New every morning are Thy blessings, Dear God; pour out these and many others on this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I ask, amen.
Our text for today comes from Matthew 5:13 "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 14 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. 17 "Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures - either God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. 18 God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working. 19 "Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. 20 Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom. (The Message)
When was the last time your life brought out the "God-flavors" and "God-colors" of the world? Such is the meaning behind the continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus' intent is that we live lives that make a difference and help bring transformation to the world. If we live according to that which we have been taught as being pleasing to God, our lives will be those sorts of lives. The entire sermon shared that day by Our Lord can be summed up in saying, "Live the unexpected," for what Jesus shared with us is that we live according to what God expects, not the world. The world has its way, God has His. The world says, everybody for themselves, God says, care and love others. The world says, get angry and get even; God says, forgive and pray for those who are against you. People in Jesus' day for the most part had given up on God's Law. People in our day for the most part have given up on living as God would have us live, and dare I say that some have given up on God? I love the closing part of the passage that says, "But take it seriously, show the way for others." (v. 19)
PRAYER (Please pray this as your own prayer): Loving God, Iwant to live a life that brings out the God-flavors and shows the God-colors present in the world. Make my life so brilliant with Your love and compassion that others won't be able to resist Your grace and favor. May my life reflect the hope that You continue to share with us. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
ARE YOU ON GOD'S GUEST LIST?
Loving God of all creation, You lovingly formed this dear reader in Your image; let them truly reflect it this day by Your presence and power; in Christ Jesus I pray, Amen.
Here is our text for today from Psalm 15: 1 God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? 2 "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. 3 "Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor; 4 despise the despicable. "Keep your word even when it costs you, 5 make an honest living, never take a bribe. "You'll never get blacklisted if you live like this." (The Message)
The hardhitting language of today does two things: 1. It reflects the sentiment of the old language, 2. Scares us into the reality of what is behind the old language. In a question and answer psalm, the psalmist has asked God about who gets invited to dinner at God's place. It was somewhat humorous to see television commentators going over the menu of the last White House state dinner when the president of China was over. Each item was analyzed and cost speculation was shared. I think it was envy and a desire to have been invited to sit at the table, not so much for the food, but for what it symbolized. The same is true here. To be invited to God's place in the heavenly realm is not so much about divine food and seven or eight or ten courses that are served, but to be in the presence and power of God. I want to be on God's guest list is what the psalmist is saying. Then God answers, "You want to be invited? Here's what you do: Be a straight-forward person in all your dealings, act in a civil and courteous way, being honest with all. Seek not to hurt your friends, nor place blame on your neighbor. Seek to avoid that which is not of Me, and always be a person who says yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no, no matter the cost. Seek to provide for yourself and those who depend on you in an honest way, never taking shortcuts or that which would bring you wealth at the cost of your dignity. If you live in this way, you will always be on my guest list."
What a thing to share with someone today if they ask how we are. You can say, "I'm on God's guest list!" And take it from there. Sure, some will press you and ask, "Does that mean you're dying and God's expecting you?" You can say something like, "No, I'm living a full life, thanks to God and what God is expecting from me is to be the best person I can; the rest is just details. Would you like to be on God's guest list?"
PRAYER: Loving God, place me on Your guest list. Let it be because today I will live as I should and do as I should. May my actions be an act of loving evangelism that speaks volumes of what You have done and have shared with me. May it be that others will join me, if it be Your will; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Here is our text for today from Psalm 15: 1 God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? 2 "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. 3 "Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor; 4 despise the despicable. "Keep your word even when it costs you, 5 make an honest living, never take a bribe. "You'll never get blacklisted if you live like this." (The Message)
The hardhitting language of today does two things: 1. It reflects the sentiment of the old language, 2. Scares us into the reality of what is behind the old language. In a question and answer psalm, the psalmist has asked God about who gets invited to dinner at God's place. It was somewhat humorous to see television commentators going over the menu of the last White House state dinner when the president of China was over. Each item was analyzed and cost speculation was shared. I think it was envy and a desire to have been invited to sit at the table, not so much for the food, but for what it symbolized. The same is true here. To be invited to God's place in the heavenly realm is not so much about divine food and seven or eight or ten courses that are served, but to be in the presence and power of God. I want to be on God's guest list is what the psalmist is saying. Then God answers, "You want to be invited? Here's what you do: Be a straight-forward person in all your dealings, act in a civil and courteous way, being honest with all. Seek not to hurt your friends, nor place blame on your neighbor. Seek to avoid that which is not of Me, and always be a person who says yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no, no matter the cost. Seek to provide for yourself and those who depend on you in an honest way, never taking shortcuts or that which would bring you wealth at the cost of your dignity. If you live in this way, you will always be on my guest list."
What a thing to share with someone today if they ask how we are. You can say, "I'm on God's guest list!" And take it from there. Sure, some will press you and ask, "Does that mean you're dying and God's expecting you?" You can say something like, "No, I'm living a full life, thanks to God and what God is expecting from me is to be the best person I can; the rest is just details. Would you like to be on God's guest list?"
PRAYER: Loving God, place me on Your guest list. Let it be because today I will live as I should and do as I should. May my actions be an act of loving evangelism that speaks volumes of what You have done and have shared with me. May it be that others will join me, if it be Your will; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
LOVE THE LORD GOD, YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF AND GOD AIN'T KIDDING!
Loving God, let the opportunities for the fullness of life be this dear reader's today and all days; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from the prophet Micah 6: 1 Listen now, listen to God: "Take your stand in court. If you have a complaint, tell the mountains; make your case to the hills. 2 And now, Mountains, hear God's case; listen, Jury Earth - For I am bringing charges against my people. I am building a case against Israel. 3 "Dear people, how have I done you wrong? Have I burdened you, worn you out? Answer! 4 I delivered you from a bad life in Egypt; I paid a good price to get you out of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you - and Aaron and Miriam to boot! 5 Remember what Balak king of Moab tried to pull, and how Balaam son of Beor turned the tables on him. Remember all those stories about Shittim and Gilgal. Keep all God's salvation stories fresh and present." 6 How can I stand up before God and show proper respect to the high God? Should I bring an armload of offerings topped off with yearling calves? 7 Would God be impressed with thousands of rams, with buckets and barrels of olive oil? Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child, my precious baby, to cancel my sin? 8 But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously. (The Message)
All the verses in this passage are important. But not as important as the last one, verse 8: "But (God's) already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously." The most important relationship in our lives is the one we should have with God. God should be at the center of our living and it should be God who guides our living. It's the core of the greatest commandment for Israel and for all who would call themselves Christians. And the second one, as Jesus stressed, is just as important, "love our neighbors as ourselves." What made it harder is how Jesus defined neighbor. He took it beyond the neighborhood and applied it to all people. Micah is hearing God say, in all our dealings we are to be fair with others; we are to be compassionate and loyal in our love. And for good measure he adds, "And don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously."
If we are to put all of these texts for this week together, it is to make sense of life and of God. God shares through His Son, Jesus, what matters. We discover that we matter. It's an invitation to get right with God. It's also an invitation to get right with others after we get right with ourselves. So, dear reader, put away selfish and self-centered or even destructive thoughts about yourself. See how special and unique you are to God and see how that applies even to those who don't like or love you. You are the catalyst! Make the world a positive place, and the journey of life a gracious and wonderful one.
