And the Greatest of These is Love!

Image from drgerrylewis.com

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

Have you done a spiritual gifts inventory lately? Is there a category for love? There should be. One could be the greatest preacher that ever lived, rank high on the scale of spiritual gifts and graces, but if that person does not have love; Fail! One could be the greatest Sunday school teacher that ever lived, rank high one the scale of talents and resources for excellent teaching, but if that person does not have love; Fail! Such was the inventory that was being reported to the Apostle Paul. The church as it was defining itself and as the Holy Spirit was working among them, the comparisons and the quarrels began; who is the greatest coffee maker? Who buys and brings the best donuts to church? Paul got to the point where he sat down and wrote this beautiful explanation of spiritual gifts and what really matters in a person's life and service as a believer and follower of Christ Jesus.

Love is the foundation and all other things should spring forth from that. And Paul lists carefully what he considers as essential to love; charity, self-sacrifice and service, patience, kindness, humility, giving, sharing, understanding; all of these, plus a spirit of one who keeps no record of past misdeeds or wrongs. One who works steadfastly with others, endures all things, has faith in all things, has a great hope for the big picture of things. These things coming from a person's heart, will never end. Pauls sums it up in this way; take these three awesome things that we should have; faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love.

Jesus summed it up by saying, "Love one another." If the church does not have love, it is in the wrong business.

PRAYER: Loving God, examine my heart. If You see a lacking of love in there, fill me up! I want to be a person of love. This I pray in the name of He who is love, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Truth Kills (Or Tries To!)

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Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, "Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, "Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.' " And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. (Luke 4: 21-30)

It's hard to believe that in a worship service some people actually get mad. I'm kidding, of course, it happens all the time. The question is should it be happening all the time? Worship is all about God; Us worshiping God, not the church worshiping us and our needs and desires and wants. Here in this passage, Jesus has read the scripture about what God would be doing through the Anointed, and then Jesus claimed that title for Himself and here is where the questions and comments began to fly. "Wait. I saw this guy on the roof the other day, working!" "He and his dad made cabinets for our home!" "I hear tell that He can do some amazing things; let's ask Him to entertain us as well!" But then Jesus spoke the truth: "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown." That and of itself would have sufficed, but Jesus really rubs it in; Jesus shares their history where during a drought and famine, it was the great prophet Elijah who fed only a widow not from Israel. And then a man suffering from leprosy, also not a Hebrew, was healed - and you all know how many lepers have been Jews... Enough was enough, and they drove Him out of the town and took Him to the brow of a hill in order to throw Him off the cliff and kill Him.

Something stopped them, and He "passed through the midst of them and went on His way." The lesson was to remember the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed (Luke 4:18); and the lesson was that God does sometimes favor those in need over those who are well blessed. And if a lesson from scripture convicts us of where we are versus where we need to be, we don't kill the preacher! We should kill our sin, rather, let Jesus take our sin and have it nailed to the cross and let it die there. Then we leave the worship space and go a live worthy of that which God has already done for us, with a spirit of gratitude and thankfulness in the way we serve God.

PRAYER: Lord, many have been the times I have looked in the Bible and have found a mirror that has pointed out my blemishes and wrinkles and pimples. I ask that during those times I would seek You deeper and find You as the One who heals and makes new. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Power in the Word of God

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and there is nothing hid from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern his errors? Clear thou me from hidden faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19

David was a man of discipline. He found time to do his chores, protect his sheep, learn a musical instrument, find time to worship and learn about God, rule an empire, and try to help run a huge household. In his psalms we see that of all he did, he loved spending time with God. I shared the other day how coach John Wooden, "The Wizard of Westwood" led his UCLA team to many a national championship based on his own personal discipline. The first day of practice was dedicated to solely one thing; the putting on and removing of the player's socks. Each player had to demonstrate to Coach Wooden that he knew how to put on his socks properly. Sounds minor doesn't it? Yet, if you think about it, and as he explained it, if your socks are not put on properly your feet will pay a terrible price and your play as a basketball player will not be good. David knew, as we should know, that the first thing and the main thing we should do each day is to cover our souls (pun intended) with the "socks" of God's word. (Scripture Observed Consecrated Kept in our Souls) Players that did not want to follow Coach W's instructions were not kept on the team, even All American, future NBA stars.

God has lovingly shared His word with you and me, not to sit and collect dust, but to lead us to live a life that says ultimately each day, the words of the last verse of this psalm as shown in the picture above: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Spend time putting on your socks each day!

PRAYER: Lord, let the time I spend in Your word truly cover my soul with the strength, power, and peace that I need. Let me live a life that praises You always. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Request: Dear friends, The Rev. Viterbo Montaño, a long-time UM pastor lies never death in San Antonio. He several several churches in the Valley and in the Panhandle of Texas. He left ministry because of an onset of Parkinson's and it is that disease along with a stroke that has him awaiting entrance into God's rest. Pray for his family that God's peace may be theirs, and that the joy of the memory of his faithful service be one that blesses them. Thank you for sharing your time in prayer.

The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength

Image from brucehigginsministries.org

All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:13, 5-6, 8-10)

Imagine being at your lowest. For some it's not imagination, it's reality. You're feeling defeat or rejection; you're at the lowest of the low in your life. Where can you turn? The people of God when they found themselves in this situation turned upward, to the word of God. They gathered with humble hearts and hungry spirits, to hear what God might say to them. And in a spirit of joyful reception, they heard God speak of the way we should live, and as their spirits and attitudes began to soar, they began to weep tears of joy. They realized any day spent in the word of God is a holy day, a day of great celebration. And they heard God through the prophet say, "This day is holy to our Lord; do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Dear friend, look upward always, but especially when you feel at your weakest, and remember that your strength will come through the joy of the Lord. And that joy is found in the worship of God, the reading of God's word, the prayers you lift up praising God.

