God of the One who suffered much for us, may this dear reader's life be made more blessed by Jesus today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 31: 9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. 10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away. 11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 13 For I hear the whispering of many— terror all around!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." 15 My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. 16 Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love. (NRSV)
The road that leads to Calvery is called the Via Dolorosa or the Painful Way. It is called that because of the condition of Jesus' soul and body as He walked down it. It marked the last path He would walk as an earthly man and it marked a very public humiliation at the hands of those who, caught up in the frenzy of the moment, hated Him and screamed for His death. Every step our Lord took was a word from this Psalm, a prayer of petition, asking for God's power to come and intervene in an otherwise desperate situation. Yet it is a prayer of hope and faith that even in the midst of this painful situation, God is present and God is all powerful to act and to deliver.
You and I caused that pain and I cannot honestly say that I would not be among the crowd that would scream for Jesus' death just some days after I had screamed Hosanna for Jesus' appearance in my city. It was our sin that necessitated this act on God's part.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, as we get close to the end of this Lenten Journey may I be reminded of Your great love even as the words spoken in worship may be words of Your great pain and suffering. May I be a better person as a result of all You endured for my sake. I ask this in Thy precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
This is For God's Good!
God of power and might, let this dear reader be still and know that You fight for them; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Isaiah 50: 4 The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, So I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, Wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders. 5 The Master, God, opened my ears, and I didn't go back to sleep, didn't pull the covers back over my head. 6 I followed orders, stood there and took it while they beat me, held steady while they pulled out my beard, Didn't dodge their insults, faced them as they spit in my face. 7 And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I'm not disgraced. Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I'll never regret this. 8 My champion is right here. Let's take our stand together! Who dares bring suit against me? Let him try! 9 Look! the Master, God, is right here. Who would dare call me guilty? Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of threadbare socks and shirts, fodder for moths! (The Message)
The ending of the Lenten Journey is one filled with pain, shame, and stress for our Lord. This passage is one which sets the stage for that prophetic word that foretold the coming agony of the Messiah. As the Lamb of God, He was to suffer much, yet He endured and overcame because of His faith in the Power of God the Father. Isaiah's hand writes the words years before of One who is obedient who withstood pain and suffering because of that faith that said, "This is for God's good." How often have we been placed somewhere or endured something and thought of everything else but "This is for God's good"?
What are you facing in your life today? What decisions are looming large over your head as you anxiously await an outcome or verdict? Can you not find in the words that sustained Jesus that which can help you say, "This is for God's good"?
PRAYER: Loving God, in the suffering of Jesus we find our comfort. All that He endured for me can help me even today. Help me to discover that which helps me say, "This is for God's good." I pray 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 Isaiah 50: 4 The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, So I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, Wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders. 5 The Master, God, opened my ears, and I didn't go back to sleep, didn't pull the covers back over my head. 6 I followed orders, stood there and took it while they beat me, held steady while they pulled out my beard, Didn't dodge their insults, faced them as they spit in my face. 7 And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I'm not disgraced. Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I'll never regret this. 8 My champion is right here. Let's take our stand together! Who dares bring suit against me? Let him try! 9 Look! the Master, God, is right here. Who would dare call me guilty? Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of threadbare socks and shirts, fodder for moths! (The Message)
The ending of the Lenten Journey is one filled with pain, shame, and stress for our Lord. This passage is one which sets the stage for that prophetic word that foretold the coming agony of the Messiah. As the Lamb of God, He was to suffer much, yet He endured and overcame because of His faith in the Power of God the Father. Isaiah's hand writes the words years before of One who is obedient who withstood pain and suffering because of that faith that said, "This is for God's good." How often have we been placed somewhere or endured something and thought of everything else but "This is for God's good"?
What are you facing in your life today? What decisions are looming large over your head as you anxiously await an outcome or verdict? Can you not find in the words that sustained Jesus that which can help you say, "This is for God's good"?
PRAYER: Loving God, in the suffering of Jesus we find our comfort. All that He endured for me can help me even today. Help me to discover that which helps me say, "This is for God's good." I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
God's Love Never Quits!
Loving God of all seasons, as we draw to the close of this Lenten Journey, bless and amaze this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Two of my other blogs and postings are listed below if you desire to read and pray more during the day.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 118: 1 Thank God because he's good, because his love never quits. 2 Tell the world, Israel, "His love never quits." 19 Swing wide the city gates - the righteous gates! I'll walk right through and thank God! 20 This Temple Gate belongs to God, so the victors can enter and praise. 21 Thank you for responding to me; you've truly become my salvation! 22 The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! 23 This is God's work. We rub our eyes - we can hardly believe it! 24 This is the very day God acted - let's celebrate and be festive! 25 Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God - a free and full life! 26 Blessed are you who enter in God's name - from God's house we bless you! 27 God is God, he has bathed us in light. Festoon the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar! 28 You're my God, and I thank you. O my God, I lift high your praise. 29 Thank God - he's so good. His love never quits! (The Message)
God's love never quits. One of the theme runnings through this beautiful psalm. The other theme is the fulfillment of prophecy as we mentioned yesterday. Look at verse 19, "Swing wide the city gates - the righteous gates! I'll walk right through and thank God!" Part of what we will remember and celebrate this coming Sunday, which in case you haven't guessed, is Palm Sunday, is that Jesus' parade through the gates of Jerusalem was what David envisioned so many years before Jesus. David knew that his entry back to the town which became his capital was special but would not compare to the day when God would act in a way that would bring what Israel truly needed; the restoration of the "paradise relationship" as found in Genesis. When we get right with God and allow God to rule our lives, we are like Adam and Eve, walking the garden with God. (The other word is "salvation.") When we are in relationship with God our eyes can truly see that God's love never quits.
Join the parade! Enter into relationship with God and become One who truly knows that "God's love never quits."
PRAYER: Loving God, we're nearing the end of these 40 days and the best is yet to come. Make new in my heart and the person who reads this as their own, that faith that helps me realize, live and share, "Your love never quits!" In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Dear friends, you can read my 50 Days of Prayer blog at this address: http://50daysprayer.blogspot.com/ and a new blog that I post on from time to time: http://thepastorsgift.blogspot.com/
Two of my other blogs and postings are listed below if you desire to read and pray more during the day.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 118: 1 Thank God because he's good, because his love never quits. 2 Tell the world, Israel, "His love never quits." 19 Swing wide the city gates - the righteous gates! I'll walk right through and thank God! 20 This Temple Gate belongs to God, so the victors can enter and praise. 21 Thank you for responding to me; you've truly become my salvation! 22 The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! 23 This is God's work. We rub our eyes - we can hardly believe it! 24 This is the very day God acted - let's celebrate and be festive! 25 Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God - a free and full life! 26 Blessed are you who enter in God's name - from God's house we bless you! 27 God is God, he has bathed us in light. Festoon the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar! 28 You're my God, and I thank you. O my God, I lift high your praise. 29 Thank God - he's so good. His love never quits! (The Message)
God's love never quits. One of the theme runnings through this beautiful psalm. The other theme is the fulfillment of prophecy as we mentioned yesterday. Look at verse 19, "Swing wide the city gates - the righteous gates! I'll walk right through and thank God!" Part of what we will remember and celebrate this coming Sunday, which in case you haven't guessed, is Palm Sunday, is that Jesus' parade through the gates of Jerusalem was what David envisioned so many years before Jesus. David knew that his entry back to the town which became his capital was special but would not compare to the day when God would act in a way that would bring what Israel truly needed; the restoration of the "paradise relationship" as found in Genesis. When we get right with God and allow God to rule our lives, we are like Adam and Eve, walking the garden with God. (The other word is "salvation.") When we are in relationship with God our eyes can truly see that God's love never quits.
Join the parade! Enter into relationship with God and become One who truly knows that "God's love never quits."
PRAYER: Loving God, we're nearing the end of these 40 days and the best is yet to come. Make new in my heart and the person who reads this as their own, that faith that helps me realize, live and share, "Your love never quits!" In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Dear friends, you can read my 50 Days of Prayer blog at this address: http://50daysprayer.blogspot.com/ and a new blog that I post on from time to time: http://thepastorsgift.blogspot.com/
Monday, March 26, 2012
Ready for a Parade?
