Transformed by Resurrection Power

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35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being” ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. 50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 NRSV Bible)

I remember getting the keys to the church! I was the summer youth director for a nice-sized church in Houston. I had been entrusted with the spiritual lives of the church's youth for the summer, and with that huge responsibility came keys. I now had my own office, with a huge green executive chair, my own phone on the desk (Did I mention I had my own desk?), and in the mornings I was one of many staff there at the church offices. My having keys was not as important as planning a summer where I could plant seeds of faith into the fertile soil of young minds and spirits who were already at war with conflicting thoughts and messages of society and culture. I had the authority of the church to do what I had been hired to do, but it would be up to the Holy Spirit to give me the power to impact these lives for Jesus. My having said yes to Jesus just a few years earlier led me to this my first paying job within Christ's church. In my own life I had come to understand that all the seeds sowed in my direction by my parents, grandmother, pastors, and youth workers, could either sprout with a harvest, or keep sprouting weeds that could choke my faith.

The Apostle Paul, when confronted with the question about the return of Jesus in the face of so many believers being murdered by the state, has to respond, calmly even when frustrated, to the questions about the why of death and now the who of resurrection, if there is such a thing the people were asking. In this passage from 1 Corinthians, Paul uses the analogy of sowing seeds to explain the transformation that we will experience through resurrection. He emphasizes that our earthly bodies—flesh, perishable and weak—will be transformed into spiritual bodies, imperishable and glorious. The mystery of the resurrection is not just about life after death, but about the radical transformation that will occur in us, reflecting the glory of God’s ultimate plan.

In the midst of our busy and often chaotic lives, it can be hard to grasp the full scope of what Christ's resurrection means, not only for Him but for us. On these closing days of Epiphany, as we reflect on the "manifestation" of Christ to the Gentiles, we are reminded that Jesus came to reveal God's glory, and that revelation continues through His power over death, which gives us new life.

Paul's words invite us to remember that this transformation is not merely a future promise but a present reality. Through Jesus' resurrection, we have already begun the process of being transformed by His Spirit. The perishable has already begun to be clothed with the imperishable, the weak with power, and the mortal with immortality. Our lives, now in Christ, are a preview of the future glory that awaits.

As we celebrate the closing of this Epiphany season, we acknowledge that Christ’s revelation to the world is not just about physical appearance or geographical location. It is about the internal transformation He offers to each of us—spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Just as Jesus was raised to new life, so we too are called to embrace the new life that He offers, being changed in the twinkling of an eye into the likeness of His heavenly glory.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came to reveal Your glory and to show us the way to eternal life. We praise You for the mystery of the resurrection and the promise that we will be transformed, just as Jesus was. May we live in the hope of this transformation daily, trusting that You are at work in us, changing us from the inside out. Help us to reflect Your glory in all that we do and to eagerly await the day when we will see You face to face. This we pray in Jesus’ strong name, we pray,

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Take a moment today to reflect on the transformation that Christ offers you. How is He inviting you to experience His glory in your life right now? Reach out to someone who may be struggling, offering them the hope of resurrection. Share the light of Christ, knowing that just as He was revealed to the world, His light shines through you as well.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Love for Everyone!

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27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:27-31 NIV) Dear Friend, a most wonderful of days to you this day! Receive from God that which you need; share with God that which you need most; and share with all love that has been freely given to you. Remove from your life that which has set boundaries as to whom you could/should/will love, and with a red marker, in big letters, write on your heart: Love everyone!

Jesus, if we let Him, can really mess up our lives. We sometimes want to ask, "Lord, can't you leave well enough alone?" And His loving answer would be no. "If I leave you to your own and your own set ways, you will continue along the path of certain destruction; and I have come that you might have life, and that to the fullest." As Jesus was teaching in this passage, He speaks about loving those whom we find easy to hate; our enemies. As individuals we do have enemies, perhaps not on the scale of country versus country, but nonetheless, we face those who would like nothing more than to see us humiliated, or to fail, or worse. For some those enemies may live rent-free in our minds; others do have real life people who do not like us and want us to be failures. Yet, Jesus says, we are to love them, and harder still, to "do good to those who hate you." Wait. What? Lord, are you serious? We would like nothing more than to see them be harmed, and you want us to help them? And then Jesus makes the list longer! "Bless those who curse you." And, "Pray for those who mistreat you." Again, we think, wait! What? "If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them." Sigh. Lord, you're making my life so difficult now. And still, Jesus continues, "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."