PRAYER: Loving God, I pray that what You share through Your Word would apply to me today. Let me know that my relationship with You is the most important one I can ever have, just as Your relationship with me is. Let me also seek to better my attitude and perception of myself so that the positive love You intended that I have for myself be applied to others. I ask this in Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior and true model for life, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from the prophet Micah 6: 1 Listen now, listen to God: "Take your stand in court. If you have a complaint, tell the mountains; make your case to the hills. 2 And now, Mountains, hear God's case; listen, Jury Earth - For I am bringing charges against my people. I am building a case against Israel. 3 "Dear people, how have I done you wrong? Have I burdened you, worn you out? Answer! 4 I delivered you from a bad life in Egypt; I paid a good price to get you out of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you - and Aaron and Miriam to boot! 5 Remember what Balak king of Moab tried to pull, and how Balaam son of Beor turned the tables on him. Remember all those stories about Shittim and Gilgal. Keep all God's salvation stories fresh and present." 6 How can I stand up before God and show proper respect to the high God? Should I bring an armload of offerings topped off with yearling calves? 7 Would God be impressed with thousands of rams, with buckets and barrels of olive oil? Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child, my precious baby, to cancel my sin? 8 But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously. (The Message)
All the verses in this passage are important. But not as important as the last one, verse 8: "But (God's) already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously." The most important relationship in our lives is the one we should have with God. God should be at the center of our living and it should be God who guides our living. It's the core of the greatest commandment for Israel and for all who would call themselves Christians. And the second one, as Jesus stressed, is just as important, "love our neighbors as ourselves." What made it harder is how Jesus defined neighbor. He took it beyond the neighborhood and applied it to all people. Micah is hearing God say, in all our dealings we are to be fair with others; we are to be compassionate and loyal in our love. And for good measure he adds, "And don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously."
If we are to put all of these texts for this week together, it is to make sense of life and of God. God shares through His Son, Jesus, what matters. We discover that we matter. It's an invitation to get right with God. It's also an invitation to get right with others after we get right with ourselves. So, dear reader, put away selfish and self-centered or even destructive thoughts about yourself. See how special and unique you are to God and see how that applies even to those who don't like or love you. You are the catalyst! Make the world a positive place, and the journey of life a gracious and wonderful one.
PRAYER: Loving God, I pray that what You share through Your Word would apply to me today. Let me know that my relationship with You is the most important one I can ever have, just as Your relationship with me is. Let me also seek to better my attitude and perception of myself so that the positive love You intended that I have for myself be applied to others. I ask this in Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior and true model for life, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
LET IT MAKE SENSE TO THOSE WHO WILL HEAR
Blessed God, the blessing of life sometimes gets clouded with burdens and worries; clear the vision of this dear reader to see the fullness of life; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from 1 Corinthians 1: 18 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. 19 It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots. 20 So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? 21 Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb - preaching, of all things! - to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. 22 While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, 23 we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle - and Greeks pass it off as absurd. 24 But to us who are personally called by God himself - both Jews and Greeks - Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. 25 Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness." (The Message)
The things of God for those who are not of God make no sense. I've shared before how during my days as a campus minister we had a young man discovering God and the things of God who had to lie to his mother about where he was going so that he could get permission to come to our ministry activities. His mother preferred that her son go to a dance or out clubbing with his friends, than to attend a Bible study or an evening of Christian worship and fellowship. I've heard mothers say to their sons, "May God never permit it!" to their inquiries about becoming a pastor. Paul discovered this early in his training in his scriptures, then later as Christ's evangelist he learned it firsthand; some folks just don't get it or don't want to get it when it comes to knowing about God's great love. What does that mean, that we should give up and let those who are "hellbent on destruction" stay on course? In no way! Ours still continues to be the joyous task of making sure they get it, so that their lives may be saved and blessed.
One of the churches in my district is a small, historic wooden frame building. Its only neighbor is across the street. In it lives a little girl who when she was old enough to cross the road by herself, came to the church to see what was going on and as the pastor tells it, "she adopted everyone of us." Even at that early age I can see that the things of God make sense to her. Everytime the doors of the church are open, she's there and she's even brought along her chihuahua, yes, even to worship.
May the things of God not only make sense in your life, make they make your life.
(Say this prayer as your own)PRAYER: God of life, let me understand, truly understand and accept everything that has been shared with me about You. May my life be made whole and blessed in Your love. Help me to share, always share, with others about those things that saved me and made me whole. Let me never give up; in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from 1 Corinthians 1: 18 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. 19 It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots. 20 So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? 21 Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb - preaching, of all things! - to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. 22 While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, 23 we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle - and Greeks pass it off as absurd. 24 But to us who are personally called by God himself - both Jews and Greeks - Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. 25 Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness." (The Message)
The things of God for those who are not of God make no sense. I've shared before how during my days as a campus minister we had a young man discovering God and the things of God who had to lie to his mother about where he was going so that he could get permission to come to our ministry activities. His mother preferred that her son go to a dance or out clubbing with his friends, than to attend a Bible study or an evening of Christian worship and fellowship. I've heard mothers say to their sons, "May God never permit it!" to their inquiries about becoming a pastor. Paul discovered this early in his training in his scriptures, then later as Christ's evangelist he learned it firsthand; some folks just don't get it or don't want to get it when it comes to knowing about God's great love. What does that mean, that we should give up and let those who are "hellbent on destruction" stay on course? In no way! Ours still continues to be the joyous task of making sure they get it, so that their lives may be saved and blessed.
One of the churches in my district is a small, historic wooden frame building. Its only neighbor is across the street. In it lives a little girl who when she was old enough to cross the road by herself, came to the church to see what was going on and as the pastor tells it, "she adopted everyone of us." Even at that early age I can see that the things of God make sense to her. Everytime the doors of the church are open, she's there and she's even brought along her chihuahua, yes, even to worship.
May the things of God not only make sense in your life, make they make your life.
(Say this prayer as your own)PRAYER: God of life, let me understand, truly understand and accept everything that has been shared with me about You. May my life be made whole and blessed in Your love. Help me to share, always share, with others about those things that saved me and made me whole. Let me never give up; in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Monday, January 24, 2011
YOU MATTER TO GOD!
Loving God, I thank You for the uniqueness of this dear reader; may they never lose sight of how important they are to You and how valuable they are to each of us; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Matthew 5: 1 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down 2 and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: 3 "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. 4 "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. 6 "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. 7 "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for. 8 "You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. 9 "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. 10 "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. 11 "Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. 12 You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer, even! - for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. (The Message)
In this modern version of this famous passage, we seen modern day applications to Jesus' timeless words: when we're at the end of our rope, the less there is of us, meaning our not giving up but not giving in to excessive worry, the more there is of God. During our times of loss, God's embrace see us through. A rich blessing is ours when we discover that God made us unique and our uniqueness matters just as we are. As we live life we discover that an appetite for God helps us know the goodness of God and we can find satisfaction for life in God. When we care for others, we discover that God has been caring for us. What a blessing to get our spirit and soul right with God and that helps us learn to cooperate with others; it's then that we discover we're all related, we're all part of God's family.
Dear reader, hear this as God's message for you and how important you are to Him. Do not let persecution or worries, in whatever forms they may take (loss of income, employment, relationship worries, etc.) veer you off God's path or out of God's family. God is on your side!
PRAYER: Loving God, I know this message was meant for me at a time such as this. Help me to claim this for my life. May I walk forward towards and with You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Matthew 5: 1 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down 2 and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: 3 "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. 4 "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. 6 "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. 7 "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for. 8 "You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. 9 "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. 10 "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. 11 "Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. 12 You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer, even! - for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. (The Message)
In this modern version of this famous passage, we seen modern day applications to Jesus' timeless words: when we're at the end of our rope, the less there is of us, meaning our not giving up but not giving in to excessive worry, the more there is of God. During our times of loss, God's embrace see us through. A rich blessing is ours when we discover that God made us unique and our uniqueness matters just as we are. As we live life we discover that an appetite for God helps us know the goodness of God and we can find satisfaction for life in God. When we care for others, we discover that God has been caring for us. What a blessing to get our spirit and soul right with God and that helps us learn to cooperate with others; it's then that we discover we're all related, we're all part of God's family.