Lord of life, bless and protect this dear reader in all that they may face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Mark 11: 1 When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany on Mount Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: 2 "Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never yet been ridden. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone asks, 'What are you doing?' say, 'The Master needs him, and will return him right away.'" 4 They went and found a colt tied to a door at the street corner and untied it. 5 Some of those standing there said, "What are you doing untying that colt?" 6 The disciples replied exactly as Jesus had instructed them, and the people let them alone. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus, spread their coats on it, and he mounted. 8 The people gave him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields. 9 Running ahead and following after, they were calling out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name! 10 Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in highest heaven! 11 He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in. But by now it was late, so he went back to Bethany with the Twelve. (The Message)
All of Jesus' life was a fulfillment of prophecy. Many years before He was even born, people of God had spoke on Jesus' behalf and the things that would occur to show that indeed God was involved in this Messiah's life and ministry, and all of it for the good of the people of God. This that we will celebrate in our churches this coming Sunday is a memorial of that entry into Jerusalem of the Son of God. The gates and streets of Jerusalem had seen more than their share of triumphant entries, most notably the ones of David the King. The people living in the capital city were used to this sort of celebrations. But today was different. There had been no war to celebrate battles won or territory gained. The political reality was that this land was an occupied land. The last parade to have come through the gates was that of the Roman Army as they took over Jerusalem. The once glorious political and military capital of the Jews was now just an outpost for Rome.
The people of Jerusalem longed for a parade of the messiah who would lead the revolt against Rome and restore them back to power. Little did they know this parade was not about that. The kingdom Jesus represented is still among us for those who choose to enter it as citizens and be children of the Most High. Among those who will be singing hosannas and praises Sunday, how many know the true meaning of all that is coming in the days after Palm Sunday? Do people realize it is about them and the love God has for them? It is up to us to tell and share with them what God has shared with us.
PRAYER: Loving God, as the day approaches I will be there at the parade held in my church. Let me truly celebrate what it truly means to me and to all who are in it or who watch it. May my life be a reflection of Your power at work to overthrow sin in my life and the fear of death that holds many captive. I pray 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 Mark 11: 1 When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany on Mount Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: 2 "Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never yet been ridden. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone asks, 'What are you doing?' say, 'The Master needs him, and will return him right away.'" 4 They went and found a colt tied to a door at the street corner and untied it. 5 Some of those standing there said, "What are you doing untying that colt?" 6 The disciples replied exactly as Jesus had instructed them, and the people let them alone. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus, spread their coats on it, and he mounted. 8 The people gave him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields. 9 Running ahead and following after, they were calling out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name! 10 Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in highest heaven! 11 He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in. But by now it was late, so he went back to Bethany with the Twelve. (The Message)
All of Jesus' life was a fulfillment of prophecy. Many years before He was even born, people of God had spoke on Jesus' behalf and the things that would occur to show that indeed God was involved in this Messiah's life and ministry, and all of it for the good of the people of God. This that we will celebrate in our churches this coming Sunday is a memorial of that entry into Jerusalem of the Son of God. The gates and streets of Jerusalem had seen more than their share of triumphant entries, most notably the ones of David the King. The people living in the capital city were used to this sort of celebrations. But today was different. There had been no war to celebrate battles won or territory gained. The political reality was that this land was an occupied land. The last parade to have come through the gates was that of the Roman Army as they took over Jerusalem. The once glorious political and military capital of the Jews was now just an outpost for Rome.
The people of Jerusalem longed for a parade of the messiah who would lead the revolt against Rome and restore them back to power. Little did they know this parade was not about that. The kingdom Jesus represented is still among us for those who choose to enter it as citizens and be children of the Most High. Among those who will be singing hosannas and praises Sunday, how many know the true meaning of all that is coming in the days after Palm Sunday? Do people realize it is about them and the love God has for them? It is up to us to tell and share with them what God has shared with us.
PRAYER: Loving God, as the day approaches I will be there at the parade held in my church. Let me truly celebrate what it truly means to me and to all who are in it or who watch it. May my life be a reflection of Your power at work to overthrow sin in my life and the fear of death that holds many captive. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Youthful Desire
Amazing God of peace and joy, pour out a blessing upon the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 119: 9 How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. 10 I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. 11 I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. 12 Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. 13 I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; 14 I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. 15 I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it. 16 I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it. (The Message)
Last night the northern part of our district hosted a laity celebration. At this event we recognize the outstanding leaders and servant leaders of each local church. Many of our churches give out Young Disciple awards and to me that is the most touching, to see children and youth recognized for their Christian service. The first three recepients of this award were little girls and as their district superintendent I get to pose with them and their certicate for a professional photograph. I told each one that I was proud of them and that they should continue to do good work for God.
The psalmist knew all about serving God as a child and youth. This passage is a call to young people to live "clean" lives and to find the right way to live such a life by reading God's word. I like that David is saying through God's word you will find road signs. God's word also provides promises that we can bank so that we can't bankrupt those through our sins. We should pray that God's counsel be ever before us and may true delight come from living a life that is pleasing to God.
PRAYER: Loving God, though my youthful years may be behind me, may my heart yearn to serve and please You nonetheless. I do take this time to pray that more children and youth might come to know You and seek You in ways that encourage others. Bless the children and youth of our communities that our churches might find ways to draw them into relationship with You. I pray 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 Psalm 119: 9 How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. 10 I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. 11 I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. 12 Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. 13 I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; 14 I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. 15 I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it. 16 I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it. (The Message)
Last night the northern part of our district hosted a laity celebration. At this event we recognize the outstanding leaders and servant leaders of each local church. Many of our churches give out Young Disciple awards and to me that is the most touching, to see children and youth recognized for their Christian service. The first three recepients of this award were little girls and as their district superintendent I get to pose with them and their certicate for a professional photograph. I told each one that I was proud of them and that they should continue to do good work for God.
The psalmist knew all about serving God as a child and youth. This passage is a call to young people to live "clean" lives and to find the right way to live such a life by reading God's word. I like that David is saying through God's word you will find road signs. God's word also provides promises that we can bank so that we can't bankrupt those through our sins. We should pray that God's counsel be ever before us and may true delight come from living a life that is pleasing to God.
PRAYER: Loving God, though my youthful years may be behind me, may my heart yearn to serve and please You nonetheless. I do take this time to pray that more children and youth might come to know You and seek You in ways that encourage others. Bless the children and youth of our communities that our churches might find ways to draw them into relationship with You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tears of Joy Now!
God of the Journey, bless and protect this dear reader in whatever needs they may face; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today is from Jeremiah 31: 31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the Lord," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. (The Message)
"No seas Jeremias (Don't be Jeremiah)!" my mom would tell me or my siblings every time we cried. Little did I know what that meant at the time and I didn't know and she probably didn't either, that she was preparing me for ministry. When in some class we studied formally the prophet and the professor said, "He was the 'Weeping Prophet', I said to myself, "Oh! Now I know Mom!" The prophet's love for God and his country made him weep when he saw the way Israel was rejecting God. He saw the covenant between God and Israel much like a marriage covenant and Israel was playing the unfaithful wife. It is also said that Jeremiah did not enjoy his role as spokesperson for God especially to a people that did not seem to care. So, imagine the power behind today's message. It is a call to hope for a hopeless people. God has not even forgotten the acts done against God and the day is promised when everyone will know the Lord and there will be no more sin remembered against them.
This journey is part of that fulfillment of prophecy. Through Jesus Christ we have the New Covenant. Through Jesus Christ we have the forgiveness of sins, for He was the Lamb of God. Through Jesus Christ we are moving to let all people know that the can also know the Lord. And that the Lord stands ready for forgive all sins. All of them. Even mine. Even yours. What better hope can we possible have or seek?
PRAYER: Loving God, we celebrate this time of hope. Move among us and touch and transform us. Help us reclaim the Covenant you have shared with us and let us move to tell others. We pray in the precious and powerful name of Jesus our Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today is from Jeremiah 31: 31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the Lord," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. (The Message)
"No seas Jeremias (Don't be Jeremiah)!" my mom would tell me or my siblings every time we cried. Little did I know what that meant at the time and I didn't know and she probably didn't either, that she was preparing me for ministry. When in some class we studied formally the prophet and the professor said, "He was the 'Weeping Prophet', I said to myself, "Oh! Now I know Mom!" The prophet's love for God and his country made him weep when he saw the way Israel was rejecting God. He saw the covenant between God and Israel much like a marriage covenant and Israel was playing the unfaithful wife. It is also said that Jeremiah did not enjoy his role as spokesperson for God especially to a people that did not seem to care. So, imagine the power behind today's message. It is a call to hope for a hopeless people. God has not even forgotten the acts done against God and the day is promised when everyone will know the Lord and there will be no more sin remembered against them.