In this passage, Jesus calls us to love in a way that challenges our natural instincts. We’re told to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and do good to those who hate us. In an often divisive world, this teaching stands as an epiphany—an awakening to a higher way of living. The world teaches us to respond in kind: to love those who love us, to seek revenge on those who wrong us. But Jesus flips this upside down and invites us to live a love that transcends what’s natural and human.

When we love our enemies and bless those who curse us, we align ourselves with the heart of God. This love is not about feelings or reciprocity but a choice to reflect God’s divine nature in a broken world. Jesus modeled this perfectly—on the cross, He prayed for the very people who nailed Him there. He embodied this radical love, showing us that it is possible to love unconditionally, even when it feels impossible.

The epiphany comes when we realize that our ability to love in this way isn’t about our own strength or willpower, but about allowing God’s love to flow through us. It’s a revelation of who God is and a revelation of what we’re called to be as His followers.

What happens when we live out this kind of love? It changes everything. It disrupts cycles of hatred and bitterness. It opens the door for reconciliation and healing. It brings the presence of God into every situation, transforming not just the ones we love but also our own hearts. This love leads us to a place of deeper intimacy with God, as we reflect His character in our actions.

As we walk in the love of God, we also find that we become less concerned with receiving in return. Jesus says, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." When we live this way, we invite others into the grace and kindness that God has freely given us, and in doing so, we become part of the beautiful cycle of God's kingdom breaking forth in the world.

PRAYER: Awesome God, we thank You for revealing to us a love that goes beyond what we can comprehend. Help us to see others as You see them, even those who may hurt or oppose us. Fill our hearts with the courage to love unconditionally, to bless, and to do good even in the face of adversity. May Your love shine through us, bringing peace, healing, and reconciliation wherever we go. Empower us to live as reflections of Your heart, showing the world the beauty of loving like You. In Jesus' strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, look for opportunities to love someone who may not seem easy to love. It might be a person who has hurt you, someone you disagree with, or even a stranger. Choose to bless them with kindness, pray for them, and do good even when it feels difficult. Allow God's love to transform not just your actions, but your heart as well.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Remember Your Roots

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View devotional: https://bit.ly/3EytZMt 1 How well God must like you - you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. 2 Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. 3 You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. 4 You're not at all like the wicked, who are mere windblown dust - 5 Without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people. 6 God charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row. (Psalm 1 The Message Bible)

I do not believe anyone is born evil. Yes, I believe we are born with original sin which is our tendency to disobey God, which we usually do; but the overall outcome of each childhood has on it the prints of many factors; home environment, parental influence, or lack thereof, school influences, including friendships, and a host of other influences and choices the child has made, and while every day bring us multiple choices, we would pray that most would choose to be good. For some it may have taken a change in environment, i.e. going away to school (college or university) where exposure to others who brought with them other world-views, that helped us see what is possible and even desirable in our way of life to bless others, especially our society and culture. The psalmist in writing this first of all 150 psalms, expresses his desire for readers to realize the positive blessing it is to live as a good person who is in a personal relationship with God. The language of this Biblical version drives home the point in very modern language.

God loves us all, but the psalmist says favor is upon those who seek to please God with the right life-affirming choices. He speaks of one who doesn't hang around Sin Saloon. Now, your views on saloons might vary from his, but his belief is that the "choices" available in a saloon should be different than those one should encounter in worship; the language choice for this version does imply that one has gone to a place where sin is the major option on the menu. The slinking of the unrighteous might also be to do it on Dead-End Road, again outlining the outcome favors negative ends; and the choice for educational opportunities at a Smart-Mouth College, well, you know. Honestly, the psalmist is correct; those who seek such outcomes usually find them and usually at times that seem to be too late to change.

