"  It's an interesting question because we can't.  We can think, "Yes, there were some things I would not have done, or some things I would have done."  "I might have had a different major," etc., etc., etc.  The psalmist looks back on his life and begins by being thankful for where he is.  Head held hight indicates no regrets.  Yes, we all have regrets, including David, but overall the triumphs and joys outweigh those!  When we add God to the mix, which we should always, we have no regrets.  Our sins were washed away; this morning at 12 midnight, our day was brand new!  I love how he shares the reality of what many do, "hangdog skulking."  I had to admit that's not a phrase in my everyday vocabulary, but I get it.  Nellie and I take our dog and Carli's dog on a walk almost every day, and some days we take them on a long walk and there comes a point in the walk, usually towards the end when one or both will hang their heads and if they could talk, they would surely say, "Are we there yet?"  Once we get them home they sleep all afternoon long.  

The believer who "throws his lot" in with God knows there will not be any embarrassment for him or her; enemies will usually flee, for victory is God's.  Every risk we have taken, every step taken away from our comfort zones for the good of God has been a blessing; those who never risk or venture beyond what's good for them end up with humiliation or regret.  We long to know more about God and God's will for our lives.  We seek to continually learn more about God.  We want to walk down the path of truth.  As we remember our yesterdays, may we remember where God was when we felt down or felt defeated; may the joys and victories that came our way shine brighter than any shadows of yesterday's bad days, because God was with us.  We ask the Lord and we ask our own brains to forget the reckless days of our youth; may only the positive of those "adventures" shape us into better people for today and tomorrow.  

I love how the psalmist says, "Mark me with your sign of love" meaning as people interact with me may they see that my heart beams with love that has been placed there by our God.  May we make decisions in the Lord, seeking to be like Him, fair and just.  May the title of today's devotional be the mantra that guides us today and tomorrow:  From now on every road we travel will take us to God!  That will happen guided by devotional time such as this, scripture reading, worship, prayers, fasting, and listening to God.  Those are the best charted directions.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for all You do in and for me.  I pray that the words of this devotional be true today and tomorrow and all days in my life.  I want to be one who beams Your love and who walks in Your ways.  Guide me and bless me.  Let me be a blessing to You and Yours; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  The signs are there for the right road to travel if we will but look.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYERS:  Please be in prayer for Mr. Johnnie Fogel who has prostate cancer.  May the Lord bring healing to our brother and guide the doctors in the right path of defeating this foe.  Pray for one another; pray for yourselves.

Advent: Righteousness is Coming!

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The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 33:14-16)

May this be a  wonderful Wednesday for you and yours, dear Friend!  Advent is coming this Sunday, but as we prepare today, it may arrive sooner in our hearts, minds and spirits.  May this devotional time prepare your life for wonderful things today is my prayer!

Righteousness is knowing that someone or something is morally right, as in a righteous person always does what is right and correct.  It is a desired quality in us and those around us, especially those who represent an office or service that we believe should be always morally correct.  To share a recent story, Nellie and I disembarked off our cruise hip in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  We had no plan, didn't purchase an excursion; we only wanted to get to a Starbucks to buy a coffee cup for our son-in-law who collects SB cups from around the world, as do I.  We wanted to walk from the ship into town.  The setup at the port is not geared for that.  It is geared to overwhelm you with the need to get on a bus or taxi or risk walking into a crowd of very persistent and clingy cab drivers.  From what we could see, the roads leading to the port were not made for pedestrians.  And the weather was very warm.  We told a couple of taxi drivers that we would walk.  One gentleman said it was a long walk, and too hot a day for a lady to be walking.  Got me.  Okay, I ask, what would you charge us for the ride into town?  He said seven dollars and immediately said, ten dollars for the two of us.  Okay said I.  We got into a nice Toyota van and he drove us first to a drugstore for some medicine we thought we could find, but didn't; then on to the Starbucks.  Well, I did not have a ten dollar bill; he said he would take us back to the ship for the twenty dollars, a roundtrip as it were.  He said we should not worry, he would come back for us.  If you're like me, you're reading this and thinking, "He isn't coming back!"  I asked if I could trust him.  He said he had children and he worked to support them and he would not do anything to make his children ashamed of him; so yes, we could trust him.  We said for him to come back in an hour and a half, thinking that would be enough time for our purchase and a look around.  Well, we needed all of five minutes to make the purchase and since SB had free wifi, we sat there to quickly check our phones, etc; all the while discussing our doubts that he would not come back.  At several points we thought, we'd better start walking back now.  The man was a righteous man, for after an hour and fifteen minutes he pops into the SB and asks if we are ready.  Boy, were we ready.  I prayed asking God to forgive my unbelief and to thank Him for this man who showed righteousness.

As the prophet Jeremiah wrote the words of today's passage, there was no righteousness in the land.  Both Israel and Judah had abandoned God.  Their king during Jeremiah's day was evil, as was his son; it was his 8 year old grandson, Josiah, who finally returned righteousness to God's people.  But, Josiah was not the one mentioned as the one who could be from the lineage of David.  This is an Advent passage speaking of the coming of the One who brought salvation and safety to those who believed in Him, Jesus our Lord and Savior.  And Jerusalem, the capital city would be the place known by a new name, "The Lord is our righteousness."  It goes to show that we who love and trust the Lord should be known as people of righteousness.  Our yes should be yes, and our no, no.  Our word should be our bond; not only to God, but to any who ask it of us.  We seek to live a life that blesses God.  Has that day come to your household?  We watch a television show where the parents, and this is a reality show, not scripted, have a daughter of driving age, but are not willing to permit her to drive because they have had problems with her.  She has lied to them on several occasions and has been in trouble in school.  When in middle school, she spray painted her name on the side of the school, and the parents fear her immaturity will also come out in her driving.  The girl volunteered for the third year in a row, to help her church's Vacation Bible School program and did an exceptional job.  The mom checked with the teacher with whom she worked and glowing reports on the daughter made the parents finally agree to let her drive.  

If we seek to find righteousness around us, it makes sense that it starts with us.  As we model a life that pleases the Lord, it will rub off on our children and grandchildren.  Our prayers, our actions, our words should show a pattern that can be followed as we seek to praise and please our Lord.

