TEN MARKS OF GOD

Loving God, grant Your strength to this dear reader in all they face today, in Jesus' Name, amen

What "marks" of Christ do you carry? In other words, how do you live your life as a witness to what Jesus has done in your life? That was the point of yesterday's sermon as we studied two passages related to our Lenten Journey. The first was the 20th chapter of Exodus that contains The Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). As you read those verses again this day, see what "marks" God desired for His people as they prepared to become "a nation of priest for all the nations." The first commandments have to do with our relationship with Him and the others with our parents, our spouses, ourselves and others. To follow each one lovingly "marks" us as those who belong to Him and have been exposed to a greater love than the world has ever known.

The second passage was the one with Jesus going to the Temple and instead of finding a house of prayer, he found a house of profit; this passage takes away that image of meek and mild Jesus, for the passage says he was angered to the point of making a whip and driving out those who were involved in this violation of sacred space. The question begged here is, what are the marks of your church and of you?

May we journey towards the days of Holy Week intent on becoming even better at obeying God and serving God like never before. May our marks give God away, that it has been God at work in our lives.

PRAYER: Almighty God, may Your marks of love, compassion, joy, peace, and service be upon me today. May I be strengthened during my 40-Day journey with You. Let me be a blessing to You and Yours, I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Concerns: For Natalie and Ricky Leal. Natalie goes in this morning for a C-section to deliver her baby. Ricky is the proud papa. Also, our youth groups leaves by bus for Colorado for their spring break ski trip. Pray for their safe travel as well as for all spring breakers.

Study Guide: Please find Exodus 20:1-17 and read it again. Yesterday at worship we centered on The Decalogue, or as we know it, The Ten Commandments. Read these aloud and let their power sink in. What influence have these had on your life if any at all?

PRAYING THE PSALMS

Eternal God, speak the words of life to this dear reader as they celebrate You today in all they do. In Jesus' Name, amen.

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. 26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. 28 For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. 29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, 31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

Loving God I lift up my prayer to You using the eternal words of David: I begin my day in praise to You. I join with others everywhere on the face of the earth who are lifting up words of thanksgiving and worship to You. I stand in awe of You. I cannot begin to understand Your love for me and how You did not spare Your Son for me either. You know that I am a sinner, yet You do not despise me or others like me in our condition; You continue to make Yourself known to me and when I pray to You, You answer. I join in prayer with members of my church family asking that we might be truly obedient to You in all things and in all ways. I pray for those who are hungry right this minute, that somehow they might be fed and satisfied, use me to be a part of that feeding. May the hearts of those who are seeking You live forever! I pray dear Lord, for a revival and a reawakening of true worship for You; may we seek beyond that which pleases us, to that which pleases You. May all nations come to know You, for only You have domininion over the earth. Let me, like those before me, be truly a blessing to You and my life and the example of my life bless those who may come behind me. Let my story include Your story in my life so that even those yet unborn might come to know You. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Prayer Concerns: Dear ones, please lift up in your prayers Mrs. Phifer of Jacksonville, TX. Mrs. Phifer was my freshman and sophomore English professor at Lon Morris College. She is in hospice care battling cancer and needs our prayers for comfort and peace during this time. Pray for her family during this time as well. She was a loving, gentle, patient person who gave of herself to all her students and blessed me personally in my transition from high school to college. Please pray for George Roberts of Bossier City, LA, who is undergoing emergency surgery and needs our prayers. George is Missy Roberts' brother. Please lift up Vernay Carrington, recovering from surgery in Plano, TX. She is the wife of one of my dear friends from Lon Morris College. Pray for Tom as well during this time.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

GOD OF THE PROMISE

God of grace and peace, pour out your Spirit on this dear reader throughout this day and all days. Amen.

Our God is a God of promises kept. I wish I could say the same for myself as I know you wish you could say for yourself. But God is also one who does not give up on us even when we fail. Our God is a God of second, third, fourth, 100 chances. As you think back on the promises you've made to God, which have you kept? Those of us who are members of the United Methodist Church had to promise four (now five) things: To support our church with our prayers, presence, gifts, and service. Now, we've added Witness to the list. Have we kept those? Think about the God-side of those vows: If we pray, God keeps His promises in answering our prayers. If we go to church and worship, God is present receiving our praise and adoration and God blesses us. If we give to God our tithes, gifts, or offerings, God is blessed as is the church, but ours is the greatest blessing in knowing that we have a grateful heart to the Lord for all the Lord has provided for us. If we serve the Lord and the Lord's people as He said in Matthew 25, "when you do this for the least of these, you've done it for me..." (Valverde paraphrase). And lastly, each time we witness with our lives and/or words about the goodness of God, God is blessed as is the person receiving the witness.

Now think about the promises God has made in your life. Can you remember what they are and have you done your part to be a blessing in receiving and sharing those? Has a lack of faith on your part kept you from truly being blessed in the way God intended for your life? In Abraham's case, God promises him a lot of things but it took Abraham taking that first step towards the promised land and towards the greatness God said would be his, for the blessings to begin. Had Abraham said, "Well, Lord, let me think on this because the wife's a little reluctant to leave her family and I kinda promised her we would live near them..." he would have never been the father of the faith, recognized by both Jews and Muslims as their "daddy." What have you said to God? My journey was one of trusting God when he called me to preach. Preaching was in my opinion the last thing I wanted to do and the least area of strength as far as I was concerned. But had I stayed behind that excuse I would have never discovered God's greatness in allowing me to be a preacher. The same may be true for you. You're reluctant, scared, shy, embarrassed, afraid, etc. to take that first step; let me tell you, it's not half as bad as you might imagine. Take that first step, then the next, and the rest and let God bless you beyond your wildest expectations!

PRAYER: God of the promise, help me take that first step towards the fulfillment of the promises and claims You've made in my life. I can't leave "home" without leaning a bit towards where I know I need to; and when I do, help me to give honor and glory to You. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

FOLLOWING GOD'S CALL

Heavenly Father, richly protect this dear reader in whatever challenge may come their way today. In Jesus' Name, amen.

As we journey towards Holy Week, especially towards a deeper and richer understanding of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, we are aware of "calls" in our lives. Our text for yesterday's sermon was from Genesis 17 and the call of Abram and Sarai to be faithful to God. After revealing Himself as "God Almighty," both Abram and Sarai believed and as a result had their names changed, to the promise towards which they had been called. As soon as they said yes, it was a done deal as far as God was concerned. The new name of Abraham means "father of multitudes" and that comes to a man who is 99 years old and childless. Sarah means "noble woman" or "princess" indicating the change in her stature among her people.

