The Majesty of The King

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1 My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 2 You are the most handsome of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; 7 you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; 8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; 9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. (Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 NIV Bible)

What I suspect is that most of us who live in this country of the United States of America, may find oursleves at a disadvantage when we enter the Kingdom where Jesus is King. We have endured the every-four-year spectacle of "Elect me and I'll set you free" election of a president. And we may disagree about how it has all gone, but that day in King Jesus' home will help us forget all that happened down here. If we do remember it will be with love to God for allowing us to have been allowed to live where we did, and may the rewards handed out that day be for those generous and outrageous acts of loving people, all people. Those of us who didn't help a single soul, well, we'll be looking for the air conditioning persons who may live in you-know-where.

The entire idea of kings and queens comes from other lands, whose people had differeing ideas about monarchies and the like, and the one idea we do have is of a spoiled nation who rejected God as king, and instead asked for the very thing God had asked them not to do; they wanted to be just like everybody else. They made the prophet Samuel very hurt, but he was not as hurt as God. And King Saul, well, he also hurt God as did most of the kings who followed him. But the glmpses, or flashes of glory we do have, are summed up here in this passage.

The psalmist is reflecting on a king’s majesty and righteousness, who may have been Solomon, and whose life's majesty and righteousness, found their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The psalmist’s heart is stirred as he writes of the king, and his words are inspired by divine grace, setting the stage for a deeper connection between King Solomon and King Jesus.

King Solomon, known for his wisdom and splendor, was a figure of prosperity and justice. His reign was marked by peace and prosperity, and his wisdom attracted leaders from far and wide. Solomon’s throne was characterized by justice, and his kingdom was adorned with opulence and peace, reflecting the divine favor and grace upon him.

However, Solomon’s reign, while impressive, was only a shadow of the ultimate King, Jesus Christ. Psalm 45’s portrayal of the king’s eternal throne and righteousness points beyond Solomon to Christ, whose kingdom surpasses all earthly splendor. Jesus’ reign is everlasting, marked by perfect justice, righteousness, and the oil of joy. Unlike Solomon, whose kingdom was temporary and marred by human flaws, Christ’s kingdom is eternal and unblemished, embodying the ultimate fulfillment of divine promises.

Just as Solomon’s reign was a foretaste of the divine ideal, Jesus embodies the ultimate realization of God’s promises—His throne is eternal, His justice is perfect, and His grace abounds forever.

PRAYER: Loving God, We thank You for the wisdom and splendor that You granted King Solomon, and we praise You even more for the ultimate fulfillment of Your promises in Jesus Christ. We are in awe of Your Son’s eternal reign, characterized by perfect justice, righteousness, and boundless joy. As we meditate on Psalm 45, help us to understand the connection between Solomon’s reign and the majesty of Christ. Inspire us to live in a way that reflects Your grace and righteousness, and to seek Your kingdom above all else. This we pray in King Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, seek to embody the values of Christ’s eternal kingdom by acting with integrity, extending grace, and promoting justice in your interactions. Share the hope of Christ’s eternal reign with others, and let His wisdom guide your actions and decisions.

I love you and I thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Experiencing the Love of Jesus!

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8 Look! Listen! There's my lover! Do you see him coming? Vaulting the mountains, leaping the hills. 9 My lover is like a gazelle, graceful; like a young stag, virile. Look at him there, on tiptoe at the gate, all ears, all eyes - ready! 10 My lover has arrived and he's speaking to me! Get up, my dear friend, fair and beautiful lover - come to me! 11 Look around you: Winter is over; the winter rains are over, gone! 12 Spring flowers are in blossom all over. The whole world's a choir - and singing! Spring warblers are filling the forest with sweet arpeggios. 13 Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed, and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms. Oh, get up, dear friend, my fair and beautiful lover - come to me! (Song of Solomon 2:8-13 The Message Bible)

What wonders! What joy! What unbelievable blessings come through that unexplainable, but very enjoyable thing called love. How many love songs have been written since recorded history began? Which is your favorite? And why? And to narrow it down just.a wee bit, how many love songs about Jesus have been written? And the why is because of the difference God makes in the life of those who surrender to Him. Today's passage is one which has both baffled and blessed many a believer since the day it was published. Some have called it the R-rated book of the Bible. Others the love-struck songs of King Solomon. And still others who see something beyond the written words to what truly is being shared behind each verse.

In this poetic passage from Song of Solomon, we see a vivid image of love that transcends time and season. The lover, leaping and bounding across mountains, symbolizes the eager, dynamic love of Christ coming into our lives. Do you remember that day and experience? Why didn't you write a song about it? This imagery reflects not only the excitement of love but also the transformative power of Jesus, who leaps over barriers and obstacles to reach us with His grace. The title Savior means a lot of things especially to those Whom He saves.

The invitation to “arise” and “come away” resonates deeply with the call of Christ to His followers. In the New Testament, Jesus extends a similar invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This call invites us to leave behind the old ways and embrace a new season in Christ, where winter’s cold and dreariness give way to the warmth and vibrancy of His love. Truly a life in Christ leads us beyond the mundane of the world into the marvelous ways of God.

Just as the passage describes the end of winter and the blossoming of nature, our lives are transformed when we accept Christ’s invitation. He brings spiritual renewal and joy, much like the blooming flowers and singing birds. Embracing Christ’s love leads us into a new season filled with His grace, peace, and abundant life. Dear one, if you desire that for yourself, invite Christ Jesus into your heart and make Him yours!

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, We are grateful for Your relentless and passionate love, which leaps over every barrier to reach us. Thank You for inviting us into a new season of life with You, leaving behind the coldness of winter and stepping into the warmth of Your presence. Help us to fully embrace Your invitation, finding renewal and joy in Your love. Guide us through each day, transforming us with Your grace and leading us closer to Your heart. And Lord, as we pray, hear the prayer of this dear reader as she/he invites You into their lives to make them new; for all this we pray in faith and in the powerful name of Jesus our Lord, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Consider areas where you might be holding onto past burdens or limitations. Open your heart to the renewal and transformation that Jesus offers. Engage with His Word, seek His presence in prayer, and allow His love to refresh and renew you. Embrace the new beginning He is offering, and share the hope and joy of His love with those around you.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

You Are a Gift!