Dear reader, hear this as God's message for you and how important you are to Him. Do not let persecution or worries, in whatever forms they may take (loss of income, employment, relationship worries, etc.) veer you off God's path or out of God's family. God is on your side!
PRAYER: Loving God, I know this message was meant for me at a time such as this. Help me to claim this for my life. May I walk forward towards and with You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, January 20, 2011
I WAS NOT GLAD WHEN THEY SAID UNTO ME; NOW I AM!
Dear God, may the words of that great hymn, "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine," be the words of praise in the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 27: 1 Light, space, zest - that's God! So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. 4 I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. 5 That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic. 6 God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I'm headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I'm singing God-songs; I'm making music to God. 7 Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs: "Be good to me! Answer me!" 8 When my heart whispered, "Seek God," my whole being replied, "I'm seeking him!" 9 Don't hide from me now! You've always been right there for me; don't turn your back on me now. Don't throw me out, don't abandon me; you've always kept the door open. (The Message)
I learned the other day that those who choose to go to church go on average 1.7 times a month. I feel for the children of those parents and more for those whose parents choose not to go to church at all. If you were forced to go to church as a child, I pray the day came when you realized what a blessing, what a joy it was to be in the house of God. When that day arrived for me I just knew there was a specialness to being in that little church that could not be matched by any other place. And as I grew and discovered that living "in God" was even more special. Living in God was having a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. That's the joy of the Psalmist as he writes this psalm; the words he wrote thousands of years ago still speak truth to those who know!
May we make it our joyful duty to invite others into that special place with God. May we do it for the children who are missing out and not finding the joy and peace that we have.
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to be the person that invites others to come and be in your house. Help me do it for all Your children, but especially those who are still young and innocent and not yet known You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Psalm 27: 1 Light, space, zest - that's God! So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. 4 I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. 5 That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic. 6 God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I'm headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I'm singing God-songs; I'm making music to God. 7 Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs: "Be good to me! Answer me!" 8 When my heart whispered, "Seek God," my whole being replied, "I'm seeking him!" 9 Don't hide from me now! You've always been right there for me; don't turn your back on me now. Don't throw me out, don't abandon me; you've always kept the door open. (The Message)
I learned the other day that those who choose to go to church go on average 1.7 times a month. I feel for the children of those parents and more for those whose parents choose not to go to church at all. If you were forced to go to church as a child, I pray the day came when you realized what a blessing, what a joy it was to be in the house of God. When that day arrived for me I just knew there was a specialness to being in that little church that could not be matched by any other place. And as I grew and discovered that living "in God" was even more special. Living in God was having a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. That's the joy of the Psalmist as he writes this psalm; the words he wrote thousands of years ago still speak truth to those who know!
May we make it our joyful duty to invite others into that special place with God. May we do it for the children who are missing out and not finding the joy and peace that we have.
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to be the person that invites others to come and be in your house. Help me do it for all Your children, but especially those who are still young and innocent and not yet known You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?
God of grace and God of glory, pour out Your power on the needs and challenges in the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for this morning comes from Isaiah 9: 1 But there'll be no darkness for those who were in trouble. Earlier he did bring the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali into disrepute, but the time is coming when he'll make that whole area glorious - the road along the Sea, the country past the Jordan, international Galilee. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows - light! sunbursts of light! 3 You repopulated the nation, you expanded its joy. Oh, they're so glad in your presence! Festival joy! The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings. 4 The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants - all their whips and cudgels and curses - Is gone, done away with, a deliverance as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian. (The Message)
Have you ever been afraid of the dark? I went through a phase as a child when it was not the most comfortable thing in the world go from the light into the dark. And I have worked in settings where the planning of some buildings did not have a genius to it, where the door was on the north side and the first light switch was on the south. That fear is grounded in the belief that one cannot see all dangers or predators, and there might just be monsters in the closet or under the bed! Darkness for the biblical writer and reader was used at times to indicate the worst of times. We also say about our history during those times when we were not at our best behavior were times of great darkness or "in the dark days of" and we fill in the blank with something that should embarrass us. And light, on the other hand, came to represent the opposite. Verse 2 is a famous verse that says it all, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." The presence of God and God's action in our lives is an occasion to celebrate. To see God moving in our midst is to say that God is doing great things and a time for "great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings." To see the end of oppression and cruelty among all the peoples of the earth is indeed the time to praise God!
PRAYER: Loving God, may You help me walk in light always. May my actions and decisions reflect a life lived in light and not in darkness. I pray the same for my country and for all countries of the world. I pray for the end of oppression, cruelty, racism, sexism, classism, ageism, and all things that do not represent You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for this morning comes from Isaiah 9: 1 But there'll be no darkness for those who were in trouble. Earlier he did bring the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali into disrepute, but the time is coming when he'll make that whole area glorious - the road along the Sea, the country past the Jordan, international Galilee. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows - light! sunbursts of light! 3 You repopulated the nation, you expanded its joy. Oh, they're so glad in your presence! Festival joy! The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings. 4 The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants - all their whips and cudgels and curses - Is gone, done away with, a deliverance as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian. (The Message)
Have you ever been afraid of the dark? I went through a phase as a child when it was not the most comfortable thing in the world go from the light into the dark. And I have worked in settings where the planning of some buildings did not have a genius to it, where the door was on the north side and the first light switch was on the south. That fear is grounded in the belief that one cannot see all dangers or predators, and there might just be monsters in the closet or under the bed! Darkness for the biblical writer and reader was used at times to indicate the worst of times. We also say about our history during those times when we were not at our best behavior were times of great darkness or "in the dark days of" and we fill in the blank with something that should embarrass us. And light, on the other hand, came to represent the opposite. Verse 2 is a famous verse that says it all, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." The presence of God and God's action in our lives is an occasion to celebrate. To see God moving in our midst is to say that God is doing great things and a time for "great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings." To see the end of oppression and cruelty among all the peoples of the earth is indeed the time to praise God!
PRAYER: Loving God, may You help me walk in light always. May my actions and decisions reflect a life lived in light and not in darkness. I pray the same for my country and for all countries of the world. I pray for the end of oppression, cruelty, racism, sexism, classism, ageism, and all things that do not represent You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
FIGHTING IN THE CHURCH?
God of all people, bless and protect this dear reader and their loved ones; grant them healing, joy, and peace. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Here is our text for today from 1 Corinthians 1: 10 I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I'll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common. 11 I bring this up because some from Chloe's family brought a most disturbing report to my attention - that you're fighting among yourselves! 12 I'll tell you exactly what I was told: You're all picking sides, going around saying, "I'm on Paul's side," or "I'm for Apollos," or "Peter is my man," or "I'm in the Messiah group." 13 I ask you, "Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own? Was Paul crucified for you? Was a single one of you baptized in Paul's name?" 14 I was not involved with any of your baptisms - except for Crispus and Gaius - and on getting this report, I'm sure glad I wasn't. 15 At least no one can go around saying he was baptized in my name. 16 (Come to think of it, I also baptized Stephanas's family, but as far as I can recall, that's it.) 17 God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn't send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center - Christ on the Cross - be trivialized into mere words. 18 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. (The Message)
Imagine fighting among believers in the church! Is such a thing possible? Not in the church! Okay, that's tongue-in-cheek humor. You and I know that some of the most hurtful fights we've seen have taken place in the church. And if you haven't, I ask you to pray that you never do. Yet, here is Paul addressing that issue in the church at Corinth. "Sides" or parties had been drawn up and a power struggle ensued in trying to decide who was who, and what was what. Paul has to ask them, Have you chopped up the Messiah into little pieces so that each party can have its own? Paul himself had been dragged into this bickering and he asks, Was I crucified for you? Were you baptized in my name? The purpose of the Church is to bring followers of Christ in and to grow the Church! And if you find your church doing otherwise, prayer and fasting must follow!