PRAYER: Loving God, as we pray, lift up those who are down. Strengthen those who are weak. Let us all rise up from our prayer and devotional time with new strength, new joy, new attitudes; all ready to serve You. This we pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Everybody is Somebody in the Body; All Good!

Image from agnusday.org

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31a)

Did Jesus say, "Where two or three are gathered there's gonna be trouble?" Of course not. (If you don't know the real verse, please Google it!) Yet, this is what happens if we don't invite Jesus in, and churches are no exception. You and I have heard some of the most heart-warming, delightful things said among humans in church. And you and I have also, sadly, heard some of the most disheartening, sad things a human could ever tell among human. And sadder even still, you and I may have said some of those things. Pausing now for prayer. Stop to think of the power of the Holy Spirit upon the person called the Apostle Paul. His job was to spread the gospel which he did in marvelous ways, chief among them, the starting of new churches. Built with an urgency to believe and follow Jesus, people came to faith through Paul or through one of his churches in many parts of the known world. And as the church progressed, people began to notice that not all people had the same jobs in the church and this was largely determined by the spiritual gifts they possessed. Among the most confusing was the gift of tongues, and so people became angry at each other and some even with God. Paul writes this part of his letter to the church in Corinth to say, everybody is somebody in the Body of Christ, and they're all good!

You and I have work to do for Jesus. Your job may be a bit different from mine, and that's okay. All good. All needed.

Say or read this prayer. Then, get to work.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the gift(s) that I have as your follower. Help me to make the most of it, and help me as I mature and walk with You, recognize and realize other gifts to better serve You. This I ask in Christ's strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Get to work!

Eradio Valverde

Fulfillment as Found in God

Image by Eradio Valverde, Jr., made with ReType.

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4: 14-21 NRSV

Dr. Tony Campelo tells the story of a person visiting a factory. They are shown every aspect of this well-running operation, but finally they ask, "We've seen every part of the factory and I'm impressed, but where is the shipping department?" The tour person smiled and said, "Everything produced in this factory is done just to keep the factory running; we have no shipping department." Many churches are just like this factory, and in fact, Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood up in his church and spoke the very same words. Jesus shared the "shipping department" or fulfillment department of God; concern for the poor, love for the captives, deliverance for the blind, and preaching that glorifies God's favor to those who are favor-less in the eyes of the church/world.

How do you define fulfillment for your church? How do you define fulfillment for yourself? Is God's love and favor in those two definitions? If not, we've missed the point of fulfillment. Every Spirit-filled person who lives out their life for God is led to go among those not yet being reached by established organizations such as the church. First, most Spirit-filled persons are led to church to worship God. And they go to hear what God would have them do next in and with their lives. And most of that would include outreach for those not being reached. His sermon was not received well by the religious, but it touched the heart of those in relationship with God.

Fulfillment comes on through and in God. Go fulfill yourself!

PRAYER: Loving God of fulfillment; anoint me again and again with Your Holy Spirit. Lead me to the place where I find fulfillment in giving and sharing, not just in receiving and smiling. This I pray in the name of He who fulfills me, Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Where God's Love Is, There is a Feast!

Image from systraph.com

God's love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings, To eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You're a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light. Keep on loving your friends; do your work in welcoming hearts. (Psalm 36:5-10 The Message Version)

When I first fell in love with God, I was at the age where two or three animal crackers, and a cup of Kool-Aid was a feast. It wasn't the food, but it sure was good, it was the feeling and joy of being in the presence of God and others like me who also loved God. We wiggled and we giggled, we laughed and sometimes Kool-Aid came out of our noses, and that made us laugh all the more; and I can't remember being scolded or shh'ed for it. It may have happened, but my spirit and mind were in another world.

When I fell in love and married my wife, there was a feast at the wedding, and again it was not the food nor the cake or peanuts, it was in the feeling and joy of being in the presence of God and the one God had provided for me. That feast has continued; lavish meals of peanut butter on one slice of bread when that was all we had, or the extravagant baked chicken that lasted for four days when we had splurged on that - not the food but the love of God in our hearts.

The psalmist knew God's love. It is meteoric and astronomical. God's purposes for us are huge and spans the width of any ocean, yet even in that vastness, God knows and cares for us. We can run and hide under God's wings. We can feast at the banquet(s) that God has provided for us and the drink of God's "Eden spring water" is that which satisfied our hunger and thirst. In that love, we are called to go and love and work and welcome all; everybody, no exceptions.

PRAYER: Thank You, loving God, for Your love for me and for the world. Help me to celebrate with joy all that You provide. Help me to work in love for You and Yours, being a loving and welcoming person. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Sweet Beulah Land

Regarding Zion, I can't keep my mouth shut, regarding Jerusalem, I can't hold my tongue, Until her righteousness blazes down like the sun and her salvation flames up like a torch. Foreign countries will see your righteousness, and world leaders your glory. You'll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God. You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. You'll be called Hephzibah (My Delight), and your land Beulah (Married), Because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration. For as a young man marries his virgin bride, so your builder marries you, And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride, so your God is happy with you. (Isaiah 62: 1-6) The Message Version

You'll soon be invited to the best wedding you've ever attended. Yes, it will be unlike any you have ever attended. All the delights of a wedding will be there, but more importantly you will be there and so will the Lord. This will be even better than the wedding we read about on Monday in John 2, because you will be at this one.