To what have you been called, and what was your answer? I shared how when I was in seminary in the late seventies, I lived in a dorm filled with single, twenty-something men. When I visited the campus of SMU, it had become a freshmen dorm for gifted and talented students; a self-contained environment where classes, living space, etc. was all within. At that time the average age of seminaries was about 53 years old. I made the point that these fifty-somethings had been called perhaps earlier in their lives but they had said no and after a successful secular career heard the call again and entered into ministry. The Bible is very clear that when we say yes to God, regardless of the difficulty of the call, God's presence and God's peace is always with us.

If you feel a lack of peace, have you honestly reflected on where you are and where God wants you to be? Perhaps today is the day when you realize that to have complete peace in your heart involves your finally saying yes to God.

PRAYER: God of my life, if You have called me to a specific purpose, help my doubts and disbeliefs and help me to say yes, realizing that You will be with me as will Your peace. Guide me to faithfulness. I ask this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

PSALM 25, OUR PRAYER

Loving God, pour our Your blessings and protection on this dear reader. Amen.

Dear friends, let us join our hearts in prayer today as we pray the words of Psalm 25:1-10 as our prayer for this day:

Let us be in an attitude of worship and prayer as we make these words our own:

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

Lord, at times my soul has been low, sometimes even I believe the lowest it could go, so please lift it up in praise and worship and I do it only for You.

2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.

Lord, there is no where else I can place my trust other than in You. As I go about doing the things expected of me in my many roles, as spouse, parent, employee, employer, let me do that which makes You look good. Do not allow me to make a fool of myself trying to be someone that I am not.

3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

As I make my 40-day Lenten Journey let me grow closer to You, closer to others and with myself; may each day bring a greater knowledge of the truth that is Yours for me. Let me choose wisely in the decisions that come before me. Let those who seek only to harm others or to profit from others find that which convicts them of their mistakes, but include me if I am one of those.

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

Let those spiritual disciplines that I have taken up during this Journey speak to me in terms that are loud and clear about who I am and who I need to be; remind me always, over and over, that I am Yours.

5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.

May I find time to spend in quiet. Come to me in the quiet and speak of that which is truth for my life. Let me be a students of Yours and all that is Yours. Make my mind center on You as I read Your word and as I pray to You.

6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.

Lord, you better than anyone know that I have not been perfect and stand in need of Your mercy. Be merciful to me as I should and will be merciful to others. Remind me that long before I was born You had mercy and love for me.

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O Lord!

While others may exclaim, "O, to be young again," remind me of what youth brought me in those times I did not know you or chose to act like I didn't know You. That applies also to yesterday and today when I thought I knew more and sought to please only myself.

8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

You are perfect and Your way of life and love can be instruction to me and to others. Let me help show others the way.

9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Lord, those that want to be led humble themselves before You and so do I. Lead me in Your way.

10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Let my life know of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, and may I be like You today and all days. May I seek Your Word daily that You may continue to speak to me. This all I pray in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

God of grace and God of glory, on this person pour thy power, for all s/he faces today. In Jesus' Name, amen.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

We find again "water words" in the above passage, Jesus being the righteous one, willing to die even for those who were unrighteous, in order to bring us into relationship with God. The passage from Genesis this past Sunday spoke of how God searched for those who might be righteous and found only eight, in the family of Noah; these 8 were saved through water. Mark's gospel spoke of the waters of baptism through which Jesus identified with you and me, and how now Jesus sits at the right hand of God, ruling over angels and authorities.

Isn't is a great feeling to know how much God desires to have a relationship with you? God spared nothing, not even His only begotten Son, to bring you and me into full relationship. Why do we still refuse? It seems that on every page of the Bible we find that precious choice: life or death? Through Christ's death, we might find life and that in abundance!

PRAYER: Lord, as I journey today through life and this season of Lent, remind me again of how precious it is to journey with You. I don't expect to win at all things and I realize that sometimes I will fall, but in all things, win or lose, I am not alone. Let me share this message with others I ask, in Jesus' precious and powerful Name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

TEMPTATION CAN KILL

Loving God bless this person reading this in the most wonderful way s/he needs today. In Christ's Name, amen.

As we make our 40-day Lenten Journey we should be aware of temptation and how it can keep us from completing the journey faithfully; so we turn to a portion of James' letter, chapter 1, verses 14 and 15: "Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. 15 These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death." That was from the NLT. I've always loved the way the NRSV describes it: But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.

Not all of our desires are evil, but some are. And it's up to us to be honest with ourselves about those which are, and our needing to pray for God's help in helping avoid them. James knew the process; you get tempted by the evil desire, you then think about the actions that will help you obtain or complete that which you desire, and that evil action may lead you to death if you don't repent and turn away once and for all from that which took you there in the first place. The NRSV process makes it more of a birth process, but a birth of death. There's no getting around the fact that our giving in to sin cannot produce positive results.

The purpose of Lent is to journey with the Lord in preparation for Easter. Our sermon series started yesterday is called "Come to the Cross." Yesterday we covered the Lectionary passages that deal with water and the power of water. The Genesis passage was on how God used water to destroy the earth and through Noah start again with a covenant between God and Noah. The Mark passage was on Jesus' baptism and how God used the water through John to wash away the sins of all people and Jesus' willingness to identify with us by undergoing baptism even when He did not need it. Jesus took it all the way in taking our place at the Cross. Lent is about surrendering to God, trusting that God will see us through it all.

PRAYER: God of all seasons, during this season of Lent journey with me like never before. Let me recognize the need in me that needs to die, and let me trust You to bring me life as I surrender completely to You. I pray this prayer of faith in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Study Guide: James 1:14-15 speaks of temptation and its birthplace and consequence. Please read these two verses and see what it says about our weaknesses and willingness to stray.

GREAT SHOES!

Gracious Lord, bestow your blessings of grace and peace upon this dear reader and all that they may face today. In Jesus' Name, amen.

We find these words for today and our Journey through Lent, towards the Cross: As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. (Eph 6:15).

A good journey is traveled best with the right shoes. We all have or should have, what we consider our favorite shoes. These aren't always our most comfortable shoes, but we wear them nonetheless. Nellie and I delight in our granddaughter and her maturing ability to select her own shoes. She prefers Crocs, usually the ones grandma and grandpa bought, but when given a gift of those plastic Disney Princess high heels, she'll wear those for a bit. Are we supposed to be comfortable or look good?