The truth is that most families will have a disagreement every once and a while; some more often than others. And like most families, if the Church does, it should figure out a solution yet all the while still love each other. You see, the Church as God's institution invites more attacks on it than a Rotary or Lion's Club. We stand for God and all that God offers to the world. Satan does not want the Church to stand. Satan would rather see the Church on all fours, looking for direction and purpose, confusing everyone, while Satan does his work among those fighting. Let God work in you, and may the work be a work of unity and of building up.
PRAYER: Loving God, it seems that the trivial can become the major thing if I'm not careful. And like the church in Corinth I can find myself fighting among brothers and sisters. I pray for Your Church and for the one I attend. May I be a force of peace and unity and strength for You and for the cause of Christ. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Here is our text for today from 1 Corinthians 1: 10 I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I'll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common. 11 I bring this up because some from Chloe's family brought a most disturbing report to my attention - that you're fighting among yourselves! 12 I'll tell you exactly what I was told: You're all picking sides, going around saying, "I'm on Paul's side," or "I'm for Apollos," or "Peter is my man," or "I'm in the Messiah group." 13 I ask you, "Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own? Was Paul crucified for you? Was a single one of you baptized in Paul's name?" 14 I was not involved with any of your baptisms - except for Crispus and Gaius - and on getting this report, I'm sure glad I wasn't. 15 At least no one can go around saying he was baptized in my name. 16 (Come to think of it, I also baptized Stephanas's family, but as far as I can recall, that's it.) 17 God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn't send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center - Christ on the Cross - be trivialized into mere words. 18 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. (The Message)
Imagine fighting among believers in the church! Is such a thing possible? Not in the church! Okay, that's tongue-in-cheek humor. You and I know that some of the most hurtful fights we've seen have taken place in the church. And if you haven't, I ask you to pray that you never do. Yet, here is Paul addressing that issue in the church at Corinth. "Sides" or parties had been drawn up and a power struggle ensued in trying to decide who was who, and what was what. Paul has to ask them, Have you chopped up the Messiah into little pieces so that each party can have its own? Paul himself had been dragged into this bickering and he asks, Was I crucified for you? Were you baptized in my name? The purpose of the Church is to bring followers of Christ in and to grow the Church! And if you find your church doing otherwise, prayer and fasting must follow!
The truth is that most families will have a disagreement every once and a while; some more often than others. And like most families, if the Church does, it should figure out a solution yet all the while still love each other. You see, the Church as God's institution invites more attacks on it than a Rotary or Lion's Club. We stand for God and all that God offers to the world. Satan does not want the Church to stand. Satan would rather see the Church on all fours, looking for direction and purpose, confusing everyone, while Satan does his work among those fighting. Let God work in you, and may the work be a work of unity and of building up.
PRAYER: Loving God, it seems that the trivial can become the major thing if I'm not careful. And like the church in Corinth I can find myself fighting among brothers and sisters. I pray for Your Church and for the one I attend. May I be a force of peace and unity and strength for You and for the cause of Christ. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Monday, January 17, 2011
FREE FOR JOYFUL OBEDIENCE?
God of all peoples, may the significance of this day speak to the heart of this dear reader and help them know all people are special to you; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Here is our text for today from Matthew 4: 12 When Jesus got word that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee. 13 He moved from his hometown, Nazareth, to the lakeside village Capernaum, nestled at the base of the Zebulun and Naphtali hills. 14 This move completed Isaiah's sermon: 15 Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, road to the sea, over Jordan, Galilee, crossroads for the nations. 16 People sitting out their lives in the dark saw a huge light; Sitting in that dark, dark country of death, they watched the sun come up. 17 This Isaiah-prophesied sermon came to life in Galilee the moment Jesus started preaching. He picked up where John left off: "Change your life. God's kingdom is here." 18 Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. 19 Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." 20 They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed. 21 A short distance down the beach they came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee's sons. These two were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets. Jesus made the same offer to them, 22 and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father. 23 From there he went all over Galilee. He used synagogues for meeting places and taught people the truth of God. God's kingdom was his theme - that beginning right now they were under God's government, a good government! He also healed people of their diseases and of the bad effects of their bad lives. (The Message)
It's interesting to note that today marks the birthday of a man who died trying to bring people together. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We can live together as brothers (& sisters) or die separately as fools." His message was modeled on the life and teachings and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I love the way verse 17 has Jesus' message as being, "Change your life. God's kingdom is here." And then He began to call followers to come and learn and do the things that He was willing to teach them. To reach out to all people to bring them into God's one kingdom. Where are we in that? Bishop Woodie White, a retired UM bishop, for many years has written a "Dear Martin," letter to his deceased friend, to let him know where we are. What would your letter say? What would a "Dear Jesus" letter say about where you are?
Many, if they were honest would reflect on how fearful times have become because of the economy. We've turned inward, instead of outward, and we're more selfish in trying to preserve what we have and our willingness to share has not been what it should. We've seen the rise of racism in politics, with people hiding behind, "We want our country back" really saying we're not willing to live lives that care about others. We want fences, we want borders, we want bigger bank accounts, longer life, and a government that works for us. What good does a "God government do?" God would probably want us to love God with everything we have, and then to top it all of, to love one another as we love ourselves.
PRAYER: Loving God, let me be honest with You and myself. I care too much about myself and not enough for others. Forgive me and free me, as we say whenever we celebrate Holy Communion, for "joyful obedience." I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Here is our text for today from Matthew 4: 12 When Jesus got word that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee. 13 He moved from his hometown, Nazareth, to the lakeside village Capernaum, nestled at the base of the Zebulun and Naphtali hills. 14 This move completed Isaiah's sermon: 15 Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, road to the sea, over Jordan, Galilee, crossroads for the nations. 16 People sitting out their lives in the dark saw a huge light; Sitting in that dark, dark country of death, they watched the sun come up. 17 This Isaiah-prophesied sermon came to life in Galilee the moment Jesus started preaching. He picked up where John left off: "Change your life. God's kingdom is here." 18 Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. 19 Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." 20 They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed. 21 A short distance down the beach they came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee's sons. These two were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets. Jesus made the same offer to them, 22 and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father. 23 From there he went all over Galilee. He used synagogues for meeting places and taught people the truth of God. God's kingdom was his theme - that beginning right now they were under God's government, a good government! He also healed people of their diseases and of the bad effects of their bad lives. (The Message)
It's interesting to note that today marks the birthday of a man who died trying to bring people together. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We can live together as brothers (& sisters) or die separately as fools." His message was modeled on the life and teachings and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I love the way verse 17 has Jesus' message as being, "Change your life. God's kingdom is here." And then He began to call followers to come and learn and do the things that He was willing to teach them. To reach out to all people to bring them into God's one kingdom. Where are we in that? Bishop Woodie White, a retired UM bishop, for many years has written a "Dear Martin," letter to his deceased friend, to let him know where we are. What would your letter say? What would a "Dear Jesus" letter say about where you are?
Many, if they were honest would reflect on how fearful times have become because of the economy. We've turned inward, instead of outward, and we're more selfish in trying to preserve what we have and our willingness to share has not been what it should. We've seen the rise of racism in politics, with people hiding behind, "We want our country back" really saying we're not willing to live lives that care about others. We want fences, we want borders, we want bigger bank accounts, longer life, and a government that works for us. What good does a "God government do?" God would probably want us to love God with everything we have, and then to top it all of, to love one another as we love ourselves.