The prophet Isaiah shared a word regarding Zion and Jerusalem, meaning the people of God. And he shared a word of great excitement because the people of God finally understood their role and responsibility before God, and others were noticing it! God's glory was being seen through the righteousness of His people, and God was going to give His people a new name, they would become a "stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled cup held high in the hand of your God." The old name of "Rejected" would not be God's Delight, and the land on which the would live would be called Beulah Land (Married), "because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration." Beulah Land is all about our marriage to the Groom (God).

The old hymn, first sung at a Methodist meeting on a Monday morning in Philadelphia, says these words in the Refrain:

O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land, As on thy highest mount I stand, I look away across the sea, Where mansions are prepared for me, And view the shining glory shore, My Heav’n, my home forever more!

The older hymn inspired a newer song with these words:

I'm kind of homesick for a country To which I've never been before. No sad goodbyes will there be spoken For time won't matter anymore.

Beulah Land (Beulah Land) I'm longing for you (I'm longing for you) And some day (And some day) on thee I'll stand (Someday we will stand) There my home (There my home) shall be eternal (Eternal) Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land

We are called to live a light of such righteousness that we'll show the glory of God to all people; may it be so!

PRAYER: May it be so in my life today, Loving God; let my life let others know of the great love You have for me; may this help our homesickness for that land we've never been before, but hope to someday. In Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

One Spirit, Many Gifts

Photo by Eradio Valverde

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1-13)

Take this simple test; say, "Jesus is Lord" out loud. Could you say that? Pat yourself on the back, for your are filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul, as he instructs the people at Corinth teaches about the Holy Spirit. There was much confusion about who was filled with the Holy Spirit and who was not. There were those that said, "If you don't or can't do this, you don't have the Spirit!" And the next chapter in that same letter addresses that problem (1 Cor. 13). Paul wanted all to know that everyone who asks for the Holy Spirit to dwell within them, receives Him. Where it gets confusing, Paul says, may be in understanding the different ways that the Spirit expresses Himself in you; Some have expressions of work or teachings for the common good; some have the ability to say wise and important things; some have incredible amounts of faith; some have the gift of healing; some can work miracles, some can share prophecy, some can discern spirits, another can speak in divine tongues - all are different gifts, but the same Spirit. All are still members of the one Body of Christ; everyone the same.

What's your gift? More importantly, how are you using it? There's a world of need out there that needs your gift. Share it with God and God will share you with others.

PRAYER: Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me; melt me, mold me, fill me, use me; Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update: Welcome to the world, Kaylee Jayne Copeland, born last night at 7:09 p.m. Praise God and pray for this precious child of God, for her mom, and for her dad!

God of the Celebration

The image is part of a large painting by Paolo Veronese; the complete painting can be seen at wikipedia.com by typing Wedding at Cana.

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-11)

As a boy, whenever I would ask for seconds in a household limited to the realities of our economy, my mother would respond in español: No es boda, muchacho. (It's not a wedding, boy!), and I would pout and wonder what in the world does that silly saying mean? It wasn't too much later that we were invited to a first cousin's wedding on the land where they were sharecroppers. My uncle and aunt put on a wedding! There was food on about six church-sized folding tables, and it was a delight; I finally knew what my mother was talking about; this was a boda! Weddings in most cultures have always been cause for great celebration. In Jesus' day, that was the case, and most weddings did not mean a religious ceremony, then a quick trip to the fellowship hall for cake, punch, and peanuts; these were days-long, and this first of Jesus' miracles took place in such a setting. Jesus and His disciples had been invited, as was Mary, Jesus' mother. The crowd must have been huge, so much so that the celebratory wine ran out. It was Mary who came to Jesus to inform Him of this sad situation. The response of Jesus at first indicates a little surprise or annoyance of this detail of the wedding and at the time of this comes in His ministry. "My hour has not yet come," is used by Jesus and could very well have been pointing to that which He knew was ultimately to be His fate of dying on the cross. It was at the crucifixion that Jesus again referred to His mother as "Woman." Some scholars have also said that at a wedding, Jesus should be invited to come and own the marriage, as was evidenced by what He did here. He took the water traditionally used for purification to make new and wonderful wine, symbolizing His entire mission to cleanse the world of its sin and to make new our relationship with God. His first of the many miracles of His, shows Jesus' connection with "glory," the splendor of the realm of God.

As I started in the introductory part of this devotional, Jesus loves to be invited to weddings, but we should also invite Jesus to our marriages. The God of the celebration becomes the God of the journey; every step both good and not so good, travels better when we know we are journeying with Christ; and this holds true for all key events in our lives; baptisms, confirmations, weddings, worship, funerals, etc.

Make God your partner in the journey of life.

PRAYER: Loving God, I invite You into all areas of my life; come, rejoice with me, and journey with me through all days. Hold my heart when I'm happy, and hold my hand when I feel scared and alone. This I pray in Your precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

P.S. Please remember Doug Copeland and his family as they may induce labor as they await the arrival of their first child, a daughter. May the Lord bless and keep them all safe is my prayer. Amen!

Bravo! Well Done, God!

Bravo, God, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, "Encore!" In awe before the glory, in awe before God's visible power. Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor him! God thunders across the waters, Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness - God, across the flood waters. God's thunder tympanic, God's thunder symphonic. God's thunder smashes cedars, God topples the northern cedars. The mountain ranges skip like spring colts, The high ridges jump like wild kid goats. God's thunder spits fire. God thunders, the wilderness quakes; He makes the desert of Kadesh shake. God's thunder sets the oak trees dancing A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches. We fall to our knees - we call out, "Glory!" Above the floodwaters is God's throne from which his power flows, from which he rules the world. God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace. (Psalm 29)

It is awesome what God has done, is doing, and will do, for you and me. If you don't believe me, turn off your radio, tv, iPhone, whatever (MUTE, in other words) and listen to the song being played by the creation. You might hear crickets, you might hear birds, even the silence joins in the chorus of praising God with their way of saying, bravo! And it's also interesting to note that in all of the passages for this week, especially at the baptism of His Son, God is the one who speaks a word of gratitude towards Jesus. It was as if the psalmist knew that God would speak at the moment that Jesus dressed his "best to honor (God)!"