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17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. 21 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. 26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:17-27 NRSV)

Have you ever received a gift that you were thankful and happy to receive yet never used it? A book a well-meaning friend wanted you to read and now it sits caked with dust. A watch that never quite fit you well and you never really thought it was "you," so you never wore it and the battery died years ago and the trouble it would take to get to it replaced was not quite worth the effort? Here's one: God made you a gift, and you've not given yourself away? James believes, and rightfully so, that you and are were made as gifts. The gift part is what our purpose and meaning enables us to do for Him and for His people. We have either not yet discovered what that gift is, or we have been shy or lazy in trying to fully discover what we can truly do and truly be. James adds that God is unchanging, and in giving us birth, "By the word of truth," we can become among "the first fruite of His creatures." To be a creature of God truly is the starting point of being a gift. James says that by our first being eager to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, we have shared a lot to others. A person who does not anger easily, is rare. A person who is ready to listen, especially with someone who is having problems or worries, is a blessing. And one who holds his/her tongue when others would automatically share much, is also a blessing.

James says we must work on ridding ourselves of sordidness and wickedness, and replace it with the word of God which can, and does, save our lives, and we begin by living (doing) the word, and not be those who sit Sunday after Sunday in hearing all about what could be done and never stand and do any of it. James' description is perfect: It's like looking in a mirror and as soon as we turn away we forget what we were wearing and what we are like. But if we look into the word of God and begin to live it, we will be blessed as well as blessing others. We are called to move away from being just religious and become truly believers in a fruitful and faithful relationship with God; that is true religion. James' description is perfect: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." This reminds me of an end of the year atricle some years back when a noted writer and speaker and preacher was asked what would be the greatest act in religion in the coming New Year? Would it be the unification of large denominations, or would major strides be made in theology with the publication of a stellar book that would help many better understand God? No, replied the writer, it just may be that one Sunday morning, in a small church, a little girl may realize right then and there, that God loved her enough to send Jesus, and that moment would mark the start of a lifelong relationship with God for that little girl."

Could it be you that invited that little girl to church and thus your gift back to God? Could it be that you handed that little girl the bulletin, made her smile and helped her find a seat or worship or showed her which Sunday school class could be hers?

True religion, according to James, involves caring for the vulnerable—orphans and widows—and remaining unstained by the world. It’s not about outward appearances or empty rituals but about genuine compassion and integrity.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Thank You for the incredible gifts You pour into our lives, including the gift of Your Word which guides and transforms us. We acknowledge that Your ways are higher than our ways, and we seek to reflect Your righteousness in all we do. Help us to be not just hearers of Your Word but doers as well. Teach us to listen with empathy, speak with grace, and act with integrity. Guide us to serve those in need and to keep ourselves pure from the distractions of this world. Help us become the gift You meant for us; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Start with practicing listening. To God, to the vulnerable. Then serve with commitment and compassion, and seek to maintain purity within from God. Make a difference in being a great gift to all!

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Inside Out, Inside!

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1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” 6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” 14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 NIV Bible)

The Disney Movie, Inside Out, is about emotions. It was highly successful, grossing $857 million worldwide, not to mention the merchandise it produced; so there had to be a sequel called Inside Out 2. Our little grandson was a fan and when Nellie or I would ask him if he wanted to see Inside Out, he would reply, "I want to see it inside!" We laughed because we knew that since moving to New Braunfels, his family has fallen in love with drive-in movies, so apparently, Eli prefers inside movies.

The Jews have always been a clean people in terms of their laws and practices. Ritual washings and cleaning are a part of their identity. Their dietary practices were also centered on eating meals from animals deemed clean by scriptural law. And to sit at a meal, one had to be clean and not unclean. Water was present at the entrance of each home with which to wash both hands and feet before eating. As this passage opens, the religious leaders notice that some of Jesus' disciples were enjoying meal with defiled hands and thus the opening crisis; One cannot go to HEB, or Safeway, or Brookshire Brothers withouf first washing ones hands before eating! So the question is asked, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?"

The stage is set for Jesus to address a crucial aspect of spiritual health and authenticity. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were focused on outward rituals and traditions, believing that these external practices determined a person’s purity. They criticized Jesus and His disciples for not adhering to their ceremonial washing traditions.

However, Jesus redirects our attention to a deeper truth: true defilement comes not from external practices but from within the heart. It’s easy to get caught up in external displays of faith or religious activities, thinking that they make us righteous. Yet, Jesus challenges us to examine our hearts, where the true condition of our spirituality resides. Some in these parts might say that Jesus went from preaching to meddling.

The heart, in biblical terms, is the center of our thoughts, emotions, and will. It’s from the heart that both our virtues and vices spring. Jesus lists several destructive behaviors that originate from within: sexual immorality, theft, murder, and more. These are not simply actions but reflections of a deeper, inner corruption that needs transformation.

This teaching invites us to focus on the transformation of our inner selves. Instead of just performing rituals or following traditions, Jesus calls us to cultivate purity of heart. It is through this inner change that our actions and outward behaviors will align with the heart of God’s commandments.

PRAYER: Loving God,

Thank You for Your Word that cuts through our superficial understanding and calls us to a deeper, more authentic relationship with You. Lord, we confess that at times we have been like the Pharisees, focusing more on outward appearances than on the condition of our hearts. Purify our hearts and renew our spirits. Teach us to live from the inside out, reflecting Your love and righteousness in every aspect of our lives. May our actions, words, and deeds align with the true transformation You bring. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Take some time today to reflect on your own heart’s condition. Are there areas of your life where negative thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors are taking root? Ask God to reveal these areas to you and seek His guidance for transformation. Identify one negative behavior or attitude from the list Jesus mentioned (e.g., envy, deceit) that you struggle with. Make a plan for how you can address this issue. This could involve prayer, seeking accountability, or making practical changes in your daily life.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Divine Encounter

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1 Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 6 The priests then brought the ark of the LORD’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple. 22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 23 and said: “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today. 25 “Now LORD, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true. 27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. 41 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name. (1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43 The Message Bible)

I was blessed to have been raised in a church where there was nothing off-limits about the church. I heard about churches where someone would immediately stop little ones from crossing some invisbile line that would have allowed a child, Lord forbid!, to enter the area immediately behind the altar rail. And Heaven forbid that the dirty hands of a little boy or girl should touch the sides of the pulpit or lectern. There were times children were welcome, like a song from a kid's choir, or a baptism. I believe part of my call into ministry was the idea that God was accessible through Jesus and through the Holy Spirit's guidance. I felt and knew of the sacredness of the altar rail;it was there I could kneel and connect with God. It was there that I asked Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Later it would be where I was confirmed and married; and all four of our children were baptized.