This journey is part of that fulfillment of prophecy. Through Jesus Christ we have the New Covenant. Through Jesus Christ we have the forgiveness of sins, for He was the Lamb of God. Through Jesus Christ we are moving to let all people know that the can also know the Lord. And that the Lord stands ready for forgive all sins. All of them. Even mine. Even yours. What better hope can we possible have or seek?
PRAYER: Loving God, we celebrate this time of hope. Move among us and touch and transform us. Help us reclaim the Covenant you have shared with us and let us move to tell others. We pray in the precious and powerful name of Jesus our Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Jesus' Appointment
God of unexpected joys and blessings, make this be one of those days filled with grace and wonder in the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text today comes from Hebrews 5: 5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"; 6 as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (NRSV)
As any commercial plane begins "its initial descent" into an airport, much goes on that prepares the passengers for landing. I am one who likes to hear music while flying and understand that at that point I must remove my headphones, unplug them, put them away as well as to power off the device that is providing the music. The FAA believes that we should all be paying attention upon landing; all for our safety and our own good. We're in that phase of our Lenten Journey. We are being reminded of the readings that we label "not-so-good," namely Jesus' suffering and pain. Today's Epistle is one of those. Jesus' role was to glorify God and was "appointed by the one who said to Him, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten You.'" All that Jesus underwent, was for God's glory and our good. The passage reminds us of "loud cries and tears," but still Jesus remained obedient and submissive to God; all to become the source of our "eternal salvation" if we obey Christ.
We must remove the music of distraction in our ears, put away the literature of pleasure from our eyes, make straight the tray table of service, and become attentive to that which God provided for us during this special approaching time of Easter. We should be listening to what God still desires and needs from us, so that others may come to know all that is theirs by faith.
PRAYER: Loving God, may it be so for me and this person making this prayer their own. May the Passion of Jesus be the source of my eternal salvation. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Our text today comes from Hebrews 5: 5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"; 6 as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (NRSV)
As any commercial plane begins "its initial descent" into an airport, much goes on that prepares the passengers for landing. I am one who likes to hear music while flying and understand that at that point I must remove my headphones, unplug them, put them away as well as to power off the device that is providing the music. The FAA believes that we should all be paying attention upon landing; all for our safety and our own good. We're in that phase of our Lenten Journey. We are being reminded of the readings that we label "not-so-good," namely Jesus' suffering and pain. Today's Epistle is one of those. Jesus' role was to glorify God and was "appointed by the one who said to Him, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten You.'" All that Jesus underwent, was for God's glory and our good. The passage reminds us of "loud cries and tears," but still Jesus remained obedient and submissive to God; all to become the source of our "eternal salvation" if we obey Christ.
We must remove the music of distraction in our ears, put away the literature of pleasure from our eyes, make straight the tray table of service, and become attentive to that which God provided for us during this special approaching time of Easter. We should be listening to what God still desires and needs from us, so that others may come to know all that is theirs by faith.
PRAYER: Loving God, may it be so for me and this person making this prayer their own. May the Passion of Jesus be the source of my eternal salvation. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Monday, March 19, 2012
Standing Ready to Listen, Serve, and Go
Amazing God of grace, pour out Your love and mercy on the needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Dear friends, today through Thursday, we will study the Lectionary texts. Friday through Sunday I will share my adaptation of the 50 Days of Prayer. If you want to do the 50 Day Prayer as written for the church, please visit this web link: http://50daysofprayer.upperroom.org/.
Our text for today is John 12: 20 There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. 21 They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: "Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?" 22 Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered, "Time's up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. 25 In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. 26 "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me. 27 "Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. 28 I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.'" A voice came out of the sky: "I have glorified it, and I'll glorify it again." 29 The listening crowd said, "Thunder!" Others said, "An angel spoke to him!" 30 Jesus said, "The voice didn't come for me but for you. 31 At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. 32 And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me." 33 He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death. (The Message)
When word of His ministry reached outside of Jewish circles, Jesus knew it was time to begin to prepare the disciples for what was coming in his life, namely His death. Jesus explains the coming Passion as a glorification of God and Himself. He tries to explain the need and purpose of His death with an illustration about life and something with which they were familiar, wheat. He said, "You're familiar with how wheat grows. It grows upon the death of the grain. Yet this death of the grain produces much." Jesus then went on to share how we should not try to hold on to our lives, but to let it go "reckless in your love," and in that way we'll "have it forever, real and eternal." And even though they had responded to Jesus' initial call, He offered them again the challenge, "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me." Great honor and reward from God will follow. Then boom, the voice from Heaven, "I have glorified Myself and I will glorify it again." All heard a sound, the disciples heard the words.
In our sharing and listening with God, always offer to serve God in whatever way God chooses. And when God speaks in return, we will hear exactly what we need to hear. Stand ready to serve. Stand ready in obedience. Then go, do what God expects, and God will be glorified in your life.
PRAYER: Loving God, how difficult it must have been for the disciples to hear of Your Son's death. How even more difficult for You to know that He would suffer in that way, but as I and this dear reader who makes this prayer their own pray, may we be ready to serve and to listen to You. Guide us and use us, instruments of Your loving hands. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Dear friends, today through Thursday, we will study the Lectionary texts. Friday through Sunday I will share my adaptation of the 50 Days of Prayer. If you want to do the 50 Day Prayer as written for the church, please visit this web link: http://50daysofprayer.upperroom.org/.
Our text for today is John 12: 20 There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. 21 They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: "Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?" 22 Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered, "Time's up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. 25 In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. 26 "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me. 27 "Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. 28 I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.'" A voice came out of the sky: "I have glorified it, and I'll glorify it again." 29 The listening crowd said, "Thunder!" Others said, "An angel spoke to him!" 30 Jesus said, "The voice didn't come for me but for you. 31 At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. 32 And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me." 33 He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death. (The Message)
When word of His ministry reached outside of Jewish circles, Jesus knew it was time to begin to prepare the disciples for what was coming in his life, namely His death. Jesus explains the coming Passion as a glorification of God and Himself. He tries to explain the need and purpose of His death with an illustration about life and something with which they were familiar, wheat. He said, "You're familiar with how wheat grows. It grows upon the death of the grain. Yet this death of the grain produces much." Jesus then went on to share how we should not try to hold on to our lives, but to let it go "reckless in your love," and in that way we'll "have it forever, real and eternal." And even though they had responded to Jesus' initial call, He offered them again the challenge, "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me." Great honor and reward from God will follow. Then boom, the voice from Heaven, "I have glorified Myself and I will glorify it again." All heard a sound, the disciples heard the words.
In our sharing and listening with God, always offer to serve God in whatever way God chooses. And when God speaks in return, we will hear exactly what we need to hear. Stand ready to serve. Stand ready in obedience. Then go, do what God expects, and God will be glorified in your life.
PRAYER: Loving God, how difficult it must have been for the disciples to hear of Your Son's death. How even more difficult for You to know that He would suffer in that way, but as I and this dear reader who makes this prayer their own pray, may we be ready to serve and to listen to You. Guide us and use us, instruments of Your loving hands. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Day Three
Read John 10:11-18: Key Verse: 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Imagine a great meeting hall with one thousand people in it. Imagine walking around that great hall and you think you've walked into that part of Acts 2 where people were all speaking different languages. Imagine that they are all there for the same reason, to celebrate that God worked in their midst and brought them to faith and the banner they wear is the same. Such will be the gathering in Tampa of the 2012 General Conference. Besides celebration there will be times for decision and debate. Thus we the reason we are in prayer at this time.
Today's text tells of Jesus' declaration of being the Good Shepherd. A retired pastor once shared what was told him by the late Dr. Albert Outler in one of his classes. This pastor as a seminary student was asked by Dr. Outlet what he hoped to accomplish as a minister and he replied that he wanted to be a good shepherd to his flock. Dr. Outler said, "They already have a good shepherd; the best you can hope to be is a good sheep dog!" Jesus is the Good Shepherd, what we are is yet being written, but the point is this: Jesus came for everybody. Those who would desire a relationship with Jesus can find it; it's still a free gift and it's the best deal around.