The opposite is true for those who seek to "thrill in God's Word," where one can savor the deliciousness of Scripture day and night. That choice leads one to set ones roots in "Eden," God's original paradise, where "bearing fresh fruit" is a delicious and life-giving option. Eden was all about life, where not one "leaf" dropped and all fruits were "always in blossom." Your life will be way different from the wicked; whose lives mirror tumbleweeds and dust storms; and an appearance by one of the wicked in God's court will find them "without defense in court." Ouch! The innocent people will have great legal options. In closing the psalmist says that "God charts the road you take." The others seem to choose the road that leads to Skid Road.

Epiphany is a season of discovery, a time when we are invited to step into deeper intimacy with the Lord. In this season, we can reflect on our own spiritual lives and ask, “Where am I planted?” Are we drawing nourishment from the fleeting things of this world, or are we rooting ourselves in the life-giving presence of God? Are our roots from our past strong enough if they were positive, to bless us now in the present; if not, it's not too late to make changes and choices that better our situation.

This psalm calls us to choose a life that delights in the law of the Lord, to choose daily to sit with His Word and allow it to transform us. When we do, we become like that tree—steadfast, fruitful, and enduring through the seasons of life.

PRAYER: Loving God of life and love, thank You for the light of Your Word and the truth it brings to our lives. Help us to choose the path of righteousness, to delight in Your law, and to meditate on it day and night. We want to be like that tree planted by the water—strong, steadfast, and fruitful. Guide us in this Epiphany season to deepen our roots in You, trusting that Your wisdom will nourish us in every circumstance. May our lives reflect the blessing of living in Your presence. In Jesus' strong name,amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: As we journey through this Epiphany season, make a commitment to delight in God’s Word. Set aside time each day to read and meditate on Scripture, letting it transform your heart and mind. Like a tree planted by the water, allow your roots to grow deeper in His truth. And as you do, watch how God brings fresh fruit into your life, no matter what season you are walking through.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Eternal Hope

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12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. (1 Corinthians 15:12-20 NRSV)

Not a day goes by that my mind goes to the face and memory of a dear departed friend or colleague. The list is too long to list here, but suffice it to say that I am forever thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for me, gave you and me victory over sin and death, and all we have to do is believe and accept. One friend and colleague always had a ready smile and positive comment on all things. He himself had suffered much in his life and ministry, yet he had a ready ear, an awesome smile and a positive outlook on life. Two of my friends shared realistic perspectives on all things political and religious. Both died way too young; one of a long illness, the other of a heart attack while in the hospital. And of course I think daily of my mother, father, my grandmother, the only one I knew; my dear mother-in-law who loved me so much who from the moment we met until her death I was, for all practical purposes, her son. Their memories while making me a bit sad, still give me hope because of their faith and lives in Jesus. I believe in my heart that I will see them again one day.

In today's passage, the Apostle Paul is sharing his faith with a community deeply affected by death. Paul's message from the start was that Jesus was coming again soon. As the days, weeks. and months, passed, the people, who were losing loved ones to persecution and arrests, began to ask, "Define soon." Paul understood the questions of the people and so he is moved to write this letter to the believers in Corinth; he was hearing of those believers who are now doubting all that Paul had shared about life and death in Jesus, so his first statement is powerful and to the point: If our faith message is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, how can anyone, in the faith, say that there is no resurrection of the dead? His logic: "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain." He goes on to say, we might even be guilty of lying about God; for we have testified then changed our testimony about Christ. This truth is that the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our hope and our reason for rejoicing, not only during Epiphany but throughout the entirety of our lives.

This Epiphany, we are invited to reflect on the profound reality of the resurrection. Christ’s victory over death is not merely an abstract theological concept but a transformative reality that changes the way we live. It is the ultimate revelation of God’s love and power, and it is the reason we can live with hope, even in the face of suffering and loss.