Paul knew that for a good journey we need the right shoes. No better shoes said he, than "whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace." If we are ready to share with our lives that which has brought peace to us, that is the good news of Jesus Christ with others, then we're ready for our journey.

How will you give witness today of the peace in your heart? Let your "shoes" do the talking.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You again for the good news that someone once shared with us about peace that comes from knowing Your love through Jesus Christ. May I too, have the opportunity to share with others that which brings them the same peace. Give me the words or the story or the prayer that I need to share with that person today and all days. And I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

WHO DO WE BELONG TO?

God of all journeys, as this dear reader begins his/her Lenten Journey, journey with them. In Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

You and I belong to God. We find this in 2 Timothy 2:19; But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness." The second part of that is the command for those of us who belong to God to "turn away from wickedness."

As we start a Lenten Journey it helps to know where we're from and whose we are. I'll never forget one Saturday morning my best friend, who was not even a Scout, joined me in a five-mile hike for a merit badge. I asked my Mom, who seemed to be a driver's ed teacher for women her age, and our chauffeur, to plot out a good, safe five-mile route. She drove us towards Texas A&I, we turned north, headed almost right to Celanese Chemical plant and the road right beside it lead to highway 77. We turned south on 77 and back towards my home. I don't remember my age, but I knew my way. I had water, my best friend, my uniform; off we went. As we talked, laughed and joked, the journey did not seem at all long or difficult. I knew where I was from, and I knew that God was with me as was my friend. I also knew that if I didn't make it home in a set time my mother would come find me. I think most moms back there were braver and more trusting than today. If our children had wanted to take a five-mile hike for a merit badge, we'd hire a police escort AND we would follow behind.

Our 40 days into our Lenten Journey will be made easier with the realization that we belong to God. God will also help us as we fast and pray and seek to truly turn towards God and away from wickedness.
Journey well, dear friend. Journey with the Lord, for you and I are His!

PRAYER: Lord, as we take these first steps of our Lenten Journey, we journey with You. Guide, bless, and protect us is our prayer. Keep Your hands on our shoulders and help us to know we can and will, turn away from wickedness. I pray this prayer in Jesus Christ's precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

ASH WEDNESDAY

Loving God bless this dear reader; in Jesus' Name, amen.

Today is Ash Wednesday. Several brave souls joined Pastor Aaron Saenz and myself (Nellie as well, as today is our 31st Anniversary) for an early morning headstart on our 40-Day journey of Lent. Pastor Aaron read from Joel and Matthew and I shared the meditation of what today symbolizes for the believer.

We count about six weeks towards Easter/Resurrection Sunday; 40 days of spiritual preparation. The question I asked those who gathered was, "How do you journey?" I gave the example of those lines that form outside Southwest Airlines as you line up based on the section issued you, A, B, or C. Then you look at your number and line up more or less in numerical order. As you do, you can't help but notice expressions on each face as to how they approach their journeying to their destination. The same applies to how we see our 40 days. The prophet Joel shares God's invitation to return back to Him. God says "a great and powerful army approaching," and that can mean the sin in us and the temptations we face each day. The first hymn sang, "God of Grace and God of Glory" prepared us "for the living of these days," speaking of the battles we face. The truth is that we journey spiritually towards the Cross. In 40 days we will remember Good Friday and Christ's death on that Cross for you and me. On Easter morning we will celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. What a journey we're on.

Joel and Matthew both speak about fasting. Fasting is an ancient practice we call a spiritual discipline. One replaces physical nourishment with spiritual ones. One can skip a day or a meal without eating, but replaces that mealtime with prayer and scripture reading. Like we see in the book of Daniel, and as Jesus said years later, "one does not live by bread alone." So, whether it is a meal, two meals, a day or candy or sodas or tv viewing, whatever you "give up for Lent," be sure to "take up" something spiritual in its place. Let the time be a God time when we are open to God's leading and speaking.

PRAYER: Loving God we journey towards You during this time of preparation. Guide me to faithful living. As I give up something to help me realize the things in me that should die, let me also take up something that tells me of the things You have placed in me that brings me to the fullness of life. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

KINGDOM BUILDERS

God of love and mercy, shower Your blessings upon this reader in all they may face today. In Jesus' Name, amen.

One of many favorite hymns of mine is "Blessed Assurance." It speaks of the basic underlying foundation of our faith as Christians, yet I find, as pastor, so many folks at critical times find themselve doubting the reality of faith. The letter to the Hebrews says, So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2 You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. God calls us to be kingdom builders. That means, lay a foundation, let it be strong, then build! In no place in the Bible does it say Christians should stop growing and building. Even in the first pages it speaks of being fruitful and multiplying. There should come a point where we put down the security blanket, the pacifier, the teething ring, and yes, the bottle, and move on. Our grandson is at the point where he finally mastered grabbing things. It only took him four months! He was close enough yesterday to a glass of water that Mom had poured for herself and Liam grabbed it. Mom reacted fast enough to keep him from baptizing himself and poured a little bit of water in a sippy cup. Liam was able to grab it and enjoy the taste of water on his own for the first time! Ahh, what a taste and what a point of maturing that boy is reaching.

If we are to build God a wonderful kingdom, we too, must grab for that which shows our willingness to grow and mature in the faith and to begin doing the things that show we are kingdom builders.

PRAYER: Father, You know all too well that for different reasons we sometimes want to stop and be content with what we've done or who we think we are and not move on in our faith or faith development. Forgive us those times and allow us to move on, grow up, and build up. We can't do it alone, we need You, thus we pray; in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

JESUS OUR CORNERSTONE

Gracious and loving God, pour out your blessings upon this dear reader as only You know their greatest needs. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Text in Ephesians 2: 20 :Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

We concluded the Nehemiah story yesterday in a sermon entitled, "Celebrate Kingdom Building." Using the text from Nehi 12:27-30 and Matthew 6: 19-34 we talked about how when we know, love, trust, walk and obey God, we will never be left in ruin. In fact, the Lord let me see the word RUIN as Rising Up, Inspired, and New. That's what happened to Judah as they dedicated the wall and Temple and Jesus' word reminded us that if we put our hearts in the wrong treasures we may find ourselves like the people of Judah, almost to the point of ruin. The Lord never forsakes us and we are His for all eternity. As we face the uncertainty of these times, there is no better place to invest our hope, faith, time, money, etc. than in Jesus Christ.