PRAYER: HOLY GOD, move among us as we celebrate this Your day. Help us to be a part of that great movement that reaches all the sheep, especially those who think they don't want to be found. In Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Imagine a great meeting hall with one thousand people in it. Imagine walking around that great hall and you think you've walked into that part of Acts 2 where people were all speaking different languages. Imagine that they are all there for the same reason, to celebrate that God worked in their midst and brought them to faith and the banner they wear is the same. Such will be the gathering in Tampa of the 2012 General Conference. Besides celebration there will be times for decision and debate. Thus we the reason we are in prayer at this time.
Today's text tells of Jesus' declaration of being the Good Shepherd. A retired pastor once shared what was told him by the late Dr. Albert Outler in one of his classes. This pastor as a seminary student was asked by Dr. Outlet what he hoped to accomplish as a minister and he replied that he wanted to be a good shepherd to his flock. Dr. Outler said, "They already have a good shepherd; the best you can hope to be is a good sheep dog!" Jesus is the Good Shepherd, what we are is yet being written, but the point is this: Jesus came for everybody. Those who would desire a relationship with Jesus can find it; it's still a free gift and it's the best deal around.
PRAYER: HOLY GOD, move among us as we celebrate this Your day. Help us to be a part of that great movement that reaches all the sheep, especially those who think they don't want to be found. In Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Keep Your Eyes Upon Jesus Day Two of 50 Days of Prayer
Read Matthew 14:28-33: 28 Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (NRSV)
"If you are I AM, then give me the power to do what you are doing," was basically what Peter said to Jesus. Peter wanted to walk on water. And as long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was able to accomplish what no one else has. When Peter realized that he was indeed walking on water and choppy water at that, he took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink and called out to Jesus.
When we call on Jesus to come to us, we are really responding to Jesus' call to come to Him. Something we must always do; for without Jesus we're nothing and we can do nothing.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to always call on You. May I always keep my eyes on You. In Jesus I pray, amen.
"If you are I AM, then give me the power to do what you are doing," was basically what Peter said to Jesus. Peter wanted to walk on water. And as long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was able to accomplish what no one else has. When Peter realized that he was indeed walking on water and choppy water at that, he took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink and called out to Jesus.
When we call on Jesus to come to us, we are really responding to Jesus' call to come to Him. Something we must always do; for without Jesus we're nothing and we can do nothing.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to always call on You. May I always keep my eyes on You. In Jesus I pray, amen.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Deeply Rooted in Christ Brings Thanksgiving
Loving God, with Your awesome power remove the debris from the life of this dear reader for Your glory; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
The Psalmist said these words in Psalm 107: 1 Oh, thank God - he's so good! His love never runs out. 2 All of you set free by God, tell the world! Tell how he freed you from oppression, 3 Then rounded you up from all over the place, from the four winds, from the seven seas. 4 Some of you wandered for years in the desert, looking but not finding a good place to live, 5 Half-starved and parched with thirst, staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion. 6 Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God. He got you out in the nick of time; 7 He put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live. 8 So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. 9 He poured great draughts of water down parched throats; the starved and hungry got plenty to eat. 43 If you are really wise, you'll think this over - it's time you appreciated God's deep love. (The Message)
Where have you come from? Where are you headed? The psalmist knows as most of us, that we can never forget that once we were in spots we shouldn't have been and God's awesome power has either pulled or lifted us out of those. We remember only to thank God for God's power to do these things when it seemed that nothing else could. And if those memories lead to praise, imagine how much better today and tomorrow will be if we continue trusting and thanking God? Some of us truly walked through a spiritual desert where we were parched with thirst that nothing could quench. Then we heard about living water offered to us by Jesus and we drank to our satisfaction. O, praise the Lord for those waters! If we continue to walk with Jesus we will be, like Scripture says, like tress planted by a stream. The deep roots in Jesus will suffice in all things.
PRAYER: Loving God, may my and the those of this dear reader praying this, reach deep into the fountain that is Jesus. Quench our thirst again today and let us tell another thirsty one about that wonderful experience that we have had. We want to be truly wise and share the appreciation we have for You. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
The Psalmist said these words in Psalm 107: 1 Oh, thank God - he's so good! His love never runs out. 2 All of you set free by God, tell the world! Tell how he freed you from oppression, 3 Then rounded you up from all over the place, from the four winds, from the seven seas. 4 Some of you wandered for years in the desert, looking but not finding a good place to live, 5 Half-starved and parched with thirst, staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion. 6 Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God. He got you out in the nick of time; 7 He put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live. 8 So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. 9 He poured great draughts of water down parched throats; the starved and hungry got plenty to eat. 43 If you are really wise, you'll think this over - it's time you appreciated God's deep love. (The Message)
Where have you come from? Where are you headed? The psalmist knows as most of us, that we can never forget that once we were in spots we shouldn't have been and God's awesome power has either pulled or lifted us out of those. We remember only to thank God for God's power to do these things when it seemed that nothing else could. And if those memories lead to praise, imagine how much better today and tomorrow will be if we continue trusting and thanking God? Some of us truly walked through a spiritual desert where we were parched with thirst that nothing could quench. Then we heard about living water offered to us by Jesus and we drank to our satisfaction. O, praise the Lord for those waters! If we continue to walk with Jesus we will be, like Scripture says, like tress planted by a stream. The deep roots in Jesus will suffice in all things.
PRAYER: Loving God, may my and the those of this dear reader praying this, reach deep into the fountain that is Jesus. Quench our thirst again today and let us tell another thirsty one about that wonderful experience that we have had. We want to be truly wise and share the appreciation we have for You. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Stop the Presses! Go online now!
Nellie and I grew up without the benefit of our own Encyclopaedia Britiannica set. I had to go next door and ask to borrow the volume in which my topic was found. It was a most difficult task for a very shy boy to do. Our next door neighbor enjoyed a great job and as a result of it decided to provide to his children the Encyclopaedia. Nellie and I decided upon the birth of our first child that they would not have to endure that embarrassment of having to borrow from neighbors things we could have. We paid for the whole deal the man was selling. Yes, a man would go door-to-door selling these, and you could even see kiosks in the mall where you could order your own set if you happened not to be home when the salesman came calling. In the Valley a renowed tv anchor left that job to become the kiosk person at a dying mall.
The news today is that the presses at EB have stopped and no longer will they be sold like before. If a family wants access to their knowledge you have to pay the $70 annual fee to EB. That gets you all the information right at your fingertips which includes videos and other helpful information the folks at EB have amassed through the years. It is sad in a way but it is a sign of the times. EB had the ability to adapt to the internet and to seek a way to keep a presence if only online.
We also bought a piano and paid a lot of money to have one just in case, we hoped, our daughters will desire to learn to play it. I dreamed of the day our home would be filled with piano music. Alas, no one had interest in it and as we moved from parish to parish we lugged the piano and the huge bookcase of Encyclopaedias with us until the day came when we realized that more information was available online and that we didn't need the extra weight of a piano on our moving van. Our oldest asked for it and she got it. We got the pleasure of not having to move with those things. I remember the night we drove with all the EB volumes in our car to the charity drop box and into the box went each volume. Our silent prayer is that it would benefit the children of this particular organization or the organization itself.
What other things in our life time are changing and adapting? What things must just go out of existence or close down?
The news today is that the presses at EB have stopped and no longer will they be sold like before. If a family wants access to their knowledge you have to pay the $70 annual fee to EB. That gets you all the information right at your fingertips which includes videos and other helpful information the folks at EB have amassed through the years. It is sad in a way but it is a sign of the times. EB had the ability to adapt to the internet and to seek a way to keep a presence if only online.
We also bought a piano and paid a lot of money to have one just in case, we hoped, our daughters will desire to learn to play it. I dreamed of the day our home would be filled with piano music. Alas, no one had interest in it and as we moved from parish to parish we lugged the piano and the huge bookcase of Encyclopaedias with us until the day came when we realized that more information was available online and that we didn't need the extra weight of a piano on our moving van. Our oldest asked for it and she got it. We got the pleasure of not having to move with those things. I remember the night we drove with all the EB volumes in our car to the charity drop box and into the box went each volume. Our silent prayer is that it would benefit the children of this particular organization or the organization itself.
What other things in our life time are changing and adapting? What things must just go out of existence or close down?
