I celebrate in the Lord the new tithers we signed up yesterday during
the last of our stewardship sermons. Praise God! And you know what
made it even more interesting in the afternoon we had an unexpected
cloudburst that burned out our phone system! I told our volunteer,
"Now I can't get any hate calls from yesterday's sermon!" The phone
system is up and working now.
The Scripture for this coming week is from Ephesians 6:1-16
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy
of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and
gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making
every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.
4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one
hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God
and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7 But
each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.
8 Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he made captivity
itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people." 9(When it says, "He
ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the
lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who
ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all
things.)
11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints
for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13
until
all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of
Christ.
14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by
every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in
deceitful scheming. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow
up
in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the
whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it
is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's
growth in building itself up in love.
When was the last time you looked for a job? A real one. Not one of
those multitude of email spams or direct mail thingys that promise
that overnight we can be rich beyond our wildest dreams if we just
send someone some amount of money. The ultimate secret behind all
those ads is running an ad ourselves and convincing people to send us
money and we'll be fine. A better question, when was the last time
you were hired to do a job? Do you remember when you said yes to the
Lord Jesus Christ? Did you realize you were right then and there
called to be a saint for God? Have you been gainfully employed or as
one pastor said, "An unemployed saint?" which some can argue is an
oxymoron.
Paul says saints are called to work. His words in this passage begin
with a reminder for his readers to live "a life worthy of the calling
to which you have been called." You get the idea that Christians in
Ephesus were proudly displaying bumper stickers on their camels and
donkeys that said, "Christians are not perfect, just forgiven," not
so
much as a truth but an excuse for the way in which they were living.
Paul reminds the Christian that she or he should live a life of
humility and gentleness, with patience and love in the hope of
keeping
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One suspects we can divide
the Spirit, but it is not that that Paul is addressing. Paul knows
of
divisions within the church family that were defeating the very
purpose of existence of the church. We wish we could say that it was
only in Ephesus that such a thing existed but we know very well that
such problems plague us. Paul says, Saints work to love one another.
He knew it was not easy, but it was possible. He knows that
listening and understanding go a long way in helping keep people
together, especially those who have been called to love one another.
I knew of a Sunday School class where the main topic of "discussion"
(to put it mildly) was the fact that Jesus had used such a stern word
as "commandment" when he said we were to love one another! As if to
say, Jesus you can suggest we love one another, and we'll think about
it, but to command us to love another, that's quite another story.
Saints all have a task and responsibility in the work of Christ. The
first is to love. The second is to prayerfully be aware of the
spiritual gifts we have been given for the work to which we have been
called. Not all of us have been called to preach. Paul gives a list
of different job categories within the church that existed even as
early as that era: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors,
teachers. And as we will discuss on Sunday the nature of each of
those categories, the shared understanding is maturity in the faith.
Leave Christ in first place and follow Him! Know that it was through
His first loving us that we can love one another.
Prayer: Lord, teach us to love. Help us to see beyond barriers and
boundaries we have erected that seperate us from truly loving each
other. Let us mature in our faith as we trust you more in our daily
walk. We pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Monday, July 23, 2012
God Provides Just What We Need!
This is a ConCafe from July 24, 2000 based on this coming Sunday's Gospel text:
John 6:1-21:
Good morning from hot and dry San Antonio. A church member said it's
been so hot and dry recently that their doorbell rang the other day
and it was two catfish asking for a glass of water! Over at the
parsonage the lizards asked if we had any sandals we weren't using
since the pavement and ground is so hot!
It rained about ten drops yesterday afternoon. My next-door neighbor
didn't know what could possibly be coming out of the sky! We need
rain folks! But if we pray for it as hard as we did a couple of
years ago we'll have major floods!
A word of praise: Saraí is home after her time at Renssalaer's
summer program. The airline which holds my travel miles has a wonderful
practice of either not finding her reservation or saying that
"someone did not confirm" her reservation so she cannot travel. It usually
turns out that this airline has overbooked the flight and this is one
way to get an additional seat, find the youngest female traveling on
dad's frequent flier miles and she's off! The CEO of the airline the
last time this happened put a very capable assistant on the case and
the miles we spent on that flight were returned to us and Saraí
got a nice gift certificate with which she bought some clothes. Well, it
happened again. At 4:30 a.m. our phone rings, Nellie picks it up and
Saraí says, "Let me speak to Daddy." I knew immediately what it
was all about. "No one confirmed my flight, Dad, and they're telling me
there is nothing they can do." They had given her an 800 number they
claimed would not open until three hours later. I prayed and asked
God, "Lord, the way Jesus depended on you as his Father, Saraí is
depending on me and I'm depending on you, please let there be someone
there as I call." Well, it was picked up on the first ring and a
very nice gentleman began telling the same thing, admitting that they had
oversold the flight and that it would be Wednesday of this week
before Saraí could travel. I told him that this 19 year old girl had no
where to stay in Albany until Wednesday and that I was not too happy
with the thought of her having to wait around until then. I'm sorry
sir, there's nothing we can do. "Let me speak to your supervisor,
please." Ah, the magic words! I was placed on hold and to make a
long story short, Saraí was placed on an direct flight from Albany
to San Antonio and she arrived home several hours before she would had
she traveled on the original flight! Thanks be to God.
The Scripture for this coming week is from John 6:-21:
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also
called the Sea of Tibe'rias. 2 A large crowd kept following him,
because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus
went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now
the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5 When he looked
up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip,
"Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He said this
to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip
answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each
of them to get a little." 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon
Peter's brother, said to him, 9 "There is a boy here who has five
barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?"
10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great
deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.
11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he
distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much
as they wanted. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples,
"Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." 13
So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley
loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say,
"This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world." 15 When
Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to
make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 16
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into boat,
and started across the sea to Caper'naum. It was now dark, and Jesus
had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong
wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they
were terrified. 20 But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."
21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the
boat reached the land toward which they were going.
This is a United Methodist story. We have a grand tradition of
showing up when food is served! There is truth to the UM inspired
verse to the children's song, "Down in My Heart", "I've got that
chicken-eatin' Methodism down in my heart..." Maybe it's a Texas
thang and you ain't heared it yet? But perhaps the story could be
told in a universal church way: Jesus and his disciples had been
invited to speak at a mission saturation event. A large crowd had
gathered in the fellowship hall/activities building/family life
center/gym for what was billed as a covered dish. Only thing was,
Church's Chicken was closed, the grocery store was all out of
Hamburger Helper, and the markets had no salad makings at all. The
only person in the place with food was the young man who had just
gotten off work from Long John Silver's. He had in his backpack,
along with his Walkman and Oakley's, a small meal of leftovers. His
boss was cool, any left over food could be taken by the employees.
He took the five biscuits and two fish. He figured that would do later
on while he did his homework. But after Jesus had spoken the crowd
made a loud collective sound, it was a low growl at first, then it
accelerated into a roar, they were hungry and the stomachs were in
unison about this needful condition. The disciples and the missions
coordinator and her committee decided on a wonderful plan: Send the
people home or to go and buy their supper. Jesus saw that the eating
establishments were closed, where could these people go?
Where do you go when you're in need? For us in this day and age
we've become a people, at least in most of this country, to think of hunger
as something that can be temporarily cured by eating a light snack or
a candy bar, and in a few hours time that hunger is fully satiated
with a full meal. A comedian once said, "This country has so much
food that we've got things other countries have never heard of, such
as being lactose intolerant!" Our hunger is quickly taken away by
going home. Most homes will have something to eat and if they don't
a quick drive to the supermarket, isn't that a wonderful word,
SUPERmarket, will help us get what we need. No hunting involved
other than down the aisles. No cleaning or shucking, that's been done.
Everything we need to eat has been neatly and nicely packaged. For
the people in Jesus' audience that day, their need was immediate and
Jesus wanted to demonstrate the coming to God with our needs. He
performs what for some is incredible: Multiplies the loaves and
fishes and everyone eats. Some have said the first miracle was the
willingness on the part of the boy to share. If you've heard my
recent sermons on stewardship, I've used examples of children how
once you've bought them something to eat and you ask them for some are so
easy to say, "These are mine! Get your own!" Yet, I've seen little
children who share so easily. The point of the story is that God
provides. It may be a miracle or it may be the usual way, but
nonetheless, God provides.
The deeper question: Do we share with others and with God, what God
has shared with us?