PRAYER:  Loving God, bless my life to be a blessing of righteousness to those around me.  Let my word, my actions, even my thoughts reflect my total commitment to You,  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Let righteousness arrive today in your life!

Eradio Valverde

Blameless & Holy Before Jesus Returns

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How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.  Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13)

May this be a terrific Tuesday for you, dear Friend!  May time spent with God be the blessing you have been seeking.  May we be open to listening to the Lord as we go about our day.  May the busyness of our days not cloud our thinking or hearing, for God speaks to us daily!

We just went through a special day of giving thanks to God for all we have received. What made that day special for so many was the fact that we were visited by family and friends that we couldn't wait for them to arrive.  In our house, news of no school for our grandchildren made us excited with the thought that their arrival might be sooner than later.  Trips to the grocery store reflected we were to have children in our home (actually it made the cashier wonder just what troops we were hosting at our place!).  The sound of the car doors opening completed our joy knowing the children and grandchildren were here!  This is what Advent is like as well.  We have the promise of Christ's second coming and the joy of celebrating His first visit to the earth; we combine the preparation for both as that special season we are in, Advent.  Part of Paul's joy was the experiences of being with those whom he loved worshipping. For him there was nothing like "face to face" visits and chances to talk about faith and how it may grow among us.  And there would be nothing better than to be present in person and experience love that has grown both for God and for each other.  And, Paul adds, "And may He so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints."  Being together in worship and faith communities, learning and praising God together serves to make us stronger and we pray, holier before God.  True worship would also allow us to confess our sins to the Lord and to become more holy and blameless before Him.

Our time away from our church in Gonzales made us appreciate more the brief time we spent in worship this Sunday.  People took time to come and greet us and even share how they missed us and thoughts they had had about events in their lives made them think of us.  One dear brother stayed up super late watching the A&M-LSU game and he wondered what I would have said about it before prayer time.  I added, it would have been before the offering time!  Such is a loving community that blesses me and I pray blesses others.  More importantly I pray it makes us stronger, holier, and purer before God and each other, for we affirm what we will certainly say during our Communion ritual this Sunday, "Christ will come again."  We should add, "And I shall be ready!"

PRAYER;  Loving Father, for those with whom we worship, we thank You.  We are blessed by the love and fellowship that strengthens our faith and our hearts before You.  We pray that today, right now, the cleansing we need from our sins would begin so that we may truly know that before You, we are blameless and holy.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Live a life that is holy and blameless by imitating the life of Jesus!

Eradio Valverde

There Will Be Signs!

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‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.  ‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’ (Luke 21:25-31)

Good day, dear Friend!  I pray this finds you well and having enjoyed a long holiday weekend and still made time to worship the Lord!  Nellie and I were blessed to have been in worship back "home" in Gonzales after an absence of working Sundays and some vacation Sundays, and after a wedding in Mission, Texas; but the worship and sermon brought refreshing and renewal to our souls and spirits.  

It hit me on Saturday morning that this marks two years since I have not subscribed to a print newspaper.  I am a fan of newspapers you can hold in your hand and even have ink smear on my fingers; but I'm just weird that way.  The only thing I can think of for not receiving one here at our home is that we travel a lot and end up throwing more unopened papers than we should.  One of the things that I loved about getting a major city newspaper were the ads on the Sunday before Thanksgiving that were all about Black Friday sales.  Thanksgiving Day's newspapers as well would have, as a reminder of the following day, the ads for the sales where one could save a lot of money if one was willing to fight huge crowds and all that goes with that.  The ads served as a sign of a coming day important to some.  Now, on the internet big retailers send out hints or even their Black Friday ads via email.  Still signs of something to come.

Jesus in today's passage talked about signs.  It's found in the chapter that begins with the widow giving her all to the Lord, then the disciples being tourists and enjoying the splendor of the Temple, then Jesus ruining that for them by saying the day was coming when not one stone would be upon another.  This piqued the interest and curiosity of the disciples and they begged to know when?  Jesus gives what signs He can knowing the only One who truly knows is the Father.  The Message Bible has that first verse saying, "It will seem like all hell has broken loose..."  The normal will not be normal; the expected will become unexpected.  People's focus and attention will go from the earthly and physical to the heavenly and spiritual realms.  The signs point to the return of Jesus "with power and great glory."  Those signs will be a call to attention for those who believe and who have been awaiting the Lord's return; just like the ads in Sunday's paper signal the coming of an expected shopping day.  Signs that the Kingdom of God is near, which it has been for over two thousand years now; but God's promise is that while heaven and earth may pass away, God's words will not.  Our call is to be on guard to watch our hearts to keep them from "being weighed down with dissipation (searching for things that do not satisfy!) and drunkenness and the worries of this life" making sure we are not caught off guard with the happening of all these things.  These are the words that usher in Advent, the season of preparation that bring us to Christmas and prepare us for Christ's return.  We are to "be alert at all times, praying that we may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Jesus will not ask us, "What did you buy?" or "How much did you save?"  Jesus will ask how we lived our lives in ways that showed His love for the world?  "What did you share with those who were in need?"  And "Who did you bring to salvation in My name?"  Those are the essential things.  "Did you pray for one another?  Did you visit the sick and those who were in prison and widowed or orphaned?"  We will then realize that the things of Good Friday outweigh the junk of Black Friday.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, prepare our hearts for this season.  We rejoice in the signs that will come to prepare us to welcome You as a baby, but make our hearts and spirits strong to serve You as the Savior who wants us to be gainfully employed and deployed to make Your kingdom a reality now here on the earth.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Show signs of Advent in your life today by what you say, think, and do!

Eradio Valverde

A wonderful resource on preparing for Advent:  https://amzn.to/2ByYW03

Truly Thankful? A Bible Story You Should Know!

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On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’ (Luke 17:11-19)

Happy Thanksgiving Friday, dear Friend!  I know this leaves me still feeling more stuffed than our turkey, but wonderfully blessed nonetheless; praying you enjoyed a good day as well.  What most blessed you this year?  Did you remember to give thanks to God and maybe to the person, if it was a person, as well?