Formed as God's People
Loving God of blessings profound, rain down Your grace and peace upon this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
"O, what a foretaste of Glory divine!" Had this hymn be around during Moses' day, this would have been sung during what was happening in this passage. It comes from Numbers, chapter 21: 4 They set out from Mount Hor along the Red Sea Road, a detour around the land of Edom. The people became irritable and cross as they traveled. 5 They spoke out against God and Moses: "Why did you drag us out of Egypt to die in this godforsaken country? No decent food; no water - we can't stomach this stuff any longer." 6 So God sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit them and many in Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke out against God and you. Pray to God; ask him to take these snakes from us." Moses prayed for the people. 8 God said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it on a flagpole: Whoever is bitten and looks at it will live." 9 So Moses made a snake of fiery copper and put it on top of a flagpole. Anyone bitten by a snake who then looked at the copper snake lived. (The Message)
If every time a church member grumbled against God or the pastor and a snake infestation came to deal with it, churches might be empty on Sunday. Or they might be full once again! The ancient writer is describing a scene from the forty years in the wilderness. It was not an easy journey, it was a difficult one. What they did not realize was that God was using that time to form a people to enter into the promised land. After four hundred years of asking God for their freedom, they now had it, but did not like the form it came in. They hated their new diet and they hated the fact that water was scarse in the desert. They could not get used to seeing the power of God at work in their new lives. Their journey became a challenge for Moses and those around him and in this passage they encounter snakes and the writer gives God the credit for handling this problem in this unique way. But God's compassion is also demonstrated in that God offers a miraculous cure for snake bite and that was to look upon a bronze snake held up on a pole. It was a foretaste of that which would happen on Good Friday. Those who look upon the cross of Christ with faith receive new life, free from sin because of the price paid on that tree.
Our Lenten journey is about our new lives in Christ and it is sometimes difficult for some, yet it is a time to be formed into the people of God entering the promised land of resurrection and life eternal as celebrated on Easter. Use this time to form you into a better, deeper person. Look upon Jesus and receive all that you need!
PRAYER: Loving God, as I and this dear reader pray this prayer, form us into Your people. Help us to bring hope and peace to the lives of those around us. Forgive us the time we grumble and help us have patience with those who don't know better. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
"O, what a foretaste of Glory divine!" Had this hymn be around during Moses' day, this would have been sung during what was happening in this passage. It comes from Numbers, chapter 21: 4 They set out from Mount Hor along the Red Sea Road, a detour around the land of Edom. The people became irritable and cross as they traveled. 5 They spoke out against God and Moses: "Why did you drag us out of Egypt to die in this godforsaken country? No decent food; no water - we can't stomach this stuff any longer." 6 So God sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit them and many in Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke out against God and you. Pray to God; ask him to take these snakes from us." Moses prayed for the people. 8 God said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it on a flagpole: Whoever is bitten and looks at it will live." 9 So Moses made a snake of fiery copper and put it on top of a flagpole. Anyone bitten by a snake who then looked at the copper snake lived. (The Message)
If every time a church member grumbled against God or the pastor and a snake infestation came to deal with it, churches might be empty on Sunday. Or they might be full once again! The ancient writer is describing a scene from the forty years in the wilderness. It was not an easy journey, it was a difficult one. What they did not realize was that God was using that time to form a people to enter into the promised land. After four hundred years of asking God for their freedom, they now had it, but did not like the form it came in. They hated their new diet and they hated the fact that water was scarse in the desert. They could not get used to seeing the power of God at work in their new lives. Their journey became a challenge for Moses and those around him and in this passage they encounter snakes and the writer gives God the credit for handling this problem in this unique way. But God's compassion is also demonstrated in that God offers a miraculous cure for snake bite and that was to look upon a bronze snake held up on a pole. It was a foretaste of that which would happen on Good Friday. Those who look upon the cross of Christ with faith receive new life, free from sin because of the price paid on that tree.
Our Lenten journey is about our new lives in Christ and it is sometimes difficult for some, yet it is a time to be formed into the people of God entering the promised land of resurrection and life eternal as celebrated on Easter. Use this time to form you into a better, deeper person. Look upon Jesus and receive all that you need!
PRAYER: Loving God, as I and this dear reader pray this prayer, form us into Your people. Help us to bring hope and peace to the lives of those around us. Forgive us the time we grumble and help us have patience with those who don't know better. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Fully Alive in Christ?
Precious Lord, take the hand of this dear reader and guide them gently to the place where you need them to be; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Paul write to the church in Ephesus with these words in the first ten verses of chapter two: 1 It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. 2 You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. 3 We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. 4 Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, 5 he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! 6 Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. 7 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. 8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! 9 We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! 10 No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. (The Message).
Already I can see a theme for this week; our reponse in faith to God. Yesterday it was John 3 and powerful verses that told of God's love, and today's it is Paul and his reminder to the believers in Ephesus and here, about more of the redemptive, transforming power of Jesus in our lives, and the question remains, What are we doing about it or because of it? What I do love about The Message version of the Bible are some of the ways Peterson describes our actions: "You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience." But then his "He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ." Alive in Christ! I just read, at the insistence of the women in my family, "Heaven is For Real," the short book about the little boy who visited Heaven and shared things after his emergency surgery that a four year-old should not have known. Among the things he learned from his visit was that his Dad's grandfather was the one with whom he stayed during his visit. This man had not been known for his faith but they learned that two days before his death in a car accident, he had attended a revival service held by a neighbor and he had given his life to Jesus. His wife did not know of this event and so fretted for many years about his destiny with God. As soon as this little boy shared about that, the son called his mother and she drove immediately from her home in another city, to hear more about this visit. I enjoyed the book for it just emphasized what I already believed from the first "book" that mentioned Heaven to me (The Bible), but for the images of being alive in Christ that came with it. We can exist or we can come to that fullness of life as offered by Jesus Christ (re-read John 10:10).
Have you come to the fullness and abundance of life through Jesus Christ?
PRAYER: Loving God of life and the fullness of life, may I and this dear reader who is praying this prayer for their own, come to know the joy of being fully alive in Jesus. May our lives be a blessing to others, a beacon of hope and joy especially to those who need it. I pray this in the precious and powerful name of He who made it possible, Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Paul write to the church in Ephesus with these words in the first ten verses of chapter two: 1 It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. 2 You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. 3 We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. 4 Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, 5 he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! 6 Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. 7 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. 8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! 9 We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! 10 No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. (The Message).
Already I can see a theme for this week; our reponse in faith to God. Yesterday it was John 3 and powerful verses that told of God's love, and today's it is Paul and his reminder to the believers in Ephesus and here, about more of the redemptive, transforming power of Jesus in our lives, and the question remains, What are we doing about it or because of it? What I do love about The Message version of the Bible are some of the ways Peterson describes our actions: "You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience." But then his "He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ." Alive in Christ! I just read, at the insistence of the women in my family, "Heaven is For Real," the short book about the little boy who visited Heaven and shared things after his emergency surgery that a four year-old should not have known. Among the things he learned from his visit was that his Dad's grandfather was the one with whom he stayed during his visit. This man had not been known for his faith but they learned that two days before his death in a car accident, he had attended a revival service held by a neighbor and he had given his life to Jesus. His wife did not know of this event and so fretted for many years about his destiny with God. As soon as this little boy shared about that, the son called his mother and she drove immediately from her home in another city, to hear more about this visit. I enjoyed the book for it just emphasized what I already believed from the first "book" that mentioned Heaven to me (The Bible), but for the images of being alive in Christ that came with it. We can exist or we can come to that fullness of life as offered by Jesus Christ (re-read John 10:10).
Have you come to the fullness and abundance of life through Jesus Christ?
PRAYER: Loving God of life and the fullness of life, may I and this dear reader who is praying this prayer for their own, come to know the joy of being fully alive in Jesus. May our lives be a blessing to others, a beacon of hope and joy especially to those who need it. I pray this in the precious and powerful name of He who made it possible, Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Monday, March 12, 2012
For God So Loved You, That You Did What?