This truth brings light to our own lives. In the midst of the darkness and suffering of this world, we know that the resurrection is a guarantee of a future hope. The Epiphany of the resurrection reveals to us that death is not the final word. Christ’s triumph over the grave means that death has been defeated, and we are invited to live in the power of that victory, both now and forever.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the gift of Your resurrection. Through Your victory over death, You have given us new life and hope. Help us to live in the light of this truth, knowing that our faith is not in vain, and our future is secure in You. As we celebrate this Epiphany season, reveal to us the full power of Your resurrection, and let it transform our hearts and lives. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: As you meditate on the resurrection today, consider how the reality of Christ’s victory over death changes the way you live. How can you live with hope, even in difficult circumstances, knowing that Christ has conquered death? Take a moment today to reflect on the resurrection, and let it fuel your faith and joy as you walk in the light of Christ.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Woe, Woe, Woe?

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17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon,18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. (Luke 6:17-26 NIV Bible)

Dear Friend, a most wonderful and marvelous Monday to you! May the blessings of God lead you into service to bless all! Prayers for our pastor Matt Pennington as he returns home from his mission in Africa. Continued prayers for Ms. Laverne Davis whose granddaughter died in a traffic accident. I met with her after church yesterday and prayed with her. As one can imagine this has been a most difficult blow to her and her family. May God's comfort be with all who loved her. A sincere thank you to the kind folks at First Methodist of Gonzales for welcoming me as their preacher for the day yesterday.

There are memes and videos poking fun at the reality that the first gospel written is believed to be the Gospel of Mark. It is further believed that the gospel books of Matthew and Luke were based on Mark's work. In the meme, three students are seated at the same table, the first one is identified as Mark, and the other two are Luke and Matthew; and the two are trying hard to comically cheat as they write as they keep looking at Mark's work. These three gospels are known as the Synoptic Gospels, with John being known as the spiritual gospel. This passage contains Luke's account of The Beatitudes, albeit a shorter version than that found in Matthew 5. The Beautifudes are all about being blessed. They follow Matthew's account very closely. Here is a quick comparison: Matthew's Beautitudes contain: Blesseed are those who are poor in spirit. Luke's: Blessed are the poor. Matthew: Blessed are those who mourn; Luke: Blessed are you who weep now. Matthew: Blessed are the meek. Luke: (Not mentioned). Matthew: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Luke: Blessed are you who hunger now. The next three from Matthew are not mentioned in Luke.

In Luke we see Jesus proclaiming blessings, not to the rich, the powerful, or the esteemed, but to those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted. These blessings turn the world’s value system upside down. In a society that often elevates wealth and status, Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)

Jesus is reminding us that God's favor does not depend on our outward circumstances but on the condition of our hearts. In the midst of hardship, when we feel the sting of hunger, grief, or rejection, God sees and values us. The poor in spirit, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness—these are the ones whom God blesses, offering them a glimpse of His kingdom.

Jesus also promises joy and reward for those who endure persecution for His sake. This echoes the attitude we are called to have—one of hope that transcends present struggles, knowing that God sees us and will reward our faithfulness.

Luke also contain "woes" shared by Jesus, not found in Matthew. He warns the rich, the well-fed, the laughing, and those who are admired by others, saying that their comfort is temporary and fleeting. In God’s economy, earthly wealth and ease are not signs of His favor. Jesus is challenging us to recognize that placing our hope and security in the things of this world is futile.

“Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” (Luke 6:24) Jesus is not condemning wealth itself but urging us to live with an eternal perspective, not to cling too tightly to earthly possessions, status, or comfort. True contentment comes from being rich in spirit and relying on God’s provision, not on our own resources.

The words of Jesus are sobering. They compel us to reflect on our priorities. Where are we investing our hearts? Are we more focused on temporary, worldly rewards, or are we seeking the eternal treasures found in God's kingdom?

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the words of Jesus that challenge us to live with a different perspective. Help us to value what You value—justice, mercy, humility, and love. May we not seek the fleeting comforts of this world, but find our true joy in You. Strengthen us in our trials and remind us of the eternal reward that awaits us. Teach us to be faithful in all circumstances, knowing that our true treasure is found in Your kingdom. In Jesus’ strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Today, reflect on where you are placing your hope. If you’re facing difficult circumstances, take comfort in knowing that God sees you and values you. If life feels easy, consider how you can use your blessings to serve others and invest in God's eternal kingdom. Ask yourself, "How can I live in a way that reflects God's values of humility, justice, and mercy?"