Prayer: Gracious God who provides for our needs. Let us trust you
more today than we did yesterday. May our trust be such that we
share with you and with others. We pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
John 6:1-21:
Good morning from hot and dry San Antonio. A church member said it's
been so hot and dry recently that their doorbell rang the other day
and it was two catfish asking for a glass of water! Over at the
parsonage the lizards asked if we had any sandals we weren't using
since the pavement and ground is so hot!
It rained about ten drops yesterday afternoon. My next-door neighbor
didn't know what could possibly be coming out of the sky! We need
rain folks! But if we pray for it as hard as we did a couple of
years ago we'll have major floods!
A word of praise: Saraí is home after her time at Renssalaer's
summer program. The airline which holds my travel miles has a wonderful
practice of either not finding her reservation or saying that
"someone did not confirm" her reservation so she cannot travel. It usually
turns out that this airline has overbooked the flight and this is one
way to get an additional seat, find the youngest female traveling on
dad's frequent flier miles and she's off! The CEO of the airline the
last time this happened put a very capable assistant on the case and
the miles we spent on that flight were returned to us and Saraí
got a nice gift certificate with which she bought some clothes. Well, it
happened again. At 4:30 a.m. our phone rings, Nellie picks it up and
Saraí says, "Let me speak to Daddy." I knew immediately what it
was all about. "No one confirmed my flight, Dad, and they're telling me
there is nothing they can do." They had given her an 800 number they
claimed would not open until three hours later. I prayed and asked
God, "Lord, the way Jesus depended on you as his Father, Saraí is
depending on me and I'm depending on you, please let there be someone
there as I call." Well, it was picked up on the first ring and a
very nice gentleman began telling the same thing, admitting that they had
oversold the flight and that it would be Wednesday of this week
before Saraí could travel. I told him that this 19 year old girl had no
where to stay in Albany until Wednesday and that I was not too happy
with the thought of her having to wait around until then. I'm sorry
sir, there's nothing we can do. "Let me speak to your supervisor,
please." Ah, the magic words! I was placed on hold and to make a
long story short, Saraí was placed on an direct flight from Albany
to San Antonio and she arrived home several hours before she would had
she traveled on the original flight! Thanks be to God.
The Scripture for this coming week is from John 6:-21:
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also
called the Sea of Tibe'rias. 2 A large crowd kept following him,
because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus
went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now
the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5 When he looked
up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip,
"Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He said this
to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip
answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each
of them to get a little." 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon
Peter's brother, said to him, 9 "There is a boy here who has five
barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?"
10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great
deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.
11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he
distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much
as they wanted. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples,
"Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." 13
So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley
loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say,
"This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world." 15 When
Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to
make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 16
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into boat,
and started across the sea to Caper'naum. It was now dark, and Jesus
had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong
wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they
were terrified. 20 But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."
21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the
boat reached the land toward which they were going.
This is a United Methodist story. We have a grand tradition of
showing up when food is served! There is truth to the UM inspired
verse to the children's song, "Down in My Heart", "I've got that
chicken-eatin' Methodism down in my heart..." Maybe it's a Texas
thang and you ain't heared it yet? But perhaps the story could be
told in a universal church way: Jesus and his disciples had been
invited to speak at a mission saturation event. A large crowd had
gathered in the fellowship hall/activities building/family life
center/gym for what was billed as a covered dish. Only thing was,
Church's Chicken was closed, the grocery store was all out of
Hamburger Helper, and the markets had no salad makings at all. The
only person in the place with food was the young man who had just
gotten off work from Long John Silver's. He had in his backpack,
along with his Walkman and Oakley's, a small meal of leftovers. His
boss was cool, any left over food could be taken by the employees.
He took the five biscuits and two fish. He figured that would do later
on while he did his homework. But after Jesus had spoken the crowd
made a loud collective sound, it was a low growl at first, then it
accelerated into a roar, they were hungry and the stomachs were in
unison about this needful condition. The disciples and the missions
coordinator and her committee decided on a wonderful plan: Send the
people home or to go and buy their supper. Jesus saw that the eating
establishments were closed, where could these people go?
Where do you go when you're in need? For us in this day and age
we've become a people, at least in most of this country, to think of hunger
as something that can be temporarily cured by eating a light snack or
a candy bar, and in a few hours time that hunger is fully satiated
with a full meal. A comedian once said, "This country has so much
food that we've got things other countries have never heard of, such
as being lactose intolerant!" Our hunger is quickly taken away by
going home. Most homes will have something to eat and if they don't
a quick drive to the supermarket, isn't that a wonderful word,
SUPERmarket, will help us get what we need. No hunting involved
other than down the aisles. No cleaning or shucking, that's been done.
Everything we need to eat has been neatly and nicely packaged. For
the people in Jesus' audience that day, their need was immediate and
Jesus wanted to demonstrate the coming to God with our needs. He
performs what for some is incredible: Multiplies the loaves and
fishes and everyone eats. Some have said the first miracle was the
willingness on the part of the boy to share. If you've heard my
recent sermons on stewardship, I've used examples of children how
once you've bought them something to eat and you ask them for some are so
easy to say, "These are mine! Get your own!" Yet, I've seen little
children who share so easily. The point of the story is that God
provides. It may be a miracle or it may be the usual way, but
nonetheless, God provides.
The deeper question: Do we share with others and with God, what God
has shared with us?
Prayer: Gracious God who provides for our needs. Let us trust you
more today than we did yesterday. May our trust be such that we
share with you and with others. We pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Thank you!
Dear friends, I want to thank all of you for your prayers, texts, calls, messages, etc., that you sent me this past weekend at our jurisdictional conference. As you may know, the voting was close and it reached a point where I knew we could be there until midnight and I chose instead to concede and withdraw my name. I ask your prayers for the three newly elected bishops for our jurisdiction that God use them in fruitful ways. I ask your prayers for the work that continues in our conferences, Rio Grande and Southwest Texas, as we have been granted permission to move forward to unifying our work as a new conference. The challenges and needs are still with us and we pray faithfulness as we move forward. I ask for prayers as my continued role as a district superintendent; that is a great honor and challenge and I want to be faithful and fruitful towards God.
Again, my thanks for all you did on my behalf and I know and trust God.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
I will be taking some time off from writing new ConCafes; I pray your understanding.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Eradio Valverde
Again, my thanks for all you did on my behalf and I know and trust God.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
I will be taking some time off from writing new ConCafes; I pray your understanding.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Eradio Valverde
Friday, July 20, 2012
Being a Good Shepherd?
Good day dear friends. It's the second day of elections. Two bishops from our jurisdiction have been elected and we thank God for Bishop Cynthia Harvey and Bishop Gary Mueller. God's grace and peace be with them. We're also thankful to all who offered themselves for consideration for this grueling process and who gave a significant part of their lives to be considered for this important office. I have come to love and appreciate all of the candidates and if nothing else for me personally, their new friendships have been a rich blessing for Nellie and I. Today it is between Rev. Mike McKee and yours truly. I ask your prayers for God's will to be done. I thank and appreciate you for your emails, tweets, texts, and especially your prayers that have blessed Nellie and I. This part has been difficult, but God is with us.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 89: 1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. 5 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness." (NRSV)
Whether your care is over a family, classroom, congregation, or yourself, you have a responsibility to care for these under you. We read with horror those who abuse or mismanage (to put it mildly) their authority. In today's passage, God's message centers on those who had been called to shepherd the people of God and who had done nothing for God but everything for themselves. They had managed to scatter these away from their care and the message of God's care for them, and sought only personal gain. God's promise is that God will provide a good shepherd, one who will truly care for the sheep of God's flock. This shepherd would come with a message of hope, not fear, encouragement and not dismay; and a careful accounting and care of each lamb, with not one missing. These sheep will hear a message of invitation to God's love (salvation) and of safe living. The one whom God is sending will be called "righteousness" or as The Message versions calls this shepherd, "God-Who-Puts-Everything-Right."
As a spouse, parent, teacher, pastor, whatever your role, trust in God to show you how to best carry out that which has been entrusted to you. The message above points the way to the coming of the One whom we believe is the Good Shepherd and in Whom we have our relationship and faith. May we seek to listen to God's voice through scriptures, prayers, sermons, lessons, readings, how ever you feel God calling to you, and be faithful to being good shepherds in our settings.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Jesus our Good Shepherd; in Whom we have the model of faithfulness. May we seek to be more like Jesus in whatever realm we have been placed. We strive for sharing that which You have shared with us. In Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Psalm 89: 1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. 5 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness." (NRSV)
Whether your care is over a family, classroom, congregation, or yourself, you have a responsibility to care for these under you. We read with horror those who abuse or mismanage (to put it mildly) their authority. In today's passage, God's message centers on those who had been called to shepherd the people of God and who had done nothing for God but everything for themselves. They had managed to scatter these away from their care and the message of God's care for them, and sought only personal gain. God's promise is that God will provide a good shepherd, one who will truly care for the sheep of God's flock. This shepherd would come with a message of hope, not fear, encouragement and not dismay; and a careful accounting and care of each lamb, with not one missing. These sheep will hear a message of invitation to God's love (salvation) and of safe living. The one whom God is sending will be called "righteousness" or as The Message versions calls this shepherd, "God-Who-Puts-Everything-Right."