God of the Way, blaze brightly the light of Your love on this dear reader's journey; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from John 3:14 In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up - 15 and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life. 16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. 19 "This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. 20 Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. 21 But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is." (The Message)
John 3:16 took on a new meaning last night as I watched my first episode of "GCB" on ABC. You all have to pray for me! This is a new series based on a book, according to my daughter, and since she said she was about to watch it, Mom and I joined in. Long distance, of course. The Bible verse is a monogram on the back of a convertible Masarati driven by a "Christian" woman from Dallas. She is anything but Christian, thus making the label of John 3:16 seem bad. John 3:16 for many is the most powerful passage in the Bible. It is a declaration of God's love and purpose for our lives. The King James version is one most of us identify with, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have everlasting life." It is a passage of hope and it is a passage of transformation. God offers us life, and life eternal, but it begs the question, what do we offer God in return?
May this passage truly transform us into the people that God wants us to be. May it be written of you and me, "For we loved God so much that we gave ourselves to God and to God's people, that they might see in us the love and hope offered us by God."
PRAYER: Loving God, as I and this reader pray this prayer, work in us to make us truly the people that Jesus came for. Jesus loved us so much He died for us. May we love Jesus and You so much that we might die to self and truly bring life to others. I pray 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 John 3:14 In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up - 15 and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life. 16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. 19 "This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. 20 Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. 21 But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is." (The Message)
John 3:16 took on a new meaning last night as I watched my first episode of "GCB" on ABC. You all have to pray for me! This is a new series based on a book, according to my daughter, and since she said she was about to watch it, Mom and I joined in. Long distance, of course. The Bible verse is a monogram on the back of a convertible Masarati driven by a "Christian" woman from Dallas. She is anything but Christian, thus making the label of John 3:16 seem bad. John 3:16 for many is the most powerful passage in the Bible. It is a declaration of God's love and purpose for our lives. The King James version is one most of us identify with, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have everlasting life." It is a passage of hope and it is a passage of transformation. God offers us life, and life eternal, but it begs the question, what do we offer God in return?
May this passage truly transform us into the people that God wants us to be. May it be written of you and me, "For we loved God so much that we gave ourselves to God and to God's people, that they might see in us the love and hope offered us by God."
PRAYER: Loving God, as I and this reader pray this prayer, work in us to make us truly the people that Jesus came for. Jesus loved us so much He died for us. May we love Jesus and You so much that we might die to self and truly bring life to others. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, March 08, 2012
What Sermon Did Nature Preach Today?
God of power and might, beauty and light, brighten the day of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 19: 1 God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. 2 Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. 3 Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded, 4 But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. God makes a huge dome for the sun - a superdome! 5 The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape. 6 That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith. 7 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. 8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. 9 God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. 10 God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries. 11 There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. 12 Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? 13 Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. 14 These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar. (The Message)
The Psalmist is saying that nature is like the Bible. There is a message to be learned in the beauty of each day if we would but listen and learn. The writer of this psalm sat and watched the day and learned from it. The beauty of day's first light, the slow uncovering of the sun's full light; "melting ice, scorching deserts," all have a message about God. Everything about nature should point us back to God who made all things. Yesterday, yet another tablet is unveiled to the public and one of the chief characteristics of this new tablet is the retina display, meaning the vivid pictures that it will be able to display. And you ever notice how companies choose flowers and birds to display the beauty of the tablet or television's ability to be such a great buy? Not a bad deal to use God's creation to show what true beauty really is.
Of course, nature is not a substitute for God's Word. We still should pick up and read our Bibles and discover the beauty of God's truth as it is revealed inside it. We should listen with our hearts and souls for what God shares with us each time we listen to a passage in the Bible. And as the psalmist said, we should use it to help us in our decisions for the day, namely to keep us from going the wrong way, away from God.
PRAYER: God of nature and God of the Word, thank You for sharing truth with us. May I and the one who prays this with me, be open to hearing and learning more of what You stand ready to share with us. May I seek to live my life guided by Your word and may I draw closer to You and away from sin. I pray 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 Psalm 19: 1 God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. 2 Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. 3 Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded, 4 But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. God makes a huge dome for the sun - a superdome! 5 The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape. 6 That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith. 7 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. 8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. 9 God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. 10 God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries. 11 There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. 12 Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? 13 Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. 14 These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar. (The Message)
The Psalmist is saying that nature is like the Bible. There is a message to be learned in the beauty of each day if we would but listen and learn. The writer of this psalm sat and watched the day and learned from it. The beauty of day's first light, the slow uncovering of the sun's full light; "melting ice, scorching deserts," all have a message about God. Everything about nature should point us back to God who made all things. Yesterday, yet another tablet is unveiled to the public and one of the chief characteristics of this new tablet is the retina display, meaning the vivid pictures that it will be able to display. And you ever notice how companies choose flowers and birds to display the beauty of the tablet or television's ability to be such a great buy? Not a bad deal to use God's creation to show what true beauty really is.
Of course, nature is not a substitute for God's Word. We still should pick up and read our Bibles and discover the beauty of God's truth as it is revealed inside it. We should listen with our hearts and souls for what God shares with us each time we listen to a passage in the Bible. And as the psalmist said, we should use it to help us in our decisions for the day, namely to keep us from going the wrong way, away from God.
PRAYER: God of nature and God of the Word, thank You for sharing truth with us. May I and the one who prays this with me, be open to hearing and learning more of what You stand ready to share with us. May I seek to live my life guided by Your word and may I draw closer to You and away from sin. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Are You Connected?
Loving God who mends and tends; bless the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes Exodus 20: 1 God spoke all these words: 2 I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery. 3 No other gods, only me. 4 No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. 5 Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. 6 But I'm unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments. 7 No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won't put up with the irreverant use of his name. 8 Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Work six days and do everything you need to do. 10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don't do any work - not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town. 11 For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day. 12 Honor your father and mother so that you'll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you. 13 No murder. 14 No adultery. 15 No stealing. 16 No lies about your neighbor. 17 No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that is your neighbor's. (The Message)
In 1998 I had to learn how to use Windows XP on a daily basis. I had been a Mac person until then, but in receiving an appointment to a new church, this church used all PCs. It involved basically the same things, but some things were different. Upon my appointment to another church six years later I had a PC laptop. This was easy and convenient but there were things I had to learn. My progression with computers went along almost with new developments like wireless connection to the Internet and my new laptop then had wi-fi capabilities. I learned that at the bottom right of my screen was a row of little icons that told me the status of various things, like battery life and whether or not I was connected to the internet. I also learned that if you "right-clicked" on the wi-fi indicator you could find an option called "Repair." Upon clicking on that you could restore the connection to the Internet. It happened this morning before I could write this devotional. My PC side of my Mac wasn't connecting. I could do one of two things, use my phone as a HotSpot or repair the connection. Yesterday I used my phone and didn't worry about repairing it; today I opted for repair.
This passage is all about repairing our relationship with God and with God's people. We know this passage as the Ten Commandments. Each is special and powerful and each addresses the connection we need to maintain a strong connection with God and with each other. Look at each one carefully. What is your attitude to God? Is God first in your life? How do you view Creation? Does creation sometimes take the place of God? Are you tempted to worship things other than the Creator? Each one asks a question of us and each serves to repair and restore us to where God would have us be.
PRAYER: Loving God, as I and the person praying this as their own prayer, journey on these forty days, help me to know how to connect more deeply to You. If something in my life is lacking, help me to repair it to fullness. I thank You for this powerful passage and I thank you for grace, which restores us completely and wholely to You. I pray 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 Exodus 20: 1 God spoke all these words: 2 I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery. 3 No other gods, only me. 4 No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. 5 Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. 6 But I'm unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments. 7 No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won't put up with the irreverant use of his name. 8 Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Work six days and do everything you need to do. 10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don't do any work - not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town. 11 For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day. 12 Honor your father and mother so that you'll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you. 13 No murder. 14 No adultery. 15 No stealing. 16 No lies about your neighbor. 17 No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that is your neighbor's. (The Message)
In 1998 I had to learn how to use Windows XP on a daily basis. I had been a Mac person until then, but in receiving an appointment to a new church, this church used all PCs. It involved basically the same things, but some things were different. Upon my appointment to another church six years later I had a PC laptop. This was easy and convenient but there were things I had to learn. My progression with computers went along almost with new developments like wireless connection to the Internet and my new laptop then had wi-fi capabilities. I learned that at the bottom right of my screen was a row of little icons that told me the status of various things, like battery life and whether or not I was connected to the internet. I also learned that if you "right-clicked" on the wi-fi indicator you could find an option called "Repair." Upon clicking on that you could restore the connection to the Internet. It happened this morning before I could write this devotional. My PC side of my Mac wasn't connecting. I could do one of two things, use my phone as a HotSpot or repair the connection. Yesterday I used my phone and didn't worry about repairing it; today I opted for repair.