Pauls writes later in the text above, Ephesians 2:20-21, that spiritually we need to have Jesus Christ as our cornerstone in all our dealings with God and others. We are part of a great body when we take Jesus at His word. We are "a holy Temple for the Lord." Compare that with the ruined temple of Nehemiah's story. That great temple came to ruin because God's people no longer wanted to be God's. They thought they knew more. They thought they knew better, and off they went down a road chosen by themselves that led them to destruction and for many, death. Temptations come that show us what we believe is a better road, but only by trusting and involving God can we know what is best, what is God's, for our lives.

PRAYER: Loving God, stay with me. Embrace me, hold me, love me, and guide me. Let me truly be representative of being Your holy Temple in all things. I seek to help others to "rise up, inspired, and new." I ask the same for me, in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

YOU'VE BEEN BLESSED!

Gracious God, though they perhaps didn't ask for it, richly bless this dear reader with an unexpected blessing today. Lord, You better than anyone else know what this person needs and so, if it be Thy will, grant it unto them. Lord, I know a blessing to be an enhancement of life, a breath of a fullness of life that comes right when it is needed or wanted, so bring the fullness of life as Your Son, Jesus said in John 10:10. I know Jesus to have come so that we might have life. Though we are all alive in some sense, some are not alive in the way they should be, so bring us that fullness of life. I pray that in every area of their life, they might know You and Your goodness. For those reading this who need Your comfort, breath on them a breath of healing as only You can. Father, You know that some have lost loved ones recently and need Your presence. In their tears and sobs, hold them and comfort them. Some reading this, dear God are needing to be healed from an illness or disease, so dear Father, grant Your healing touch upon them. I ask that You confound the doctors by ways that only You can explain, if it be Thy will. Some need to know they are not alone, so bring them a sense of belonging. Others during this rush of Valentine's Day may feel unloved, so show them as only You can, they Your love is the unconditional, unending love not matched here on earth. Many are the ones dear God who feel a sense of insecurity given the state of the world's economy, help us to realize the economy of humans is not Your economy, but we also ask that no one go hungry, homeless, haunted by fear or insecurity. Keep in us the knowledge that You are always with us. I pray these things in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Dear friends, you have been blessed! Whether you asked for it or not. I can't say I'm sorry for blessing you. If you know someone who needs a blessing, please feel free to forward this to them.

ConCafe will be on hiatus this next week as I attend a meeting out-of-state. I will pray for you and ask you pray for Nellie and me as we travel today and return home on Wednesday.

Thank you for reading ConCafe, this marks our tenth anniversary of being online!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

OUR DAY OF PRAYER

Morning by morning, may this dear reader see Your mercies O God. In Christ Name I pray, amen.

Our theme has been on trusting God in and for all things. May we pray together today for our faith to be strengthened, our doubts quieted, and our vision filled with hope. Pray as you like or you can use this sample prayer:

God of all hope and love, come into my heart today. Fill me with Your love, Your peace, and your joy. Let me truly be Yours in all things. Lord, as I have been studying this week, may I and those who pray with me this prayer, have our faith made stronger. Like Nehemiah, may I see that I can be a builder even when there seems to be little with which to build. May those times when I feel doubt coming into my life, let me push it aside and grow from those moments and as I seek to know about what may lie ahead, fill me with Your vision, a vision filled with hope.

In all ways, let me be all about You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

Eradio Valverde

LISTENING TO GOD

Merciful God, shine down Your gracious love on this dear reader. In Christ Jesus' Name, amen.

We find in the Prophet Isaiah's words as found in the 26th chapter: Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock, the promise to all who would undertake anything to which God called them, the person in whom to place our trust and it is God himself. A lot of times we know we're called by God to undertake something as God has led us, but we fail to pray and listen for God's guidance. That is when "the taunters" can creep into our thinking and spirit and ask us again and again, "Who do you think you are, trying or doing this?" The answer comes from God is we allow, "I am called by God to do this and I am trusting and waiting for God to guide me in just the right way to accomplish God's purpose for my life and the good of His Kingdom."

All of us have those moments when we listen "back" to things we may have heard as children; a taunting aunt or uncle, a silly friend or even a well-meaning parent. Listen closely and see if you can hear God in what you hear. Chances are, you're not listening to God, you're listening to an ancient fear placed there by someone other than God. Ask God for clarity, and God will grant it.

PRAYER: Loving God, as I attempt what I need for today, let me be guided only by You. If I should hear the voices of old taunting me, let me instead listen for Your crystal clear voice of faith and reassurance. I seek to glorify You and You only. Accept this prayer that I lift up in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

IN GOD WE TRUST

Gracious and loving God, in Your loving hands is this your child as she or he reads this; bless and protect them is my prayer. In Jesus' precious Name, amen.
Okay, this is a little later than usual (or is your clock set wrong?). No, it comes from Kerrville as we prepare for the heaviest work meeting of the year for the Board of Ordained Ministry.

Tomorrow we start with the interviews of those who would join our ranks as fully ordained ministers and as fully connected to our annual conference. Please be in prayer for those dear canidates as well as for us who sit and listen and interview. May the Holy Spirit guide all of us in our work.

Our theme this week is on the importance of being a builder for the kingdom of God. Our two texts emphasized different aspects of that. Nehemiah 4, selected verses took us to the story of those who taunted the Jews in their efforts to rebuild as well as the prayer said in anger against those taunting them. Nehi shared his words of faith when in verse 20 he said, "Our God will fight for us." In Mark 12 we found that awesome story of faith of the widow sharing her last money with God in faith that God would indeed "fight" for her. Yes, it is a stewardship sermon and our theme is a stewardship theme: God is with us. We should turn over all our challenges and rebuilding goals to God in prayer; and we should have faith that no one or no thing can taunt us to quitting or into not being the person God would have us be.

In the book of Psalms, the 65th Psalm in verse 5 we find this song of trust: "You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas." (NLT). Such should be our trust: remembering the awesome things that God has done for us before and how God will still answer us in the same way; God is indeed the hope of those who sail on distant seas." I shared a story on Sunday that Laurie Beth Jones shared in one of her books about the woman who at her lowest point asked God to send her sign that she was going the right direction in her life and that she still mattered to God, and she tells of finding a penny as soon as she finished praying and on the penny were the words, "In God We Trust." She knew that she was to trust God and she did. Every time she needed a reminder from God, there would be a penny for her. The day came for this woman to have surgery and she searched and searched but could not find that penny. Even as she was wheeled in on that gurney to the holding area before surgery she fretted about not having a penny, and just then an orderly came in with a penny and asked her, "Ma'am, I found this penny right outside and wondered if it was yours?" It was. It was more than a penny, it was that simple yet powerful message that in God we trust.