As a spouse, parent, teacher, pastor, whatever your role, trust in God to show you how to best carry out that which has been entrusted to you. The message above points the way to the coming of the One whom we believe is the Good Shepherd and in Whom we have our relationship and faith. May we seek to listen to God's voice through scriptures, prayers, sermons, lessons, readings, how ever you feel God calling to you, and be faithful to being good shepherds in our settings.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Jesus our Good Shepherd; in Whom we have the model of faithfulness. May we seek to be more like Jesus in whatever realm we have been placed. We strive for sharing that which You have shared with us. In Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Isn't it like God to provide for us first?
Good day dear friends. Today is the day for the first votes to be cast for new bishops in the South Central Jurisdiction. There are ten of us who have offered ourselves for three slots. I ask your prayers that God's will be done among us; that God would raise up those leaders to lead in God's work among us.
Today's passage comes from 2 Samuel 7: 1 Before long, the king made himself at home and God gave him peace from all his enemies. 2Then one day King David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look at this: Here I am, comfortable in a luxurious house of cedar, and the Chest of God sits in a plain tent." 3 Nathan told the king, "Whatever is on your heart, go and do it. God is with you." 4 But that night, the word of God came to Nathan saying, 5 "Go and tell my servant David: This is God's word on the matter: You're going to build a 'house' for me to live in? 6 Why, I haven't lived in a 'house' from the time I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt till now. All that time I've moved about with nothing but a tent. 7And in all my travels with Israel, did I ever say to any of the leaders I commanded to shepherd Israel, 'Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?' 8 "So here is what you are to tell my servant David: The God-of-the-Angel-Armies has this word for you: I took you from the pasture, tagging along after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel. 9 I was with you everywhere you went and mowed your enemies down before you. Now I'm making you famous, to be ranked with the great names on earth. 10 And I'm going to set aside a place for my people Israel and plant them there so they'll have their own home and not be knocked around any more. Nor will evil men afflict you as they always have, 11 even during the days I set judges over my people Israel. Finally, I'm going to give you peace from all your enemies. 16 Your family and your kingdom are permanently secured. I'm keeping my eye on them! And your royal throne will always be there, rock solid." (The Message)
The story of King David has always fascinated me. Among the most interesting of titles given to his life are included in this passage, "From the Pasture to the Palace." Who would have thought that a small shepherd boy would grow to be shepherd king over one of the most powerful and richest nations of its time? Only God. From enjoying a childhood of adventure and danger, to a challenge with a giant, to being anointed king over Israel; this was David's life. What made David's life blessed was his obedience and commitment to the teachings of his mother and father about the one, true living God, Whom David sought and found, in the pasture and in the wilderness. Those writings attributed to him explore and explain the nature of God, including yesterday's study of Psalm 23. David sought and found a personal, trusting, and loving relationship with the Most High. It was after a successful military campaign as commander-in-chief of God's army that God visits David through Nathan the prophet. David beings to ask, what more can I do for God? Can I finally build God the house God has never had? At the very least, David thought, I can build a house for God's ark that serves as the throne of God and contains within it the tablets of the Law. After having shared this with Nathan, Nathan's initial reaction is go ahead, King, and do what you want; but that night God visits Nathan and reveals that God would rather build David's house, and by this God meant to establish David's lineage forever. Isn't it like God to provide for us first? One of the most successful stewardship sermon series I have come across stated the obvious, "You Can't Outgive God!" And we can't. God seeks to provide for us first; what we do in response to that love should be to bless God and God's people.
Stop and reflect on all that God has done for you. What have you done in response to God's faithfulness? Have you, like David's mother and father, sought to share your faith with your children about the one, true living God, who has provided for you? Have you tried sharing that faith with your neighbors and co-workers about what God can and is doing among you?
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for caring for us first. As a response to Your love, may we seek to provide for You and Yours. Teach me more about Your ways so that I in turn, can share with others about Your love. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Today's passage comes from 2 Samuel 7: 1 Before long, the king made himself at home and God gave him peace from all his enemies. 2Then one day King David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look at this: Here I am, comfortable in a luxurious house of cedar, and the Chest of God sits in a plain tent." 3 Nathan told the king, "Whatever is on your heart, go and do it. God is with you." 4 But that night, the word of God came to Nathan saying, 5 "Go and tell my servant David: This is God's word on the matter: You're going to build a 'house' for me to live in? 6 Why, I haven't lived in a 'house' from the time I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt till now. All that time I've moved about with nothing but a tent. 7And in all my travels with Israel, did I ever say to any of the leaders I commanded to shepherd Israel, 'Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?' 8 "So here is what you are to tell my servant David: The God-of-the-Angel-Armies has this word for you: I took you from the pasture, tagging along after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel. 9 I was with you everywhere you went and mowed your enemies down before you. Now I'm making you famous, to be ranked with the great names on earth. 10 And I'm going to set aside a place for my people Israel and plant them there so they'll have their own home and not be knocked around any more. Nor will evil men afflict you as they always have, 11 even during the days I set judges over my people Israel. Finally, I'm going to give you peace from all your enemies. 16 Your family and your kingdom are permanently secured. I'm keeping my eye on them! And your royal throne will always be there, rock solid." (The Message)
The story of King David has always fascinated me. Among the most interesting of titles given to his life are included in this passage, "From the Pasture to the Palace." Who would have thought that a small shepherd boy would grow to be shepherd king over one of the most powerful and richest nations of its time? Only God. From enjoying a childhood of adventure and danger, to a challenge with a giant, to being anointed king over Israel; this was David's life. What made David's life blessed was his obedience and commitment to the teachings of his mother and father about the one, true living God, Whom David sought and found, in the pasture and in the wilderness. Those writings attributed to him explore and explain the nature of God, including yesterday's study of Psalm 23. David sought and found a personal, trusting, and loving relationship with the Most High. It was after a successful military campaign as commander-in-chief of God's army that God visits David through Nathan the prophet. David beings to ask, what more can I do for God? Can I finally build God the house God has never had? At the very least, David thought, I can build a house for God's ark that serves as the throne of God and contains within it the tablets of the Law. After having shared this with Nathan, Nathan's initial reaction is go ahead, King, and do what you want; but that night God visits Nathan and reveals that God would rather build David's house, and by this God meant to establish David's lineage forever. Isn't it like God to provide for us first? One of the most successful stewardship sermon series I have come across stated the obvious, "You Can't Outgive God!" And we can't. God seeks to provide for us first; what we do in response to that love should be to bless God and God's people.
Stop and reflect on all that God has done for you. What have you done in response to God's faithfulness? Have you, like David's mother and father, sought to share your faith with your children about the one, true living God, who has provided for you? Have you tried sharing that faith with your neighbors and co-workers about what God can and is doing among you?
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for caring for us first. As a response to Your love, may we seek to provide for You and Yours. Teach me more about Your ways so that I in turn, can share with others about Your love. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Labels That Matter
Good day dear friends. Tonight, the South Central Jurisdiction Conference begins with a memorial service. Tomorrow the balloting begins on episcopal elections. As I have mentioned, I am one of ten candidates who have offered themselves for consideration. It has been a long, exciting, draining journey and it could end tomorrow or Friday. I ask you hold the ten of us in prayer. Pray also for the delegates whose votes will determine who leads our denomination forward. Pray that God's will be done in all matters. Pray also for a difficult matter regarding one of our sitting bishops.
Our text for today Psalm 23: 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. (NRSV)
Provision. Protection. Pastoral care. Projectional direction. Positive outlook. Perpetual care. That would be too easy to just dismiss one of the most intimate and powerful passages in Scripture under several labels, but that would be missing the point about the personal, intimate appeal of a relationship with God. The psalmist had a relationship with God that he enjoyed. He understood the labels and what they meant. His being a shepherd helped him understand his place in the relationship with God. God provided for him during his life, thus the "I shall not want," which I never understood in my childhood (I thought it meant that the person saying that didn't want to go to church!) The psalmist understood the way God provided care and protection for him during difficult and challenging times. Being a pastor, he understood God's pastoral care for him; and how a good shepherd provides the directions away from danger and towards nourishment. A true, loving, trusting relationship with God is also one that helps one's attitude be positive towards life now and beyond this life.