This passage is all about repairing our relationship with God and with God's people. We know this passage as the Ten Commandments. Each is special and powerful and each addresses the connection we need to maintain a strong connection with God and with each other. Look at each one carefully. What is your attitude to God? Is God first in your life? How do you view Creation? Does creation sometimes take the place of God? Are you tempted to worship things other than the Creator? Each one asks a question of us and each serves to repair and restore us to where God would have us be.
PRAYER: Loving God, as I and the person praying this as their own prayer, journey on these forty days, help me to know how to connect more deeply to You. If something in my life is lacking, help me to repair it to fullness. I thank You for this powerful passage and I thank you for grace, which restores us completely and wholely to You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
The Absurdity of God!
God Who goes before us and by us, be with this dear reader in this day; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
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)
There was a point in my life as a child when after what seemed like thousands of forced Sundays to be in church, it all clicked. I cannot remember my pastor's name nor his message nor the date on which it happened; it was a Sunday is all I remember. His invitation was for us to have a relationship with Jesus, to invite Him into our hearts, and I did. Bells, whistles, fireworks I did not see. I wanted to. I saw no blinding light. It was just a quiet peace for a small child that God was indeed real and God's offer to have a personal relationship through Jesus Christ was accepted and it was mine. I wish I could tell you that I was perfect after that, that I gave up my mischievous ways and was the model son and brother. Jesus was mine is all that I can tell you.
As Paul says it came through preaching and for years I could not explain it. I had the joy, joy, joy down in my heart as the song said. I was a sunbeam for Him, to quote another song. I longed to be in Sunday school every day and wished there had been a way to trade going Monday through Friday at my elementary school for a five-day Sunday school, such was my joy about the things of God. To those whom I shared such thoughts I may have been seen as foolish, especially those who had no time nor desire for Sunday school. To my playground friends my wanting to discuss Sunday's Bible lesson was absurd, who owned a Bible they wanted to know? I did, why don't you? I would ask. The "asburdity of God" has been with me since then and it was that which helped God call me into ordained ministry.
This time of Lent is to grow closer to God in our realization of all that God has done for us. Lent is a time of foolishness for those who don't yet know about God and God's presence and power in our lives, but still we press on knowing that God presses with us.
PRAYER: Loving God may this dear reader, if she or he does not yet know you personally, come to that knowledge soon. May they open their hearts to you and invite You in. You said that You stand at the door and knock; may we always open and receive You in. That I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
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)
There was a point in my life as a child when after what seemed like thousands of forced Sundays to be in church, it all clicked. I cannot remember my pastor's name nor his message nor the date on which it happened; it was a Sunday is all I remember. His invitation was for us to have a relationship with Jesus, to invite Him into our hearts, and I did. Bells, whistles, fireworks I did not see. I wanted to. I saw no blinding light. It was just a quiet peace for a small child that God was indeed real and God's offer to have a personal relationship through Jesus Christ was accepted and it was mine. I wish I could tell you that I was perfect after that, that I gave up my mischievous ways and was the model son and brother. Jesus was mine is all that I can tell you.
As Paul says it came through preaching and for years I could not explain it. I had the joy, joy, joy down in my heart as the song said. I was a sunbeam for Him, to quote another song. I longed to be in Sunday school every day and wished there had been a way to trade going Monday through Friday at my elementary school for a five-day Sunday school, such was my joy about the things of God. To those whom I shared such thoughts I may have been seen as foolish, especially those who had no time nor desire for Sunday school. To my playground friends my wanting to discuss Sunday's Bible lesson was absurd, who owned a Bible they wanted to know? I did, why don't you? I would ask. The "asburdity of God" has been with me since then and it was that which helped God call me into ordained ministry.
This time of Lent is to grow closer to God in our realization of all that God has done for us. Lent is a time of foolishness for those who don't yet know about God and God's presence and power in our lives, but still we press on knowing that God presses with us.
PRAYER: Loving God may this dear reader, if she or he does not yet know you personally, come to that knowledge soon. May they open their hearts to you and invite You in. You said that You stand at the door and knock; may we always open and receive You in. That I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Monday, March 05, 2012
Just Wait, It'll Make Sense Later!
God of mercy and might; rain down grace and peace upon the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from John 2: 13 When the Passover Feast, celebrated each spring by the Jews, was about to take place, Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem. 14 He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength. 15 Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. 16 He told the dove merchants, "Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a shopping mall!" 17 That's when his disciples remembered the Scripture, "Zeal for your house consumes me." 18 But the Jews were upset. They asked, "What credentials can you present to justify this?" 19 Jesus answered, "Tear down this Temple and in three days I'll put it back together." 20 They were indignant: "It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you're going to rebuild it in three days?" 21 But Jesus was talking about his body as the Temple. 22 Later, after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this. They then put two and two together and believed both what was written in Scripture and what Jesus had said. (The Message)
Our Lenten Journey is taking us to places where faith and doubt collide. It may have already happened within the time we've been on this year's journey or it may be coming. It will be a point where what the scripture says will stand opposite to what we think or believe. It will take our serious time of prayer to know what it is God believes and wants to share with us. It may be we may want to take an easy way out versus a difficult path that is laid before us by God. Imagine Jesus and His journey to Jerusalem. He went in keeping with traditions special to His people and He went wanting to worship and participate in those celebrations like the others. But Jesus found that the focus was not on worship nor celebration, it was on making money. The area that should have prepared people for the worship of God was more like a flea market. There were sacrificial animals for sale there as well as those who could, for a fee, change money for worshipers. After all, who wants to have only a $20 bill when a five or some ones do better in our thinking? Jesus knew that the easy path was to ignore this and simply go on with the tradition. The easy path was never one Jesus took. Jesus formed a whip from leather cords and overturned the tables and drove out the cattle and the "loan sharks." This upset those in charge, for they made a profit from such transactions. They asked Jesus by what authority or "credentials" He did this, and He replied with the not-yet-understood proof of His body after crucifixion.
Our baptism is authority to walk these forty days with God. It is our credential to make tough decisions concerning our faith in God. Our willingness to be a person of prayer and fasting and following God may not make complete sense to us nor to those close to us, but one day it will all make sense later. For now, hold fast to God and know that God is holding fast to you.
PRAYER: Loving God, hold fast to me and to this person praying this as their own prayer. Let us live a life that brings others to such commitment. We pray and 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 John 2: 13 When the Passover Feast, celebrated each spring by the Jews, was about to take place, Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem. 14 He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength. 15 Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. 16 He told the dove merchants, "Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a shopping mall!" 17 That's when his disciples remembered the Scripture, "Zeal for your house consumes me." 18 But the Jews were upset. They asked, "What credentials can you present to justify this?" 19 Jesus answered, "Tear down this Temple and in three days I'll put it back together." 20 They were indignant: "It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you're going to rebuild it in three days?" 21 But Jesus was talking about his body as the Temple. 22 Later, after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this. They then put two and two together and believed both what was written in Scripture and what Jesus had said. (The Message)
Our Lenten Journey is taking us to places where faith and doubt collide. It may have already happened within the time we've been on this year's journey or it may be coming. It will be a point where what the scripture says will stand opposite to what we think or believe. It will take our serious time of prayer to know what it is God believes and wants to share with us. It may be we may want to take an easy way out versus a difficult path that is laid before us by God. Imagine Jesus and His journey to Jerusalem. He went in keeping with traditions special to His people and He went wanting to worship and participate in those celebrations like the others. But Jesus found that the focus was not on worship nor celebration, it was on making money. The area that should have prepared people for the worship of God was more like a flea market. There were sacrificial animals for sale there as well as those who could, for a fee, change money for worshipers. After all, who wants to have only a $20 bill when a five or some ones do better in our thinking? Jesus knew that the easy path was to ignore this and simply go on with the tradition. The easy path was never one Jesus took. Jesus formed a whip from leather cords and overturned the tables and drove out the cattle and the "loan sharks." This upset those in charge, for they made a profit from such transactions. They asked Jesus by what authority or "credentials" He did this, and He replied with the not-yet-understood proof of His body after crucifixion.