PRAYER: Loving God, let me be honest with You and myself. I care too much about myself and not enough for others. Forgive me and free me, as we say whenever we celebrate Holy Communion, for "joyful obedience." I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, January 13, 2011
FROM HERE TO THERE
Loving God, may the needs and opportunities of this dear reader be cause for praise in the heavenly realms; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Here is our text for today from Psalm 40: 1 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. 2 He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. 3 He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God. 4 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships; 5 The world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you! I start talking about you, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words. Neither numbers nor words account for you. 6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you - that's not what you're after. Being religious, acting pious - that's not what you're asking for. You've opened my ears so I can listen. 7 So I answered, "I'm coming. I read in your letter what you wrote about me, 8 And I'm coming to the party you're throwing for me." That's when God's Word entered my life, became part of my very being. 9 I've preached you to the whole congregation, I've kept back nothing, God - you know that. 10 I didn't keep the news of your ways a secret, didn't keep it to myself. I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough. I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth For myself alone. I told it all, let the congregation know the whole story. 11 Now God, don't hold out on me, don't hold back your passion. Your love and truth are all that keeps me together. (The Message Version of The Bible)
From "here to there" is sometimes a long distance. Sometimes it is a lifelong distance. Yet, sometimes it's exactly where we need to go. And always, it is a matter of life and death. Such was the feeling the Psalmist had as he faced difficulties in his life, not unlike us and those times when it seems everything piles up against us or on us. And, being the believers we need to be, we pray. And we pray and we pray and we pray. And sometimes it seems exactly like it says in verse one, we wait and wait and wait on God. Sometimes it isn't that long a wait but it sure seems like it! And where we want to be is "there" not "here" (or so we sometimes think), and if "there" is away from the "ditch" in our life and the "deep mud" in our life, then surely we pray, "Lord, take me out of here and lead me to where You would have me be." The "there" according to this version of the Bible is that place where we can enter the "mystery" of God with complete abandonment to self; that is to say, that place where we feel God's love but can't quite understand or explain why God loves us. And we seek to do the things we would not normally do, things the world does not expect from those that want "to get ahead" or be "successful." We can, and will find the "God-wonders" and "God-thoughts" for our lives.
That is, if you want to get "there from here."
PRAYER: Lord, I do want to be where You are. I want to abandon myself completely in You. Let me seek to know more about You and see the God-wonders and have the God-thoughts that will richly and eternally bless my life. I'm tired of finding myself in the ditches and deep mud of this life and desire to be in Your presence. May it be so right now and always. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Here is our text for today from Psalm 40: 1 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. 2 He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. 3 He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God. 4 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships; 5 The world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you! I start talking about you, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words. Neither numbers nor words account for you. 6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you - that's not what you're after. Being religious, acting pious - that's not what you're asking for. You've opened my ears so I can listen. 7 So I answered, "I'm coming. I read in your letter what you wrote about me, 8 And I'm coming to the party you're throwing for me." That's when God's Word entered my life, became part of my very being. 9 I've preached you to the whole congregation, I've kept back nothing, God - you know that. 10 I didn't keep the news of your ways a secret, didn't keep it to myself. I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough. I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth For myself alone. I told it all, let the congregation know the whole story. 11 Now God, don't hold out on me, don't hold back your passion. Your love and truth are all that keeps me together. (The Message Version of The Bible)
From "here to there" is sometimes a long distance. Sometimes it is a lifelong distance. Yet, sometimes it's exactly where we need to go. And always, it is a matter of life and death. Such was the feeling the Psalmist had as he faced difficulties in his life, not unlike us and those times when it seems everything piles up against us or on us. And, being the believers we need to be, we pray. And we pray and we pray and we pray. And sometimes it seems exactly like it says in verse one, we wait and wait and wait on God. Sometimes it isn't that long a wait but it sure seems like it! And where we want to be is "there" not "here" (or so we sometimes think), and if "there" is away from the "ditch" in our life and the "deep mud" in our life, then surely we pray, "Lord, take me out of here and lead me to where You would have me be." The "there" according to this version of the Bible is that place where we can enter the "mystery" of God with complete abandonment to self; that is to say, that place where we feel God's love but can't quite understand or explain why God loves us. And we seek to do the things we would not normally do, things the world does not expect from those that want "to get ahead" or be "successful." We can, and will find the "God-wonders" and "God-thoughts" for our lives.
That is, if you want to get "there from here."
PRAYER: Lord, I do want to be where You are. I want to abandon myself completely in You. Let me seek to know more about You and see the God-wonders and have the God-thoughts that will richly and eternally bless my life. I'm tired of finding myself in the ditches and deep mud of this life and desire to be in Your presence. May it be so right now and always. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
A THANKLESS JOB?
Loving God of all wisdom, please help this dear reader in their life with those things that don't always make sense; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Isaiah 49: 1 Listen, far-flung islands, pay attention, faraway people: God put me to work from the day I was born. The moment I entered the world he named me. 2 He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate. He kept his hand on me to protect me. He made me his straight arrow and hid me in his quiver. 3 He said to me, "You're my dear servant, Israel, through whom I'll shine." 4 But I said, "I've worked for nothing. I've nothing to show for a life of hard work. Nevertheless, I'll let God have the last word. I'll let him pronounce his verdict." 5 "And now," God says, this God who took me in hand from the moment of birth to be his servant, To bring Jacob back home to him, to set a reunion for Israel - What an honor for me in God's eyes! That God should be my strength! 6 He says, "But that's not a big enough job for my servant - just to recover the tribes of Jacob, merely to round up the strays of Israel. I'm setting you up as a light for the nations so that my salvation becomes global!" 7 God, Redeemer of Israel, The Holy of Israel, says to the despised one, kicked around by the nations, slave labor to the ruling class: "Kings will see, get to their feet - the princes, too - and then fall on their faces in homage Because of God, who has faithfully kept his word, The Holy of Israel, who has chosen you." (The Message)
Have you ever had a thankless job? Or what seemed or seems like a job where you give and give and give and work and work and work, and no one at any time stops to give you thanks? Oh, you're a parent? Well, along those lines is what the prophet felt about what he was called to be and to do. Isaiah knew from his brith to that which he had been called and made. Yet, he felt like it was a thankless job that never accomplished that for which God called him. But his faith never wavered and he never gave up, stating, "I let (God) have the last work." And so it shall be not only for Isaiah but for the church and for you and me to that which we have been called. It is or seems like a neverending task, but still we labor on and do that which needs to be done; sharing the love of the God who loves all people with the hope that people would start loving others in return.
The day is coming and only God knows how soon, when all that has been shared and planted, will come to blossom and bloom and great will be the harvest. Until that day, we labor on.
PRAYER: God of all strength, help me to labor on in Your work. Let me not be concerned so much about tomorrow as what is before me today, so that in all things I might be faithful. I pray this prayer in faith in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Isaiah 49: 1 Listen, far-flung islands, pay attention, faraway people: God put me to work from the day I was born. The moment I entered the world he named me. 2 He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate. He kept his hand on me to protect me. He made me his straight arrow and hid me in his quiver. 3 He said to me, "You're my dear servant, Israel, through whom I'll shine." 4 But I said, "I've worked for nothing. I've nothing to show for a life of hard work. Nevertheless, I'll let God have the last word. I'll let him pronounce his verdict." 5 "And now," God says, this God who took me in hand from the moment of birth to be his servant, To bring Jacob back home to him, to set a reunion for Israel - What an honor for me in God's eyes! That God should be my strength! 6 He says, "But that's not a big enough job for my servant - just to recover the tribes of Jacob, merely to round up the strays of Israel. I'm setting you up as a light for the nations so that my salvation becomes global!" 7 God, Redeemer of Israel, The Holy of Israel, says to the despised one, kicked around by the nations, slave labor to the ruling class: "Kings will see, get to their feet - the princes, too - and then fall on their faces in homage Because of God, who has faithfully kept his word, The Holy of Israel, who has chosen you." (The Message)
Have you ever had a thankless job? Or what seemed or seems like a job where you give and give and give and work and work and work, and no one at any time stops to give you thanks? Oh, you're a parent? Well, along those lines is what the prophet felt about what he was called to be and to do. Isaiah knew from his brith to that which he had been called and made. Yet, he felt like it was a thankless job that never accomplished that for which God called him. But his faith never wavered and he never gave up, stating, "I let (God) have the last work." And so it shall be not only for Isaiah but for the church and for you and me to that which we have been called. It is or seems like a neverending task, but still we labor on and do that which needs to be done; sharing the love of the God who loves all people with the hope that people would start loving others in return.