The psalm is our invitation to get to know God more intimately and to discover what wonderful things are available to us in such a relationship. God is not a God "out there," as many have seen and experienced God, but those who know God, like the psalmist, can say, "God is right here."
PRAYER: Loving God, as I pray the words of the psalm, may it be the words that allow me to draw closer to You. May all that the psalmist knew be things I come to know. You are my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Guide and lead me to where I find what I need for life's journey. Help me to rest when it is necessary and when I'm in areas that are unsafe or uncomfortable, assure me of Your presence. May I come to know that which You offer to me as comfort and protection. Help me in the times of rejoicing and celebration to know it is because of You. May each day's journey draw closer and closer in love to You and to Yours. Let me not fear life nor life beyond this life. I pray this in Christ Jesus my Lord and Shepherd, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today Psalm 23: 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. (NRSV)
Provision. Protection. Pastoral care. Projectional direction. Positive outlook. Perpetual care. That would be too easy to just dismiss one of the most intimate and powerful passages in Scripture under several labels, but that would be missing the point about the personal, intimate appeal of a relationship with God. The psalmist had a relationship with God that he enjoyed. He understood the labels and what they meant. His being a shepherd helped him understand his place in the relationship with God. God provided for him during his life, thus the "I shall not want," which I never understood in my childhood (I thought it meant that the person saying that didn't want to go to church!) The psalmist understood the way God provided care and protection for him during difficult and challenging times. Being a pastor, he understood God's pastoral care for him; and how a good shepherd provides the directions away from danger and towards nourishment. A true, loving, trusting relationship with God is also one that helps one's attitude be positive towards life now and beyond this life.
The psalm is our invitation to get to know God more intimately and to discover what wonderful things are available to us in such a relationship. God is not a God "out there," as many have seen and experienced God, but those who know God, like the psalmist, can say, "God is right here."
PRAYER: Loving God, as I pray the words of the psalm, may it be the words that allow me to draw closer to You. May all that the psalmist knew be things I come to know. You are my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Guide and lead me to where I find what I need for life's journey. Help me to rest when it is necessary and when I'm in areas that are unsafe or uncomfortable, assure me of Your presence. May I come to know that which You offer to me as comfort and protection. Help me in the times of rejoicing and celebration to know it is because of You. May each day's journey draw closer and closer in love to You and to Yours. Let me not fear life nor life beyond this life. I pray this in Christ Jesus my Lord and Shepherd, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The Cross Got Us to Embrace As Equals
Good day dear friends.
Our text for today comes from Ephesians 2: 11 But don't take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God's ways12 had no idea of any of this, didn't know the first thing about the way God works, hadn't the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God's covenants and promises in Israel, hadn't a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. 13 Now because of Christ - dying that death, shedding that blood - you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything. 14 The Messiah has made things up between us so that we're now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. 15 He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody. 16 Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. 17 Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. 18 He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father. 19 That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all - irrespective of how we got here - in what he is building. 20 He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone 21 that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day - a holy temple built by God, 22 all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.(The Message)
"You stay out!" Thank God, that is something in this country we don't see written much any more; the distinction among races being labeled as "Whites" and "Coloreds." It still happens in subtle ways, and we pray that the day of that practice end soon. In this passage Paul is addressing the issue of what kept new Christian believers outside of the one faith with Jewish brothers and sisters. Paul did not see that Jews should be over here and Gentiles over there. The disciples did at first, but they started to come around as they felt God at work in them. The issue was the stressing of traditional practices of religion over the experienced spiritual transformation of the Holy Spirit. The Jewish Christians believed that in order to become a true Christian, you had to become a Jew; and in order to become a Jew, the males had to undergo circumcision, the mark of the covenant. That idea to grown men was not an appealing one, and Paul understood that. He understood that what had taken place in Jesus was to reshape the understanding of faith and "belonging." Paul writes that when we live in sin and away from Christ we are indeed outsiders to the understanding of God's love and work among those who belong to God; but through acceptance of Christ in faith, we are brought in as full members of this new family. Paul did not want distinctions to keep all believers from understanding we are now all equals. Paul goes so far as to call the believer a "new human being" with a "fresh start." I heard just last week in a small church meeting the witness of a man who became United Methodist because his old church did not accept or believe that after forty (40) years of being away due to his way of living could happen. When he came into the church the first thing he heard was "What's that drunk doing here?" That was enough to seek a place for a fresh start, which, thank God, he found in the UM church.
The hostility of the Cross brought an end to hostility among believers. The death of Christ made us all equals, with equal access to God the Father. We are all now citizens of this new Reign or Kingdom that God is building. May it be true that we indeed treat each other as equals, with the same love shared with everyone regardless of background or past experiences. May it also serve to inspire and encourage us to get others to join us!
PRAYER: Loving God, we celebrate the end of differences among believers. We have equal access to You and we should be sharing that good news with others. May our lives reflect our willingness to see that we are all new human beings with fresh starts in Christ Jesus. May the past with our sinful ways be forgotten in You and in us, so that we can instead see us as indeed new, as You see us; we pray in Christ Jesus, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Ephesians 2: 11 But don't take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God's ways12 had no idea of any of this, didn't know the first thing about the way God works, hadn't the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God's covenants and promises in Israel, hadn't a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. 13 Now because of Christ - dying that death, shedding that blood - you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything. 14 The Messiah has made things up between us so that we're now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. 15 He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody. 16 Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. 17 Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. 18 He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father. 19 That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all - irrespective of how we got here - in what he is building. 20 He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone 21 that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day - a holy temple built by God, 22 all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.(The Message)
"You stay out!" Thank God, that is something in this country we don't see written much any more; the distinction among races being labeled as "Whites" and "Coloreds." It still happens in subtle ways, and we pray that the day of that practice end soon. In this passage Paul is addressing the issue of what kept new Christian believers outside of the one faith with Jewish brothers and sisters. Paul did not see that Jews should be over here and Gentiles over there. The disciples did at first, but they started to come around as they felt God at work in them. The issue was the stressing of traditional practices of religion over the experienced spiritual transformation of the Holy Spirit. The Jewish Christians believed that in order to become a true Christian, you had to become a Jew; and in order to become a Jew, the males had to undergo circumcision, the mark of the covenant. That idea to grown men was not an appealing one, and Paul understood that. He understood that what had taken place in Jesus was to reshape the understanding of faith and "belonging." Paul writes that when we live in sin and away from Christ we are indeed outsiders to the understanding of God's love and work among those who belong to God; but through acceptance of Christ in faith, we are brought in as full members of this new family. Paul did not want distinctions to keep all believers from understanding we are now all equals. Paul goes so far as to call the believer a "new human being" with a "fresh start." I heard just last week in a small church meeting the witness of a man who became United Methodist because his old church did not accept or believe that after forty (40) years of being away due to his way of living could happen. When he came into the church the first thing he heard was "What's that drunk doing here?" That was enough to seek a place for a fresh start, which, thank God, he found in the UM church.
The hostility of the Cross brought an end to hostility among believers. The death of Christ made us all equals, with equal access to God the Father. We are all now citizens of this new Reign or Kingdom that God is building. May it be true that we indeed treat each other as equals, with the same love shared with everyone regardless of background or past experiences. May it also serve to inspire and encourage us to get others to join us!
PRAYER: Loving God, we celebrate the end of differences among believers. We have equal access to You and we should be sharing that good news with others. May our lives reflect our willingness to see that we are all new human beings with fresh starts in Christ Jesus. May the past with our sinful ways be forgotten in You and in us, so that we can instead see us as indeed new, as You see us; we pray in Christ Jesus, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Monday, July 16, 2012
Does Jesus Have Preaching and Healing Room in Your Life?
Good day dear friends.
Our text for today is from Mark 6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed. (NRSV)
Word about Jesus' power to heal got around quickly during a time there was no Facebook, Twitter, or email. People told each other about the things they saw or experienced or received. There was a sense of wonder, for who can explain the blind seeing or the lame walking? There was a sense of urgency, for who knew how long Jesus would be in the area? Crowds followed Jesus and our recent conference preacher believes that is still true in our churches; "If you have Jesus in your church, you'll have a crowd, because crowds follow Jesus." I believe it is true, if the crowd that usually gathers tells new folks about what Jesus is being allowed to do in the old setting. Now, like then, not everybody gets excited about Jesus, especially if it means changing anything. Healing, miracles, compassion for the hungry, and the outcast should be offered at all churches; and Jesus should be invited in to be present and do all that He believes needs to take place.