Our baptism is authority to walk these forty days with God. It is our credential to make tough decisions concerning our faith in God. Our willingness to be a person of prayer and fasting and following God may not make complete sense to us nor to those close to us, but one day it will all make sense later. For now, hold fast to God and know that God is holding fast to you.
PRAYER: Loving God, hold fast to me and to this person praying this as their own prayer. Let us live a life that brings others to such commitment. We pray and ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Friday, March 02, 2012
Are You On This List?
God of all days, may the peace and blessing of Your presence make this a day of growth and service for this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
The Psalmist said this in the 22nd Psalm: 23 Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers; give glory, you sons of Jacob; adore him, you daughters of Israel. 24 He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening. 25 Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I'll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers. 26 Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. "Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!" 27 From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him. 28 God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word. 29 All the power-mongers are before him - worshiping! All the poor and powerless, too - worshiping! Along with those who never got it together - worshiping! 30 Our children and their children will get in on this As the word is passed along from parent to child. 31 Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news - that God does what he says. (The Message)
There's quite a list of those who should be worshiping God and don't. For those who do, the invitation is still there; "Shout Hallelujah, give glory!" Here's that list: The kicked down. The down and out. The God-hunters (Seekers). Long-long families. People from all corners of the world. Power-mongers. The poor and the powerless. Those who never got it together. Our children and their children. And even "Babies not yet conceived." All will hear the gospel, "That God does what he says."
What an awesome message for our Lenten Journey. As we pray for ourselves this Psalm reminds us to pray for others. In today's Upper Room, one grandmother confessed she only prayed for her grandchildren when there was a need. On their first day of school, Grandma decided she would pray for them that they have a dedicated teacher, great new friends and classmates, etc. When she finally got around to praying she remembered that her grandkids were in China, 14 hours ahead of her time zone. Her grandkids had already had their first day of school and were now asleep. Thanks, grandma! She decided she needed to be a person of prayer, all the time. So, pray all the time and pray for others. Pray that those who are listed above may hear God's call back into the fold! Let all the world come close to that Hallelujah moment when all will praise and worship the Lord God!
PRAYER: Lord, may we pray always for others and their needs. May our prayer include a worldwide response on the part of those who have not yet heard to come back to you! I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
The Psalmist said this in the 22nd Psalm: 23 Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers; give glory, you sons of Jacob; adore him, you daughters of Israel. 24 He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening. 25 Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I'll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers. 26 Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. "Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!" 27 From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him. 28 God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word. 29 All the power-mongers are before him - worshiping! All the poor and powerless, too - worshiping! Along with those who never got it together - worshiping! 30 Our children and their children will get in on this As the word is passed along from parent to child. 31 Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news - that God does what he says. (The Message)
There's quite a list of those who should be worshiping God and don't. For those who do, the invitation is still there; "Shout Hallelujah, give glory!" Here's that list: The kicked down. The down and out. The God-hunters (Seekers). Long-long families. People from all corners of the world. Power-mongers. The poor and the powerless. Those who never got it together. Our children and their children. And even "Babies not yet conceived." All will hear the gospel, "That God does what he says."
What an awesome message for our Lenten Journey. As we pray for ourselves this Psalm reminds us to pray for others. In today's Upper Room, one grandmother confessed she only prayed for her grandchildren when there was a need. On their first day of school, Grandma decided she would pray for them that they have a dedicated teacher, great new friends and classmates, etc. When she finally got around to praying she remembered that her grandkids were in China, 14 hours ahead of her time zone. Her grandkids had already had their first day of school and were now asleep. Thanks, grandma! She decided she needed to be a person of prayer, all the time. So, pray all the time and pray for others. Pray that those who are listed above may hear God's call back into the fold! Let all the world come close to that Hallelujah moment when all will praise and worship the Lord God!
PRAYER: Lord, may we pray always for others and their needs. May our prayer include a worldwide response on the part of those who have not yet heard to come back to you! I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Has God Changed Your Name Lately?
Loving God of mercy and peace, pour out a special blessing upon the need present in the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
From Genesis 17: 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God showed up and said to him, "I am The Strong God, live entirely before me, live to the hilt! 2 I'll make a covenant between us and I'll give you a huge family." 3 Overwhelmed, Abram fell flat on his face. 4 "This is my covenant with you: You'll be the father of many nations. 5 Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham, meaning that 'I'm making you the father of many nations.' 6 I'll make you a father of fathers - I'll make nations from you, kings will issue from you. 7 I'm establishing my covenant between me and you, a covenant that includes your descendants, a covenant that goes on and on and on, a covenant that commits me to be your God and the God of your descendants. 15 God continued speaking to Abraham, "And Sarai your wife: Don't call her Sarai any longer; call her Sarah. 16 I'll bless her - yes! I'll give you a son by her! Oh, how I'll bless her! Nations will come from her; kings of nations will come from her." (The Message)
"Live life to the hilt," God told a 99-year old man. And by the way, God continued, "I'm going to make this official with a covenant between us." And God further surprised the old man, "And I'll give you a huge family." This to a man whose prayers for a child had gone unanswered for all of his adult life. AND, God wasn't through yet, "Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham, meaning that 'I'm making you the father of many nations.' " Yes, God said, "You'll be a father of fathers."
Most of us didn't choose our names. Our names are usually given to us by our mothers or fathers. The name has a specialness in the heart of the parents and as we grew up we either liked or disliked our name. But what name has God given you? Abram's faithfulness and obedience, two great names in and of themselves, led to his name change. And God also changed Sarai to Sarah, some believe it's basically the same name but that perhaps the second name made it more a global name than a regional one. What's your God-given name? Believer? Worker? Troublemaker? Disobedient? Doubter? Remember Simon Peter, he was re-named because Jesus knew him to be a "rock" for God. You may be thinking God hasn't spoken to me and changed my name. What I am saying is that if you're a believer in God and doing what God expects you have a name in the way you are living or sadly, not living your faith. You could even recognize the new meaning behind your given name as you want it to relate to your faithfulness to God.
God is not finished with you, and stands ready to work with you in that which is still ahead for you. What name will be given to you?
PRAYER: Loving God, as I seek to do Your will, I and the person praying this prayer seek to be obedient and faithful. May my life reflect that which You are doing through me for the good of Your people; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
From Genesis 17: 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God showed up and said to him, "I am The Strong God, live entirely before me, live to the hilt! 2 I'll make a covenant between us and I'll give you a huge family." 3 Overwhelmed, Abram fell flat on his face. 4 "This is my covenant with you: You'll be the father of many nations. 5 Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham, meaning that 'I'm making you the father of many nations.' 6 I'll make you a father of fathers - I'll make nations from you, kings will issue from you. 7 I'm establishing my covenant between me and you, a covenant that includes your descendants, a covenant that goes on and on and on, a covenant that commits me to be your God and the God of your descendants. 15 God continued speaking to Abraham, "And Sarai your wife: Don't call her Sarai any longer; call her Sarah. 16 I'll bless her - yes! I'll give you a son by her! Oh, how I'll bless her! Nations will come from her; kings of nations will come from her." (The Message)
"Live life to the hilt," God told a 99-year old man. And by the way, God continued, "I'm going to make this official with a covenant between us." And God further surprised the old man, "And I'll give you a huge family." This to a man whose prayers for a child had gone unanswered for all of his adult life. AND, God wasn't through yet, "Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham, meaning that 'I'm making you the father of many nations.' " Yes, God said, "You'll be a father of fathers."
Most of us didn't choose our names. Our names are usually given to us by our mothers or fathers. The name has a specialness in the heart of the parents and as we grew up we either liked or disliked our name. But what name has God given you? Abram's faithfulness and obedience, two great names in and of themselves, led to his name change. And God also changed Sarai to Sarah, some believe it's basically the same name but that perhaps the second name made it more a global name than a regional one. What's your God-given name? Believer? Worker? Troublemaker? Disobedient? Doubter? Remember Simon Peter, he was re-named because Jesus knew him to be a "rock" for God. You may be thinking God hasn't spoken to me and changed my name. What I am saying is that if you're a believer in God and doing what God expects you have a name in the way you are living or sadly, not living your faith. You could even recognize the new meaning behind your given name as you want it to relate to your faithfulness to God.
God is not finished with you, and stands ready to work with you in that which is still ahead for you. What name will be given to you?
PRAYER: Loving God, as I seek to do Your will, I and the person praying this prayer seek to be obedient and faithful. May my life reflect that which You are doing through me for the good of Your people; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
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