What are you facing that you've yet to direct back to God? May this be the day you say, "God, I can't face this alone, I need You and so I turn over to You all these things."

PRAYER: God, that's my prayer. I can't face what I'm facing alone. I need You and I turn over to You all that has been keeping me up at night. I need not worry to the extreme where my health is suffering. I turn it over in full faith that You will fight for me. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

CELEBRATE LIFE!

May Your eye, O loving God, be upon this dear reader today; provide blessing and protection on their lives. In Christ Jesus' Name, amen.

Giving to God is a spiritual matter. Yet many dislike talking about it, and just as many don't like doing it. Some "tip" God and a recent Internet cartoon shows a son asking the dad, "How come the waitress gets 15% and God gets only 10%. Many would say at least that man is tithing!
Giving is also an honest endeavor. In Acts 5:1-11 is a frightening story of Anaias and his wife Sapphira, who sold some property as were the other early Christians of their church. But unlike the other members, these two did not give all to the ministry, they decided they would lie about the amount of the sale so that they could keep some of the money for themselves. The Holy Spirit revealed this to Peter and he confronted Anaias about it. When told he had lied to God, Anaias fell dead. Scary, right? Peter told him that he could have kept it all if he had wanted, but to give out of dishonesty was a serious thing and so he died. The same thing happened to his wife; she died and was buried immediately as had been her husband. No funeral. No memorial service. No celebration of life.

However you choose to interpret and apply this story to your life, keep in mind that giving is a spiritual matter done best when we're honest to God. God understands when we cannot tithe as we know we should, but if we do it simply because we do not WANT to tithe and hide it behind some excuse (read lie), we are not celebrating life nor are we giving God much to celebrate on either.

Celebrate the gifts of God by giving as you should. Be thankful to have a job and thankful for the privilege of being a part of a world-wide ministry through giving to your church. And you do it simply because you love God!

PRAYER: Loving God, I thank you for what You have provided. Lord, I pray for my needs, and You know them well. I pray for the needs of brothers and sisters in my church who may not be receiving as they need. Bless and provide for them, loving God. Let me celebrate life by giving. Let me be honest with You as I give. May my soul be blessed today. I ask this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Acts 5: 1 But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife's knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 "Ananias," Peter asked, "why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!" 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price." And she said, "Yes, that was the price." 9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

SATURDAY NIGHT KITCHEN TABLE

"Morning by morning, new mercies I see..." May it be so in the life of this dear reader. In thy Name, amen.

Sunday I made mention of the story that Mr. Red McCombs tells of his boyhood when on Saturday nights, he would sit at the kitchen table with his momma and watch her as she sorted out the meager earnings of his dad from his work as a shade tree mechanic. Momma would always set aside ten percent "for the Lord" (their tithe) and on Sunday Red would see Momma offer it to God. Red was blessed beyond most people's wildest dreams and I don't think Red ever had a chance to sit at his kitchen table to divide up money "for the Lord" and it may not have been a lesson learned by his children. My lesson in tithing was when I was 9 years old as I was being driven home by my Mom who told me that 10% was for the Lord. I thank God for her gentleness and love - for I never threw a fit nor got mad at this obligation. I saw it "neat" that I could do that for God. She asked me how much I made on that Saturday that I worked and I told her a dollar-fifty. "Set aside 15-cents for God, that is your diezmo for tomorrow in church." (If you know Spanish, diez is ten, so diezmo is tithe).

What do you do at your kitchen table on Saturday nights? Have you shared with God and more importantly have you taught the lesson on tithing to those who might sit with you? If you don't teach your children about tithing when they grow older and start making lots of money, giving anything away is difficult. The old story says that a man went to see his pastor and said, "Reverend, when I first started working, I made $120 a week, so giving $12 was nothing. Now that I make in the six figures it seems like too much money! Would you pray for me?" Sure, replied the pastor, "Lord, take away this six-figure job from this man and allow him to return back to his $120 a week..." The man interrupted, "Wait! I get it now!"

PRAYER: Loving God of all things, I am blessed. And from my blessings, let me return to You that which is Yours. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

For more in-depth Bible study, use the study guide for today: Exodus 34:26 finds the mandate for giving unto the Lord. Please find that passage and see what it says there about giving to God from our "first fruits."

OUR STORY

Be gracious, loving God, unto this dear reader; make bright the path they seek. In Christ Jesus' Name, amen.

"Our Story" is the title of our new sermon series. It is based on the book of Nehemiah and other scriptures from the New Testament. It is to help tell our story compared with Nehemiah's, as well as to begin our stewardship season. Our goal is to see what it is that God would have be and do as we plan for our financial New Year. Our sermon yesterday was on Nehemiah 1:1-4 on the importance of beginning anything with prayer and fasting. We shared four things that happen when we pray, along with whatever else God does with our prayers: 1) prayer gives us ownership in whatever it is we are praying for/about; 2) It allows our heart to join with the heart of God; 3) Our heart joins with the hearts of others praying with us for the same thing; 4) We are blessed for just being in prayer.

The NT passage was the incredible passage about the spirit of generosity in the Macedonian churches (2 Cor. 8:1-5) and we learned from them the Macedonian Model for Giving: 1) Give from what you have; no promises of shared lottery winnings! 2) Give generously, surprise yourself! 3) Even when facing troubles, give! 4) Show your "true color" as being that of a giver! 5) Be happy though poor or rich! The people of Macedonia were facing economic times worse than ours and yet even Paul could not understand why they were so generous and giving and why they would plead for the privilege of helping out fellow Christians. The church laughed when I asked if they had ever heard a preacher say, "Please stop giving, you've given enough! We don't know what to do with the money we have!"

What is your story? Are you a person of prayer and generosity? Do you find yourself happy for what you have and out of that you give to God? Or are you one awaiting a big windfall, the death of a loved one who's named you in their will? Guess what? God has already put your name in the "will" that counts and we call that the Book of Life, anything else pales in comparison; so give out of the riches you presently have.

PRAYER: Open my heart and eyes to see, dear God, of all that I have already received. I am so blessed to be a part of a praying community, and I am blessed to be named among those who have life in abundance now and look forward to life eternal. Let me be a blessing to You and Yours today. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

For further study, read Genesis 28:22 and see there what was considered a proper relationship in giving between oneself and God.

SUPER SUNDAY, SUPER SWORD!