The best way for us to say bravo is with our faith, our awe towards God and God's work in our lives; every aspect of our existence should motivate us to join in with all creation, "Bravo!"

PRAYER: Lord, let my mind tell my heart, and let my heart tell my lips, "Bravo, loving God!" for all you do. Thank You for today and the promise today holds for me to bless You and Yours. Let me do my best! This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Do Not Be Afraid!

Image of Grandpa's tennis shoes along with firstborn granddaughter, Saraí Evangelina Cortez' tennis shoes

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." (Isaiah 43:1-7)

I own a pair of Converse All Star hightops, a reminder of the only tennis shoes that were available for me to use during my elementary school days. I owned several pairs and usually wore them completely out. I would also write on them, because as a child, we think that's what white space is for, isn't it? And that big white space at the front invites our name, our school name or mascot. This pair I've had for some years, and when we started being blessed by grandchildren, Nellie and I thought it would be a great idea to buy tiny Converse tennis shoes for our babies (And yes, we still owe Adi a pair! (Blushing smiley face here!)). Though they were not yet even walking it was a symbol of our saying, "We walk with you; no need to be afraid. And that's the message of Jesus' baptism and the message found in this Old Testament passage: Do not be afraid; I created you, I redeemed you, I called you by name, you are mine! I walk with you!

As the days of the New Year start to zoom by us, slow down enough to know that God wears your shoes and more importantly, God walks with you. God formed you, God redeemed you through Jesus Christ, God called your name at your baptism, You belong to God. AND, God walks with you!

It matters not what the days may bring, God is there and God is walking with you. Floods, fires, job crisis, retirement, illness... God is there, and God is walking with you.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for creating, redeeming, and calling me. But especially, thank You for walking with me! I love You! And I pray in faith, in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

You Can Do It!

Image from architecturalstudio.com

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17)

I first saw this poor dog with the caption under its picture: WHEN THE PASTOR CALLS ON YOU TO PRAY. I had to laugh because I have been there and I have put people there. I've known of some pastors who wanted a month's notice before praying in a public function outside of church. You may have your own "rules" or limits about what you can or cannot do without notice, but over all, when it comes to Christian service, if you've been baptized, you've been empowered to do almost anything for which you are called. Take the story in today's scripture. The apostles heard that a region not known usually for its faith had now come to faith through having accepted the word of God. The apostles respond to this good news by sending Peter and John to the new converts. These two come to Samaria and pray for them asking God to send the Holy Spirit, and they did. This fulfilled what John the Baptist had spoken about when people believed him to be the Messiah. John pointed to Jesus and what Jesus would do later.

The power of the Holy Spirit is the locomotive power behind our determination to do what God calls on us to do. This goes beyond the children's story about the little locomotive that thought it could; this is the full-sized, full-powered locomotive powered up and full force pushing us up and over any and all obstacles that may stand between us and faithfulness. It was a promise of God and it is fulfilled in our baptism done in the Triune name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And it may go beyond the public prayer; it may go to public preaching and witnessing of our faith in Jesus Christ.

Look at the dog again; never have that look again when called by God to do anything; you can do it! (And you should do it!)

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the promise of the Holy Spirit! I can and will do all things with the blessing of the Holy Spirit. I want to move towards fullness of faithfulness to doing the things You call me to do. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus Gets Baptized!

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22)

So many [people today seek answers and direction for their lives. The people during Jesus' day did as well. One of the most obvious question had to do with their personal sin. And to have a preacher come to the River Jordan and proclaim a release from that sin, the crowds lined up to receive what John was offering. As this passage begins, the people were so excited to hear his message some even wondered if perhaps John wasn't the Messiah, the anointed one of God. John perceived that notion in his heart and directly said, "I'm not the messiah; I am baptizing you with water, but the one who is coming is more powerful than I and he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His purpose is already at work in getting those who should be right with God lined up; and those who could care less, their line is ready too, and longer!

Then comes Jesus to be baptized as well; His act of identification with our situation as humans. As He comes up out of the water, the heavens open and a voice comes from the sky saying, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." A declaration not heard by many, but the One who needed to hear it heard it. It was confirmation for Him that He was indeed the Son of God, sent precisely for the job for which He was preparing.

Such is the love God has for you that His own Son, Jesus Christ got in the sinners line, though He was without sin. Jesus never lorded His position or power over those for whom He had come. Jesus simply says, I am one of you and understand you. Sin has no business being in your life, and I have come to rid the world, and more importantly, to rid you of your sin. There can be no better news for any of us!

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for understanding me and for loving me enough to rid my life of my sin. Thank You for Jesus and His ministry and redemption of the world. In His name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Dressed for Success?

Image from ziglar.com

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17)

There's nothing more embarrassing than to be dressed incorrectly for an important event. If one is invited to a formal event, especially one which will be a blessing to us for attending, one will go to the lengths needed to dress appropriately.

The same is true for the disciple's life we are called to live. We should be dressed, as Paul says here, in the clothing that blesses God and God's children. Nothing says NON-CHRISTIAN or NON-DISCIPLE better than "wearing" non-compassion, rudeness, arrogance, and impatience. Paul knew the way people learn from us as they observe us and Who we represent, and the finest clothing for our lives as believers is to be compassionate and kind to others. We should remember we are God's and have that humility about our call. We should seek to listen and love rather than shout and judge, reject and scare off. We are called to bear with one another, and seek solutions to our differences; especially forgiving those who have offended or hurt us. For you see, the peace of Christ should rule in our hearts and we are called to be one body; a thankful body. And Christ's body is called to grow, not just stay in shape.