More importantly, we should begin with our heart; have we invited Jesus in to take control of our needs and situations? Have we truly allowed our faith to give Jesus preaching and healing room?
PRAYER: Loving God, the stories of Jesus is wonderful, but I ask that they not stay words on a page from a book from long ago. May these stories be inspiration to invite Your Son to come and do it again; in my life and in the life of my church. We still need You and the wonderful, unexplainable things You can do through Jesus. I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today is from Mark 6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed. (NRSV)
Word about Jesus' power to heal got around quickly during a time there was no Facebook, Twitter, or email. People told each other about the things they saw or experienced or received. There was a sense of wonder, for who can explain the blind seeing or the lame walking? There was a sense of urgency, for who knew how long Jesus would be in the area? Crowds followed Jesus and our recent conference preacher believes that is still true in our churches; "If you have Jesus in your church, you'll have a crowd, because crowds follow Jesus." I believe it is true, if the crowd that usually gathers tells new folks about what Jesus is being allowed to do in the old setting. Now, like then, not everybody gets excited about Jesus, especially if it means changing anything. Healing, miracles, compassion for the hungry, and the outcast should be offered at all churches; and Jesus should be invited in to be present and do all that He believes needs to take place.
More importantly, we should begin with our heart; have we invited Jesus in to take control of our needs and situations? Have we truly allowed our faith to give Jesus preaching and healing room?
PRAYER: Loving God, the stories of Jesus is wonderful, but I ask that they not stay words on a page from a book from long ago. May these stories be inspiration to invite Your Son to come and do it again; in my life and in the life of my church. We still need You and the wonderful, unexplainable things You can do through Jesus. I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Appreciating Creation and the Creation
Good day, dear friends. I'm about to board a flight to Dallas for a short meeting. Your prayers are appreciated.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 24: 1 God claims Earth and everything in it, God claims World and all who live on it. 2 He built it on Ocean foundations, laid it out on River girders. 3 Who can climb Mount God? Who can scale the holy north-face? 4 Only the clean-handed, only the pure-hearted; Men who won't cheat, women who won't seduce. 5 God is at their side; with God's help they make it. 6 This, Jacob, is what happens to God-seekers, God-questers. 7 Wake up, you sleepyhead city! Wake up, you sleepyhead people! King-Glory is ready to enter. 8 Who is this King-Glory? God, armed and battle-ready. 9 Wake up, you sleepyhead city! Wake up, you sleepyhead people! King-Glory is ready to enter. 10 Who is this King-Glory? God of the angel armies: he is King-Glory.
The psalmtist spent a lot of his life outdoors, and I suspect when he was indoors he always had a view of the outdoors. This gave him a deep appreciation for God's creation and that appreciation is reflected in his writings. Today's psalm is no exception. It is an affirmation of that creation but more importantly, of the Creator. He recognizes that like creation, we the creatures should stay connected to God and what God offers to us. If we seek to be pure and clean before the lord, God's blessings will be ours. He Los stresses that we should never take God or anything of God's for granted.
May today give us occasion to enjoy creatio as well as to acknowledge the importance of the Creator in our lives.
PRAYER: God of all creation, bless my appreciation for You and yours. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Psalm 24: 1 God claims Earth and everything in it, God claims World and all who live on it. 2 He built it on Ocean foundations, laid it out on River girders. 3 Who can climb Mount God? Who can scale the holy north-face? 4 Only the clean-handed, only the pure-hearted; Men who won't cheat, women who won't seduce. 5 God is at their side; with God's help they make it. 6 This, Jacob, is what happens to God-seekers, God-questers. 7 Wake up, you sleepyhead city! Wake up, you sleepyhead people! King-Glory is ready to enter. 8 Who is this King-Glory? God, armed and battle-ready. 9 Wake up, you sleepyhead city! Wake up, you sleepyhead people! King-Glory is ready to enter. 10 Who is this King-Glory? God of the angel armies: he is King-Glory.
The psalmtist spent a lot of his life outdoors, and I suspect when he was indoors he always had a view of the outdoors. This gave him a deep appreciation for God's creation and that appreciation is reflected in his writings. Today's psalm is no exception. It is an affirmation of that creation but more importantly, of the Creator. He recognizes that like creation, we the creatures should stay connected to God and what God offers to us. If we seek to be pure and clean before the lord, God's blessings will be ours. He Los stresses that we should never take God or anything of God's for granted.
May today give us occasion to enjoy creatio as well as to acknowledge the importance of the Creator in our lives.
PRAYER: God of all creation, bless my appreciation for You and yours. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Does Worship Carry You Away?
Good day dear friends. The actual day of balloting for the election of bishops begins on Thursday, the 19th of July. Several have emailed prayers and best wishes, and for that I am thankful. May God's will be done.
Our text for today comes from 2 Samuel 5: 1 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. 3 They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart 4 with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. 5 David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 12 "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing;13 and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod.15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, 19 and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes. (NRSV)
Worship is not about us, it is about God. Yes, I know, try telling that to some folks. Worship is about praising and thanking God. It is a time when we turn our full and complete attention to God. Praise comes in many forms. In this passage we see that the praise of God took the form of many instruments (see verse 5 again), and the form of dance. There was excitement present in this worship because of God. King David, as worship leader, took the lead in letting the Spirit of God and an attitude of thankfulness, to jump and dance and sing as this procession took to the streets (That's something we rarely see either, for we hope no one sees us going into church , let alone the church coming out of our buildings!). David knew that the ark of God represented many things to God and to God's people. It was built as a throne to God and it also housed the tablets that contained the 10 Commandments, the Law given by God to Moses. It was a big deal! And to have it present represented the presence of God. Yes, God is everywhere and this throne (ark) was built as a way of saying, God, you can rest here if you like. And there are special places of worship in our lives, and the ark was a way of saying, God is everywhere and everywhere you see this ark, think of God, for God is here. The ark brought great blessing to those who received it in the correct, worshipful manner of God; and this procession is a celebration of the movement of this special worship symbol.
David, in the opinion of his wife, the daughter of Saul, got carried away a little too much. Given his dress for the day, every leap and jump he did for God, revealed something of David, that Michal thought should stay at home. "Don't take our business from home to church!" she was in effect saying. David, to defend his actions, was not thinking about that; he was in the presence of God and he was thankful about that and he gave his all in that praise. David did what was proper before God and the worship of God and here's the interesting thing: David in this worship, also provided for the physical needs of the people. The spiritual needs were taken care of, but no one went home hungry, for food was distributed to those who were in need. This was a church on the move. It knew its spiritual obligations before God and it knew about its role in helping the people of God outside of worship. Does your church do that?
The church of God exists to worship God. But worship is not the end-all of its life. The church is called to serve among the people to show God's care for all people, and if it means sharing a loaf of bread with someone, then do it. I have tried to get churches to see this. A large church of ours in a northern state, grew to mega-church size because it was willing to share a loaf of bread with someone outside of worship, who might not have something to eat. In profile meetings I have held with churches I have taken 10 loaves and asked the members present at those meetings to distribute it to those in the community who might need them. At the first meeting, one person automatically said, "There's no hunger in this community because they're on food stamps!" Thankfully, the person next to her said, "Can I have two loaves? I know a large family that might not have any food at all."
PRAYER: Loving God, may all churches, starting with me, realize what an important role we have in all of the world. May we strive for worship that pleases You and moves us to action. May we see beyond our needs to the needs of the world. We are not clubs that exist to provide and care only for ourselves; we exist for You and for Yours. Guide us and lead us to faithfulness and fruitfulness will follow. In Jesus' precious and powerful name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from 2 Samuel 5: 1 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. 3 They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart 4 with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. 5 David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 12 "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing;13 and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod.15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, 19 and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes. (NRSV)
Worship is not about us, it is about God. Yes, I know, try telling that to some folks. Worship is about praising and thanking God. It is a time when we turn our full and complete attention to God. Praise comes in many forms. In this passage we see that the praise of God took the form of many instruments (see verse 5 again), and the form of dance. There was excitement present in this worship because of God. King David, as worship leader, took the lead in letting the Spirit of God and an attitude of thankfulness, to jump and dance and sing as this procession took to the streets (That's something we rarely see either, for we hope no one sees us going into church , let alone the church coming out of our buildings!). David knew that the ark of God represented many things to God and to God's people. It was built as a throne to God and it also housed the tablets that contained the 10 Commandments, the Law given by God to Moses. It was a big deal! And to have it present represented the presence of God. Yes, God is everywhere and this throne (ark) was built as a way of saying, God, you can rest here if you like. And there are special places of worship in our lives, and the ark was a way of saying, God is everywhere and everywhere you see this ark, think of God, for God is here. The ark brought great blessing to those who received it in the correct, worshipful manner of God; and this procession is a celebration of the movement of this special worship symbol.