God of all life, bring the fullness of life with joy, calm, joy and peace to this dear reader, in Jesus' Name, amen.

This Sunday is known as Super Sunday. The reason? Super Bowl. That makes it for many households here in this country, it is a big deal. I'm looking forward to it for the hot wings that my wife will make. Hot wings are on the menu on those nights such as this; add to that list The Oscars, The Emmys, The Grammys, well, you get the picture. Suffice it to say you have to sign a waiver to enjoy these delicacies. I also look forward to the ads. Thanks to the Internet some ads get leaked and that ruins the much awaited day. For most Texans the absence of a Texas team makes it just another football contest. Yes, I do know the teams, Arizona Cardinals and that other team from Pittsburgh (being a former Oiler fan, that's a name that is not spoken in this household...). It's still a big night.

During that contest, twenty-two men are on the field, equipped with the latest gear that is supposed to protect them from hard hits, bone-crushing tackles, etc. In spite of that equipment, players still get hurt. Well, we've been talking about the great resource we have in our spiritual battles that are found in The Holy Bible. Our theme this week has been about bringing the Word of God to life, and as Paul mentions in Ephesians 6:17 "Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." If we face life knowing in our minds that we are saved and in a loving relationship with God, we are protected. And like the Roman guard that Paul faced each day, Paul knew that the power of that guard to protect Paul and himself, he had a sword. Our sword "is the word of God," meaning our Bible. The more we read and learn The Bible, the stronger we are in facing all that we face. Don't let your sword get dusty, use it!

PRAYER: God of power and might, I thank You for the gift of spiritual protection that You offer to us. Let me claim the knowledge of my relationship with You as my helmet and let me use Your Word as my sword in fighting off temptation, injustice, oppression, and evil. I ask this in Christ Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

THE IMPLANTED WORD

Merciful God, shower mercy and blessings to this your child today. In Jesus' Name, amen.

It is said that some music has the power to take you immediately back to where you were when you first heard a particular song; you find yourself surrounded by the sights, sounds, smells, and people who were right there just as that song is playing. I have many of those but "Last Train to London" brings me always back to Highway 83 from Rio Grande City to Penitas, TX, on the night my wife went into labor with our first child, Nellie. It's funny because the chorus says, "I really want this night to last forever," and I know that was the last thing my wife wanted! It turned out it almost did - twenty-two hours of labor and a decision to deliver our baby through C-section.

The letter of James in chapter one, verses 21-24, the author speaks of "the implanted word" and the power that word has to "save our souls." That begs the question, does The Bible play a part of our life's "soundtrack?" Have we allowed sermons, or books on the Bible have a place in our lives. Have we allowed God's Word to play a part in helping us make the right choices and live in the right way as the first part of that verse says? Is the Word of God truly "implanted" in us? Is it at least like a contact lense that helps us better see life?

We are a blessed people to have ready and easy access to God's Holy Word. We can walk into any bookstore, at any time, and buy a new Bible. Not all people on the face of this earth do. Some are hungry for the Word and cannot obtain a copy for themselves. We leave ours unattended and unread, and we panic as we face some of life's hard challenges because we have not rooted and grounded ourselves in the Word, in other words, we have not allowed the word to be implanted in our souls. And that puts our very soul in peril of being lost.

Below this devotion appears the text for today. Your reading that will allow you to have at least a few verses to fuel up for this day. And on days this devotion doesn't appear, use your own Bible. Let the Word truly be implanted in you today.

PRAYER: Loving God of the Word, implant Your love in my heart today. Let me love myself in the right way and let me love others in the same way. Above all, let me love You as I should. May Your Word be implanted in my soul so that as I face today and the surprises, blessings, and challenges come, I will know just what to say. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Here is that text: "Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing .

STUDY GUIDE: James 1:21-23 speaks of what should happen as we hear the Word of God. Please find, read, and allow that passage to sink into your heart.

LIFEBOOK

God of the universe and of the individual, bless and protect this dear reader in all that is coming before them today. In Jesus' Name, amen.

We concluded our sermon series on "Let's Go To The Movies" by looking at the premise behind "InkHeart." From what my daughter Nellie Garcia says, it's a great book. The movie was okay, slow at the beginning and ends really well. The thing I liked most about it was the ad above the box office window, "Every story ever written is just waiting to come to life" or something along those lines. We applied that yesterday to the stories found in The Holy Bible.

From page one to the maps, we can find God speaking to us about our worth in His eyes, the power of faith and prayer, the awesomeness of God's abilities to see us through any and all circumstances of life; and it all boils down to a simple fact: We must read The Bible. I showed or tried to show a video about Bible facts and the reality is that most people on the street know little to nothing about the Bible. Could someone name the disciples of Jesus? No, but he could name the 7 Dwarfs! Could someone name four books of the Bible? No, but knew five or six different coffee drinks. And on and on. In sharing with some I made the comment that we are so biblically illiterate that our children, and in some cases, adults, might not know if something is a "Goliath task" or we feel like we're in the "belly of a fish." Eden as paradise place might not be known by folks just by the mention of the word. Being in the lion's den also might not register. And on and on.

God knows all our excuses; we must commit ourselves to overcoming them and just making time to read as we should.

PRAYER: Loving Father, thank You for your Word. Forgive me the times I prefer to read something other than The Bible. Today let me begin to make The Bible my lifebook. I can only do it with Your help and presence in my life. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

OUR UNWILLINGNESS

Loving God, shine upon this dear reader and his/her day! In Jesus' Name, amen.

This morning I read from a poster in my home office. It is written by a famous man and in it he describes an event where he "went very unwillingly." I smiled as I read that because of the number of things that I have had to attend or do "very unwillingly." The person in question is none other than The Rev. John Wesley and the account to which he refers was his attendance to a lay-led Bible study. His words say, "In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ. I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt that I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

My most unwilling participation was my Walk to Emmaus in May of 1985. It was Walk #22 held in Kerrville, TX, at Mount Wesley, long a bastion of spiritual awakening and stengthening of faith. I had cancelled once or twice, but was strongly convinced by two dear friends and colleagues that I should attend; after all, they were attending. I did attend. But like Wesley, I went "very unwillingly." And to add insult to injury, we FLEW to Kerrville! One of the lay directors was in the process of getting his pilot's license and he needed the hours, and so four pastors were scheduled to fly with him and his instructor in a tiny plane. You that have heard this story know that two of the four pastors, myself included, were extra large. The lay person was too. Half of the human cargo would, in my opinion, be testing the limits of the single engine plane. The other XL pastor cancelled out, leaving the five of us to attend. Long story short, I was blessed beyond my expectations. What I entered into very unwillingly, blessed me, like Wesley.