The day is coming and only God knows how soon, when all that has been shared and planted, will come to blossom and bloom and great will be the harvest. Until that day, we labor on.
PRAYER: God of all strength, help me to labor on in Your work. Let me not be concerned so much about tomorrow as what is before me today, so that in all things I might be faithful. I pray this prayer in faith in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
CLEANED UP AND SET APART!
God of all people, bless and protect this dear reader in their life today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text is from 1 Corinthians 1; 1 I, Paul, have been called and sent by Jesus, the Messiah, according to God's plan, along with my friend Sosthenes. 2 I send this letter to you in God's church at Corinth, Christians cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life. I include in my greeting all who call out to Jesus, wherever they live. He's their Master as well as ours! 3 May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours. 4 Every time I think of you - and I think of you often! - I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. 5 There's no end to what has happened in you - it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. 6 The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives. 7 Just think - you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. 8 And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. 9 God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that. The Cross: The Irony of God's Wisdom . (The Message)
When our girls were babies, it seemed like we had an assembly line at bath time at night. They would be thoroughly washed and scrubbed, then handed to the other to be dried, then dressed and set off to bed. It was quite a masterful operation we had, and we still hold gracious memories of those days. Later, when they were older we would trust them to bathe themselves and now in holding adult conversations with them we have discovered some truths about how "thoroughly" they "washed." The older ones would show the younger ones how to make it seem like they had bathed. Thankfully, they've come full circle. Paul is thankful for the "Christians cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life." What a wonderful description of that which has happened to us when we surrendered our lives to God and let God deal with our sinfulness and our past. God took us, cleaned us up in and through Jesus and set us to live in a way that should be different from others, in a "God-filled life." He continues in sharing how in this new life we have everything we could possibly want. Let it not be as someone posted in Facebook, tongue-in-cheek, "Dear God, My prayer for 2011 is that I want a fat bank account and a thin body, and don't mix it up like you did last year!" (Attributed to Rev. Dr. Leonard Sweet). We have blessings that matter more than money and body - in the spiritual bank, we are rich beyond our wildest dreams!
As you journey on in these new days of the New Year, trust more in the things of God to make a difference in the lives of others. May we come to realize that the things that matter more are the things we already have, thanks to the love of God.
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for all that I have. I am rich beyond my wildest dreams in the things that matter more. Help me to live that way. Help me to make a difference and impact in others. And when I do stray and wander away, wash me again in Jesus and set me right and apart. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text is from 1 Corinthians 1; 1 I, Paul, have been called and sent by Jesus, the Messiah, according to God's plan, along with my friend Sosthenes. 2 I send this letter to you in God's church at Corinth, Christians cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life. I include in my greeting all who call out to Jesus, wherever they live. He's their Master as well as ours! 3 May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours. 4 Every time I think of you - and I think of you often! - I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. 5 There's no end to what has happened in you - it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. 6 The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives. 7 Just think - you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. 8 And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. 9 God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that. The Cross: The Irony of God's Wisdom . (The Message)
When our girls were babies, it seemed like we had an assembly line at bath time at night. They would be thoroughly washed and scrubbed, then handed to the other to be dried, then dressed and set off to bed. It was quite a masterful operation we had, and we still hold gracious memories of those days. Later, when they were older we would trust them to bathe themselves and now in holding adult conversations with them we have discovered some truths about how "thoroughly" they "washed." The older ones would show the younger ones how to make it seem like they had bathed. Thankfully, they've come full circle. Paul is thankful for the "Christians cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life." What a wonderful description of that which has happened to us when we surrendered our lives to God and let God deal with our sinfulness and our past. God took us, cleaned us up in and through Jesus and set us to live in a way that should be different from others, in a "God-filled life." He continues in sharing how in this new life we have everything we could possibly want. Let it not be as someone posted in Facebook, tongue-in-cheek, "Dear God, My prayer for 2011 is that I want a fat bank account and a thin body, and don't mix it up like you did last year!" (Attributed to Rev. Dr. Leonard Sweet). We have blessings that matter more than money and body - in the spiritual bank, we are rich beyond our wildest dreams!
As you journey on in these new days of the New Year, trust more in the things of God to make a difference in the lives of others. May we come to realize that the things that matter more are the things we already have, thanks to the love of God.
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for all that I have. I am rich beyond my wildest dreams in the things that matter more. Help me to live that way. Help me to make a difference and impact in others. And when I do stray and wander away, wash me again in Jesus and set me right and apart. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Monday, January 10, 2011
WHERE DO YOU STAY?
Loving God, prepare the way, the truth and the life for this dear reader in all they may face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from John 1: 29 The very next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, 30 "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world! This is the man I've been talking about, 'the One who comes after me but is really ahead of me.' 31 I knew nothing about who he was - only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer. That is why I came here baptizing with water, giving you a good bath and scrubbing sins from your life so you can get a fresh start with God." 32 John clinched his witness with this: "I watched the Spirit, like a dove flying down out of the sky, making himself at home in him. 33 I repeat, I know nothing about him except this: The One who authorized me to baptize with water told me, 'The One on whom you see the Spirit come down and stay, this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 That's exactly what I saw happen, and I'm telling you, there's no question about it: This is the Son of God." 35 The next day John was back at his post with two disciples, who were watching. 36 He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb." 37 The two disciples heard him and went after Jesus. 38 Jesus looked over his shoulder and said to them, "What are you after?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?" 39 He replied, "Come along and see for yourself." They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John's witness and followed Jesus. 41 The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, "We've found the Messiah" (that is, "Christ"). 42 He immediately led him to Jesus. Jesus took one look up and said, "You're John's son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas" (or Peter, which means "Rock"). (The Message)
Where do you stay? I remember hearing that phrase as it came into fashion as the question we used to ask as, "Where do you live?" The implication was clear, we live everywhere we are, and at night, we stay at this address. I'm not advocating for its continued or resurrected use, but it was an interesting point made by asking, "Where do you stay?" This gets asked of Jesus by two of John's disciples. Their life had been in upheaval since meeting John and hearing about Jesus. The message that John was preaching was having an impact on many lives, including theirs and to find the One whom John had been teaching made them want to follow Him. You will notice that they were asked a question first, "What are you after?" In other words, what's been motivating your life up to now? They respond by calling Jesus "Rabbi" and then asking the question, "Were are you staying?" After spending time with Him, one of them, Andrew, had to go and find his brother, Simon, to come and see what Andrew had found.
Our lives should not be the same after having met Jesus. We should have a new attitude and spirit about the spiritual world to which we belong. We should not be caught up in any of the rhetoric going on around us about politics and about this is good or this is bad, fear this and fear that. We should have a say in what we believe is God's take on all of this, and we should speak up for love, justice and fairness, keeping mindful that our citizenship is not from any place around here; we're just "staying" here for now, our home, where we will live eternally, is in Heaven. We should live life to the fullest in Jesus, but we should also stay safe and secure in the love that is ours from God.