Let's travel to the ceremony we read about in this passage. King Solomon is the new king and as king his connection to the faith is central and key. He was not a priest nor prophet, but as king he is in a special relationship with God. God appeared to him in a dream and established him as king and a wise one at that, and his political influence allowed him to call the chiefs of tribes and chiefs of Israeli families, and to bring in the ark of the covenant.

In this passage from 1 Kings, we witness a profound moment of divine encounter. Solomon’s prayer and the subsequent glory filling the temple highlight the significance of God’s presence. As the priests are overwhelmed by the cloud of God's glory, we are reminded that God’s presence is not confined by human structures or ceremonies. God is not limited off-limits by altar rails or laity consumed with trying to keep people away. God is where God wants to be. More importantly, God is where He needs to be. His glory and power transcends and envelops our lives, touching every corner with divine significance.

Solomon’s prayer is not just a personal declaration; it’s a petition for all people, even those who are foreigners, to experience God’s greatness. His prayer reflects a deep understanding of God’s universal scope—God’s love and mercy are not limited to one nation but are available to all who seek Him. This inclusivity of God's grace is a testament to His boundless love.

The imagery of the temple filled with God’s glory serves as a powerful metaphor for our own lives. Just as the physical temple was filled with the divine presence, our hearts are meant to be places where God's presence dwells. This presence should transform us, guiding our actions, thoughts, and interactions with others. God still desires us to connect with Him at every opportunity we have. What's holding you back?

PRAYER: Awesome God, we come before You with hearts open and eager to experience Your presence. Just as You filled the temple with Your glory, we invite You to fill our lives with Your Spirit. Teach us to be attentive to Your presence and responsive to Your guidance. Help us to live in a way that reflects Your boundless love and grace, reaching out to others with the same inclusivity You show to us. Lord, we pray for those who seek You from afar, that they might find in You a refuge and a source of strength. May our lives be a testimony to Your goodness, so that all who encounter us might see Your light and be drawn to Your name.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Pray for those who are searching for meaning and invite them to experience the love of God through your actions. Let your life be a temple where God’s glory shines brightly, drawing others to Him. Reflect on how you can be a vessel for God's presence in your daily life. Seek opportunities to extend kindness and grace to others, especially those who are different from you.

I love you and I thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Dress To Kick the Devil's Backside!

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10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20 NRSV)

Great moments in oversized suits and undersized warriors: You will remember the shepherd king, David, as a boy offered to go up against Goliath, and the incumbent king, Saul, insisted the boy wear proper armor. David thanks God there were no phones equipped with cameras back then! Imagine the call the boy made to his best friend, "Dude! King Saul is bonkers; made me wear his body armor! No, not Under Armor, this was the real thing, the kind you see in museums now bro! Totally zero!" (Okay, totally 20th century jargon, but I'm trying!). The photo of the future king in the current king's armor would have made the front page of the Jerusalem Times! Flash foward to late sixties AD and Madison high school in Houston. A chubby five foot eight, lineman wearing the Columbia blue and white suit of the Marlins. Okay, that's enough of that!

I'll let Paul tell the story. Paul knows God is super, amazingly strong; and that well, we're not. Some of us think we are but we're really not; Paul says that it's a better idea to let God make us strong. And speaking of that, Paul, in admiring or resenting, the Roman guard in his cell, says, dress like this monster: He's equpped by Nike Rome, and we got God armor, which is far better! Just like this behemoth goes up against the enemies of Rome and lives to tell the tale, so can we go up against old what's-his-name from down under; you know way, way, down, down, under. Hot as Texas all the time! Remember, he says, we're not going up against people like us, we're up against the A-team of Hades, and we're talking the head honchos, the powers that be, in other words, pro-level challenges - not for the faint-hearted! Or as Kevin said, "Don't get scared now!" Paul knew that the best defense was to be ready, and he pretty much covers it from head to toe!

Here's the vital areas where we need to be strong! The belt of truth. Yes, the belt holds up the trousers, but the belt of truth holds up our integrity and character. We become, as Jesus stressed, men and women of our word, letting our yes be yes, and our no, no. In all areas of our lives we should use the truth; knowing that sometimes truth hurts. And to protect our hearts, live right! Righteousness as a word sometimes clouds the Christian's understanding of what that really means. If you live right, your heart will be protected and blessed. Do no harm. Shun evil. Embrace love. Then Paul talks about our footwear; we should wear the shoes of the gospel of peace. Let God guide you to wear you can share peace, love, and understanding; most areas around where you are right now need it badly! And further protect yourself from the flaming arrows from the enemy with a strong faith that will shield you from all harm. Doubt can come near, but cannot overtake you! All challenges are met with the strength of the Lord and they are quickly defeated.

And cover your cabeza with the helmet of faith. Do not doubt your salvation for a minute! Christ died for you and if you have proclaimed Him as your Savior, you're in (saved!). The devil loves to whisper sweet nothings, meaning he says to you and me, "You're nothing!" We know otherwise! We know better! We are God's children, loved by God, saved by Jesus, and guided by the Holy Spirit!

Lastly, the weapon for our offense is the sword of the Spirit, namely the Bible, as Paul calls it. If you're not reading your Bible on a daily basis, you're not living! Receive the breath of God as found in that sacred book! Read up on those from other faiths who come across a Bible and have their lives transformed because they had never picked up a book that could talk, or read them. And of course, the faithful disciple says, "Pray in the Spirit at all times." Re-read that. At all times. Pray and ask. Pray and attack evil with your prayers. Pray for the holy and unholy people you know. Pray harder for them! And as Paul says, I say, too, "Pray also for me, so that when I speak, or write, or recrod, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the good news of Jesus Christ!"

PRAYER: Grateful are our hearts, O God for Your strength and power present in us and around us. Use us, keep us busy in fighting evil and in sharing love. Help us to be vigilant and equipped with the whole armor of God as we face the challenges of life. May Your truth be the foundation upon which we stand, and may Your righteousness guard our hearts. Equip us with faith to defend against doubt and the salvation that brings us hope. Guide our steps with the readiness to proclaim Your gospel of peace, and sharpen our minds with the Word of God. Lord, we lift up all believers in prayer, asking for Your strength and perseverance in their lives. Help us to remain steadfast in prayer, boldly declaring the mystery of the gospel in every opportunity. We ask for Your guidance and courage to live out our faith with unwavering conviction. This we all pray in Christ Jesus' strong and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Take a moment to assess how well you are equipped with each piece of the armor of God. Are there areas where you need to strengthen your faith or embrace God’s truth more fully?