The best way to clothe ourselves in this way is to pray, read the Word, and let the Word come to dwell in our hearts. With Christ present and active in our living, we will be teachers and shapers of others, and we will show the world how blessed they can be as well, through God's love as found in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, as I pray and plan for next year, let me plan on growing and living in ways that bless You and Yours. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS I have been a bit restful during these days, and starting later today will be moving one of our daughters to her new home. Therefore, you will not have a ConCafe again until next year. So, have a Happy New Year's celebration; welcome the Year in prayer.

Love,

Eradio

The Adventure Continues!

Image from kidsermons.com

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. (Luke 2:41-52)

A comedian that I follow on Twitter is Cristela. She's from the Valley and had her own sitcom on ABC for a little while last year. On the 24th she tweeted, "i'm dreading the 26th because that's when they start playing all that Easter music." That made me laugh and smile, because she reflects what a lot of people reflect; once the gifts are open, Christmas is over. Wrong. This was made true last night as we took our grandkids on a walking tour of our neighbor's Christmas lights. "Why are these lights still on, since Christmas is over?" I told them in the Christian calendar Christmas is not over and won't be for a while. The adventure continues!

The gospel for this Sunday deals with Jesus as a boy, lost from His parents during a pilgrimage they took to the holy city of Jerusalem. The family had joined other relatives and friends from their town to visit the holy city for the Passover. Once the festival was over, they started their walk back. Mary assumed Joseph knew where the boy was, and Joseph assumed Mary knew where Jesus was. They both agreed that He must be with their relatives and friends. Wrong. Jesus was not with family and friends. He was lost! The most terrifying feeling of a parent or grandparent came home to their hearts. They journeyed back to Jerusalem and it took three days to finally find Him in the temple. Yikes. "Let's look here; let's look there!" They started at the Galleria, went downtown, back to the Loop, the toy store, the candy store; finally, let's look in church. That's where He was. Listening to the teachers, and asking them questions. The temple's cafeteria probably fed him, and at night the dorms must have had an extra bed for the boy. They were amazed at His ability to understand religious and theological things, and they loved His answers. Interesting how some of these very teachers years later would be the ones who would seek to find a way to trap, arrest, and kill Him.

After Christmas, like we did before Christmas, we were on a search. We started in the Galleria (or La Palmera or Ingram or North Park), we tried downtown (Wal-Mart or Family Dollar or Dollar General), we tried the toy store(s), candy store(s), and why do all stores have candy?? Even in the Ladies section of department stores, while you're paying, why not buy an expensive, but very delicious chocolate bar of candy? We looked everywhere, and some of us finally made it to the Christmas Eve service. Did we find what we were looking for?

Jesus is easy to find, but difficult to follow. He loves us and offers us new life, but demands our very lives of love and service to Him and to His. Are we willing? Or, as the hymn asks, "Are Ye Able, Said the Master?"

PRAYER: Yes, we are able, our spirits are thine. Lord, our spirits are Thine. Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty. In Jesus we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed Christmas adventure today!

Eradio Valverde PS Prayer Updates, for those who prayed for the Stan Foreman family, our brother went home to the Lord yesterday at 11:25 a.m. Prayers for his wife, Pat, their two daughters and their families. For those who prayed for safe travel for my family; all are well and with us for now. Thanks be to God for God's presence and power in our daily needs!

Christ is Born!

Image from interruptingthesilence.com

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:1-20)

The universal gospel of Luke records the birth of Jesus as being for all people. The clue is that he includes in his Nativity story, the visit of the Christ child by shepherds, the most universal of occupations of the day. He also gives as much historical setting as he can, recording the name of the Emperor who ordered a census of all the world, or that controlled by Rome, which included Israel. The decree ordered each person to return to their town to be registered there. Joseph, being of the house and lineage of David, returns to Bethlehem, taking with him, his betrothed Mary. He sought lodging in the inns of the area only to be told there was no room. The only place he could secure for the night was a stable, where Mary delivered the son promised to her. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, laid Him in a manger. A meager beginning of this Son of God. Luke records that in fields nearby, shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and "the glory of the Lord shone around them," which terrified them, but the angel said, "Do not be afraid; for see- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." And the angel gives them the way to find the child. Then an angelic choir appears singing praises to God. The shepherds go and find the child and praised God. Mary heard their words and treasured them in her heart, as the shepherds returned to work with the glory of God in their hearts.

This took place just as much as for you and me as well as the shepherds. God acted on our behalf, and brought to the world, He who would bring about the reconciliation between God and us. Just last night in a restitution center near here, one of our pastors was there with the prisoners watching the end of the movie, "God's Not Dead," and one of them, "Joe," asked about being baptized. This pastor explained to Joe the meaning of baptism and Joe asked if he could be baptized right then and there. He was baptized, and the glory of the Lord shone round about those men and that pastor. No, God is not dead, neither is the work being done for those who still seek God and being made right with God.

Merry Christmas, dear friend; may the Lord bless you and keep you is my prayer for this holiday season.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the work still being done in those who need You. Come and make this season special by blessing this dear reader and their family and needs. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed Merry Christmas!

Love,

Eradio Valverde

This is a Time for Singing, So, Sing!