David, in the opinion of his wife, the daughter of Saul, got carried away a little too much. Given his dress for the day, every leap and jump he did for God, revealed something of David, that Michal thought should stay at home. "Don't take our business from home to church!" she was in effect saying. David, to defend his actions, was not thinking about that; he was in the presence of God and he was thankful about that and he gave his all in that praise. David did what was proper before God and the worship of God and here's the interesting thing: David in this worship, also provided for the physical needs of the people. The spiritual needs were taken care of, but no one went home hungry, for food was distributed to those who were in need. This was a church on the move. It knew its spiritual obligations before God and it knew about its role in helping the people of God outside of worship. Does your church do that?
The church of God exists to worship God. But worship is not the end-all of its life. The church is called to serve among the people to show God's care for all people, and if it means sharing a loaf of bread with someone, then do it. I have tried to get churches to see this. A large church of ours in a northern state, grew to mega-church size because it was willing to share a loaf of bread with someone outside of worship, who might not have something to eat. In profile meetings I have held with churches I have taken 10 loaves and asked the members present at those meetings to distribute it to those in the community who might need them. At the first meeting, one person automatically said, "There's no hunger in this community because they're on food stamps!" Thankfully, the person next to her said, "Can I have two loaves? I know a large family that might not have any food at all."
PRAYER: Loving God, may all churches, starting with me, realize what an important role we have in all of the world. May we strive for worship that pleases You and moves us to action. May we see beyond our needs to the needs of the world. We are not clubs that exist to provide and care only for ourselves; we exist for You and for Yours. Guide us and lead us to faithfulness and fruitfulness will follow. In Jesus' precious and powerful name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Is Your Blackboard Clean?
Good day dear friends. I ask special prayer for the jurisdictional conferences set to take place next week around the country. At most of these conferences, bishops will be elected to lead our conferences in the USA. This time of waiting can be an anxious one, so please pray for those of us (and our families) as we await the election days. We only ask that God's will be done to raise up those leaders who can best lead our denomination during the challenges and opportunities of these days. Thank you!
Our text for today comes from Ephesians 1: 3 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. 4 Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 5 Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6 He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. 7 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people - free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! 8 He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, 9 letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, 10 a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. 11 It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, 12 part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.13 It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free - signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. 14 This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life. (The Message)
One of the things I remembering fearing about going to school was to have my name on the board. I'm old enough to have had both types of boards; the black and green ones. I remember the ominous black boards the best. And to have your name on that board meant trouble. I especially remember one day, in first grade (yes, I can remember that long ago!), a fellow first-grader was left in charge of the room while our teacher went somewhere. This kid was the biggest kid to begin with, but he had also been retained twice in the first grade (or so legend said), but I did not fear him. I don't remember the offense (how convenient of me!) but I got my name on the board. Oh, the fear that entered me! I knew that if I were disciplined at school, a report would follow me home where I feared another discipline from either my father or mother or both. This version of the Bible has Paul talking about those offenses we have "chalked up." My fear is that my grandchildren may not even know what chalk is, at least used in the school setting. We have huge chalk pieces for sidewalk art lying around our house, but the most our grandkids may see are the dry erase markers or images on slide presentations on screens or monitors.
The verse sums up the good news for all of us, "Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people - free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!" (v. 7). It was God's plan to include us in God's family and through the death of Jesus our Messiah, we would receive forgiveness and freedom from the guilt and burden of our sins. The blackboard of our sinfulness has been wiped clean; another image of those Mondays when the custodians of our school had not only wiped off the chalk markings, the boards seemed washed. Such is the record of our wrongdoings before God because of Jesus. The question is, are we living a life that tells the story of that wonderful act? Do our lives reflect the freedom we now have from the weight of our sins? If the answer is no, today is a day of decision and action; tell somebody!
PRAYER: Loving God, I and the person making this prayer their own, thank You for Jesus and Jesus' willingness to die for us. I thank You that through that death and our confession and repentance of our sins, we have been made free. May my life reflect that freedom in such a way that I can share the Good News with someone today. 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 Ephesians 1: 3 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. 4 Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 5 Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6 He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. 7 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people - free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! 8 He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, 9 letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, 10 a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. 11 It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, 12 part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.13 It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free - signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. 14 This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life. (The Message)
One of the things I remembering fearing about going to school was to have my name on the board. I'm old enough to have had both types of boards; the black and green ones. I remember the ominous black boards the best. And to have your name on that board meant trouble. I especially remember one day, in first grade (yes, I can remember that long ago!), a fellow first-grader was left in charge of the room while our teacher went somewhere. This kid was the biggest kid to begin with, but he had also been retained twice in the first grade (or so legend said), but I did not fear him. I don't remember the offense (how convenient of me!) but I got my name on the board. Oh, the fear that entered me! I knew that if I were disciplined at school, a report would follow me home where I feared another discipline from either my father or mother or both. This version of the Bible has Paul talking about those offenses we have "chalked up." My fear is that my grandchildren may not even know what chalk is, at least used in the school setting. We have huge chalk pieces for sidewalk art lying around our house, but the most our grandkids may see are the dry erase markers or images on slide presentations on screens or monitors.
The verse sums up the good news for all of us, "Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people - free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!" (v. 7). It was God's plan to include us in God's family and through the death of Jesus our Messiah, we would receive forgiveness and freedom from the guilt and burden of our sins. The blackboard of our sinfulness has been wiped clean; another image of those Mondays when the custodians of our school had not only wiped off the chalk markings, the boards seemed washed. Such is the record of our wrongdoings before God because of Jesus. The question is, are we living a life that tells the story of that wonderful act? Do our lives reflect the freedom we now have from the weight of our sins? If the answer is no, today is a day of decision and action; tell somebody!
PRAYER: Loving God, I and the person making this prayer their own, thank You for Jesus and Jesus' willingness to die for us. I thank You that through that death and our confession and repentance of our sins, we have been made free. May my life reflect that freedom in such a way that I can share the Good News with someone today. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Monday, July 09, 2012
God Keeps No Record
Good day dear friends.
Our text for today comes from the Gospel according to Mark 6: 14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." 15But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." 17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed;and yet he liked to listen to him. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." 23 And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24 She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." 25 Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. (NRSV)
It is the fear of all sinners that our sins should come to haunt us. It matters not your station, be you a pauper or a king, for such was the case of King Herod. Herod hears that there is a man going around asking people to get right with God, namely to confess and repent of their sins. And with that message came reports that people were being healed, and the demon possessed were being set free. Herod wonders if perhaps the man doing this is not already dead. Such was the guilt Herod carried around. He was guilty of a sexual sin; that of having taken his brother's wife as his own. And in his house he also has his niece as now a stepdaughter. On his birthday, the girl dances for him and he is so pleased with the dance that he says he will give to her whatever she wants even half of the kingdom. Because John the Baptist had been denouncing Herod and this living arrangement as sinful, the mother tells her daughter to request the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. Herod, grieved now that he has to kill someone, knows that because he has made an oath to this girl to give her whatever she wants, orders that it be done. It becomes for Herod a burden and a guilt that he would take to his grave.
For the sinner who comes to Christ, we have the opportunity to receive freedom and relief from the burden and guilt of our sins. Jesus Christ came to offer Himself as the sacrificial lamb to take away our sins. By faith we should confess and repent of our sins, and Christ wipes the slate clean. Our sins are forgiven and forgotten. If God has forgiven us, we move on and should not let even the memory of those sins to continue to claim hold in our lives. Reports of other confessing and repenting of their sins, should remind us that we too, have had that experience, and then we should thank God.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Jesus and for the mercy You have shown us because of Him. May we truly repent of our sins and entrust that in Your mind and heart, there is no trace of those forgiven sins. May we seek to share the news that others can come to this new life of freedom in You through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; in whose precious name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from the Gospel according to Mark 6: 14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." 15But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." 17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed;and yet he liked to listen to him. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." 23 And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24 She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." 25 Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. (NRSV)
It is the fear of all sinners that our sins should come to haunt us. It matters not your station, be you a pauper or a king, for such was the case of King Herod. Herod hears that there is a man going around asking people to get right with God, namely to confess and repent of their sins. And with that message came reports that people were being healed, and the demon possessed were being set free. Herod wonders if perhaps the man doing this is not already dead. Such was the guilt Herod carried around. He was guilty of a sexual sin; that of having taken his brother's wife as his own. And in his house he also has his niece as now a stepdaughter. On his birthday, the girl dances for him and he is so pleased with the dance that he says he will give to her whatever she wants even half of the kingdom. Because John the Baptist had been denouncing Herod and this living arrangement as sinful, the mother tells her daughter to request the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. Herod, grieved now that he has to kill someone, knows that because he has made an oath to this girl to give her whatever she wants, orders that it be done. It becomes for Herod a burden and a guilt that he would take to his grave.