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Spiritual Sustenance

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56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:56-59 New International Version Bible)

I had an aunt whose home always a huge pan of flour tortillas. She would arise every morning at an early hour and hand make those delicious pillows of heaven known as the tortilla de harina, which es español for flour tortilla. She would cover them with a towel and for most of the day they stayed soft if not warm. She also kept some government issue butter in another container that did not keep the butter cold and usually was quite bitter from being spoiled. I came to think, as a child, that margarine, which my parents only bought, was superior to butter, not factoring in the need for refrigeration of butter and margarine. I was holding to that belief when on our first grocery trip as husband and wife, Nellie suggested our buying Falfurrias butter, named for her birthplace, and quite a delicious butter! I resisted but beng deeply in newlywed love, agreed and was shocked that butter does taste better than margarine! But the star of this passage is the flour tortilla, or the bread of life.

Jesus in making His teaching on what He offered, speaks of His believers eating and drinking his flesh and blood, which years later got the early Christians in trouble with the Roman government which labeled His believers as cannibals. Jesus, of course, was speaking spiritually, but He does not make that obvious in this passage. Imagine being in that crowd or in that congregation as was the case in the synagogue in Capernaum. "What in the world?" may have been in your mind. "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Asked those there. Jesus has to say, "Just wait until you see me ascending to where I came from! What will you think then? You will realize that I did come from another realm with which you are not yet acquainted!"

Jesus presents a profound teaching that challenges both the understanding and commitment of His followers. He speaks of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, which symbolizes an intimate relationship with Him, a dependence on Him for spiritual sustenance. This teaching is not merely about physical nourishment but about a deep, transformative connection with Jesus Himself. Yes, there are still many who do not quite understand this. Please do not be among those!

Many found this teaching hard to accept, as it contradicted their expectations and comfort zones. They struggled to grasp the spiritual meaning behind His words. Please note that John 6:66 has what is one of the saddest and hard-hitting verses of the Bible: "From that time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him." Sigh. Yes, some walked out on Jesus. Only the brave and the few, stayed loayl. Yet, for those who are willing to look beyond the surface, Jesus reveals the essence of true life and sustenance found in Him alone.

Peter’s response encapsulates the heart of the matter: despite the difficulty of Jesus’ teaching, he recognizes that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. Peter’s faith is not shaken by the hard teachings but rather strengthened by the realization that there is no other source of spiritual truth and fulfillment.

PRAYER: Awesome Father, thank You for the profound truth of Jesus’ teaching and for revealing to us the depth of Your love through Him. We confess that sometimes Your words challenge us and push us beyond our comfort zones. Help us to embrace the hard teachings with faith, trusting that Your wisdom is greater than our understanding. Strengthen our relationship with Jesus, that we may continually feed on Him as the Bread of Life and find in Him the source of eternal nourishment. Guide us in our journey of faith, and may we always seek You above all else. Grant us peace and comfort, but above all, Thy will be done! In Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Today, reflect on how you are engaging with Jesus as the Bread of Life. Are there areas in your life where you struggle to accept His teachings or where you feel challenged? Take a moment to pray and seek His guidance in these areas. As you go through your day, make an effort to embrace His words and teachings more deeply, allowing them to transform your understanding and relationship with Him. Reach out to someone you trust to share your reflections and to pray together for strength and insight.

I love you and thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

God Is Grrrrreat (Say It Like Tony!)

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1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. 3 Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful. 5 He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. 6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. 8 They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever. (Psalm 111 NRSV Bible)

This psalm reminded me of the joy and excitement during the first days of youth camp back in the day. Friends from all over Texas and New Mexico would reconnect, hug, giggle, laugh and talk. Others would automatically head for the camp piano and start playing "Heart and Soul," in a joyful manner. The summer Chicago ruined it was their "Color My World," which was the song of the camp. Looking back being with fellow believers it was truly a celebration of God. Every act was an act of praise; the giggles, the laughter, the hugs, and yes, even the out-of-tune camp piano playing; all lifting up high the joy of knowing God and praising Him.

David was faithful in his daily praise of God, and this psalm is one of the many he wrote, a hymn of praise and instruction. David knew the greatness and faithfulness of the Lord,and through these verses invites all to praise God with a whole heart that recognizing God's works in the community of believers. David lists the deeds of God with greatness, honor, and enduring rigtheousness. Here are those: God's handiworks are truly great works of majesty calling us to study them and admire them. God's majesty and righteousness are written on all of them, and they are timeless and reliable.

God's actions are marked by His grace and mercy. God provides for those who fear Him and remain faithful to His covenant, showing that His care is both generous and constant. God provides! God's works are also dependable and just, and His commands are to be followed with faithfulness. This speaks to the stablility and reliability as God guides.

The psalm also speaks of God's redemption and covenant; God's provision of redemption and His etneral covenant are central to His relationship with us. God's name is holy and awesome and it embodies the depth of reverence and respect that God deserves.

The psalm concludes with a profound truth: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This awe of reverence leads to true understanding and the practice of wisdom in our lives.

As we reflect on this psalm, we are invited to recognize and celebrate God’s greatness and faithfulness in our own lives. Our response should be one of gratitude, reverence, and praise for the One who guides and sustains us. Let's start now! You go to the piano and play heart and soul. You over there hug the person closest to you. And you, tell that joke that will make everyone giggle!

PRAYER: Loving God, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude and awe. Thank You for Your great works and for the majesty and righteousness that define Your nature. We praise You for Your grace, mercy, and the faithful provision You offer to those who revere You. Help us to see Your works with clarity and to recognize the depth of Your covenant and redemption. As we honor Your name, fill us with wisdom and understanding, guiding us to live with faithfulness and uprightness. May our lives reflect the reverence we have for You and the praise that endures forever. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have and great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Write down at least three examples of how you have experienced His provision, grace, or guidance. Share these reflections with a friend or family member, and encourage them to recognize and praise God’s works in their own lives. Let your conversation and actions today be a testament to the wisdom and understanding that come from revering the Lord, and find opportunities to express your gratitude and praise throughout the day.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The Bread of Life

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35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” 43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:35, 41-51 NIV Bible)

Dear Friend, May I ask you for prayers for my cousin, Tony Woods? He's undergoing eye surgery tomorrow and let's ask God for a complete victory in what Tony needs! May he recover well and blessed! Thank you for your prayers! Prayers for Nellie and I as we will be on the road this week, and may not be able to provide ConCafe; but we will see! I love you all! Pastor Eradio.