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

God is Faithful Always!

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1 Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!" Angels listen as I sing my thanks. 2 I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!" Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. 3 The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength. 4 When they hear what you have to say, God, all earth's kings will say "Thank you." 5 They'll sing of what you've done: "How great the glory of God!" 6 And here's why: God, high above, sees far below; no matter the distance, he knows everything about us. 7 When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, With your other hand save me. 8 Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal - don't quit on me now. (Psalm 138 The Message Bible)

Happy Thursday Friend, I ask that God bless you in a wonderful and unexpected way; may it cause you to deepen your faith in Him and to walk closer with Jesus. Much more to go and much more to do! I ask again for prayers for this old man as I prepare to preach in Gonzales at the 8:30 and 10:45 am worship services. Pray for our pastor, Rev. Dr. Matt Pennington as he continues his missionary work in Rwanda; may God bless multitudes through him and bring him safely home soon.

A dear friend and classmate was from Japan during my days at Perkins School of Theology SMU. He was a gracious man with limited English. Another friend and I noticed and believed that someone may have told him that if he didn't understand something in English he should respond with a simple, thank you. There's nothing wrong with that! He did not want to offend anyone, nor ignore anyone and though it may not fit, it still comes in inoffensively and with a strong sentiment; thank you. The psalmist always found time to say thanks to the Lord. It was interesting to read Wednesday's Upper Room where the writer confesses she allowed someone to make a U-turn in front of her even though she was holding up traffic by allowing that, and then when the woman zoomed away without acknowledging thanks of any kind she felt angry, then bad, for realizing she was doing good and that should be done without expecting any thanks of any kind. I confess that sometimes in our car we may say a word about ungrateful people but then we too realize we're meant to be and do good without worrying about any earthly thanks. How many times has God done something for us and we don't even thank Him? Not so with King David, "Everyhing in me says, 'Thank You!'" And he imagines angles listening to his singing his thanks to God. And his thankfulness is not limited to word and song; it's a part of his prayer life and his worship life; both inside and outside the temple (his church!). His list includes thankfulness for God's love, God's faithfulness, and grateful for God's grace. David, in the midst of his struggles, pauses to give thanks for God's enduring faithfulness. He recognizes that even when life feels overwhelming, God’s love and truth remain unshakable.

This psalm begins with a heart overflowing with gratitude. David doesn’t just thank God for what He’s done but also for who God is. God’s name is holy—set apart, sacred, a refuge in times of trouble. When David calls out in distress, God answers immediately, and with that, his life expands. Not in the way we might imagine—wealth, fame, or ease—but in strength, in peace, in presence.

When we experience our own moments of struggle—whether relational, financial, or emotional—it's easy to feel that God has forgotten us, or that He is distant. But David's testimony tells us something different. God doesn’t wait for us to figure everything out or to get our lives perfectly in order before stepping in. He hears us the moment we call, and He steps in with power. It is not always a dramatic shift in circumstances, but a quiet strengthening of the heart.

In fact, it’s often in the hardest seasons that God reveals Himself most clearly. When we feel most fragile, most vulnerable, He is most near. It’s in our weakness that His strength is perfected.

David’s response—thanksgiving—isn’t just for past blessings but a declaration of trust in God’s ongoing faithfulness. God is with him now, not just in past moments of deliverance, but in present struggles.

Psalm 138 invites us to ask: How often do we pause to recognize God’s presence and power in the midst of our challenges? How often do we offer our own spontaneous thanksgiving, not because everything is perfect, but because God is faithful?