PRAYER: Loving God, use me to be Yours today. Help me be a beacon of light and truth in the world of darkness that surrounds us. May we help spread the light of Your love in the midst of those who hate and seek to do that work Your Son spoke of in John 10:10 of "killing, stealing, and destroying." May we be all about staying in the fullness of life as You shared through Him. It is in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name that we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from John 1: 29 The very next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, 30 "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world! This is the man I've been talking about, 'the One who comes after me but is really ahead of me.' 31 I knew nothing about who he was - only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer. That is why I came here baptizing with water, giving you a good bath and scrubbing sins from your life so you can get a fresh start with God." 32 John clinched his witness with this: "I watched the Spirit, like a dove flying down out of the sky, making himself at home in him. 33 I repeat, I know nothing about him except this: The One who authorized me to baptize with water told me, 'The One on whom you see the Spirit come down and stay, this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 That's exactly what I saw happen, and I'm telling you, there's no question about it: This is the Son of God." 35 The next day John was back at his post with two disciples, who were watching. 36 He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb." 37 The two disciples heard him and went after Jesus. 38 Jesus looked over his shoulder and said to them, "What are you after?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?" 39 He replied, "Come along and see for yourself." They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John's witness and followed Jesus. 41 The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, "We've found the Messiah" (that is, "Christ"). 42 He immediately led him to Jesus. Jesus took one look up and said, "You're John's son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas" (or Peter, which means "Rock"). (The Message)
Where do you stay? I remember hearing that phrase as it came into fashion as the question we used to ask as, "Where do you live?" The implication was clear, we live everywhere we are, and at night, we stay at this address. I'm not advocating for its continued or resurrected use, but it was an interesting point made by asking, "Where do you stay?" This gets asked of Jesus by two of John's disciples. Their life had been in upheaval since meeting John and hearing about Jesus. The message that John was preaching was having an impact on many lives, including theirs and to find the One whom John had been teaching made them want to follow Him. You will notice that they were asked a question first, "What are you after?" In other words, what's been motivating your life up to now? They respond by calling Jesus "Rabbi" and then asking the question, "Were are you staying?" After spending time with Him, one of them, Andrew, had to go and find his brother, Simon, to come and see what Andrew had found.
Our lives should not be the same after having met Jesus. We should have a new attitude and spirit about the spiritual world to which we belong. We should not be caught up in any of the rhetoric going on around us about politics and about this is good or this is bad, fear this and fear that. We should have a say in what we believe is God's take on all of this, and we should speak up for love, justice and fairness, keeping mindful that our citizenship is not from any place around here; we're just "staying" here for now, our home, where we will live eternally, is in Heaven. We should live life to the fullest in Jesus, but we should also stay safe and secure in the love that is ours from God.
PRAYER: Loving God, use me to be Yours today. Help me be a beacon of light and truth in the world of darkness that surrounds us. May we help spread the light of Your love in the midst of those who hate and seek to do that work Your Son spoke of in John 10:10 of "killing, stealing, and destroying." May we be all about staying in the fullness of life as You shared through Him. It is in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name that we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, January 06, 2011
JESUS IS THE MESSAGE!
Loving God, bless and protect this dear reader in all they face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Acts 10: 34 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! 35 It makes no difference who you are or where you're from - if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. 36 The Message he sent to the children of Israel - that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again - well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone. 37 "You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. 38 Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him. 39 "And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. 40 But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. 41 Not everyone saw him - he wasn't put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand - us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. 42 He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. 43 But we're not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets." (The Message)
Who do people see Jesus is in you? As you live your life, do you give witness to Jesus as having been the One who took away your sins? This passage has Peter very exitedly and emotionally sharing Who Jesus is with those listening to him. He had just experienced a vision of his own sin, that of being exclusive in his relationship with Jews, and God had shown him that God favors no one, not even Jews. So, Peter gets excited that this message of Jesus, of Jesus offering forgiveness of sins, is for all people.
Today is the day of Epiphany, the day the Magi arrived to visit and pay tribute to Jesus. The name itself means a divine manifestation or a "shining forth" and the Church takes it to mean the realization that indeed, God favors no one, God favors all. Today is a day for insiders and outsiders alike, to realize that in Jesus we have the invitation to live in love and live free from our sins. Live your life in this way!
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for the meaning behind this day. Truly I have received a very special gift from You today. Let me live my life in a way that shows that to others. Let me show Jesus in all that I say, think, and do. I ask this in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Acts 10: 34 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! 35 It makes no difference who you are or where you're from - if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. 36 The Message he sent to the children of Israel - that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again - well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone. 37 "You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. 38 Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him. 39 "And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. 40 But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. 41 Not everyone saw him - he wasn't put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand - us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. 42 He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. 43 But we're not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets." (The Message)
Who do people see Jesus is in you? As you live your life, do you give witness to Jesus as having been the One who took away your sins? This passage has Peter very exitedly and emotionally sharing Who Jesus is with those listening to him. He had just experienced a vision of his own sin, that of being exclusive in his relationship with Jews, and God had shown him that God favors no one, not even Jews. So, Peter gets excited that this message of Jesus, of Jesus offering forgiveness of sins, is for all people.
Today is the day of Epiphany, the day the Magi arrived to visit and pay tribute to Jesus. The name itself means a divine manifestation or a "shining forth" and the Church takes it to mean the realization that indeed, God favors no one, God favors all. Today is a day for insiders and outsiders alike, to realize that in Jesus we have the invitation to live in love and live free from our sins. Live your life in this way!
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for the meaning behind this day. Truly I have received a very special gift from You today. Let me live my life in a way that shows that to others. Let me show Jesus in all that I say, think, and do. I ask this in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
I AM BLESSED BY TWO BAPTISMS - MINE AND THE LORD'S!
How marvelous is Your love for us, dear God; shower more on the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
This coming Sunday is the Church's celebration of Jesus' Baptism and the gospel text is from Matthew: 13 Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. 14 John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you!" 15 But Jesus insisted. "Do it. God's work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism." So John did it. 16 The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit - it looked like a dove - descending and landing on him. 17 And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life." (The Message)
What a special Sunday it is when someone is presented for baptism. In my years in San Marcos, doing river baptisms was the highlight of my week once I got over the fear of the temperature and the flow of the river! For the families and individuals baptism marks a special and sacred occasion. It was no less so with that day and with our Lord. Jesus had heard that his cousin John was baptizing people, washing away their sins. John's message attracted many and those downstream from that place on the Jordan River probably didn't want to drink from that water.
John knew Jesus and his place in God's plan, so he resisted baptizing Jesus, insisting he was the one who needed it. Jesus replies with an understanding that it was part of God's plan, "putting things right all these centuries..coming together right now in this baptism." Indeed it was, God identifying with humanity in this powerful act. It cannot be said of our Lord that He does not identify in every aspect of our lives, this sealed the deal. Then, one of two public declarations from the heavens when God spoke and said, "This is my Son." This version has a special addition/interpretation of it, "chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life." So should it be in our hearts towards Jesus and towards our own baptism.
PRAYER: Loving God, for my baptism, I am eternally grateful. For the baptism of Jesus I am eternally blessed. May I always be mindful of both days and how they served to help make me closer to the person You would have me be. Lead me on, towards that special place today and all days; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
This coming Sunday is the Church's celebration of Jesus' Baptism and the gospel text is from Matthew: 13 Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. 14 John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you!" 15 But Jesus insisted. "Do it. God's work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism." So John did it. 16 The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit - it looked like a dove - descending and landing on him. 17 And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life." (The Message)
What a special Sunday it is when someone is presented for baptism. In my years in San Marcos, doing river baptisms was the highlight of my week once I got over the fear of the temperature and the flow of the river! For the families and individuals baptism marks a special and sacred occasion. It was no less so with that day and with our Lord. Jesus had heard that his cousin John was baptizing people, washing away their sins. John's message attracted many and those downstream from that place on the Jordan River probably didn't want to drink from that water.