Image from singcambridge.co.uk

Sing God a brand-new song! Earth and everyone in it, sing! Sing to God - worship God! Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea, Take the news of his glory to the lost, News of his wonders to one and all! For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs. His terrible beauty makes the gods look cheap; Pagan gods are mere tatters and rags. God made the heavens - Royal splendor radiates from him, A powerful beauty sets him apart. Bravo, God, Bravo! Everyone join in the great shout: Encore! In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might. Bring gifts and celebrate, Bow before the beauty of God, Then to your knees - everyone worship! Get out the message - God Rules! He put the world on a firm foundation; He treats everyone fair and square. Let's hear it from Sky, With Earth joining in, And a huge round of applause from Sea. Let Wilderness turn cartwheels, Animals, come dance, Put every tree of the forest in the choir - An extravaganza before God as he comes, As he comes to set everything right on earth, Set everything right, treat everyone fair. (Psalm 96)

I used to walk our two dogs in San Antonio, Lucy and Deacon. Deacon was the first gift that Nellie ever asked of me and she wanted a Golden Retriever. Lucy was a hand-me-down dog that our daughter was asked to babysit and then the owner didn't want her back. Both were great dogs. When I walked them I would sing to them, "Home on the Range." The first time I sang, Deacon looked at Lucy as if to laughingly say, "Can you get a load of this guy, trying to sing? To us??" And I would continue and sing, and every time after that as I started, Deacon had to give Lucy that knowing glance. But I love to sing, especially around this time of year. The carols and hymns for this season are awesome and I love to hear singing of these songs as often as I can. Singing is a pure expression of joy and love, and more so after reading this modern version of the ancient psalm.

We should use our voices to praise God and to tell others of the joy and love we have found in God. Our celebrations are missing a key element if we don't sing.

The message today: Sing! It'll do your heart (and God's!) good!

PRAYER: I love you, Lord! Let me make a joyful and loving noise as I sing today.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord as you stop right now to sing!

Love,

Eradio Valverde

Living a Self-Controlled, Upright, Godly Life

Image from shareyouressays.com

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14)

We're just hours away from the celebration of the greatest event the world has ever known; the birth of God's Son, our Messiah, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Yet, for many, this is a time of rush and hurry to get the last-minute gift for that hard-to-please person on their list; others are rushing to the grocery store to fight the crowds that must prepare a feast to the liking of even the pickiest of eaters. What if we sat down, took a deep breath and prayed this prayer: "Lord, help me to live a self-controlled, upright, and Godly life; for You have taken care of all the rest through Jesus, amen."?

Titus writes these words because he knew all about life and all about God. He knew that through Christ, God has taken care of us with the most important aspects of our life: Our souls are saved; with the right attitude, we become people for all people to bring them along this journey of life and that in abundance; and as we work for the good of all, we await the final glory that is coming. It does require our part as illustrated in the photo selected for today's reading; We must find the right balance for our lives, a certain calmness that fights against anxiety; the determination to move forward in spite of unexpected setbacks or illnesses, the confidence that says, "I can do this" that comes from God's Holy Spirit in our lives, and the willpower that is ours for the taking by asking God to help us. That is self-control. For upright, God's Spirit helps us make the right and best decisions for our lives; staying away from the harmful to us and others choices that come our way. For the Godly, that comes from the time we spend with God in prayer and scripture reading and study. If we start there, the other two come easier.

PRAYER: LORD, it was the birth of a tiny baby that has brought all this traffic to our areas, shoppers to our stores, and a hurried pace. Many have forgotten that, but I pray not to be among those; I want to be those Titus mentioned who have it altogether because of You. This I pray in He born for us, Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

We Who Have Walked in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light!

But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9: 1-7)

My brother is a photographer. He used to use real film, the kind when you put it into his camera, he had to be in a room completely devoid of light. Once he visited us when we lived in Edinburg, and the only room I knew like that was Room 102 in the Campus Ministry Building owned by the Diocese of Brownsville, which in those days, the UMC rented space for my office and our group's activities. By putting towels on the bottom of the door he had complete darkness to load new film into his camera. This is a positive use of darkness, and I can think of very few other positive uses of it. Usually darkness is not conducive for walking. Spiritual darkness is even worse for our walk through life. It was for that reason that this week builds us up for Christmas; There is no longer any gloom for us to be in anguish, no longer any need to walk in darkness or live in darkness, on us a great light has shined! God has increased our joy and we are to rejoice in what God has done for us: "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom." This is Christmas. This is the act of God on our behalf.

Rejoice. I will say it again, rejoice.

Rejoice, indeed!

PRAYER: LORD, thank You! In Jesus we have all we need, and we are in the Light, Your light! Thank You. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

P.S. I slept yesterday until 6 a.m. And today until 7. Hmm. This is a bit late for some of you. I pray it's the right message, right on time.

It Matters Not Where You're From

Image from bobcornwall.com

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace. (Micah 5:2-5a)

"O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie..." It's a question we get asked from time to time, "Where are you from?" I read just yesterday someone who said, "Though I don't actually live in Dallas, I like to say that I live in Dallas, because no one has heard of my little town." We believe the one asking will immediately put on his/her GPS or Maps on in his/her brain and locate the general vicinity of where we are from. The years I served in Mission, Texas, I would say, "I'm from Mission, which is close to McAllen," which didn't do anything for those from north of the Mason-Dixon line who had never heard of either place. Sometimes I would have to add, "It's about 10 miles from the border with Mexico."

Little Bethlehem, quoted first here in Micah, later in the gospel that shares that part of Jesus' story, and later in the song that I began this devotional with; it was considered among the smallest of the towns, from the smallest of the clans of Judah. Yet, out of it would come one who was to rule Israel; in fact, One known now as the King of Kings, and the Prince of Peace. It didn't matter where He was from, but Who He Was. God can take the smallest or most insignificant (in the eyes of the world) and transform that into something of greatness and importance. What matters, as Micah shares, was the "strength of the Lord" with which He has used to "feed His flock," and "the majesty of the name of the Lord His God," which also was a part of that feeding. Great was this man from the small town that those who believe in Him now live secure, and the greatness of the Lord extends to "the ends of the earth." And He is, Jesus, "the one of peace."