I believe God uses our unwilling events to surprise us and strengthen us. I believe God knows our heart and needs and with His sense of humor sends the most unbelieveable blessing in the midst of that which we think will bore us or waste our time. Where are you going today unwillingly? Are you ready to be blessed?

PRAYER: Loving God, bless me even when I think I will be bored or wasting my time. Forgive me for my unwillingness in some things. I know that even there, I am not far from You. Let me be a blessing to You, I ask in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

GOD'S LOVE AND OUR FAITHFULNESS

Loving and eternal God, shower this dear reader with that which s/he needs, in Jesus' Name, amen.

When I attended seminary I was in my twenties, as were most of my classmates. I lived in a dorm filled with 20 yr. olds. So, in Old Testament class as we were introduced to the story of Hosea I can still hear the snickers of the young as the story is told of a prophet ordered by God to marry a woman of ill repute. To make matters worse, this woman of the night was named Gomer. It hadn't been too many years before that the name Gomer brought to mind someone else. For those too young to remember, the show on television was Gomer Pyle USMC, and it was a spin-off from The Andy Griffith Show. (You might have to visit YouTube.com to search for clips of either show to remember). But God's point was this: Israel, the people of God, was living their life as a nation not unlike this woman. She, the nation, would go off with any other god. Israel was unfaithful and did not know how to live her life as faithful to God. Yet, God said, and this from verse 19 of chapter two: "And I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. 20 I will take you for my wife in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord. "

Unfaithfulness in a marriage is perhaps one of the greatest, if not deadliest crises a couple can face. Most couples choose to separate and divorce after such an encounter, and bibilically, it is supported. But God tells the unfaithful nation that in spite of their ways, He is still their's. Their relationship would be built on righteousness and justice, "in steadfast love, and mercy." For us as individuals and couples, ours is to understand God's love and receive it, enjoy it and live it in all areas of our lives. "Not Easily Broken," the movie title and the theme for this week, is built on such love and mercy.

PRAYER: Loving God, grant me love and wisdom to faithfully live my life in all my relationships, especially my relationship with You. Grant to me a witness that I can share about You so that others may receive. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

-------------------------------PRAYER UPDATE AND REQUEST--------------------------------------------
Michael Callway, for whom we had been praying died Tuesday morning and his memorial service will be tomorrow at 10 a.m. in our church. Please hold Alice, his wife and their children and grandchildren in prayer. Also, please continue prayers for Peggy Underwood of Boulder, Colorado; she goes today to visit a radiologist for possible treatment of her cancer. Marcus Phipps our music director continues to recover at home and we continue to ask the Lord grant him full recovery from back surgery.

SACRIFICIAL LOVE

Gracious God, send your blessing on whatever this dear reader may be facing today; in Jesus' Name, amen.

Our story ends with what the book of Revelation shares; that Christ is the bridegroom of the church, and we, as His church, are His bride. Such is the love and relationship Christ desires with us, that we will be "wed" to Him in the End. The marriage ceremony in our church we mention the example that Christ gives to each couple, and that is the example of sacrificial love.

Most couples will experience that at sometime in their marriage. There's a commercial on by a major electronics store about the husband who in order to pay for his wedding, sold his season tickets to his favorite football team. Many men at this point would say, "Whoa? He did WHAT?" Fellas, it's a commercial, but it could happen. Sit down, sip some water, catch your breath! The ad continues with the sales person saying that that wife came in and to "make it up" to her husband, buys him a 60 inch flat screen TV so that it would be almost like being there. Okay, I know several "theological" discussions can follow about what it means to be there and "being there" via television. The point is that the man, because of his love for this woman, sold his season tickets to pay for a wedding.

Christ gave His life for you and me; such is His love for us. He withheld nothing in order to establish an eternal relationship with us. What are we doing for the love of our spouses or special people in our lives?

PRAYER: Thank you, Jesus, for loving me that much. Help me today love You more and to love my spouse, children, parents, friends, siblings in the same way. Make me a person of love that understands Your sacrifice and who is willing to make sacrifices for the ones I love. I ask this in Jesus' precious and powerful Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

THREEFOLD CORD

Loving God, may Your gift of faith, hope, and love be with this dear reader. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

We're into week three of the sermon series, "Let's Go to The Movies," and we looked at a limited release movie called, "Not Easily Broken." When we selected the movies we did it only by title and perceived theme. We were right with both in this case, but never considered it might not play here in Harlingen. The local theatre said to call them next week and ask again if they were going to show it. I highly doubt it. I wanted to see this but if I really want to see it I'll have to travel to San Antonio or Corpus Christi. The theme is about handling crisis in a marriage and that was the theme of my sermon. For the text I used an OT and NT text. Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil... And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken." 1 Corinthians 4-8b, 13: Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends...And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."

For the illustration I bought three different colored cords and had my daughters weave them into a threefold cord. Each color represented what Paul mentions in verse 13, and I made the point that all marriages, families, and relationships are blessed when they place their faith, hope, and love in God. With such a foundation, nothing can tear those marriages, families or relationships apart.

Jesus mentions something in Matthew 19:6 that begs our attention: "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." During the first part of the sermon I called up those who had married in January and presented them with Bible markers made with smaller versions of the threefold cord, but I also asked them about their vows and whether they were more in love today than the day they married. I'll just say interesting answers. But as the couples are declared "husband and wife" in today's wedding ceremony, what Jesus says in the above passage is declared: "Those whom God has joined together, let no one tear asunder" or the modern equivalent. Marriages are meant to be strong. It is in the marriage that society either teaches each other how to be a better person and citizen, or it fails and helps society become weaker. The message for the Christian church is to strengthen marriages and to help families instill those values and beliefs that can make each person a true believer and follower of Christ Jesus.

What's in your marriage?

PRAYER: Loving God of love and marriage, bring your blessings upon my marriage, family, or relationships. I stand in need of being a more loving person, a person of more faith, and one who can share a message of hope in all situations. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Study Guide for today: Matthew 19:6 mentions the solid bonds of marriage. Please find that passage and see what it says to you about your marriage or the marriage of close loved ones. Pray for them this day.

DOING THE UNEXPECTED!