This very familiar story made me sad as I read it twice.  Sad because in that group of nine, The UnThankful Nine, could have been me.  And as I write unthankful, I wonder if I should have called them, the Entitled Nine?  Sad to now the nine were Jews; this thankful man was a Samaritan.  All had been given a new lease on life, for Jesus had restored them all from a life among the dead.  You will remember that to suffer from what was considered a very contagious disease kept them all away from regular people; the Law made them live among the tombs of the dead.  Notice as they called out to Jesus "keeping their distance" for they were used to this life - stay away from those not sick like us!  Jesus simply tells them to go and show themselves to their priests; for it was only the priest who could declare them clean.  These first steps they took towards the priests made them whole.   Then, it was only one, who "saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice."  Can you imagine what he saw?  He probably saw his hands healed first.  The white marks of this dreaded skin disease forever his companion now gone!  He must have picked up his robe and saw that his legs and feet, his stomach - all healed.  He was indeed a new creature.  "PRAISE GOD!" was his cry as it would have been yours and mine.  He throws himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him.  It was important to Luke to point out that this man was not a Jew; though they shared a common belief in the same God, doctrinal differences as well as cultural and racial, made them so different.  Jesus has to ask, and this makes me sad, too; "Were not ten made clean?  But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"  A sense of entitlement, a "I deserved it!  I am a Jew after all!" that blinded them to the simple but necessary act of saying, "Thank you."  And that happens in so many places, even on the day set aside to give thanks.  "We're Americans; we bought and cooked this turkey - We deserve it!"  An attitude like that limits the reality of so many blessings that come our way.

This man, pronounced well by Jesus was well in so many ways that he left the nine behind.  His faith was made stronger, his body was made new; his attitude towards life changed and as he finally walked away from Jesus he knew that he owed it all to God.  I can only imagine the joy that was his as he walked towards his home.  He wanted to see his family and hold them once again.  Those initial touches with Jesus were beautiful, but now he wanted to hold those whom he had not held in so many years.   Joy was his once again.

May this weekend find us again giving God thanks for ALL we have, whether we deserve them or not.  We have two groups in which we can fall when we read this story; those who are truly and wonderfully thankful for all, or the group that felt it was long overdue and here at long last, their healing had come.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, for all that You have shared with me and mine, I am thankful.  Let me see all the blessings that have come from Your loving hands like never before.  I want to enjoy all that is Yours for me.  Increase my blessings as I set about to share them with others.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Give thanks in ways that make people realize they too, should be thankful!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Request:  For Nellie and I as we travel this morning to Mission, Texas, where I will officiate a wedding this afternoon at 4:30.  Prayers for the couple, our nephew David Ramirez, Jr., and his bride, Yasidi Ozuna.  Thank you in advance!  

Happy Thanksgiving! Give Thanks & Help Out!

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 "If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.  "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?  All this time and money wasted on fashion - do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop,  but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.  "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?  What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.  People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6:25-34 The Message)

Happy Thanksgiving, dear Friend!  I pray this be a time of joy and reflection and a time when we truly give thanks to the Lord for all the Lord has done since last Thanksgiving.  I pray that if there is a place empty this year, give thanks to the Lord for the love that ushers us into God's presence, and ask God's comfort be with those who miss those absent from the table.  I also pray that we would be mindful of those who do not have the opportunity to be with family and loved ones; may God bless them and be with them is our prayer.

The Message gives Jesus' Sermon on the Mount a fresh perspective.  It was an invitational sermon calling on those who heard it to decide to be God's people and live in ways that gave honor and glory to God.  It was also a "hang in there" type sermon asking that God's people know what truly matters and counts in this life.  It is NOT about the food on the table or what you wear to the table; it's about knowing the Who is behind all our blessings.  Spoiler alert!  It's God.

My prayer is for you to enjoy these days of holiday; may they truly be holy and filled with our awareness of the presence of God in our midst.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM NELLIE AND ALL THE VALVERDE FAMILY!

Eradio Valverde

Followup Instructions for Theologians!

This is from last Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christhad offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, ‘he sat down at the right hand of God’, and since then has been waiting ‘until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.’ For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord:I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds’, he also adds,‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10: 11-25)

Here is praying this day be a wonderful day filled with awe and wonder about how God is blessing you, dear Friend! May this time spent with God and His precious word bless you and yours is my prayer!

Yesterday, we learned about tourists and theologians; and we discovered we should be theologians not tourists. We can point out beauty and awesomeness, but to move on and forget the more important challenges before us is not a good thing. Today, this passage qualifies as that which can bless us as theologians. First, it speaks to our hearts about the work Jesus did in removing our sins from our souls. Jesus as our High Priest, paid the price and removed our stains away from us; we are soiled no more! Next, it speaks to us about the covenant we live under. God loves covenants, which are holy contracts. The party of the first part is God; the party of the second part is you and me. The covenant is the love placed in our hearts, and we, because we have that love, will live as people of love. And because that covenant also said that God would remove our sins, we would be moved to live sinless lives that bless others by our selfless acts for them. The third part, is that we are called "provoke one another to love and good deeds," In other words, as we see opportunities to serve the Lord, we should invite others to come and join us in doing good. One example will always forever stand in my mind, especially during this time of year. This person, who was on my staff, would dedicate Thanksgiving Day as a day when she and her family would use our church's kitchen and facilities to prepare a huge feast and invite the poor of that community to feast with them. It grew and grew, as others were "provoked" by God's Holy Spirit, to join this woman and her efforts.

The covenant also provokes us to "not neglecting to meet together" meaning worshipping together (church!); it means Bible study; it means Emmaus reunion groups, accountability groups, actions groups, growth groups; whatever it takes to prepare us to continue in our role as theologians; thinkers of God. Lastly, it calls us to "encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Church works if we come and worship, and then leave and worshipfully work for God in doing good for one another. Otherwise, what good has it done in our lives?

Dear one, you are called to be a theologian who follows these instructions from what we learned yesterday. You ready? Get busy!

PRAYER: Loving Father, I am ready. Put me to doing. I am Thine. I will do whatever needs to be done, wherever that may be. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Your daily responsibility as a theologians begins now!

Eradio Valverde

Ruler of the Kings on the Earth? Jesus!

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John to the seven churches that are in Asia. Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and madeus to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1: 4b-8)

Happy day to you, dear Friend!  It's as if I don't want to eat too much because on Thursday, well, you know!  But I'm excited that a day of giving thanks to our God in Heaven is followed by a celebration of His Son as King of Kings!  This passage comes from the Apostle John from his exiled on the Island of Patmos, where the Lord gave him this vision of what was to come; and among the event listed, Jesus is coming back!

The realm is Heaven.  We know it also as glory.  It is a pure, holy, unblemished realm.  It is a spiritual realm that we cannot truly comprehend nor make sense of; it is an anticipated reality that will both bless and shock us when it comes.  For now, we have had events or moments when we were just dumbstruck with the awesomeness of a blessing.  The Walk to Emmaus for me was such an event.  To be able to baptize new believers or newborn infants is such an event.  To pray a blessing over someone ill and then to see results that can come only from God is another.  So, in that spirit of knowing that what we are hearing, though difficult to truly and fully comprehend, is going to happen!  And see Jesus as John sees Him.  Jesus is (remember how His Father announced his name to Moses?  "I am.")  Jesus was on the earth; seen by many eyewitnesses and gospels written about His life and ministry, death and resurrection.  Jesus is to come.  This we believe and affirm every time we remember His sacrifice at His table.  Jesus is the faithful witness to a living God, a loving God; a God of mercy and compassion who expects the same from us in our dealings with others.  Jesus is the firstborn of the dead.  Jesus died and three days later rose from the dead and is still alive.  Compare that to Lazarus, who was dead, Jesus raised him up, but Lazarus later died again.  The same for all who were raised to life from the dead; it was only for a time, then they died again.  Jesus arose from the grave and is still alive.  Jesus is the ruler of the kings on the earth.  No matter what these kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers are up to; Jesus is up to something better and eternal!  I read just this morning a quote that I share that relates to this statement:  "God is at work in the mess.  That's the message of the Bible."  There will be an end to what we may term as unreal or unfair or evil; God through the ruler of the kings of the earth, will one day be the only one sitting on the throne that really matters.  Until then, our prayers, our faith, our continued work for the good of all people, will make the waiting better.

Jesus is coming in the clouds.  All people will see Him.  Jesus is the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end.  Jesus is God.  Jesus is our God and Savior.  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, as we prepare to give thanks, prepare our hearts and lives to serve You with the hope that all we have read today is coming true.  You will set up Jesus as King and for now, we trust in You and Your presence and involvement in "the mess" we see all around; that's the message of the Bible and that's the faith we have; through Jesus our Lord we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Show the hope in you to those around you who need a glimpse of the good that can be theirs!

Eradio Valverde

Tourist or Theologian?

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As He came out of the temple, one of His disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Then Jesus asked Him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’ When He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’ Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. (Mark 13:1-8)

Happy Monday, dear Friend! I trust you and yours enjoyed a blessed weekend! May all of your loved ones be blessed by the time you give to the Lord to spend in reading scripture, praying, and meditating on Him.

I have a dear pastor friend, who when she posts a picture of herself in one of many places she visits, I simply comment, "Tourist." She knows who she is! Let me point out there is nothing wrong with being a tourist. A tourist is one who seeks to experience new things and leaves. They love to point out buildings to those around them, take a picture, share it on social media, then leave. This is exactly what the disciples were doing as they saw the Temple with Jesus. Imagine the selfies they took! "Lord, come over here, get between me and James; we are the 'Sons of Thunder' after all; the name You gave us!" The temple is an amazing structure even in ruins. Last March, Nellie and I, and a wonderful group of pastors stood at the very place where large stones had fallen from the attack that left the temple in ruins. I thought of those disciples and why they were impressed. Solomon did good, as did the ones who rebuilt it and then lost it again. But Jesus calls them out of tourism and into theology. "Fellas, look; this building isn't going to be here forever; the day is coming when not one strong will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down - you will see them and think of the many Legos on your floor after you son or daughter or grandson and granddaughter, have tired of the building they let you spend hours in building only to have them throw it to the ground laughing."

A theologian is one who thinks of God and God's plan or purpose in things all around us. A theologian is wanting to know more so they can do more, explain more, share more. Jesus did not want to scare the 12, He wanted them to be ready for what was next. And what' next for them is what's next for us. People threatening our faith, challenging us to stray, to not believe, to think they or someone they represent have the answers, the solutions; Jesus says think again. Pray again. Study again. Grow again, and keep growing! Jesus spoke of the End Times. He had to, for the 12 wanted to know when the day would be that would mean the end of the temple. Jesus explains that even the signs He shares will not reveal the end; the end will come whether we are prepared or not; Jesus says we should be prepared now.

The news, however you view them, speak of terrible things now. Mass shootings, racism again on the rise, neighbor hating neighbor, greedy corporations seeking more; there's a war now in our nation, not that it is called that, but think about it. Are we acting as we know God? Are we in any way pleasing the Lord? The earthquakes that we are experiencing are moms who don't have the insurance or the money to care for their dying babies; or stand in line to buy food in hopes that they have enough; the earthquake is when they come up short and must walk out with a crying child and praying for a way to explain that to the child whose stomach does not understand "Wait."

Dear friend, you and I have already have a responsibility before God to respond in love to those in need all around us. Our tourist days are over. We are called to think and act like theologians, who know the will and love of God.

PRAYER: Loving Father, equip my heart, spirit, and mind, to be the thinking person who thinks only about You and what You would have me do. I want to care. I want to respond, not react , to the needs all around me and the threats that come against human life, especially among the innocent children. Make me worthy. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Put on your Theologian cap and your Christian heart in!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus Christ is King!

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Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ (John 18:33-37)

Happy Monday of Thanksgiving Week dear Friend!  School is out and our homes are filling up!  With either kids and parents; friends, loved ones, food - you name it, excitement is in the air!  And Sunday after Thanksgiving, will be Christ the King Sunday; when the Church reminds itself that our king is Jesus.  We cannot lose sight of that; our perspectives towards life knowing and celebrating Jesus Christ is OUR King will help us face life with new eyes.

Today's passage is during Jesus' trial, and as our friends the lambs from the above cartoon remind us, the exchange between Pilate as an earthly king and Jesus, our eternal King seems awkward.  Pilate was playing his role as one who sits on the throne thanks to Rome and wants to be faithful to his government; Jesus is on trail for many things, including that He was presenting Himself as King.  The ones who hated hearing this were the Jews; they had Jesus arrested and wanted Him dead and one of the charges was that Jesus was guilty of going against the established government, which the Jews also hated.  So, the logical first question from Pilate to Jesus was to ask if He indeed was the King of the Jews?  Jesus answers with a question:  "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"  Pilate offers another question, "I am not a Jew, amI?," but adds, "Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me.  What have you done?"  Interesting that Pilate says Jesus is from another nation and it is that nation which is handing Him over to be tried with hopes of his execution.  The Romans recognized the differences between their nation and the nation within their nation, the Jewish nation.  But, Jesus says, I am king over a kingdom not of this world.  If I truly was king here, my followers would be fighting to free me.  

You and I are citizens of Jesus' kingdom.  Yes, most of you reading this are living within the United States and we do take seriously our citizenship as such.  And you from the nations, take your citizenship seriously as well; but if we profess Jesus as our Lord, then He is our king.  Our nation is from a dimension not easily seen here on earth; our actions and attitudes should reflect the principles that guide our Heavenly Kingdom - that God's will is done.  And we know God's will to be that of love and justice for those who seek it; to provide living water for those thirsty and a satisfaction for hunger that nothing here on earth could ever truly satisfy.  We live as holy people in an unholy world, seeking to share the reality of God's love for those to whom love may be a stranger.  And we live out actions that may confuse those who expect something different from us.  We are, after all, citizens of a kingdom of truth; and if we belong to truth, we listen to Jesus' voice.  Are you listening?

Nellie and I just got back from a seven day cruise.  It was as we had planned it; a time of rest and relaxation. I heard several people say as the cruise was coming to an end, "I kinda liked having someone else cook for me!"  I took along a marvelous book that I had hoped to finish, and it's called "Running with the Horses" by Eugene Peterson, the translator of The Message Bible.  I highly recommend the book, for he shares with the reader, the life of a prophet by the name of Jeremiah, who sought to be faithful to God while suffering with the realities of this world.  Jeremiah was the prophet who endured 55 years of King Manasseh, and his son,Amon, who turned the nation away from God.  It got so bad that the nation arose against Amon and had him killed.  Eight year old, Josiah, came to the throne.  He found remnants of the book Deuteronomy and led the nation back to God because of what he read.  Jeremiah suffered a LOT as God's prophet during the first two reigns, enjoyed a time of blessings with Josiah, but when he died, his son turned the people back to idols and false gods.  It was during that reign that the Babylonians came and carried the leaders away.  All of this was God's plan and Jeremiah preached that which went against the other prophets and priest who were preaching, "This is just for a short while!"  The book by Rev. Peterson speaks of what it means to be human, truly human to be guided by God.  It helps us better understand what it means to be a citizen of God's kingdom while enduring what we see happening in our nation and around the world as well.

This week as we prepare to truly give God thanks for His blessings, remember to listen.  As Jesus shared, we are those who listen to God's voice through Jesus.  Are you listening?

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, as we pray, we give You thanks for allowing us to listen to You.  May we open our Bibles to hear, our spirits to receive and our minds to process that which blesses You and us.  May we live as citizens who love and follow You.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Two ears, one mouth equals more listening!  Listen for the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Here is a link to the book, Running with the Horses by Eugene Peterson:  https://amzn.to/2Dwh3oP  This helps fund my retirement, so your thoughtful and prayerful consideration of my recommendations are appreciated!  Blessings!

Boys Will Be/Kill Boys (Bible Stories You Should Know!)

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Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, ‘I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.’ Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.’ Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let us go out to the field.’ And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ He said, ‘I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?’ And the Lord said, ‘What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! (Genesis 4:1-10)

Happy Friday to you, dear Friend! Is this not the day you have been looking forward to after a long work week? Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! Take time today to enjoy the rich blessings that are yours, namely family and friends, faith and love.

One of the saddest stories in the Bible is also one of the ones which rings true of sibling relationships. Upon their marriage and their new found state outside of Eden, Adam and Eve had two sons. The first one was named Cain; the second child was named Abel. Both boys were raised in the same way, yet when they grew a bit older, their personalities and character came out. Some believe the story shows the conflict always present between those who keep herds and flocks and those who farm and harvest. When it came time to sacrifice to the Lord, Cain brought an offering, some have said, an afterthought; while Abel brought to God the first and the best. God had regard for Abel's offering and for Cain, not so much. God still loved and regarded both equally; but for their offerings, God did not. This led to the first murder in the Bible, a fratricide which means brother killing brother. Sad, sad, sad. Those who have brothers and/or sisters, know that relationships can be tough. There are times when you either say or think, "I could kill her!" Yet, you don't. You soon forget why you were mad and make up. Or, you don't. We would pray that no relationship end up like these two.

God's heart was broken by this action. In fact, prior to the murder, God visits Cain and tries to talk some sense into him. God warns Cain that sin is like an animal of prey; which slyly lurks around to find its prey. "Its desire is for you, but you must master it." And like most of us, ignores what is right, what is from God; we know better. And off he went and murdered his brother. God asks Cain where Abel was; Cain answers with a lie, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" Yes, Cain, yes, Eradio, you are. We have a God-given responsibility to care and keep our brothers and sisters; and that does not mean killing them. It should mean the opposite; to give life, to bless their lives, and that comes only through patient understanding and love. It means honest and open communication and a willingness to walk the second mile with them, maybe even going in their "shoes" as it were, to fully understand who they are. God's desire is for us to encounter the fullness of life through Jesus and in our relationships.

If this story has struck a chord with your situation, perhaps this is the day to make it right. Begin with a prayer for the person you feel estranged from; asking God to bless and protect that person. Then, as God so leads, maybe a call or a visit; maybe restoration will come today?

PRAYER: Loving God, for the story and example of Cain and Abel, we learn a lot. As we learn about ourselves, help us to continually learn about our loved ones, especially our siblings. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage; for living lives that bless and give life. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a brother/sister to all you meet today!

Eradio Valverde

Dear Internet/FaceBook readers of #ConCafe; next week I will not post any devotionals as I am on a trip. Please pray for us and enjoy reading something like The Upper Room online. I'll "see" you back on Monday, the 19th. God bless you and thank you for reading this. I encourage you to subscribe as well! At the top of http://TheUniversityOfTheWay.blogspot.com is a link that says, SUBSCRIBE HERE. Easy!