John knew Jesus and his place in God's plan, so he resisted baptizing Jesus, insisting he was the one who needed it. Jesus replies with an understanding that it was part of God's plan, "putting things right all these centuries..coming together right now in this baptism." Indeed it was, God identifying with humanity in this powerful act. It cannot be said of our Lord that He does not identify in every aspect of our lives, this sealed the deal. Then, one of two public declarations from the heavens when God spoke and said, "This is my Son." This version has a special addition/interpretation of it, "chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life." So should it be in our hearts towards Jesus and towards our own baptism.
PRAYER: Loving God, for my baptism, I am eternally grateful. For the baptism of Jesus I am eternally blessed. May I always be mindful of both days and how they served to help make me closer to the person You would have me be. Lead me on, towards that special place today and all days; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
ARE YOU IN OR OUT?
God of this day and all days, bless and protect the life and challenges of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
As we prepare for the celebration of Epiphany, let's look at this text for today, from Ephesians 3: 1 This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. 2 I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. 3 I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. 4 As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. 5 None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. 6 The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. 7 This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. 8 When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities. 9 My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. 10 Through Christians like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels! 11 All this is proceeding along lines planned all along by God and then executed in Christ Jesus. 12 When we trust in him, we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go.
I don't know about you, but I've been an "outsider" at several points in my life. My having to move from the small town of Kingsville to the huge metropolis of Houston in the mid-60s, made me an outsider at the junior high that I attended. I suppose moving in the early part of the fall of your 7th grade year is not as bad as moving in your junior year of high school as one of my daughters had to endure, but it was bad enough. I had to ride the city bus from our street to the school, and once at the school had to figure out where to wait for the bell to ring. In this school's case it was to wait on the football field behind the school. It was probably the second day that a terrible fog had moved in to Houston and it was fun and scary to find the football field and then await the ringing of the bell for our first class. Epiphany celebrates what the Church calls the sharing of the Gospel with "insiders" and "outsiders" alike. Today's text has Paul sharing how God used him, though he felt like "the least qualified of any available Christians" to help bring in the "outsiders." The more known word is Gentiles for those whom this version calls "outsiders," and Paul was the evangelist who took the Gospel from inside the Jewish realm to all people. And Paul says this was planned all along, God desires you and me to be in God's love and reign.
Notice how Paul closes this passage, "When we trust in him (Christ Jesus), we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go." May it be so in our lives especially as we start the New Year, for there's much yet to be done.
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to be Your servant to those "in" and "out" of your love and reign. I thank You for inviting me in, and using all Whom you used to reach me. Let me reach others; I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
As we prepare for the celebration of Epiphany, let's look at this text for today, from Ephesians 3: 1 This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. 2 I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. 3 I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. 4 As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. 5 None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. 6 The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. 7 This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. 8 When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities. 9 My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. 10 Through Christians like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels! 11 All this is proceeding along lines planned all along by God and then executed in Christ Jesus. 12 When we trust in him, we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go.
I don't know about you, but I've been an "outsider" at several points in my life. My having to move from the small town of Kingsville to the huge metropolis of Houston in the mid-60s, made me an outsider at the junior high that I attended. I suppose moving in the early part of the fall of your 7th grade year is not as bad as moving in your junior year of high school as one of my daughters had to endure, but it was bad enough. I had to ride the city bus from our street to the school, and once at the school had to figure out where to wait for the bell to ring. In this school's case it was to wait on the football field behind the school. It was probably the second day that a terrible fog had moved in to Houston and it was fun and scary to find the football field and then await the ringing of the bell for our first class. Epiphany celebrates what the Church calls the sharing of the Gospel with "insiders" and "outsiders" alike. Today's text has Paul sharing how God used him, though he felt like "the least qualified of any available Christians" to help bring in the "outsiders." The more known word is Gentiles for those whom this version calls "outsiders," and Paul was the evangelist who took the Gospel from inside the Jewish realm to all people. And Paul says this was planned all along, God desires you and me to be in God's love and reign.
Notice how Paul closes this passage, "When we trust in him (Christ Jesus), we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go." May it be so in our lives especially as we start the New Year, for there's much yet to be done.
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to be Your servant to those "in" and "out" of your love and reign. I thank You for inviting me in, and using all Whom you used to reach me. Let me reach others; I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Monday, January 03, 2011
WHERE'S MY REAL GIFT?
God of all days, as the work week for many reading this begins again for the first day of the New Year, guide, bless and protect this reader in their needs; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Matthew 2: 1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' " 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
It may be hard to believe but in some countries the shopping centers and stores are crowded with shoppers trying to find the "big" gifts for a special day coming up! El Dia de Los Reyes Magos it is called, and it is on the 6th of January that many believe the three kings or magi or wise men arrived to give their gifts to Jesus. And if you think about it, it makes sense, it wasn't our birthday on Christmas, it was Jesus and this whole gift giving tradition started with these gentlemen and their desire to worship and pay homage to the child born to be King. And the tradition in these countries is to save the more special gifts for the day we call Epiphany. Truth be told we don't know if there were only three and if they were really kings themselves or just scholars who had long awaited the birth of this special child. Matthew shares it as he remembered it, that King Herod was visited by thes men who desired to know where the "king of Jews" had been born. As you well know, this was the wrong person to ask, but given that a king is usually born to a king or in a palace, they said, "Why don't we stop here?" You know the rest of the story.
The question for us remains, what is our real gift to Jesus? We can no longer just give lip service to the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is time to share with Him ourselves, our true selves in His service. The gifts of the magi bear special significance: gold for a king, symbolizing our very best for Jesus. Frankincense, a gift for a high priest, symbolizing our worship and participation in worship of He who is the true "bridge" between God and humanity. And myrrh, symbolizing the death of this child, to us meaning, will we give our entire life to Jesus?
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to give me to Jesus. In my life, may I offer to Him my very best, my complete and total worship at all times, and especially in public worship, and may I not count nor number my hours nor days in my service to Him. Make my entire life and attitude count for Jesus. I ask this in His Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Matthew 2: 1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' " 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
It may be hard to believe but in some countries the shopping centers and stores are crowded with shoppers trying to find the "big" gifts for a special day coming up! El Dia de Los Reyes Magos it is called, and it is on the 6th of January that many believe the three kings or magi or wise men arrived to give their gifts to Jesus. And if you think about it, it makes sense, it wasn't our birthday on Christmas, it was Jesus and this whole gift giving tradition started with these gentlemen and their desire to worship and pay homage to the child born to be King. And the tradition in these countries is to save the more special gifts for the day we call Epiphany. Truth be told we don't know if there were only three and if they were really kings themselves or just scholars who had long awaited the birth of this special child. Matthew shares it as he remembered it, that King Herod was visited by thes men who desired to know where the "king of Jews" had been born. As you well know, this was the wrong person to ask, but given that a king is usually born to a king or in a palace, they said, "Why don't we stop here?" You know the rest of the story.
The question for us remains, what is our real gift to Jesus? We can no longer just give lip service to the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is time to share with Him ourselves, our true selves in His service. The gifts of the magi bear special significance: gold for a king, symbolizing our very best for Jesus. Frankincense, a gift for a high priest, symbolizing our worship and participation in worship of He who is the true "bridge" between God and humanity. And myrrh, symbolizing the death of this child, to us meaning, will we give our entire life to Jesus?
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to give me to Jesus. In my life, may I offer to Him my very best, my complete and total worship at all times, and especially in public worship, and may I not count nor number my hours nor days in my service to Him. Make my entire life and attitude count for Jesus. I ask this in His Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
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