God of all places, grant the safety and blessing of this dear reader wherever You lead them today. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Jesus had a way to turning life upside down. I also say that Jesus called us to do the unexpected. Society almost expects some reactions from us when someone does something to anger us, and for us to do the opposite makes society wonder what's going on. To know and love and follow Jesus means that life in the fullest is going on. In Matthew 5, in that awesome sermon called The Sermon on the Mount we find Jesus teaching these words:

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Society would have us hate our enemies, though everybody that doesn't know Jesus does that. To curse our enemies is another "natural" response. But Jesus says for us to love our enemies! How is that possible. I remember my very first Bible class in college and the dumbstruck feeling I had when I heard The Rev. Virgil Matthews, Dean of the college and the man in charge of the preministerial program say that the opposite of love was not hate, but indifference. I think you could have heard a pin drop in that room of 18 and 19 year olds. We had learned to think that hating someone was the opposite of loving someone. But as Dean Matthews explained to hate someone still means we hold some sort of feeling for them; to be indifferent means you have no feeling; in fact to feel indifferent may even suggest that that person is dead to you. Yet, to hate is not the response, natural or otherwise, that is expected of us - we are called to love even those who hate us. (We're not called to be indifferent either, just in case you're wondering!) Jesus emphasizes we are to "be perfect, ...as (our) heavenly Father is perfect."

To live and do the unexpected is possible only if we allow Jesus to live in us. More of Jesus, less of me.

PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, and live in me. Drain me of what I have considered to be natural for all these years, and place in my heart and mind, that which truly astounds the world. Let me live as one who loves and one who cares for others. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Updates: Marcus Phipps returned home yesterday afternoon and is recovering slowly. Isis Hernandez is also on her way to recovery as well. Thank you for your prayers.

OUR DAY OF PRAYER

Gracious Father, open the windows of Heaven with rich and unexpected blessings upon this dear reader. Amen!

Today is our Day of Prayer. Our focus has been on forgiveness, especially among friends. It was heartwarming to hear from our daughter who was relating our granddaughter's first day of the spring semester in her day care. Sarai Evangelina is learning to talk and she's a quick learner but is at that stage where she will learn one's name and no one else can share it. For example, Nellie is or would like to be known as "Grandma." But she hears our daughter calling her, "Mom." And one day while visiting in San Marcos a church member from there addressed her as "Nellie." Little Sarai heard that and before going to bed, came to her grandma, handed her something and said, "Here, Nellie," laughed and ran away. Her mom heard her and said, "Don't call her Nellie! She's Grandma!" Well, she still does not call her Grandma, she now calls her "Mom-mom." For the record I have been and will always be, "Daddy." Well, yesterday in class she met a new assistant teacher named Carli. The main teacher told Sarai's mom, "Sarai had no trouble repeating new names and words, except for Teacher Carli. She said, "No," when asked to repeat her laugh and thereafter laughed whenever we would say that the teacher's name was Carli. My daughter replied, "Carli is the name of my sister, Sarai's aunt and best friend." What a joy to hear that and to know it is true; among the other relationship titles we may have in life with others, isn't it special to be called and known as "friend."

May we pray that today we would be a friend to those we know as "Honey," "Dear," "Darling," "Dad," "Mom," "Child," "Son," "Daughter," etc. It's so easy to just be "husband" or "wife." Can't we add the specialness of "friend" to all relationships? And if friends, especially "BFFs," can we not learn to forgive one another? Make that your prayer today. Or, if you wish, you can pray this sample prayer:

PRAYER: God of love and God whose Son wanted to call us all "friends," may I truly be a friend to those special people in my life. I'm thankful to be a spouse, but let me make my spouse thankful as I make him/her my friend today and all days. May I be a friend to my parents, to my children, to my employees or employers; may I be a friend to Jesus in all that I say, think, or do. And as friends, let me learn how to forgive when necessary. May my heart be filled not only with love, but also the spirit of compassion and understanding when it comes time to forgive. I ask this in Jesus' precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Request Updates: Isis Hernandez' surgery went well and she was able to go home a couple of hours after it. Marcus is excited because his surgery went so well that a big toe that had been numb because of his back problems has feeling in it and he may be going home today. I have not heard about the procedure for Mrs. Heard, but I trust that no news is good news.

Please continue to hold Michael Callaway in your prayers. A tumor was discovered on his spine on top of the other areas where he is battling cancer. We know God will have the last word. Thank you and blessings unto you for your taking time to pray for one another.

LOVING ENEMIES

Gracious Lord shine down Your strength on this dear reader; may this day be a day of great blessing. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Good day dear friends.

As we pray for each other today, please lift up two persons as they face surgerical procedures this morning: Isis Hernandez, our church secretary/receptionist, is undergoing surgery here at Harlingen Medical Center; and Susan Heard from Houston, is undering a procedure to remove fluid from her lungs. These sisters need our prayers. Also, a prayer of recovery for Marcus Phipps, our music director, as he recovers from back surgery at Valley Baptist Hospital.

The theme for this week is forgiveness and the Apostle Paul had a 'word' on that: Romans 12:20-21 finds him saying, "20 No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

How difficult it is to forgive those who trespass against us. Those who usually do we move from the Friend category to the Enemy category. And as sad as it is to think there are those who do consider us their "enemy," it is doubly sad when we consider someone an "enemy." The word "enemy" comes from the word "enmity" which means to hold deep-seated hatred. Wow, that's pretty serious, to hold one so hateful that we place them in that category. It was one thing to be ignored by some as I grew up, but when I went away to college and encountered those who hated me because of the color of my skin, that was another thing. Two of my classmates, and I use the word loosely, for these boys dropped out; but their joy and pleasure in life was to hate me for my having been born different from them. I considered them not as enemies, but as those that I avoided but prayed for. I was sad that they didn't come to know the real me nor I the real them or the persons they could have been.

But Paul says for those who hold deep-seated hatred for you, if they're hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. Imagine that! The person our "enemy" would least expect assistance giving them aid and keeping them alive. Paul adds that by our doing so we are "heaping burning coals on their heads." That may be true, but our motive and purpose in helping is because though someone may hate us, we are called to love everyone. It's not easy, for some people are just plain unloveable, but it is the calling we have from God. As Paul concludes, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

PRAYER: God of eternal forgiveness, forgive me for having thoughts against others. Let me truly be a person who loves even those who could care less for me. Let me be a servant of Yours motivated by only love. When I see someone in need, let me give of myself and what I have because I love. I thank You for the model of Jesus who loved even those who killed Him. And it is in His Name that I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Study Guide:Leave it to Paul to have at least one "word" about this topic. If you find Romans 12:20-21 you’ll find that word. What does it say to your life?

FRIENDS AND FORGIVENESS