Yahweh Construction Company

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If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.  It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?  Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?  Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth.  Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep. (Psalm 127 The Message)

Happy Thursday to you, dear Friend!  May this find you and yours doing well.  A report just came in that there was another mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California with eleven people shot, and the suspected gunman dead.  Pray for God to heal those wounded, comfort the afflicted, and bring about an end to the desire for people to want to harm others.  Pray for the peace that passes all understanding to be in the hearts of those who know and love God.

Do you remember the old bumper sticker that read, "My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter?"  It was a sly way to say that the owner or driver of that vehicle considered Jesus to be his or her boss.  I believe it was intended to remind and reaffirm the belief of those who knew Jesus as well as to start a conversation with those that didn't.  And today's passage, written before the days of Jesus, speak a truth about Yahweh Construction Company, "If God doesn't build the house, the builder only build shacks."  This applies to marriages and all relationships under that roof.  God needs to pour the foundational slab so that all other things on that foundation will be solid and stand the test of all challenges.  Jesus later spoke of the man who built his house upon sand and the one who built his house on the rock.  Same teaching.  God should be the heart and strength of our lives.  Every city should be under God's protection as well.  And a life lived plagued with worry is not healthy; the psalmist reminds us of God's good provision.  And then a further reminder of the blessing that our children can be to us parents.  Every son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandson, granddaughter, child friends - all are blessings and gifts from God and we should treat them in that way.

It's all centered in God, as God intended.  We can labor and guard in vain if we do not invite God to be in on our plans.  All of our plans.  Start today and build up a fortress of love and faith and bless all who come under your roof.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, thank You for all You have shared with us.  We are blessed with homes build on love and faith; bless all who are under it and all who come to visit under our roof.  May we be examples of those who trust You for all things, including rest.  Bless any who read this prayer that are worried; remove the worry and replace it with calm and peace.  In Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Live a life that radiates peace and love.

Eradio Valverde

The Road to God's Glory is Paved with....

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Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ‘My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing-floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing-floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do.’ She said to her, ‘All that you tell me I will do.’ So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.’ Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse.The women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17)

Good day dear Friend!  I pray this finds you and yours doing well.  The elections are over, and God is still God, Jesus is still Lord AND King of Kings, and the Holy Spirit is Comforter and Guide.  May we pray for our nation and our leaders.

It's just a few weeks until we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.  What a day that is, will be, now and forever.  And today's story reminds us that it was a long road from there to here.  We can add to the list in the title sent to you today, and I have to admit I don't remember all that was in it, but here are some realities:  The road to God's glory in Jesus was paved with poverty, hunger, hopelessness, foreigners, widows, those without families, and some smart planning.  Though most know the story of Ruth (she got her own book in the Bible, y'all!); she was a foreigner, and not just a foreigner, an enemy of God's people type foreigner.  She was from Moab and she married a Jewish man, who dies younger leaving her with no children and no hope.  She and her sister-in-law have to decide what to do, since both lost their husbands at the same time.  One chooses to go home to her people, Ruth decides to stay with Naomi, her mother-in-law and return to Judah.  This troubled the older woman, because she did not think there would be a way for her to provide for Ruth, but in this passage falls upon a clever idea to provide some security for Ruth.  Ruth had been working, add farmer worker to our list, as a harvester of barley for a man named Boaz.  The mother-in-law gets the brilliant idea of setting us Boaz with this young, eligible woman, Ruth, for marriage.  The plan, as we read, was to make Ruth smell nice, get prettied up, and make it known she was available for matrimony.  The custom was to lie at a man's feet once he was nice and full and perhaps a bit inebriated.  The plan called for her to uncover his feet, something most men who might be cold don't especially like; but it got his attention when she lay by his feet.  (And we pray that he too had taken a bath and made his feet not like the old Gaither joke:  "You swallowed my socks!" - I'll share it below).  

The plan worked.  Boaz liked what he saw and took her for his bride.  They conceived a child right away and named him Obed.  Obed, as the story shares, became the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David, as in King David.  Wow.  Who would have thunk that God could work in this way.  But think about it, your life and mine, may have had some similar circumstances.  It could be story of hopelessness; all is lost; how could we possible make it through this ordeal-type story.  Or, why would he marry such a woman?  She's nothing but trouble!  Him for a husband?  What is she thinking?  You get the picture.  It's just like God to make things work when it seems that can't.  God can take the most common person and make them outstanding.  He can take any situation and use it for His glory.  Little did that woman Ruth know that at the death of her husband, she would become the great grandmother of Israel's greatest king?  When she had to eat leftover grain, did she realize her great-grandson would feast at a banquet table one day as king?  Did Ruth know that humbling herself to lie at the feet of an older man would result in one day, their offspring being the Savior of the world?  No matter what your current situation, turn it over to God and trust Him.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, great is Thy faithfulness; morning by morning new mercies we see.  May the mercy shown Ruth and Naomi be shown to this dear reader and their situation.  Bless them with a newness of vision and grant that vision turn into reality.  Turn their despair or fear into a song of victory!  Your victory!  This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  You may be picking barley or cotton today, tomorrow you may just be sitting in a place of honor!  Live that way now!

Eradio Valverde

Okay, so years ago I went to see The Gaithers in concert in San Antonio.  They are superb entertainers and love to tell jokes and they told of a couple about to be wed who each went to their mothers to ask advice.  The bride suffered from bad breath.  The groom from stinky feet. Their fear was that upon waking up the first morning as bride and groom their smell might ruin the marriage.  The mother of the bride said, "Honey, while your husband sleeps, get up and brush your teeth and gargle.  Then go back to bed.  The mother of the groom said, "Honey, take along extra pairs of socks.  While your bride sleeps get up and change your socks and by morning she won't smell the stinky ones.  That night, the man went into the bathroom and changed out of his stinky socks and was going back to bed when he bumped into his bride; smelling her breath, the man said, "Hey, you ate my socks!"

The Final Solution of Sin

Image from prayingthelectionary.wordpress.com

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but He entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then He would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. (Hebrews 9:24-28)

We pray you have made plans to vote if you haven't already done so, dear Friend.  Being of a certain age, I can vote by mail way earlier than most regular voters, so I have voted and that was a long time ago.  (Wait, should Lincoln have been on the ballot?  Hmm.)  Pray before you go, then vote.

The results of today will not in any way provide any final solutions to the issues and problems we face; the only final solution we have readily available is the removal of our sins by Jesus Christ.  His life and death so moved the author of today's passage, that as he prayed and wrote, his mind received the insight and thoughts that have led to the powerful words quoted above.  Jesus  Christ is our only High Priest.  While you and I may not be from a tradition acquainted with priests, we do know their purpose was to be the bridge-builder between God and humanity.  No one has done that better than Jesus!  And the sanctuary in which Christ entered was Heaven itself, the holiest of holy places; the place where God resides.  And Jesus' death was once and for all.  Jesus does not have to sacrifice Himself year after year - that one offering of Himself, to die on the cross, was the final solution of sin.  Jesus took our names and our sins with Him to that cross.  When He died, our sins died with Him; never to return to haunt our lives.  We are the ones who sometimes call us memories of past sins, and that only clouds our minds and torments our lives.  The FINAL, which means last, ultimate, nada más, solution is that our sins were taken away.  In The Message version, verse 26 reads, "But instead He sacrificed Himself once and for all, summing up all the other sacrifices in this sacrifice of Himself, the final solution of sin." 

Jesus will come again.  This we affirm every first Sunday of the month in our tradition when we celebrate Holy Communion.  "Christ has died.  Christ has risen.  Christ will come again."  It's simple but powerful; it moves me every time I say those words as it should bless you.  Our faith affirms the closing of the above passage, "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him."  That would be us.  We should live our lives as those who know that one day, and no one knows the day, Christ will return for you and me.  We shouldn't worry about the day, we should just be ready.  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, come into my heart again, and remove once more the sins that have crept in since the last time I prayed asking them to be removed.  They have no place in my heart, nor mind, nor soul, nor life.  Make me a new creation right now.  Let me live a life that affirms that You will return for me.  Let me help prepare others for that day; and this I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Glorify God in your heart and life today in ways that shine brightly!

Eradio Valverde

ConCafe recommends the NIV Quest Bible:  Question and Answer Bible Hardcover:  https://amzn.to/2quC4s7 And, NIV Celebrate Recover Bible:  https://amzn.to/2PG4huo

Give God All!

Photo of Robert Elizondo from his FaceBook page!

As He taught, He said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’ He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then He called His disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’  (Mark 12: 38-44)

Happy Monday, dear Friend!  I pray you and yours had a wonderful weekend, as Nellie and I did.  We were blessed to be invited to preach at First United Methodist Church of Goldthwaite, TX yesterday.  We were hosted by The Rev. John Alsbrooks and his wife, Sharon, two dear, long-time friends of ours.  As I sat down in church to check-in on FaceBook, the above photograph was the first thing I saw and it blessed my heart!  The young man is Robert Elizondo, a long-time reader of ConCafe.  I told him he blessed me with sharing this photo, wearing the ConCafe t-shirt!  May the Lord bless him and you all who read this devotional!  I encourage all of you to go and vote tomorrow, if you have not already done so.  I will not tell you how to vote, but I do encourage you to be a participate in democracy; not voting is voting away your right to choose the candidate whom you believe will serve our country better.  Voting came with a hard price for so many, especially those who came before us; let's honor them by voting!

Yesterday was Consecration/Stewardship Sunday in Goldthwaite and I shared the story of the widow from Luke's passage.  I shared the little story of two men who found themselves on a deserted island.  The first was running back and forth trying to find a way to let others know where they were.  He wanted to start a fire so that aircraft searching for them would find them.  The other man sat down with a book he had rescued and started reading.  The first asked him, "Aren' you worried?  We may never be found!"  The second man just said, "I'm a tither.  I give $100,000 a month to my church.  My pastor will find me!"

In this passage, Jesus points out two different people; the first He lumps in a group, the scribes.  These men truly had given their all to God (in their own way); they were not allowed to marry, for they were married to their work of studying and writing the scriptures.  They worked long and difficult hours to do their work and they wore a distinct robe that identified them as scribes.  They also took advantage of that position, for they loved the attention they received in public, and in worship, they enjoyed the "best seats."  For Methodists, that would mean they sat in the back!  (what?).  At covered dishes, they were first in line!  (What again?) They would take advantage of widows' houses, which meant those believed to have little to no protection or "covering" from a man, were taken advantage of, but these men, who were supposed to be men of God.  The widow were among the lowest rung of society during those days, for they were no longer under the protection of their husbands, and depended on their families, if they had any, to care for them.  

Jesus then sits by the treasury of the temple.   It was a large, brass receptacle that would receive the coin (there were no paper currency at that time) offerings of the people.  You can imagine the noise these coins would make hitting the brass and making its way into the depository.  I believe many liked to make a lot of noise to draw attention to themselves and their offering.  It was their own "Look at me!  See how much I am giving to the church!"  I've shared how my home church in Houston used to have a policy of sharing on the back cover of the bulletin a list of individuals' giving for the previous week.  That to me seemed a bit embarrassing for some, and a bit showoff for others. If a pastor tried to do that today, one can only imagine the push-back they would receive from such a matter.  But, here comes a widow.  One of the group Jesus mentions that the scribes took advantage of, and she put in two small copper coins that together were worth a penny. Her name would be dead last on the list of givers for that week.  Yet, Jesus tells His disciples, "This dear lady, has given more than all those have been making racket with their offerings.  The others shared from the much they had; this lady has given her all to God.  Everything she had was in that offering."  Boom.

Which of these, dear friends, had the most faith in God?  The ones giving from their wealth or the one who trusted God to give God her all.  There was no promise of her next meal in having given her all.  The utilities would come calling in whatever form they had that day.  Christmas is just 50 days away at this writing!  What gifts would she have given?  (Of course, Christmas was not yet the holiday it is now, but you get the picture!)  You know this lady has a seat of honor and glory in Heaven.  You and I will get to know her name, her smile, and be blessed by her spirit when we see hear in Glory.  We do ask, what seat and what honor will I have by what I've done so far?  And of course, we either do what we do, or don't do what we should do, based on our faith.  This is a wake-up call to many - Give your all to God.  Your life, your heart, your mind, your body, your trust!  Bless God and others will be blessed by your life.