This is the first of seven declarations that Jesus makes about Himself in this gospel of John. One year in San Marcos, on the Sunday before Christmas, our choir presented a beautiful cantata based on these statement. Our choir director arranged a time between each statement in which I could share a short sermon thought about the preceding statement, and I was prepared for them all. Or so I thought. When the choir finished, it dawned on me at an Oh-My-God-what-have-I-done? Or better, it was what have I not done. I rose, grabbed the awesome pulpit's sides and prayed fervently and silently, "Lord, give me the words!" And He did. I simply summed up each of what we had affirmed and asked, "Given all Jesus has said about Himself and His love and commitment to us; the only thing I can think we can respond to Him is to say, 'I am Yours!'" And I said it and asked the congregation to repeat it and they did, then I said, "one more time!" and "One more time with feeling!" And the service ended on what I believe was a beautiful note.

Here's a hint for you pastors who are preaching this next Sunday: Get a bread machine or bread scented candles and set the mood for your sermon on this passage. Please provide Kleenex for any drooling this may cause. Or, you can risk throwing flour tortillas into the congregation as I heard a young pastor did at FUMC-San Marcos! He hit a couple of the ahem decision, or is it spelled derision-makers? But it allowed a young couple who were church shopping to decide on our church. Oops, did I just give myself away? I'll never tell!

This is a powerful message ripe for a powerful sermon! It is a sermon about life, make that the fullness of life, as found in Jesus Christ! We should involve all the senses in this sermon to make the point about what God was trying to tell us. And believe me, Sunday mornings, especially eleven o'clock is one of the hungriest hours in America. Many a household leave the comfort of their kitchens for church, having left a perfectly seasoned slab of meat, call it a roast, to simmer in their own juices as the preacher preaches on and on, risking running past the cut-off hour and members are more than ready to leave church without standing in line to shake the pastor's hand. Don't take it personally! They hungry! And they're hungry in the spirit; feed them! The world offers so many different fast foods of faith and none can come close to filling people like Jesus! You may have tried any number of those things and you know you still stay empty and wanting the real thing.

We search for satisfaction in various places—success, relationships, possessions—but often find ourselves coming up empty. Jesus, in this passage, offers a profound truth: He is the Bread of Life. This isn't just a metaphor; it's an invitation to a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him.

Jesus declares that He is the source of life itself. Just as bread sustains our physical bodies, Jesus sustains our spiritual lives. He assures us that those who come to Him will never be hungry or thirsty. This means that in Him, we find true and lasting satisfaction. His presence fulfills the deepest needs of our souls.

Yet, the crowd struggled with this claim. They knew Him as Jesus, the son of Joseph, and couldn’t reconcile His divine nature with His earthly background. Their doubt reflects a common struggle: we often find it difficult to understand or accept the fullness of who Jesus is.

Jesus responds with a promise: He is the Bread of Life that came down from heaven. Unlike the manna that sustained the Israelites in the wilderness but couldn’t prevent physical death, Jesus offers something far greater—eternal life. Through His sacrifice, we are invited to partake in a life that transcends death itself.

As you reflect on this passage, consider where you are seeking fulfillment. Are you turning to Jesus as your Bread of Life? Or are you still searching in other places? Jesus invites you to come to Him, to believe in Him, and to experience the eternal life He offers.

PRAYER: we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, who is the Bread of Life. We confess that we often look for satisfaction in things that cannot truly fulfill us. Help us to turn our hearts and minds towards Jesus, recognizing Him as the source of our spiritual nourishment and eternal life. Teach us to trust in His promise that we will never be hungry or thirsty when we come to Him. Strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with Him. May we live each day with the assurance of His eternal provision and grace. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: If you're still hungry spiritually and have been looking in all the wrong places, look no farther than in Jesus! Invite Him with a simple prayer to be YOUR Bread of Life and live your life accordingly. Then share Him with others!

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Walk United in Christ Jesus

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1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:1-16 NRSV Bible)

Prisoners in Ancient Rome did not have a telephone call, like we do in the USA. Well, of course, there were no phones. Paul does ask for a pen and paper. Make that lots of paper! Paul knows he does not have to contact his attorney, as many of us would do; he knows the real Mediator and the judge, and so he begins to share his faith. What sort of letter would you write? I'm pretty sure I might pen a short letter: GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!!

Paul used every opportunity he had to share Jesus. And in this passage he is urging fellow believers to live their lives in a way that gives glory to Jesus, because Jesus called you to faith. Paul says believers in Jesus should be humble and gentle. And he has the nerve to say that believers should be patient. Even behind the wheel as you drive? And Paul says for us to not only be patient, but we should bear, that means put up, with each other, and get this; in love! Our efforts should be to keep unity of the Holy Spirit through the bond of peace. Paul says the Body of Christ is one, just like the Holy Spirit is One; and all of us were called to one hope. Add to your list there is one Lord, and that's Jesus; one Spirit, and He's the Holy Spirit, and one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all, and in all. And it is this same Christ, Who equipped believers to serve Him to win the world: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. All working different jobs with a common goal: Build up the Body of Christ so that we can truly achieve unity in faith and complete knowledge of Jesus; all moving to maturity in Him.

As we mature in faith, we are called to move beyond immaturity and instability, growing in our knowledge of Christ and in our ability to speak the truth in love. This growth is not merely for personal benefit but for the building up of the entire body of Christ, fostering unity and spiritual maturity. Don't be lulled to sleep in comfort, thinking we have already done enough or that we've done all we could. We must continually move towards maturity, constantly building ourselves in love.

PRAYER: Loving God, For the call You shared with us, thank You. We thank You also for the gifts you have given to us. Help us to live in a manner worthy of this calling, with humility and patience, bearing with one another in love. May we work diligently to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Guide us as we use our unique gifts to contribute to the growth of Your Church, and help us to speak the truth in love, growing together into the fullness of Christ. Strengthen us to resist the temptations of division and deceit, and empower us to build each other up in faith and love. This is our prayer, in faith, and in the name of Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Engage with others in your church or small group to discover their gifts and find ways to collaborate in ministry. Look for opportunities to promote unity and support within the Body of Christ, and remember that your contributions, no matter how small they may seem, play a crucial role in the growth and health of the Church.

I love you and I thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Jesus Is The Bread of Life!

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24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:24-35 NIV Bible)

The first time I tired Cuban lechón, a slow-cooked, savory pork dish, I almost, I repeat, almost, asked for the tortillas! I can only imagine what the wait person would have said to me! I felt cheated! Such a delicous meat and no, to quote my pastor, Matt Pennington, "cloud of heaven" as he refers to flour tortillas, in which to place that melt-in-your-mouth meat to enhance the flavor, I felt cheated! I did hear from a wait person at Mr. Taco, when I was trying to be good I ordered a Low Carb breakfast and when the plate came I asked, "Where are the tortillas?" She laughed and reminded me, "You asked for the low carb breakfast, sir!" Oh. Right. My wife laughed.

Bread has a rightful place in life, and a more important place on our plates. It has held that place since someone figured out how to take grain and turn it into something wonderful. A quick search shows that some 30,000 years ago, grinding stones existed in Australia and Europe, indicating that wheat had been domesticated and turned into bread. In our area of the world, the Mayans took corn and made tortillas and tamales. And in Jesus' time, bread as a staple, filled many an empty belly at the right time. So much so, this passage relates how the crowds followed Jesus for the reason of finding more bread to eat. Why else would these in the crowd have gotten into boats to cross over to Capernaum to find Jesus. Jesus plainly tells them, "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because. you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." Ouch. But, can you blame them? An empty stomach will eagerly and thankfully receive a gift of bread; and not just any bread, but a miracle bread made by God; can you imagine the taste of such a bread? I ain't gonna lie, I would have swam across to get to that bread! But note that Jesus also warns, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life." This bread, besides tasting good, served a purpose - to ready them for a life that does not end with death. Jesus is talking about what the title says, but at this point in the passage, He must prepare them for that. He says plainly, "The Son of Man will give you this bread, because God has placed the God's Seal of Approval on His Son. Of course, they ask, "What all do we have to do to receive this?" Jesus says, "Believe in me."

What evidence they demand to know, will we receive to know that we truly have seen You? They ask about what their ancestors had in the old days of manna in the wilderness, to which Jesus answers, "It was not Moses that gave you bread from Heaven, but it was my Fathers who gives you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world." Boom! They said, as we should be saying, "Sir, always give us this bread!" Wait for it. Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life." Bam! "Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thristy."

Jesus shifts their focus from the temporary to the eternal. He invites them—and us—to seek not just for the bread that fills our stomachs but for the "bread of life" that satisfies our deepest spiritual hunger. This “bread” is not a mere substance but a person—Jesus Himself. He reveals that true sustenance is found in Him, and that believing in Him is the work God desires.

Jesus' declaration, “I am the bread of life,” is an invitation to trust Him fully. Just as bread nourishes the body, Jesus nourishes the soul. He promises that those who come to Him will never hunger or thirst spiritually. This is a promise of profound and unending fulfillment.

Dear one, why go around hungry when we have access to that bread which fills not only the hungry areas of our souls, but also ends the thirst in our life? Ask, and be filled and satisfied!

PRAYER: Awesome God, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, who is the Bread of Life. We often find ourselves seeking temporary satisfactions and missing the deeper nourishment You offer. Help us to recognize that true fulfillment comes from a relationship with Jesus. Open our hearts to receive His sustenance and to trust in His promises. Teach us to prioritize eternal needs over fleeting desires and to fully embrace the life He provides. Guide us in our daily walk to be more like Him, and let our lives reflect the abundance of Your grace. We thank You for Your provision and pray that we may continually seek the bread that endures forever. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Reflect on how you can turn those desires towards seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus. Make it a point to read Scripture daily, spend time in prayer, and involve yourself in activities that strengthen your spiritual walk. Look for opportunities to share the Bread of Life with others who may be searching for true fulfillment. Let your life be a testament to the nourishment that only Christ can provide.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Don't Be a Fool!

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1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. 4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the LORD. 5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. 6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! (Psalm 14 NIV Bible)

I can truly understand David's dilemma. He was the product of a God-believing mother and father. He knew the scriptures; he had been taught to pray. He was taught to worship and he taught himself to write songs of praise. His reality was a life where God was real and present. I can only imagine the day he met someone who was not like him. A person who dared say, "There is no God." I sincerely believe that he was kind and refrained from using stronger language, but still used a rough word, fool, to describe what kind of person David considered this man to be.

This psalm contrasts the wisdom of seeking God with the foolishness of denying His existence or ignoring His commands. The "fool" described here is not merely someone lacking intelligence but one who is morally corrupt, choosing to live as if God does not exist and acting accordingly. Perhaps you inow someone like that. Some hide behind nonbelief in order to not feel bad about their actions and/or decisions. As David called them, they have become corrupt.

In our world today, the temptation to live as if God is irrelevant or nonexistent is prevalent. Many voices proclaim ideologies that deny or undermine the reality of God. Yet, the psalmist reminds us that God is sovereign and watches over all humanity. He sees the condition of our hearts and actions, discerning those who seek Him and those who reject Him. God still loves the unbeliever and God's desire is for all to come to Him.

The psalmist also highlights the contrast between the fate of the evildoers and the righteous. While evildoers may seem to prosper temporarily, their ultimate end is one of dread and destruction. In contrast, the righteous find refuge in the Lord, and their hope lies in His salvation and restoration.

PRAYER: Loving God, we come before You acknowledging Your sovereignty and goodness. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have been tempted to live as if You do not exist, and for the moments we have allowed the voices of this world to overshadow your truth. Help us to have discerning hearts, to seek You earnestly, and to live in alignment with Your will.Grant us the strength to stand firm in our faith, even when the world around us denies Your existence or opposes your ways. Thank you for being our refuge and strength, and for the hope we have in Your salvation through Jesus Christ. May our lives be a testimony to Your grace and truth. Use us, Lord, to proclaim Your kingdom and to bring others into a saving knowledge of You. In Christ Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Daily seek God through prayer and Bible study, and seeking to spend time in His presence. Seek to have a deeper relationship with God. Also, let your actions and words reflect your belief in God's existence and God's commands. Become a witness of God's love and truth in your daily interactions. Finally, stand firm in truth and freely share your testimony of how you came to faith. Know that God sees and knows all things and God is there for you.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Resist Temptation!