For the sinner who comes to Christ, we have the opportunity to receive freedom and relief from the burden and guilt of our sins. Jesus Christ came to offer Himself as the sacrificial lamb to take away our sins. By faith we should confess and repent of our sins, and Christ wipes the slate clean. Our sins are forgiven and forgotten. If God has forgiven us, we move on and should not let even the memory of those sins to continue to claim hold in our lives. Reports of other confessing and repenting of their sins, should remind us that we too, have had that experience, and then we should thank God.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Jesus and for the mercy You have shown us because of Him. May we truly repent of our sins and entrust that in Your mind and heart, there is no trace of those forgiven sins. May we seek to share the news that others can come to this new life of freedom in You through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; in whose precious name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Thursday, July 05, 2012
Mouthpiece for God?
Good day dear friends. I ask your prayers for Rev. Thom Elliott of Burnet, TX, who is undergoing knee surgery today. Please keep him in our prayers.
Our text for today comes from Ezekiel 2: 1 It said, "Son of man, stand up. I have something to say to you." 2 The moment I heard the voice, the Spirit entered me and put me on my feet. As he spoke to me, I listened. 3 He said, "Son of man, I'm sending you to the family of Israel, a rebellious nation if there ever was one. They and their ancestors have fomented rebellion right up to the present. 4 They're a hard case, these people to whom I'm sending you - hardened in their sin. Tell them, 'This is the Message of God, the Master.' 5 They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they'll know that a prophet's been here. (The Message)
A prophet is one who speaks on behalf of God. The word literally meant "mouthpiece," and was a term made famous with gangster movies back in the day. The gangster would be arrested and he'd say, "I ain't saying a word! Talk to my mouthpiece." Ezekiel's call to service as a prophet came from God at a time prophets were not popular. The word from God usually involves our being right with God and during Ezekiel's time they were anything but! God told Ezekiel the truth about God's people and that whether the people heard the word or not, at least they would know that there was a prophet in their midst.
Our call into ministry sometimes may involve our having to say words that don't fit in with behavior or attitudes present in the people with whom we are ministering. Our call is not about popularity, it is about faithfulness to our relationship with God. God desires all to be right in their relationship with God and that sometimes is not a popular thing.
PRAYER: Loving God, speak to me that which I need to hear as well as that I should witness and share in my work for You. If it is not an easy word I ask for strength and wisdom to share it in a convincing way. Let me be right in my relationship with You so that that serve as the word that I need to share. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from Ezekiel 2: 1 It said, "Son of man, stand up. I have something to say to you." 2 The moment I heard the voice, the Spirit entered me and put me on my feet. As he spoke to me, I listened. 3 He said, "Son of man, I'm sending you to the family of Israel, a rebellious nation if there ever was one. They and their ancestors have fomented rebellion right up to the present. 4 They're a hard case, these people to whom I'm sending you - hardened in their sin. Tell them, 'This is the Message of God, the Master.' 5 They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they'll know that a prophet's been here. (The Message)
A prophet is one who speaks on behalf of God. The word literally meant "mouthpiece," and was a term made famous with gangster movies back in the day. The gangster would be arrested and he'd say, "I ain't saying a word! Talk to my mouthpiece." Ezekiel's call to service as a prophet came from God at a time prophets were not popular. The word from God usually involves our being right with God and during Ezekiel's time they were anything but! God told Ezekiel the truth about God's people and that whether the people heard the word or not, at least they would know that there was a prophet in their midst.
Our call into ministry sometimes may involve our having to say words that don't fit in with behavior or attitudes present in the people with whom we are ministering. Our call is not about popularity, it is about faithfulness to our relationship with God. God desires all to be right in their relationship with God and that sometimes is not a popular thing.
PRAYER: Loving God, speak to me that which I need to hear as well as that I should witness and share in my work for You. If it is not an easy word I ask for strength and wisdom to share it in a convincing way. Let me be right in my relationship with You so that that serve as the word that I need to share. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
From the Pasture to the Palace, God was with David
Good day dear friends, and Happy Independence Day! May we remember the great cost of liberty and freedom, but more importantly, may we remember what responsibility we also have to the rest of the world.
Our text for today comes from 2 Samuel 5: 1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh. 2 For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel." 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. 9 David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. (NRSV)
It didn't matter where David was, the pasture or the palace, God was there too. Early one David learned about God and how to recognize the presence of God. More importantly, David learned to invite God to be present wherever he was. David was a great shepherd and David was a great and mighty warrior even as a boy, fighting lions and bears (oh my!), defeating giants; later as warrior-king, defeating the enemies of Israel. David followed a king that did not invite God to all things. In this passage, David has proven himself as a ruler and even as a ruler over a small area, Hebron, the people of Israel come and ask him to be their king as well. The people of Judah did the same thing, and under David we find the united kingdom. I personally see in the Star of David, two triangles; one pointing south, the other pointing north and I am always reminded of the uniting of two kingdoms, the south and north, under David. And here we also find how David came to hold Jerusalem and to name it the city of David.
Though the good and the bad, God was with David. In victories and triumphs, God was with David. So it should be with us. Whatever we may have faced, no matter where we have come; if we have thought about it and realized it, God was and is with us. Regardless of our position in society, God is with us and will be, if we just but invite God to be with us.
Things go better with God. Invite God to be with you in everything.
PRAYER: Loving God, for the precious blessings of freedom we are thankful. We remember those who are not yet free. We pray for those who do live in free countries but who find themselves imprisoned by so many different things, debt, fear, worry, envy, jealousy, difficult relationships, sin, destructive habits and vices; to them, dear God, give them freedom. I and the person who prays this as their own, invite you to be with me in all things. Let it be said of our lives, that You were always with us and we gave You the glory. In Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from 2 Samuel 5: 1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh. 2 For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel." 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. 9 David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. (NRSV)
It didn't matter where David was, the pasture or the palace, God was there too. Early one David learned about God and how to recognize the presence of God. More importantly, David learned to invite God to be present wherever he was. David was a great shepherd and David was a great and mighty warrior even as a boy, fighting lions and bears (oh my!), defeating giants; later as warrior-king, defeating the enemies of Israel. David followed a king that did not invite God to all things. In this passage, David has proven himself as a ruler and even as a ruler over a small area, Hebron, the people of Israel come and ask him to be their king as well. The people of Judah did the same thing, and under David we find the united kingdom. I personally see in the Star of David, two triangles; one pointing south, the other pointing north and I am always reminded of the uniting of two kingdoms, the south and north, under David. And here we also find how David came to hold Jerusalem and to name it the city of David.
Though the good and the bad, God was with David. In victories and triumphs, God was with David. So it should be with us. Whatever we may have faced, no matter where we have come; if we have thought about it and realized it, God was and is with us. Regardless of our position in society, God is with us and will be, if we just but invite God to be with us.
Things go better with God. Invite God to be with you in everything.
PRAYER: Loving God, for the precious blessings of freedom we are thankful. We remember those who are not yet free. We pray for those who do live in free countries but who find themselves imprisoned by so many different things, debt, fear, worry, envy, jealousy, difficult relationships, sin, destructive habits and vices; to them, dear God, give them freedom. I and the person who prays this as their own, invite you to be with me in all things. Let it be said of our lives, that You were always with us and we gave You the glory. In Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
"They Are Weak, But He Is Strong!"
Good day dear friends. I'm glad to report that Betty Newmann's surgery went well and the surgeon observed what he believes was no spreading of the cancer beyond the kidney, but further test and a biopsy of the kidney will reveal more. Please continue to hold Betty and Martin in your prayers.