PRAYER: Loving God, Thank You for Your unwavering faithfulness. In the midst of our struggles, we sometimes forget that You are with us, right there in the thick of it. Forgive us for when we’ve doubted Your presence and Your strength. Open our eyes to see You with us even in our weakest moments. Thank You for always answering when we call, for lifting us up with Your love, and for making our lives large with Your strength. Help us to live in constant gratitude, not because our circumstances are perfect, but because You are always present and always good. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Don’t wait for everything to feel “right” before you speak to Him. Acknowledge His presence and trust that He is stepping in to strengthen you in this very moment. Then, take a moment to thank Him—not just for what He’s done in the past, but for His love and faithfulness that never change.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

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1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:1-8 NRSV)

Dear Friend, welcome to Wednesday! Make it wonderful and wild by being your best self as washing the Blood of Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit! Be the sermon someone has been waiting to hear! Be the hymn that makes a person burst out in song and praise! Be the Doxology for which thanks are lifted to God! Continued prayers for Mr. Ronnie Menking, as he is still in the hosptial in San Marcos. Prayers for his wife, Christina as well.

I remember sitting in youth choir in my home church of El Buen Pastor UMC in Houston. God was speaking softly to my heart with a loving and kind invitation to be one of His pastors. I remember looking at the guys sitting near me and thinking/saying to God, "Why not him? He's better looking? Or her? She's kind to all people." But that's all I remember because it was as if God was not having any excuse from me as to me entering the professional ministry. I felt bad and knew I had nowhere to hide. What God was asking of me was a lot. I had just gotten used to Houston! God, if I could blame Him, had uprooted our family from what I perceived to be my paradise; and this call I knew would mean leaving the "shallow" from Monday's gospel lesson into some very deep waters. And it was from that point on that I paid closer attention to sermons, to prayers from my pastor, to listening more to my friends, to eavesdropping on my parents and their discussions about church. "God, You are asking a lot of me, and look at me! I ... and I listed a lot of superficial reasons for my not standing in front of any groups; shyness was a big one. And being boring, according to some female MYFers* didn't help either!

In the time of great national grief and need, a young man finds himself caught up in a vision where he finds himself in the presence of God. He writes, "I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple." This is what he saw: Holiness, pure and in full display; the majesty and power of God - God's Throne! Who gets to see that? The seat of all power! And God's presence was "high and exalted!" His words of the indescribable being shared in the best way he can; and seeing God's robe and train filling the temple! And with God? Angels and their superiors in this mortal's presence and they were praising God with songs of "Holy, holy, holy." And their singing was so powerful they were shaking the foundations of the temple and those structures that held up the temple. All served to move this man to repentance; he knew, realized and confessed that he was imperfect and lived among those who were imperfect; all while seeing the Lord!

His response led the seraphim to come at him with a live coal which he had taken from tongs and touches Isaiah's mouth and proclaim, "Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Bam! With that burning coal, sin and doubt and everything negative, is gone! And then Isaiah hears God ask, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" You probably would have said what I said to God, "Uh, not me! I can't!" And your list would be shared with God as I shared with Him when in the eleventh grade. But our hero, Isaiah said, with trembling faith, "Here am I. Send me!" (Note the exclamation mark!)

Isaiah heard in God's question a call to action. No more pondering or wondering; it was clear what needed to be done and the who needed to do it! The same holds true for all who see the holiness of God when in worship, prayer, or on retreat; and the mission is to trust God and to let Him guide you to the fields of opportunity; where hurting and hungry people await the good news of God from our lips. This is epiphany; God's light in our lives bursting forth into the darkness around us and showing us what could be in their lives. After such a moment like this, if you look at your list of excuses again, you will notice that it has been shortened or made to disappear altogether; God will equip us and lead us to be a part of His glory at work in the fields around us.

PRAYER: Loving God, You are holy, high and lifted up, and yet You draw near to us in our weakness. Like Isaiah, we stand before You in awe, recognizing our shortcomings and the brokenness of the world around us. We confess our sin and our need for Your grace, knowing that You are faithful to forgive and restore. Purify our hearts, Lord, and send us out as vessels of Your mercy. May we hear Your call clearly and answer, "Here am I, send me!" Empower us to go where You lead, to serve with love, and to share Your light with those in darkness. In Jesus’ strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Will we, like Isaiah, be overwhelmed by the awareness of our sin, yet trust in God’s grace to cleanse us? Will we then, with a heart transformed, answer God's call to go and serve in His name?

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

*Methodist Youth Fellowship-ers