Advent means reorienting ourselves to where we are, and where we are going. More importantly, with Who we're making the journey. Our life's journey as believers centers solely on Jesus, who will lead us safely to where He would have us be.

PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, to where I am, but lead me to where I should be. In Your name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God's Way, Not Ours

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Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, "See, God, I have come to do your will, O God' (in the scroll of the book it is written of me)." When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10: 5-10)

I have come to know the universal face of kids during this season is the angry frown. It doesn't matter what store I'm in, I see it everywhere, even Sam's Club. I had to chuckle as I saw it on a boy, about 4 or 5 years old. He was trailing his mom and his face said it all: I am mad at you! You don't love me enough to buy me that toy! I NEED THAT TOY! It is also saying, "I did not get my way."

The passage today is all about God getting His way. Jesus' entrance into the world was about fulfilling God's plan for humanity, not humanity's plan for God. The world, at least the religious one, knew that sins were deadly, and so an animal would be sacrificed, debt paid, sin gone. But as the saying goes, it was really, "no skin off of our back." The animal paid it all. Unless that animal was a pet, or you have a strong feeling towards the suffering and treatment of animals, most people just saw it as complying with what was expected. Sacrifice over. Go home.

Jesus said, "I have come to do Your will." He said this to God so that God's will of being reconciled with us could take place with the ultimate sacrifice; the death of God's only begotten Son. That death paid the final price for sin. Every time we see the cross we should remember that on that instrument of death came our life, and that in abundance. We cannot celebrate Christmas without thinking of Easter. The two, thank God, go hand in hand with what was needed for our sake. The question remains, what are we going to do about it, to glorify God?

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for Your love that insisted on Your way for us. It cost a great price, the death of Jesus, but that only demonstrates the great love You have for us. Help us receive it, help us ask forgiveness of our sins, and help us be the people You called us to be. In Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Magnify the Lord!

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In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." (Luke 1:39-55)

For our grandson Caleb Eradio's birthday, we got him a microscope. He is a boy fascinated with science and having never had one, was amazed by what he could see with this new gift. He saw brine shrimp that came with the set, and he said he should feed those to his lizards. His mom explained the state they were in and probably would not be good food for his lizards. His mom also said they could see other microscopic things, including a human specimen, to which he replied, "Who would want to stick that thing in their mouth??"

Making seen the unseen is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit in us making seen the presence and power of the Lord Jesus to others as we see in this passage. Mary, fresh from hearing news of her own pregnancy, rushes to see her cousin Elizabeth, whom she heard was also expecting a child. Upon entering the room and extending her greeting to Elizabeth, "the child leaped in her womb." Elizabeth was then filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed that Mary was blessed among women and blessed was the fruit of her womb, to which Mary replies with what is known as The Magnificat, a desire to make known what God had done in her. Her praise included the words, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant." She goes on to list that which God had and would do for all of His people; truly an Advent message of the coming of the Christ child.

We read that list and we must ponder where in the list we find ourselves? Are we among the proud, guilty of self-grandiose thoughts? We are about to be scattered! Or are we among the powerful? We might be brought down! But if we are among the lowly, the hungry; God came for us! Christ came to lift up the lowly and to feed the hungry - our lives should now do as Mary did, magnify the Lord!

Let us live our lives today and all days, in ways that bring the unseen into the visible, especially the things that God has done, and is doing for each of us.

PRAYER: Let it be so in my life, loving God, that I may truly and wonderfully magnify You. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Sing! A Joyful Noise Only Adds to Life!

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So sing, Daughter Zion! Raise the rafters, Israel! Daughter Jerusalem, be happy! celebrate! God has reversed his judgments against you and sent your enemies off chasing their tails. From now on, God is Israel's king, in charge at the center. There's nothing to fear from evil ever again! God Is Present Among You Jerusalem will be told: "Don't be afraid. Dear Zion, don't despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. "The accumulated sorrows of your exile will dissipate. I, your God, will get rid of them for you. You've carried those burdens long enough. At the same time, I'll get rid of all those who've made your life miserable. I'll heal the maimed; I'll bring home the homeless. In the very countries where they were hated they will be venerated. On Judgment Day I'll bring you back home - a great family gathering! You'll be famous and honored all over the world. You'll see it with your own eyes - all those painful partings turned into reunions!" God's Promise. (Zephaniah 4:14-20 The Message)

Yesterday, I was sitting in a doctor's office where Christmas music was being played rather louder than normal offices, and a dear old lady came in and without thinking, started to sing the song, caught herself and stopped; the chorus came back on, and she almost started to sing. The nurse came to get her and said, "You like Christmas music, don't you?" The old lady smiles and said, "Oh, yes!"

What happened to singing out loud? Has proper etiquette and behavior stifled our bursting out in song? I love being around children that haven't learned that lesson yet; whether they know the real words or not, there they go, joining in song. Pharrell Williams had a great hit song, "Happy" that made so many children just drop what they were doing to start dancing and singing, "Because I'm happy!" Advent is just that type of season as well; the prophet says, "Start singing again, people of God!" He lists the reasons for our need to sing, and encourages us to sing! There is no judgment or condemnation against you, so sing! Your enemies have hightailed it to the hills, so sing! There's nothing to fear, so sing! There is no reason to be afraid, not even of your own voice, so sing! Your prodigal days are over, you've made your way home, and God has given you the Welcome Home, Child embrace, dang it! - SING! God has taken your sorrows and removed them, so sing. The burdens that you've carried have been taken away, so sing. Those who opposed or afflicted you, gone! So, sing! God is healing the sick; bringing in the homeless from the cold, so sing. Hatred has turned into welcoming love, so sing. The day of reunion is coming, and you know there will be great singing there, so sing.