Our text for today comes from 2 Corinthians 12: 2 I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. 3 And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. 5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.6 But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7 even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (NRSV)
It's song you can never forget. It's been more than fifty years since I learned it. I married a woman who knew it. I thrilled when my daughters learned it. And now my grandchildren know it, and the youngest one is two. The song is "Jesus Loves Me." It has been around for many years, and has inspired many to base their faith on the simple, yet profound claim, that Jesus does, indeed love us, for the Bible so tells us. I thought of this song because of what today's text speaks about; there are some great, unexplainable days when the glory of God, Heaven itself, surround us and we just are blessed by it; and then there are "those days," when words defy the pain and suffering that may come our way. Paul speaks positively about the grace of God; that unexplainable free gift of God's love and presence in our lives that helps us in whatever sort of day we may be having. Paul begins with this mysterious declaration that he heard about fourteen years ago that stayed with him about a man who experienced heaven and saw and heard things that he could not share. Paul cannot explain it, but he does say that what he can explain is that in his life, he experienced revelations, such as experiencing the resurrected Christ in his call to ministry, and he also shares what is a common expression, "a thorn in the flesh," which means that Paul also experienced a pain or suffering that one endures. What was Paul's actual physical affliction is not known, though many have had their theories about it. All Paul knew is that even though he prayed three times to ask that it be removed from him, Jesus answered his requests with a truth, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." Paul has a ready list of things he has endured, and that list may be similar to ones you and I have gone through: "weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
This passage reaffirms a theme for Christian living; in all things Christ is with us. In the good or bad, Christ's strength is that which sees us through. What we may see as our weakness, through it, in trusting Christ, we are strong. In our times of being insulted for the sake of Christ; we received peace and calm, and we no longer react as the world would expect. Through hardships or persecutions or even calamities, all for the sake of our work and ministry in Christ Jesus, whenever we feel weakest, that is precisely when Christ makes us stronger.
What have you been experiencing in your life? Do you feel like you're almost at the point of giving up? Don't! Turn it over to Jesus and remember the words of the song, "Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so; little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves, the Bible tells me so."
PRAYER: Amazing God, I celebrate and thank You for the love You have shared with me. I especially thank You on this day for the strength that only You can provide even during times when we think we are beyond help. Bless us in whatever we may be facing, and be glorified by Your strength; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Our text for today comes from 2 Corinthians 12: 2 I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. 3 And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. 5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.6 But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7 even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (NRSV)
It's song you can never forget. It's been more than fifty years since I learned it. I married a woman who knew it. I thrilled when my daughters learned it. And now my grandchildren know it, and the youngest one is two. The song is "Jesus Loves Me." It has been around for many years, and has inspired many to base their faith on the simple, yet profound claim, that Jesus does, indeed love us, for the Bible so tells us. I thought of this song because of what today's text speaks about; there are some great, unexplainable days when the glory of God, Heaven itself, surround us and we just are blessed by it; and then there are "those days," when words defy the pain and suffering that may come our way. Paul speaks positively about the grace of God; that unexplainable free gift of God's love and presence in our lives that helps us in whatever sort of day we may be having. Paul begins with this mysterious declaration that he heard about fourteen years ago that stayed with him about a man who experienced heaven and saw and heard things that he could not share. Paul cannot explain it, but he does say that what he can explain is that in his life, he experienced revelations, such as experiencing the resurrected Christ in his call to ministry, and he also shares what is a common expression, "a thorn in the flesh," which means that Paul also experienced a pain or suffering that one endures. What was Paul's actual physical affliction is not known, though many have had their theories about it. All Paul knew is that even though he prayed three times to ask that it be removed from him, Jesus answered his requests with a truth, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." Paul has a ready list of things he has endured, and that list may be similar to ones you and I have gone through: "weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
This passage reaffirms a theme for Christian living; in all things Christ is with us. In the good or bad, Christ's strength is that which sees us through. What we may see as our weakness, through it, in trusting Christ, we are strong. In our times of being insulted for the sake of Christ; we received peace and calm, and we no longer react as the world would expect. Through hardships or persecutions or even calamities, all for the sake of our work and ministry in Christ Jesus, whenever we feel weakest, that is precisely when Christ makes us stronger.
What have you been experiencing in your life? Do you feel like you're almost at the point of giving up? Don't! Turn it over to Jesus and remember the words of the song, "Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so; little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves, the Bible tells me so."
PRAYER: Amazing God, I celebrate and thank You for the love You have shared with me. I especially thank You on this day for the strength that only You can provide even during times when we think we are beyond help. Bless us in whatever we may be facing, and be glorified by Your strength; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Monday, July 02, 2012
Called by Love, Serve with Love
Good day dear friends. May our prayers today include prayers for Betty Newmann, wife of Pastor Martin Newmann, who is undergoing surgery in Austin for cancer treatment. Our continued prayers for Carol Price, as she recovers from surgery in San Antonio.
Our text for today comes from Mark 6: 1 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." 5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." 12 So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (NRSV)
In life, not all our days will be what we could call "highs" or "mountain peak" experiences. There will be some "low's" or what some call "valley" experiences. Such was the case on this day that Jesus returned to His hometown. Jesus experienced what some of us at one time or another experienced during times we have tried to do good for the Lord or started in ministry. Those who have known us the longest may remark that they cannot believe we are capable of whatever it is we are doing or worse, ask, "Who does she/he think they are?" Jesus, the Son of God, was no exception; He experienced both. He did in that town what good He could and then left. Those following Him were sent out in pairs of two, to do the work expected of them. They were sent with Jesus' full authority and with that they did things that even amazed themselves. In preparation, Jesus stressed that the primary reason for their going was to serve God and nothing else. The equipment they needed was minimal; the task the major motivation. Jesus' words in effect said, "Seek out to serve God among those that will receive you. God will provide for you; seek nothing more than the bare necessities; if you find a place where I or my message and ministry are not welcome, then move on, letting them know they have missed out on something good for their lives." The disciples went out and served God in faithful ways, doing and blessing themselves.
So should it be with us and where we are, either in terms of location and service. We should seek to be faithful to God among those who welcome us and after trying with those who do not, move on. The motivation for us should be the same as with the first disciples; we go because we believe and love Jesus. If Jesus has called us, we will be faithful where we can with whomever receives us. Our driving force should be the love we have received from God for our work and for God's people. If we are driven by love, we will be successful in love. Wesley took it even further when he said he believed that we can achieve perfection in love in our lifetime.
PRAYER: Loving God, we seek to serve You out of the love we have for You. May we be faithful among all people, and if rejected or scorned because of You, we still love as we move on. May we seek to experience anew each day, Your love that made us say yes to You in the first place. Bless our work that You might be exalted, but lead us to find what that work You have led us to. We pray in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Today's post on Wesley's Prayer can be found at this link: http://50daysprayer.blogspot.com/2012/07/wesleys-prayer-4.html
Our text for today comes from Mark 6: 1 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." 5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." 12 So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (NRSV)
In life, not all our days will be what we could call "highs" or "mountain peak" experiences. There will be some "low's" or what some call "valley" experiences. Such was the case on this day that Jesus returned to His hometown. Jesus experienced what some of us at one time or another experienced during times we have tried to do good for the Lord or started in ministry. Those who have known us the longest may remark that they cannot believe we are capable of whatever it is we are doing or worse, ask, "Who does she/he think they are?" Jesus, the Son of God, was no exception; He experienced both. He did in that town what good He could and then left. Those following Him were sent out in pairs of two, to do the work expected of them. They were sent with Jesus' full authority and with that they did things that even amazed themselves. In preparation, Jesus stressed that the primary reason for their going was to serve God and nothing else. The equipment they needed was minimal; the task the major motivation. Jesus' words in effect said, "Seek out to serve God among those that will receive you. God will provide for you; seek nothing more than the bare necessities; if you find a place where I or my message and ministry are not welcome, then move on, letting them know they have missed out on something good for their lives." The disciples went out and served God in faithful ways, doing and blessing themselves.
So should it be with us and where we are, either in terms of location and service. We should seek to be faithful to God among those who welcome us and after trying with those who do not, move on. The motivation for us should be the same as with the first disciples; we go because we believe and love Jesus. If Jesus has called us, we will be faithful where we can with whomever receives us. Our driving force should be the love we have received from God for our work and for God's people. If we are driven by love, we will be successful in love. Wesley took it even further when he said he believed that we can achieve perfection in love in our lifetime.
PRAYER: Loving God, we seek to serve You out of the love we have for You. May we be faithful among all people, and if rejected or scorned because of You, we still love as we move on. May we seek to experience anew each day, Your love that made us say yes to You in the first place. Bless our work that You might be exalted, but lead us to find what that work You have led us to. We pray in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Today's post on Wesley's Prayer can be found at this link: http://50daysprayer.blogspot.com/2012/07/wesleys-prayer-4.html
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