FACING THE STORMS

Loving God, bless the needs of this dear reader in all they may face today and all days; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

I thought it appropriate to read these words for today from Matthew 8:24 A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26 And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27 They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

As we drove home Monday night, the signs on the freeway said, "Hurricane Forming in Gulf." Next sign: Storm Forming. Fill Your Gas Tanks. Tuesday morning I went to fill my gas tanks and only one customer besides me there. From there I went to the grocery store. Not too many people when I went in. I bought groceries and discovered that many people had come in with lists to buy water, canned food, batteries. etc. They were preparing for what they knew was possibly coming.

The disciples did not have AccuRadar or the Weather Channel. They did not see the flags of choppy waves or travel advisory for small crafts on the water. Those things did not exist. What existed was a primitive mode of transportation that could take them from point A to B over the water. This "windstorm arose on the sea" and it was so terrible the boat began to be swamped by waves. The disciples had in their midst fishermen, who understood these things, and they also had human men who became frightened about what was happening and what could happen. Jesus slept. Thank God this verse is not in that form then there would be a real competition in Sunday school about the shortest verse in the Bible! Jesus was calm enough in the face of this storm that He rested and slept, while His disciples freaked out about this storm. They awoke Jesus with their fears, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" His response was, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" He then rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a dead calm. Then they wondered, what kind of man is this that He can control even the winds and the sea?

How do you face the storms of your life? How do you prepare for the ones you don't even know are coming? And how do you rely and use the One who controls even the wind and the sea?

PRAYER: God of all nature, help me in the facing of all storms. As the wind and the rain rages around me, help me to know that You are in control. And I ask especially for those times when I face the storms of life. I pray for Your calming presence and power when I face that which I sometimes think I face alone. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

JESUS' AUTHORITY IS OURS. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH IT?

God of all weather, bless and protect the needs of Your earth during the landfall of Hurricane Alex. Bless and protect this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Here is our text: Luke 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house!' 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 "Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' 16 "Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" 18 He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Jesus wants us to cover every inch of the globe with the Good News. This passage clearly states several things, but the most important, Get busy; I'm right behind you! When Jesus sent the seventy he sent them to every village and town with the understanding that these were places He intended to visit as well. The instructions were to share peace and to be ready to see that not everyone would receive it. So it still is with us. We do our part and some folks rejoice, others do not. Jesus said whoever receives us, receives Him; those who reject us are rejecting Jesus. Think about the authority given to us to do wonderful, unexplainable things. Their mission was so successful and so can ours, that Jesus said He saw "Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning."

What are you doing with the mission and authority Jesus has entrusted with you? Nothing and no one can harm us when Jesus is invited to go with us.

PRAYER: Lord, as I go about this day, help me to be Yours. Help me to share peace and to use Your authority to bring healing and wholeness to those lives I touch today. I ask this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS Dear friends, as some of us face the onset of Hurricane Alex, please be in prayer that it land where no human life can be hurt or harmed. May all of us follow those instructions and precautions that will be a blessing to us. Also, please be in prayer for Mr. J. D. Welch of San Marcos, who had a painful back infection. May the tests and antibiotics be just what he needs to receive comfort and healing.

I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU!

Amazing God of amazing love and amazing grace, bless the life of this dear reader in all that they face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Here is our text for today: 2 Kings 2: 1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent." 4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. 5 The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be silent." 6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." 10 He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." 11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

You and I have probably had a lot of "fathers" in our walk of life. Men to whom we have looked up and men who have blessed our lives and careers with their lives, wisdom, counsel, love, example, etc. If any of those have left us for glory, we have lost a loved one. Their passing was not easy and their absence serves to remind us of their presence in our hearts and minds. To have said goodbye was not an easy thing, and we fought against the idea of their even leaving.

Such was Elisha's dilemma as Elijah revealed God's will for his life. Elijah had served well and the day of his departure was fast approaching and every reminder of his pending leave was something Elisha did not want to hear. When the moment arrived and their time for goodbye approached, Elijah asked the young prophet what he wanted. He said, "I want you to leave me a double portion of your spirit." Elisha knew that the old man had been able to do with the presence of God in his life and his example made the younger one say, "I want to be like you!" Elijah could not promise that but he said, "if it happens, it happens, if not, it does not." Then a chariot of fire came and took Elijah to Heaven.

If we leave the story here, what have we learned? That a good example from us will bless someone else maybe to the point where they want to be like us. Are you setting such an example? Is Christ so real in your life that others want Him as well?

PRAYER: Let Jesus be real in my life. Let Jesus be powerful in my life. Let my life bless someone today to the point of their wanting to be like Him. I ask this in Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

TRAVEL WITH ME, JESUS!

Amazing God of hills and valleys, bless the needs of this dear reader as they travel through life today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Here is our text today: Luke 9:51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village. 57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." 62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

When God places His hand on your life, what do you do? When God nudges at your heart, what do you do? It is always to an exciting and reward place that God calls, but many times our limited thinking and fears get in the way and we seek shelter in the known rather than the new. Those who say YES to God find God leading them to rewarding and satisfying places where differences are made and lives are changed.

What's your excuse? Are you still living among the "dead," taking care of self or family-imposed obligation? Jesus calls us forward with the assurance and promise that we don't ever travel alone.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to see beyond my fears to Your faith. Travel with me as I say yes to Your call on my life. In Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS Dear friends, sorry that Nellie and I have been traveling and into places where the Internet was not free, thus my "silence" these past couple of days. God has been with you as has His word.

WHAT CHECKLIST IS BEING CHECKED IN YOUR LIFE?

God of the full life, grant to this dear reader exactly what they are needing right now; in Jesus Christ' name I pray, amen.

Our text is from Galatians 5:1, 13-25: 1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Thank God most of us have not known the penalty of a sentence to prison. Many of us viewed our twelve years of mandatory public education as a sentence and as our senior year approached we celebrated with the same joy of one whose prison doors were about to open. Then many of those same folk devote as much time as they can to social networks to re-live those precious days. Paul knew about the sentence of living under sin and of being in prison. Paul knew freedom better. He knew the joy and the fullness of life that comes from knowing and living free from any bondages. For Paul, to live under the guidance of the Spirit was what led to this freedom of which he speaks. To live under the leading of the flesh, Paul says, leads to destruction and death. His checklist reminds us of what can and does happen to give into passion and pleasures of the flesh. But Paul also, thankfully, gives us the checklist of that which blesses us when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. And what a list that is!

What checklist are you marking down today? More importantly, what list does God see you "checking" as your go through your day? Ask God to lead you by the Holy Spirit and see the results of a joyous, happy, and free life.

PRAYER: Loving God of freedom, free me for joyful living. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit so that my decisions and actions will reflect that to me and to others. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

THIS AND THAT AND MISSING OUT!

Living God, pour out blessing upon blessing in the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray,amen.

Here is our text for today: Luke 10: 38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

Ah, the bliss and blessing of family! And ah, the bliss and blessing of family during what one comedian called "second tier holidays" like Father's Day! One gets excited almost to the point of stress, to have the house clean and ready, the fridge stocked with goodies and snacks that family likes, the bedding washed and at least a mental outline of the sleeping arrangements; then the family comes and within moments they're gone again. Sadness for a few hours over what seems like a short visit.

Ah, the sheer horror of unexpected visitors! I've talked about the difference between guests and visitors. Guest are invited and expected; visitors just drop in. The doorbell sends hosts running to the door at the anointed hour of arrival of guests; hiding when visitors come. Martha had Jesus and His disciples come by. She "welcomed Him into her home," which means this may not have been a prearranged thing. And to make matters worse, her sister whom she thought she could count on to help prepare for this perhaps unexpected visit, recognized Jesus and His ability to teach, so she sat down and listened to His teachings. Martha was frantic about getting everything in order and reached the point where she goes to Jesus and asks, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?" Didn't you teach something to that effect? Isn't there a part of the Law that addresses lazy sisters? And bam! Jesus shares the truth: You're missing out on the better thing by worrying about so many things. Mary got it right, you didn't.

After family leaves and you take stock of all that went right and wrong, did you focus on time together? On your conversations? On making your family ties stronger? Or were you too worried about this and that, that you missed out on the greater part? In the same way we can get so preoccupied in so many things in so many areas of our lives, including our spiritual lives that we miss out on the most important part; what Jesus has to say.

PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for Your presence and for Your visits. May I learn to focus on the main thing and not be distracted or stressed by the minor things. Forgive me those times that I have worried so much about this and that and missed You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

THE NEED FOR WATER

God of abundant life, make the life of this dear reader more abundant today by removing challenges that You can handle; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Moving from one city to another requires the taste buds to adapt to new water. I won't go into detail about how different cities and towns have different tasting water because you know they do. I will concur with the experts and agree, believe it or not, that New York City has the best tasting tap water in the country. But taste aside, water is precious and powerful. Water is the only thing created by God that can quench the deepest thrist of any human being. Try as they may, scientists have created vitamin-enhanced water, energy drink water, and salt replenishing water in drinks like Gatorade and Powerade, but when one is thirsty, only water will do. The creatures of the wild seek only water. Hear this beautiful Psalm 42 with that thought in mind:

1 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, "Where is your God?" 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help 6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me. 8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?" 10 As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?" 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

All this week the selected readings have to do with our realization that we need God in all things. The absence of God will lead us into the most depressing and life-draining experiences and places. The Psalmist had seen the thirsty deer run to the water and compared that animal's deep thrist for the spiritual thirst in his heart. He knew that if he drank deeply from the presence of God everything else he mentions in the psalm would be quenched: His sadness (tears are also water), his anguish, his depression, his need to worship fully again.

We who know the power of worship know those times we miss or can't attend worship, drain us of our spiritual energy. If we try going without drinking adequate amounts of water you know what happens to our bodies; the same happens to our spirits when we don't reconnect with God as we should.

PRAYER: Loving God, quench the thirsting of my soul. Let me be in worship today and all days, and when Sunday comes, let the fullness of Your presence fill and satisfy me for another week. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

Eradio Valverde

PS: On a personal note: I'm thanking God for the birthday of my beautiful wife!

ONE OF THOSE DAYS?

Loving God, look mercifully on the needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for this morning is from 1 Kings 19: 1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." 3 Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." 8 He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. 9 At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." 11 He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." 15 Then the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus."

You ever have one "of those days?" When nothing seems to go right? You think you're doing exactly what you need to do and as a result you get beat down or worse? Elijah was having not just "one of those days," he was having a career crisis. He had been called by God to preach and teach God's word and he came up against his harshes and meanest critics. These two not only disliked him, they wanted his head. Elijah did what many of us sometimes think we want to do, and that is to flee. He wanted somewhere to hide and off he ran. Exhausted from his running he sat down and asked God to take his life; he was ready to die. There was no answer from God so Elijah lay down to sleep and was awakened by an angel of hte Lord who brought him warm food. Elijah ate, no questions asked. This happened a second time, this time with an interesing instruction that came with it: "You better eat, 'cause you're gonna need it!" And with that Elijah sought refuge in the place he knew God might visit him. He was right, God did visit him at the lowest point of his life; told to stand outside where he was, God passed by in different ways, showing strength he had not imagined: A great destructive wind, an earthquake, and a fire. God was not in any of those. Then sheer silence. In the sheer silence, God spoke and asked him what he was doing. After sharing his side of the story, God simply told him to continue that to which he had been called.

You and I have had several "of those days." We have had more than our fair share of critics and those who go out of their way to make our life miserable. Some of us may even have thought about the options of leaving that to which we have been called to do something else, something less stressful. We have asked of God to be re-appointed or re-assigned, only to hear God say that we were to stay and to continue where we were. And this has come with the assurance that God is with us even when it seems we are most alone. God has the strength and power of a mighty wind, an earthquake, a fire and even the power of sheer silence. Talk with God and you will hear what you are to do.

PRAYER: Loving God, as I mediate on my situation and need, remind me again of Your presence and power. Help me to see more clearly what it is I am supposed to do. Give me strength, renew and refresh me. I ask this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

DRESS FOR SUCCESS? DRESS TO BLESS!

Amazing God of the unexplained; bless this dear reader in their needs in ways that will bless You and all who hear about Your great works; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Here is today's text from Galatians 3: 23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Most of us go to bed wondering what we will wear the next day. Others awaken with that thought. Some plan it out and even lay the appropriate clothing by the bed or the closet door. Usually what we wear is determined by the type of day we are to have. Prior to our going to our annual conference here in Corpus, Nellie and I wore clothing that was suitable for packing. After many days of wearing sandals or no shoes, shorts and t-shirts, I found myself wearing a suit every day for conference. For Paul, dressing in Christ is what makes all the difference in the world how the day will turn out. Prior to Christ's coming, the people were "clothed" in the prison garb of those who lived "imprisoned and guarded under the law." The law dictated expected behavior and expectations of those who believed. Christ's coming brought us justification by faith: Grace was poured out on us, clothing us with God's love and mercy. This new perspective of faith showed that in Christ, there is no longer a matter of being Jew or Greek, thank God no slavery any longer, being male or female should not matter; in Christ Jesus we are all one. And as being one in Christ, we are all heirs of the Faith.

As we dress today, don't even look at the dress of despair or the shirt of fear. Reject the pants of helplessness and anxiousness. The shoes of aimlessness will be too tight and restrictive. Dress to bless! Dress of bless! The success will follow because we have put on Christ.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Jesus. May we be reminded that through our baptism we have been clothed in Him. May our clothing reflect that newness of life that is ours for the asking. We ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

JESUS SAID, "GO HOGS!"

Merciful God, grant Your mercy and peace on this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today is from Luke 8: 26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me"— 29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30 Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. 31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. 32 Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him

The title comes from a sign I remember seeing on the campus of Texas A&I University in Kingsville. Their team is named for a local wild animal, the javalina, which is a wild hog and so their sign said, "Jesus said, 'Go Hogs!'"

In Biblical times two types of people lived among the dead; the lepers and those possessed by demons. In today's story this man for a significant part of his life had been tortured and tormented by demons. It is safe to assume that so had his family and those of his village. It is also safe to assume that he would tear off his clothing once he freed himself from the chains and shackles and would run back to the tombs. His possession was by many demons, thus the name given to Jesus' question of his name. His quality of life was a terrible one and like the lepers, his only hope was to stay among the dead until death might perhaps free him of this torment. Then Jesus comes along with an offer of a new life and new hope. The demons opposed it immediately. They liked the warm body in which they were residing and the possibililty of having to wander in the spiritual realm was not an option they wanted to explore. But Jesus had other ideas; an invitation for a way to live free from possession; to go and come as one chooses and not be captive to the demands of this evil presence in one's life. The demons knew of Jesus' power and they also knew they could not fight to keep this home, so they made a request that they be allowed to inhabit the body of pigs, and that is where they went. And off the cliff they dive, finding death in drowning. Their death meant the life of this man, who is now given a second or third or ? chance of living a life that does not invite evil to reside within him.

The townsfolk see the man as a changed person and they get fearful of Jesus and ask Him to leave. How often have we done that? We see what good Jesus can bring to us and we still want that which kept us in the place where we felt better or didn't want to be. We prefer the option of living death rather than seeking the fullness of life that Jesus offers to us. Many times we so close to living with not only the dead but with pigs, and we don't even get bothered.

PRAYER: Come Jesus and deliver me from the places I sometimes find myself; among the dead, the evil and pigs. Lift me high off this level of blindness to the level of fullness, of life. I ask this in Your name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS We finally have internet and the space to sit down! Nellie and I thank you for your prayers for our move and we're now making headway in making this place our home. God bless you all!

OPENNESS TO GOD

Amazing God, You renew and refresh the earth with Your Spirit, renew and refresh the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today is from Galatians 1:11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; 12 for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; 19 but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother. 20 In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, 22 and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; 23 they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Our openness to God can bring about needed changes in our lives. Paul for a significant part of his life thought that his calling was to capture and punish Christians. He was quite successful in his chosen career, but that was not what God had chosen for his life. When the time was right God got ahold of Paul's life and changed him. The same still happens today. Our openness leads to the doors of our heart being opened to new ways of seeing and perceiving things.

Where do you feel God leading you? What's been the nudging in your heart? Why have you not said yes to God?

PRAYER: Loving God, move among me today and let me be open to You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

FEAR KILLS

Gracious God of life, bless the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

We start looking at the Lectionary passages for this coming Sunday. The Lecionary is a system whereby preachers can all preach from a common text throughout the Christian year. It is devised so that in a 3 year cycle the Bible can be covered, usually around the events that correspond to the calendar.

Here is the Old Testament lesson from 1 Kings 17:8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." 10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." 11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." 12 But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." 13 Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth." 15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

The God who provides! That is what this passage is all about! God makes provisions for those of His who call on Him and rely on faith for God to act. In this story the provision came from an unlikely source, an impoverished widow. In Biblical times widows were among the most impoverished and pitied, for theirs was a sad lot in having lost their husband and having to rely on family for financial and emotional support. This is a doubly sad story for this widow had only a young son and was at the point of gathering wood to cook their last meal. How in the world could a starving woman provide for an old man when she barely had enough for herself and her small son? Faith. When asked for water and food, she replied she had none, but he said that she should not be afraid.

Fear kills hope. Fear kills faith. Fear kills the possibility of God working in our lives. If we let it. The key is not to let it. The key is to master fear with faith and hope and the openness to God. Much of what we see in today's society, in our churches, in our workplaces, and in our homes is the result of fear getting the best of us.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me with my faith. Help me to see that which only You can do in settings where it seems that nothing can be done. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PERFECT IN LOVE!

God of perfection smile kindly on the attempts of this dear reader to be perfect; in Christ Jesus' name I pray, amen.

This verse closes Matthew 5: 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I know a lof of avid and rabid golfers. I know a lot of avid and rabid bowlers. I do not know a single person who has ever in his or her life either golfed (is that the term?) a round of golf where s/he made 18 holes in one. I do not know a single person who has bowled a perfect, 300 game every time s/he bowled. Does this mean they have sworn off their games? Sworn maybe, but that's another lesson for later, but never given up their admiration or addiction of the game.

Yet, here is Jesus talking about life, with its ups and downs, mountains and valleys, friends and enemies, in-laws and out-laws, talking about our being perfect! John Wesley figured it out: We must be perfect in love in this life. He did not mean that as a destination or end, but rather a process, a journey of daily improving our love so that when we reach the very end of our lives, we would be rewarded with the knowledge that we had tried to be made perfect in love. This comes, I can't resist, at a perfect time in our conference's week, for this week, later today in fact, when Bishop Jim Dorff will ask our Elder candidates if they are striving to "be made perfect in love." Every single one of them will, if they have been paying any attention at all to professors, pastors, mentors, guides, friends, et al, will say, "YES!" Could you?

It boils down to this: Have you tried today to be better than yesterday in your love towards God, towards others and towards yourself? Do you care more? Are you a bit more compassionate? If you answered yes, you're on your way! If you answered no, start today!

PRAYER: Loving God I confess that I sometimes have not kept my need to be as Your Son said I should be. I sometimes want more love than I am willing to show and give others. Let me begin today (again) to be on that road towards being made perfect in love in this life. I ask this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

GIVE, LOVE, PRAY?

Loving God of all people, walk among the needs and life of this dear reader in all that they may need or be facing today; in Christ Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Here is our text for the conclusion of Matthew 5: Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 43 "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Again, Jesus, with the unexpected? Give, love, pray? That sounds like the title of some book only women will read! I can almost hear His voice: "Yes, do the unexpected. Live the better way." All of what Jesus taught caught the unexpecting world unawares. Give, love, pray. Go, Do. What a list! And this conclusion of the first part of the sermon Jesus is teaching on our caring for one another in somewhat difficult ways. The poor have always been with us, Jesus taught, so He was aware and was concerned about beggars. They placed themselves by the entrance to the Temple, and at places where high volumes of people would be present, just in case one of them might want to help them. Now in our city they're on street corners with signs. Are these begging or asking? I remember the first days of my new job in downtown Houston, walking to my office in a suit and all the street people that were loitering in that neighborhood. One man caught up with me and kept demanding, "Give me fifty cents, brother. Show me some kindness!" I refused and he told me where to go! Other times I would have money and would help and I would get, "God bless you!" Our call is to help when we can. What the recipient does with our generosity is between them and God, not us.

Then love? Our enemies? And pray? For those who go out of their way to make our life miserable? Yes, again, the call to believe and the call to be a disciple is a higher calling. One the world cannot and will not understand until we make it believable by our actions.

PRAYER: Lord, You've made it difficult but You've made it better. Help me to be the person You want me to be. Allow me to be a person who gives, loves, and prays. Yes, Lord, even for the ones that I don't usually give, love or pray for. I ask all this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST: For those traveling to the Southwest Texas Annual Conference in Corpus Christi today and tomorrow. May the Holy Spirit grant all of us traveling mercies and may we be God's people in all that is before us.