PRAYER:  Awesome Father, thank You for this dear woman's faith.  May we be like her!  Grant us an increase of faith that blesses You and Yours.  We do this out of love, not out of show.  We want to be a blessing because we have been blessed.  You know our needs and our fears, and these we turn over to You.  Be glorified in our lives.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Be one who gives your all to God today!

Eradio Valverde

PS:  Dear friends, I am putting a trip in September called Discover Greece:  In the Footsteps of Paul the Apostle.  The trip is from September 4 thru the 14 of 2019.  We leave from Austin airport and cruise on a ship among some of the significant islands that blessed Paul, including Patmos where John experienced and recorded Revelation.  Also, the Home where Mary spent her final days.  Please email me your mailing address if you'd like a flyer with the entire tour outlined for you.  Just reply to this email! Nellie and I would love to have you join us!

A Dancing Serpent Seemed Like Fun!

Image from issuesinperspective.com

The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"  The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden.  It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"  The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die.  God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."  When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it - she'd know everything! - she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. (Genesis 3:1-6 The Message)

Imagine God sending you a letter like this:

My dear child,  It was in the days of your innocence that you were visited by fascination, imagination, and freedom.  Images were all blurred together in beautiful patterns; all the colors, and all the shapes, and the breeze!  Yes, the cool breeze of the afternoon.  This was life.  This was perfect life.  And it was in the cool of the day that you and I would dance; the slow dance of discovery.  I would tell you things, and you would imagine them and the possibilities of yet other things.  I would say I loved you, and you though not yet fully knowing what love was, sensed it was good, and you said you loved me.

You walked the entire garden, knowing it as your own yet not knowing it was paradise.  The lush greens of the grass, the bright green of the trees dotted with the oranges and reds of fruits; all yours.  Yours for the taking.  If you ever felt hunger, you picked and ate.  You had not a care in the world, save one; the trip you made to explore the area you came to name "The untouchable place."  You knew you could eat freely of any tree, and you did, yet you had to see it, this untouchable tree.  Its fruit seems as ripe as any other, yet it called to you for some reason.  But, you walked away, content to know that soon it would be the cool of the day and you and I would dance again.

The day came when the heat of the day seemed more intense.  You sought shelter under the shade of a big tree.  You sat there and marveled at all that was around you.  Then out of the corner of your eye you caught its movement.  Not one of the other creatures in the garden frightened you, not even this, what seemed to be a dancing serpent, that musically made its way towards you.  It swayed to a rhythm no one could hear only it.  Yet, its patterns called to you, and you stood.  Your body mimicked the body of this serpent and soon you were dancing with it; not touching it, but close enough you could hear its whispers.  A soft, soothing voice that seemed more like the smoothness of a brook; you could hear it and you were not afraid.  It questioned you on many things and you answered with joy.  "Do I have it right?" it asked, "that you cannot eat from any of these luscious trees?"  No, you giggled, We may freely eat of any tree; there's only one we're not supposed to eat from and neither are we to touch it.  Your mind gave you that about the touch; I never forbade your touch on the tree; but you had played it so often in your mind that it became yours.  Then you shared truth though you were not sure about it; We cannot eat nor touch it because on the day we do, we will die."  Die?  Death?  Did you honestly know what that meant, my child.  I knew you did not; yet the voice of the serpent made you wonder what it was really all about.

"Die!" exclaimed the serpent, then it laughed.  "You won't die!  That's a life!  The only thing that will happen is that your eyes will finally see and understand all about this garden and life; that's the only reason you've been told not to eat from that tree."  It sounded convincing.  "You will become just like God.  You will know all things, and you will know the difference between what's good and what is bad."  That made you look again at the tree.  Yes, you thought, the fruit did look more enticing than any other; and what harm could it bring to know more things that you knew now.  And with the confidence given you by that dancing serpent, you danced towards the tree and with a swift move removed a fruit, bit it and ate.  The dance was over.

Eradio Valverde

Who Are We?

Image from dustoffthebible.com

You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right - you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set.  You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.  Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set;  Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.  I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.  I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me. (Psalm 119:1-8 The Message)

Happy Thursday, dear Friend!  I trust we all survived the handing out of candy to those who came and knocked on our door asking for treats.  We had a very strong and scary downpour which I thought would surely end the night of giving away the pounds of candy we had bought; but I was wrong.  As soon as the break in the showers came, the doorbell and our dog Wesley, started barking - the kids were back.  Most of the kids commented on how loudly Wesley barks.  I asked a couple of the little ones if they wanted him, only one said she would love to have a puppy; the other said, "I already got a puppy!"  Shucks.  Wesley stays. Today is All Saints Day and Sunday will be when most churches will celebrate the remembrance of those who have died during this year.  If that includes a loved one of yours, I pray God's comfort on you during this week and especially on Sunday when you may be invited to place a flower or some other sort of remembrance for this important life now in the presence of God.  Never an easy thing; but God sees us through.

Yesterday we studied The Shema which pretty much tells us who God is; today's passage helps us answer the question, "Who are we?"  The Shema says, This is God and lists how we are to respond to God's power and holiness; and today the psalmist guides our answer; We are blessed when we stay on course.  God has already laid out a path or road for us to follow, and blessings are ours when we trust God enough to walk with Him.  The temptation is to go off-road and try our hand at "off-roading" that is our trusting ourselves more than God and thinking our walking or running along a path we set for ourselves will bless us more; many times we find ourselves up against a mountain wall not meant to be climbed, or at the edge of a steep cliff not meant to be jumped.  God gently lifts us back on track if we but trust Him.

The psalmist learned early on that God provides for us from His heart; all that is before us on God's path is meant to bless us in some way.  We may not understand the WHY of the moment, but we trust the WHO who is guiding us. Let us define ourselves by our obedience and desire to be faithful and fruitful.  

PRAYER:  Awesome God, guide us on Your path.  Truly, You are the Good Shepherd and we are called to be Good Sheep.  Forgive us our wayward wanderings, seek us, search us, and bring us back when we stray.  Let us be an example to others by the blessings that come to us when we are with You.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Be a lamb and follow God!

Eradio Valverde