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1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. 3 David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, "This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite." 4 So David sent messengers to get her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her period.) Then she returned to her house. 5 The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, "I am pregnant." 6 So David sent word to Joab, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the people fared, and how the war was going. 8 Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house, and wash your feet." Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 10 When they told David, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "You have just come from a journey. Why did you not go down to your house?" 11 Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah remain in booths; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing." 12 Then David said to Uriah, "Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day. On the next day, 13 David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house. 14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, so that he may be struck down and die." (2 Samuel 11:1-15 The Message Bible)

Dear Friend, here is a prayer request from Mr. Ricardo Gonzalez of Mission, Texas who writes, "I'm scheduled for my fourth spinal injection at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio on July 25 at 12 p.m. This medicine should stop the progression of Muscular Dystrophy. Please keep my wife (Maridol) and me in your prayers! Trusting in God." Signed by Ricardo. May the Lord hear our prayers and help our brother attain the victory over this disease. Thank you for praying in faith for him and Maridol and all, everywhere, who need our prayers!

The Bible is an honest book. It hides nothing. Sometimes it's as if it shows off the goofs and blunders of our heroes and heroines, even with stories that may make us blush and giggle. And for clarification it is not a sin to giggle in church; although some moms and dads may not agree, and I have the now-healed bruises of some very strategically placed pinches for my having giggled in church. Today's passage is, for some preteens, especially in this modern version, a giggle-maker. For the rest it is a serous reflection of what can and does happen in real life with those in similar situations.

While other kings went out to war in the spring as was the custom, this particular year, David decided he would sit this one out. David had a very capable general in Joab and he decides to take a spring break at home. The news on the war front was encouraging; Israel was winning the war against the Ammonites and Rabbahites. "Keep up the good work me boys!" David may have said, and decides to go for a walk on his roof. It's a king of Israel thing; you wouldn't understand! But it so happens that this walk lets him come across a beautiful woman taking her own stay-home-spring break, bathing as the peeping king sees her taking a bath. Her beauty caught his eye so much that he asks about this woman. "Does she have an Instagram account? Is she on Facebook? Does anyone have her cell phone number?" David manages to get her to come to the palace, and one thing led to another, and the king slept with her. Some time later, the woman, who is named Bathsheba, sends word to the king that she is pregnant.

David, as God Himself had said, was a man after God's own heart, but being human, succumbs to temptation. David could have just gazed on this woman for a bit, but he lingered and the lingering led to lust, and the lust led to the temptation and the consensual act which leads to this unexpected pregnancy. Evidence that temptation can often start subtly - an innocent glance, a passing thought, or a brief curiosity. And if we leave it unchecked, that small beginning can grow, as we saw here, into something much larger and can even become larger and destructive. This story of Israel's king reminds us of the importance of vigilance and the need to guard our hearts against temptation. The reality is that even the strongest among us can stumble if we do not remain rooted in God's Word and His ways.

The Bible is also a book that contains some humor for that is what temptation may even lead us to; for the king tries to correct the story by bringing home Bathsheba's husband home. The king invites this faithful soldier into his palace for a report on the battle and then suggest that he go home to rest and "wash your feet." Uriah leaves the palace and decides to sleep in the entrance of the palace rather than his own home. Uriah is invited back to a second audience with King David so he can get an explanation as to why he didn't go home? Uriah has a solid reason and we can see the type of man he truly is, shares that he cannot, in good conscience, stay in the comfort of his own home when the ark and the nation's soldiers are sleeping in tents; and he adds the names of General Joab and the servants who don't even have tents. He adds, "As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing." The king invites him (I guess as king he was ordering) Uriah to stay another day away from battle. The king has a big feast and enough food and wine to make Uriah loosen up a bit, but even in a drunken state, stays to sleep again stays away from his home and instead sleeps with the king's servants. The next morning the king writes a letter to the general with the order that Uriah be set in the front of the heaviest fighting and then withdraw other troops leaving Uriah vulnerable for death.

You and I know the rest of the story. Uriah was killed. For the sin of the king. I should say sins of the king. The ones who ground themselves in prayer and in love for and from God, and love for others, will receive the strength to stay strong and true in God to God's ways.

PRAYER: Loving God, We come before you humbly, acknowledging our vulnerability to temptation. Lord, help us to be vigilant and discerning in our thoughts and actions. Give us strength to turn away from anything that leads us away from Your will. Forgive us for times when we have allowed temptation to overcome us, and restore in us a steadfast spirit. Help us, like David, to repent sincerely and seek your forgiveness and guidance. Guard our hearts, O God, and fill us with your Holy Spirit, that we may walk in purity and obedience before you all the days of our lives. May we find our satisfaction and joy in you alone, and may our lives be a testimony of your grace and faithfulness. In Christ Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Pray that we can guard our eyes and thoughts. Be careful what you allow yourself to see and dwell upon. Set boundaries that helps protect our hearts and minds from inappropriate influences. Surround yourself with fellow believers who can encourage and support you in your walk with the Lord. Confide in someone you trust when you're struggling with temptation. Finally, immerse yourself in prayer and God's Word. These spiritual disciplines will strengthen your faith and help you resist temptation. Never forget that God is faithful and God can provide a way out when we are tempted.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Prayerfully consider supporting this ministry through paypal.me/eradiovalverde. Thank you for your prayers and any and all you can do to win the world for Jesus Christ!

Rooted in God's Love

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14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.(Ephesians 3:14-21 NRSV Bible)

Where are you rooted? By this I mean, where do you find strength, stability, and sustenance for who you are? Some of us give ourselves away by showing we have shallow roots, or worse, deep roots in what is evil. Some, I would venture to guess, have no roots. When I got to college I was thankful for the roots my Dad and Mom tried to have me have. I had been forced to go to church, gasp, against my will! Dad was the old fashioned kind of dad who said I could miss church only if I was dying. I was also forced to be polite to all people, especially my elders (gulp; I resemble that more and more each day!). I was also taught to say yes sir, yes ma'am; no ma'am, no sir. I was taught not to say bad words ever. And the bad words those included were not even to be said. As the years went by words that shouldn't even enter my mind were coming out of the mouths of pre-teens. And the list goes on. But suffice it to say that I was taught to pray; to read the Bible, to attend church; to give generously, starting with my tithe; and to be a person who cared about others.

And speaking of prayer, this passage begins with Paul talking about prayer. In Ephesians 3:14-21, the apostle Paul offers a profound prayer for the Ephesian believers—a prayer that extends across time to touch our hearts today. Paul bows before the Father, recognizing His sovereignty over all creation, and prays earnestly for the believers to experience the fullness of God's love and power. He sets a model for how we too, in faith, should bow before God and share our woes and worries, and praises to Him. Prayer is the key foundation for a solid rooting in God.

Paul's prayer begins with a request for inner strength and spiritual empowerment through the Holy Spirit. This inner strength is not just for personal fortitude but to allow Christ to dwell deeply in our hearts through faith. As we allow Christ to root and ground us in His love, we are established on a foundation that transcends circumstances and emotions.

Paul continues by expressing his desire for believers to grasp the vast dimensions of Christ's love—the breadth, length, height, and depth of it. This love of Christ surpasses human understanding; it is boundless and inexhaustible. Knowing and experiencing this love transforms us, filling us with the fullness of God Himself. Remember our saying yesterday that Jesus is awesome? Here's further proof.

The passage culminates in a declaration of God's ability to do far more abundantly than all we can ask or imagine. It is a reminder that our God is not limited by our limitations but delights in exceeding our expectations. His power is at work within us, achieving purposes beyond our comprehension, and all glory belongs to Him forever.

PRAYER: Loving God, We bow before You, grateful for Your immeasurable love and power at work within us. Strengthen us by Your Spirit, that Christ may dwell richly in our hearts through faith. Help us to comprehend the vastness of Your love, which surpasses all knowledge, and fill us with Your fullness. May Your glory be proclaimed in our lives and in Your church throughout all generations. In Jesus' strong name we pray, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Consider how you can deepen your faith and allow Christ to dwell more fully in your heart. Spend time in prayer, asking God to strengthen you with His Spirit and to help you comprehend His boundless love. Look for opportunities to share this love with others, demonstrating God's grace and mercy in tangible ways. Allow God to work abundantly in and through you, trusting in His power to accomplish far more than you can imagine. GET EXCITED ABOUT GOD BECAUSE HE'S EXCITED ABOUT YOU!!

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

paypal.me/eradiovalverde

The Awesomeness of Jesus

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1 After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). 2 A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. 3 When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. 4 It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews. 5 When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" 6 He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece." 8 One of the disciples - it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter - said, 9 "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this." 10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted. 12 When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." 13 They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves. 14 The people realized that God was at work among them in what Jesus had just done. They said, "This is the Prophet for sure, God's Prophet right here in Galilee!" 15 Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab him and make him king, so he slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by himself. 16 In the evening his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got in the boat, and headed back across the water to Capernaum. It had grown quite dark and Jesus had not yet returned. 18 A huge wind blew up, churning the sea. 19 They were maybe three or four miles out when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, quite near the boat. They were scared senseless, 20 but he reassured them, "It's me. It's all right. Don't be afraid." 21 So they took him on board. In no time they reached land - the exact spot they were headed to. (John 6:1-21 NIV Bible)

Two things about me. I love the ocean. I don't know how to fish. My Dad worked hard all week as did his dad, so neither were men with time to go fishing. I'm thankful he spent time with us but with money being scarce we never saw store-bought rods or reels. Fishing was not an option for either and as a result, I never learned to fish. In my very first fulltime church, a caring church member, who died way too young, Mr. Rene Rolando Lopez, Jr., asked me to go with him fishing at Falcon Lake. He took time to show me all that was involved in fishing and we spent the morning fishing. He caught fish. I caught squat. Lesson attempted. I was very thankful for his care and attention to me. I wish I had caught something because I believe I would now be a fisherman. I did feel call to fish for people when God called me into ministry, and still feel led to do that. As for the ocean there is an unexplainable attraction to driving by it, so my seven years in Corpus Christi were awesome. My day off routine in those days involved Nellie and me taking the bridges over to Mustang Island and on to Port Aransas, then the ferry across to Aransas Pass, and up to Rockport, where in the days before that hurricane took it out, the little free aquarium was a delightful way to spend an hour or so. Then we would drive back over the big bridge into town.

In this passage, we witness two remarkable events that reveal the power and compassion of Jesus Christ. I say it illustrates the awesomeness of Jesus. In this first event we read about the miraculous feeding of the five thousand with just five barley loaves and two fish. This was not merely a provision of physical nourishment but a demonstration of God's abundant provision in response to human need. When faced with the overwhelming task of feeding a multitude, Philip and Andrew could only see scarcity—limited resources in the face of a vast crowd. Yet Jesus showed that in His hands, even the smallest offering becomes more than sufficient. Aren't you and I usually of the scarcity mentality? We see little and think nah; Jesus sees the awesomenss of God and says, "Yes!" Hmm, we should be changing our thinking to a mentality of abundance!

The second event occurs on the stormy Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walks on water to reach His disciples struggling against the wind and waves. In their fear and exhaustion, they see Jesus approaching, not with rebuke but with reassurance: "It is I; don’t be afraid." In this moment, Jesus reminds them—and us—that His presence transcends our fears and challenges. He is the Lord over the chaos of our lives, offering peace and security in the midst of turbulence. How sweet the sound of knowing that Jesus can and does tell us, "It is I; don't be afraid." We should listen and be calm.

These two events reveal a consistent theme: Jesus is not only capable of meeting our needs but desires to do so abundantly. Whether it's physical sustenance or spiritual reassurance, His provision is boundless. Our role, like that of the disciples, is to trust and obey. We may not always understand how God will provide or when He will intervene, but we can be assured that His timing and manner of provision are perfect.

PRAYER: Awesome God, thank You for Your abundant provision and Your constant presence in our lives. Help us to trust in Your goodness and wisdom, especially in times of scarcity and uncertainty. Strengthen our faith so that we may always rely on Your promises and follow Your leading. Grant us courage to step out in obedience, knowing that You are with us every step of the way. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Consider how Jesus might be inviting you to trust in His provision and presence. Take a moment to surrender your fears and anxieties to Him, asking for faith to see His hand at work in your circumstances. Look for opportunities this week to share God's provision and peace with others, demonstrating His love through your actions and words.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

paypal.me/EradioValverde