PRAYER: Lord, let me sing today out loud and proud, of the many things You have done for me and mine. The list is too long, but I am blessed, and let me bless You and many with the sounds of praise. Help me sing in Jesus' Name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! And sing!!

Eradio Valverde

I Will Trust God, and Not Be Afraid

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Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." (Isaiah 12:2-6 NIV)

Our grandson called us last night and he was excited! "We're having a book fair!" We love hearing that all our grandkids love to read, and just yesterday I read an article that says that the more books one has in ones home, the more likely the children of that household will love to read, and that is the truth with our daughters, and now with their children. He continued, "All we have to do is put which books we want on a wish list, and we'll get them!" His mom chuckled and said, "You still have to buy them." But, what faith and joy was his! Precisely why Jesus said we must have childlike faith when it comes to matters of faith and trusting God. The prophet is saying that having God as our salvation is the basis of living a life of trust and not being afraid. Have you ever been so afraid that your life was paralyzed? I know some who have been so afraid they stop functioning as adults or even humans. Some won't leave their houses. Some won't go to church anymore. Some are afraid to see their doctors, and some turn to stimulants to numb that fear. Case in point: Yesterday on our morning walk, Nellie and I were stopped by a woman in a car, who told us she had circled the block twice because a young man on the bus bench was slumped over. I ran to check on him and he was non responsive. The lady was on the phone with non-emergency 911, and I told her he needed an ambulance. We ran back to the young man, and an EMT just off duty, obviously with a scanner in his truck, came out and started care for the man. He turned to me and said he was seeing this almost on a daily basis, and sometimes more than once a day.

There is the work that is before us; to find those who have not yet found that salvation from fear, whose lives are marked and marred by fear and foolish decisions. They have no songs to sing, compared to what Isaiah says, those who know the Lord as their strength have songs to sing, they have deep wells of living water found in that salvation. They also have an attitude of thanksgiving, thankful for all that God has done. Yesterday I also read that said the three types of people with whom should surround yourself: The inspired. The excited. The grateful.

Are you in at least one of those categories because of your salvation in the Lord?

PRAYER: Loving God, inspire my life to be an inspiration to others. Grant me the faith that excites me about what You are doing in and around me. And help me to be grateful for all things, especially my salvation. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Rejoice Times Two!

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Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV)

Rejoice is a verb; an action word that means "to show great joy or delight." It comes as a command from the Apostle Paul, who later in this same chapter will talk about his joy even in the midst of what most of us would call joyless situations. He knew the secret to rejoicing is no secret at all, but to know the Lord Jesus Christ. And it's so important, he said it twice! "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" You and I have heard the expression that some Christians are so sour, it seems they were baptized in lemon juice. Ouch! Is that you? It shouldn't be! You and I know the source of all joy and that is God; and to know that God loves us and walks with us should be enough to say that what Paul is commanding is possible and needful for any life: Rejoice times two!

Paul's attitude was that Christ was near. He had seen the Risen Christ in his encounter with Jesus, and so he knew Jesus was real and alive and nearby. He stresses that in the verses that follow his command to rejoice. His presence should be enough to dispel our anxiety about anything; knowing that prayer is connecting with Him and His power and might. Paul knew more about Jesus through prayer, and so he knew and trusted the power of prayer. He knew that as we pray we can petition, or ask, what it is we believe we need, but to do so with thanksgiving. And the end result will always be the gift of God's peace even in the midst of what we think overcomes us. God's peace will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. What more could we need?

PRAYER: Come, peace of God to this heart and mind. Guard my heart and grant me peace. And this shall cause me to rejoice, and rejoice. Amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Advent: Get Ready!

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John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. (Luke 3:7-18 NIV)

John Wesley had a simple, but powerful question for those wanting to join the weekly class meeting of Methodists: "Are you will to flee the coming wrath of God?" Gulp. How many of us would join a Sunday school class that would ask that of us by the teacher standing at the door? How many Sunday school teachers would dare ask that question? But perhaps they should, and we certainly should ask ourselves that question. John the Baptist did. His message of good news was for all to repent for the kingdom of God was near. This struck many to the core of their being and they sought to be forgiven and baptized clean of their sins. But John wants to make sure they're ready aware of what they are asking. He then shares, as the sheep above discuss, actions to match the decision: "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." In other words, live a life that tells others that we have been forgiven and so can they. Sin no longer needs to keep visiting our minds from years ago; we have been forgiven and we should live like it. John also says we can't hide behind what our parents or grandparents have done: "'We have Abraham as our father.'" That counts for nothing; you've heard the expression, "God has no grandchildren"? It's true! All of us are sons and daughters if we surrender to God.

John continues, share with those in need; do right in your workplace; be straightforward in your dealings; do not tell lies about others. These are but the beginning of a solid foundation for Christ-centered living.

Then John speaks of Jesus as He would who come in a powerful way, Who would baptize with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and Who would clean out those who had not been living as they should and separate them from those who had; those who heard this, still had a chance to turn their lives around. This is the good news!

PRAYER: Loving God, I seek repentance and new direction for my life. Set me on the path I should follow, to be the person You called me to be. Help me in my home, with my family and friends, help me to be the best at my work. And help me accept Your forgiveness, so that the memory of previous, forgiven sins, stays where it should, in the past. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde