PRAYER INVOLVES ALL PEOPLE

1 Timothy 2: 8 Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray - not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. 9 And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions 10 but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it.

I sinned last night. I have to say that I was not alone. Nellie was involved. We ordered a dessert. A triple chocolate mess. On a very hot tin plate, a chocolate cookie was placed. On top of that hot cookie, a scoop of chocolate ice cream. And on top of that ice cream, some chocolate sauce. The foundation of this dessert was a cookie that was solidly attached to the tin plate. Okay, I'm trying hard to justify my having had something I shouldn't to make the point about a good foundation. Prayer is a solid foundation and it is not sinful nor is it fattening. It is what dreams, visions, and ministries are built on. And Paul knew that Timothy's ministry as it started had to start with prayer. Timothy is encouraged to recruit men to pray with a humble, praise-ful attitude towards God and not one that was similar to others who prayed with anger. Paul is encouraging prayer filled with love. And Paul is encouraging all people to be a part of this prayer. Women, sadly, this is a text directly from that era, and the illustration is not flattering, but it was a perception of Paul, definitely a man of his era - we will just stress the importance of women praying alongside men for future ministerial endeavors. All people should pray.

What are your plans? What are the plans of your church? What goals and visions do you have for the future that you believe God has shared with you? Have you entrusted all these to prayer? If not, please do. Paul's success in spreading the Gospel as far as he did was the result of a life lived in prayer. Every step was a step of faith based in prayer, as our daily walk with God should be.

PRAYER: Loving God, may I seek to encourage others to join me in prayer. May our prayers be for the successes of reaching more and more for Your Kingdom. I entrust my walk with You to prayer. And I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Focus on Task

1 Timothy 2:7 This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth. (The Message)

My daughter, after a discussion about their budget, jokingly told our five-year old granddaughter, "You should get a job." My granddaughter replied, "I already have a job at school stacking up chairs." "Yes, continued the mom, but a job that pays you." "I love my job so much that I would pay them 20 bucks to let me stack up chairs." How often have you said that about your work? The Apostle Paul, as he continues to prepare Timothy for this great work of sharing the Good News, seems to be saying that same thing, "I love what I'm doing so much that I would pay for the privilege of sharing the Good News." Have you ever said that about your faith? Paul, Timothy, me, and you, have the same task, getting the news of God's love to those who have not yet heard. The most powerful evangelistic tool continues to be mouth to mouth sharing of the goodness of God. When we don't participate in that, we see the results.

This week I have heard great news from some of my pastors and their work, they are bringing people to Jesus Christ. One is a retired pastor in a small church in a small community, and last Sunday, being faithful to her task, she brought a young man to a new relationship with God. "Saved," she called it. "Great news," I called it. Another pastor received six new members to his church, with four being baptized as Professions of Faith, that is, new converts to our faith. We have God's permission to do just that. What is holding us back?

PRAYER: Loving God, give me wisdom to see opportunities of sharing when they come. Give me boldness of heart to open my mouth to share at those opportunities. Give me wisdom so that my words be inspired by You and the results be those of doing my job of sharing Your love. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Relationship with God!

1 Timothy 2: 4 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: 5 that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us - Jesus, 6 who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. (The Message)

God wants everyone saved. You know, to get to know the truth we've learned: that there's one God and only one. I have shared with you this story before about an ill-fated canoe trip I took with my best friend. He was married at the time and I was single. We both worked for Ma Bell and we both had the notion we could canoe and camp out on the Guadalupe River, a gorgeous river that runs south of Houston, where we both lived at the time. We had rented a canoe, and we had all the other necessary camping equipment, tent, ice chest, you name it. Trouble was, in those days it still rained in Texas and on Monday of the weekend in which Lewis and Clark were to make their trek on the Guadalupe, it started to rain and rain hard. It rained until Thursday. My friend, Jerry, asked if I still wanted to take the trip. Not wanting to appear anything less than fearless, I replied that yes, I wanted to make the journey. We drove from Houston to the drop-off point and saw that the usually tranquil green river was now a rushing gray muck current. Jerry asked again. I had been looking forward to this for so long that again, stupidly, I said yes. We set off. Things went fine for several hours until we turned over and fell into the dirty water of the swollen river. The lifejacket I wore served only to choke me and I panicked. I saw the proverbial "life rush before my eyes" including seeing my dear mother crying over my coffin. I knew I was dead. Suddenly two strong arms lifted me up and pulled me to shore. Jerry saved my life. I know what it's like to be saved. Twice. Once before this physical one, Jesus saved me from a life of sin and doubt. I knew that I could trust Jesus with my life both here on the earth and beyond. The physical one served to illustrate just how powerful it is to come close to death and be pulled by strong arms out of certan death into life. Jesus told us that He came to give us life and life in abundance. He pulls us out of ordinary existence to fullness of life. He has pulled many out of the pits of hell's vices and temptations to have them see the newness of a life worth living. Jesus said in that same verse of life in abundance, that the thief comes with another purpose, and it's not salvation.

Paul wants Timothy to remember his relationship experience with Jesus. It was a truthful experience and one that God desires with all people. Paul knew it was up to him and Timothy to get that word out, for Paul says, "Jesus...offered Himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free." And this, dear friends, is news, good news, that needs to be told to and by everyone.

What raging river has you in its grip dragging you to certain spiritual and eternal death? Why continue that silly struggle? Why not let Jesus pull you out of uncertainty and doubt, sin and destruction, to the place of life and that in abundance. It's a great way to live, in relationship; knowing that you're loved and that you matter to God and to many.

PRAYER; Loving God, may Your strong hands be with those who desire to be pulled out of sin and into the fullness of life. May we have the boldness to give thanks and glory to You for having saved us from an existence of shame and pain, into a fullness of life. That is good news and news that I need to help get out. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYERS FOR OUR RULERS

1 Timothy 2: 2 Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. 3 This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. (The Message)

Pray especially for those who rule over us, and their governments? Prayer is a tme of honest conversation with God. God knows our heart and knows how we feel. Prayer is also a time for confession and "coming clean" of that which we feel or think. God knows all things even before we pray. It is good to share with God all those things during prayer. It blesses God to know we are trying and that we need God's help in our daily walk. We sometimes do not like those who rule over us. We sometimes do not like their governments. Sometimes we view other nations and their governments as our enemies and wish them harm and evil. Yet, Paul knew that praying for rulers was important to the work of spreading the Gospel. He knew that the Gospel had both friends and foes in high places. They could start or stop the spread of the Good News. They could bless it or try to curse it with a ruling. Paul is asking that we pray for these "rulers snd their governments to rule well." Nowhere does Paul say, "Pray that God strike them dead!" We don't find Jesus saying, "Pray that God destroy those governments that oppose our work." Jesus' message was about love and how God loves us all. In fact, the third verse says that "This is the way our Savior God wants us to live." Paul knew and had experienced the injustices and prejudices against those who might come with different teachings especially from those in authority. Paul knew that Jesus would have us pray even for our enemies, so why would praying for rulers be a bad thing? How then should we pray for rulers? We pray for God's will to be done. We pray for God's blessing be upon those who rule, that wisdom and direction be given them. Yes, even for those rulers with whom we don't share ideologies. The prayers that Paul wanted lifted up be those that allow believers to go "quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation." The work of sharing God's message never stops. If a government opposes it, it goes underground but it does not stop. If public worship and public witness is prohibitied, attendance at those worship services increases. What's our excuse?

We must love God enough to lift up a prayer for those with whom we do not agree. We have to ask God's blessing be upon all rulers and all governments. May they understand their need to be about justice and compassion to all.

PRAYER: Loving God, bless all who rule and all who are in government. May they rule in ways that are pleasing to You and assist in helping with the needs of injustice and oppression. May our hearts love You enough to pray for all rulers, even those we don't like. May prayer truly be a time of love. May we receive the love we lack as we talk with You, Source of Love. We pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

The first thing: Pray!

1 Timothy 2: 1 "1. The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know" (The Message)

This picture is from last summer, but it was the second time I was asked if I wanted to "pray on the kneeler that the Rev. John Wesley used before any trip, any sermon, any letter he wrote, etc." This after the guide in 2005 asking if Nellie and I wanted to see the Power Center of Methodism. I knew immediately what he was referring to, for John Wesley was a man of deep prayer. As was Paul, as were the Twelve after Jesus showed them how, and as was Jesus Himself. If Jesus had any Holy Habits, it was His willingness to be in conversation with God. It is no surprise to read that Paul's first instructions to young Timothy on this new assignment he has given him, is to pray. Prayer is the foundation of any undertaking. Prayer is the first step of any journey. Prayer is the opening of any door, or for that matter, the closing of any door, that says, "I trust You, Lord!" Note that Paul says for Tim to pray "every way you know how..." That means there is no correct posture or script to follow. Just do it! Pray! Talk to God. God listens. Then listen for God. Paul adds, "for everyone you know." Paul knew the importance of having a prayer blessing or covering over those you love and admire. Prayer can be felt as one faces a test or challenge. Prayer is offered in faith to God and God blesses both the one who is being prayed for, as well as the one doing the praying.

The reasons for not praying amaze me, and they must amuse God. The first is "I don't know how to pray." Just put two thoughts together and you've prayed. Just open your mouth and said what's on your mind and share what's in your heart. The second is "I don't have time to pray." We sure do find time to do other things. A spur of the moment invitation to lunch with a dear friend or unexpected guest. Or a pickup game of golf or basketball. But to set aside time to pray seems the most difficult challenge in the world And to not do it is to deny those for whom we need to pray and to ourselves, a rich and wonderful blessing.

As Paul told Timothy, God is telling you and me: "The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know." So be it.

PRAYER: Loving, listening God, may my first priority every day be to pray. May my first step out of bed be to my knees or in humble heart, to share with You that which I need. May it be so everyday in which I truly become a person of prayer. I ask this in the name of He who taught us to pray, "Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever, amen."

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus Christ Came to Save All People

1 Timothy 1:12-16 (The Message): 12 I'm so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. 13The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn't know what I was doing - didn't know Who I was doing it against!14 Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus. 15Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof - Public Sinner Number One - 16 of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off - evidence of his endless patience - to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.

God has the power to use even me. And, God has the power to use even you. This is how this passage begins. Paul, writing from gratitude and with complete honesty, shares how first, he's grateful to Christ Jesus for transforming him to be "adequate to do this work," calling this an act of going "out on a limb," "in trusting me with this ministry. Paul states that his only credential to do this kind of work were not really credentials at all, if anything they were the things that most employers would run from instead of to, in selecting someone like Paul to do the kind of work that he did. Would you hire someone who admitted to being "invective (abusive, insulting) and witch hunts and arrogant"? No. But God saw beyond that and saw the potential that was in Paul as God has seen in me and in you. Paul and I, and many of you, were treated mercifully because while we did not know what we were doing, even Who we were doing it against, selected to carry on the great work of sharing Jesus. I love the phrase in this version, "Grace mixed with faith and love poured ove me and into me. And all because of Jesus."

That's my life's story. And it may, or could be, yours too. When we might have deserved harsh treatment, God came and bathed us with grace and faith and love and not only poured over us to cleanse us, but into us, to fill us with the transforming power of God's Holy Spirit to equip us for the great work of sharing Jesus. And the message has not changed since Paul's day nor has the need: "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." Paul says, as do I, and many of you, "I'm proof -- Public Sinner Number One -- of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy."

What do we do to give honor and credit to God for having changed us? What do we do to show our gratitude for removing our sins? I'll never forget the story told to a group of youth on the beach not two months ago, about a similar setting where a youth of about 15 wept and wept after a service and she was asked by the preacher at this event, why she wept, and this girl replied that she could not believe that God would forgive her sins. Yes, God did forgive her, as God forgave John Wesley, who wrote that he believed that God forgave "even my sins." And as we might write, that God forgive our sins. And while our verdict should have read Guilty, Jesus declares, Innocent.

PRAYER: LOVING GOD, such an awesome story is ours. May I have the boldness and courage to share it with all who might receive, that Jesus Christ did indeed come to save sinners and forgave even me. Thank You! I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

What Really Matters?

1 Timothy 1:6 Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into cul-de-sacs of gossip. 7 They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven't the remotest idea of what they're holding forth with such imposing eloquence. 8 It's true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. 9 It's obvious, isn't it, that the law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, 10 sex, truth, whatever! 11 They are contemptuous of this great Message I've been put in charge of by this great God. (The Message)

The opposite of a life open to God is a life open to anything. While that in and of itself is not bad, a life not open to God is not anchored in truth. Paul continues to teach Timothy of the great task that he shares with Paul and to honestly prepare Tim for the challenges ahead. I just heard on a sports show about the growing violence in stadiums across the country and one of the reasons given in the report was that people need to belong and since many are no longer going to church, they tend to find belonging and meaning in sports teams and will go to any lengths to show their loyalty and support to that team. Paul writes "that moral guidance and counsel need to be given," and delivery, that is, the way we share that, has an importance that matches even the message. The Law, Paul argues, is there for those who are living irresponsibly, who think nothing of defying authority or even "riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever!" They have turned their back to the Good News and even try to go against it with contempt.

What would you do if you were Timothy? Many might say, "I'd run!" And by running, I mean, running away. But, there are still those being called by Almighty God to run towards those who are living irresponsibly, to show them with love and compassion, the better way of life. Ours is still a faith based on the promise made by Jesus, that He came to bring us life, and that in abundance. (John 10:10). Nothing the world offers, in any shape or form, can match or equal that abundant life that comes to us through Jesus Christ. We know that, and why do we keep it hidden or as a secret? Jesus said that even the rocks would cry out if we don't. We could be hollering that from the rooftops, but instead, we try to match our lives to those lives who do not know abundant life. We know the better way and we should live and share the better way.

PRAYER: Loving God, it is frightening to know that so many do not want anything to do with the Good News of Jesus Christ or so they claim. It is up to us to bring a new understanding to those people through our lives, for many are not receiving moral guidance and counsel to live a better life. Grant me strength and wisdom to live such a life. I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Pulled Back to the Center

1 Timothy 1: 1 I, Paul, am an apostle on special assignment for Christ, our living hope. Under God our Savior's command, 2 I'm writing this to you, Timothy, my son in the faith. All the best from our God and Christ be yours! 3 On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven't changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track. 4 Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience. 5 The whole point of what we're urging is simply love - love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. (The Message)

What's at the center of your life? It is easy to let several things or people take the center of our lives, but where does the love for God fall? This first letter of Timothy is written by Paul to the young Timothy, a believer, whom Paul considered "My son in the faith." Paul loved him and had confidence in him and had been given an assignment by Paul to stay with the believers in Ephesus. This is the church that received the letter which is the book Ephesians. Though they believed in Jesus, they had recently been introduced to what Paul calls in this version, "fantasy stories and fanciful family trees," whose purpose served no godly aim. Paul says they served only to "digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience." There is the theme for our study. The center of our life should be Jesus Christ and His love for us. We should be about sharing that love, a love that Paul further defines as "love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God." Notice that word "self-interest." That's the main cause behind many of the problems we face as individuals and as churches. We have a natural tendency to watch out for ourselves and to want to survive. But we also sometimes just want to put ourselves and our passions first. Self-centeredness means we put ourselves at the center and by doing so replace God. A person who is solely in love with him/herself cannot love like s/he should. A self-loving person is obedient only to oneself. On top of that, imagine being pulled away by "fanciful family tree" and "fantasy stories." Such was the challenge faced by Timothy in this assignment. Our assignment is to closely examine our heart and our life. Is God and God's love at the center of your life? Do you consider your life open to God, willing to serve God and God's people?

My prayer is that as we study this letter, that we would see it as a letter written either to us or about us. May it truly speak to our hearts and minds and let us examine where we find ourselves and where we know God would rather us be.

PRAYER: Loving God, may my love be for You and Yours. May we seek to be obedient and drawn closer to the center. Life on the fringe is not a happy life. May my life be open to you is my prayer, which I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Our Place in Serving and Welcoming

Mark 9: 30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. 33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." (NRSV)

Are we paying attention as we should? Or, are we missing the greater point because of our earthly worries? As a pastor I know when people are not paying attention. And being human, it does bother me a bit. Jesus had this same problem as He is trying to teach His disciples about that which awaited Him, but they were busy talking about other things. His declaration, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands (The Message says, "Those who do not care about God"), and they will kill Him, and three days after being killed, He will rise again" fell on empty ears. What was more important? Who was going to be the greatest in this little band of twelve. Their response to Jesus was exactly like little children who are caught in the act and remain silent when asked about what they were up to. Jesus knew and made another declaration; "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." This was a teaching moment and an important one. In God's Kingdom, it is all about God and God's people and not us. Most of the problems I see in a church are because we have lost focus of that and center on ourselves, our comfort, our authority, our power, and our way. Sounds like the Message version was right; those problems make it seem like we don't care about God because we're too busy caring about ourselves.

Jesus then moves to the children and lifting one in His arms, Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." (v. 37). In one of my previous churches I heard something that still pains me for it spoke directly in Jesus' face and teaching. This person said, "I don't care if I ever see another child in this church." Ouch. If Jesus was right, this person was saying, "I don't care if I ever see God in this church again." Someone was not paying attention.

How about you, dear friend? Have you been paying attention to your relationship with God and God's children? Do you realize it is not about your place in line whether you're first or last, about who serves you and how much you get served; it's about our willingness to be last and not only last but also to serve as needed. And our attitude should be like that of children, welcoming with joy and love those whom God may send our way,and in so doing, we are welcoming not only the children, we're welcoming in Jesus and Jesus' Father, our Heavenly Father as well.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to pay attention to You. Forgive me the times I have not heard or have chosen not to hear because I'm busying planning for my successes and my comforts and joys. I realize now that I must be last and not only last, but Your servant, humble and obedient and willing to serve You and Yours. Help me to welcome all, especially children, because I not only need children around me, but You and Your Son, Jesus; in Whose name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

GOD LISTENS TOO!

Psalm 116: 1 I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy. 2 He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him. 3 Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels. Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn; 4 then I called out to God for help: "Please, God!" I cried out. "Save my life!" 5 God is gracious - it is he who makes things right, our most compassionate God. 6 God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me. 7 I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. 8 Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling." 9 I'm striding in the presence of God, alive in the land of the living! (The Message)

Yesterday we talked about listening to God so that we can be better speakers and teachers for God. Today, we learn that God loves to listen to us. In other words, PRAY! One of the people I hope to meet beyond the pearly gates is David's mother. I know his father was key as well, but something tells me that this little lady was something else, along the lines of Susanna Wesley. There is a lot to be said about that special parent who spends time listening and talking with their child(ren). There is also much to be said about those moms and dads who take time to teach the important things of God, beginning with prayer. David's mother I believe was one of those. I can imagine the conversations in their home. David was not an only child nor was he the oldest, yet I believe she took time out to treat David like she did Eliab, her firstborn. And somewhere in those conversations and teachings, she planted the seed of faith that blossomed out in the fields and pastures of that adventurous boy. David loved God and knew that God loved him. And in the love of that relationship David came to know that talking with God was as important as listening to God. Yes, David knew to pray in difficult times, but he also took advantage of "down time" to share with God. Look at the words of this passage again. David states the reason for his love for God; God listens. God listens so closely David knew to lay out his entire plan of need before God. This instance in David's life, he was facing something life-threatening and God listened. David's plea was simple: "'Please, God!' I cried out, 'Save my life!'"

God can straighten things out if we share what things need the straightening. God identifies and helps those who admit their weakness and powerlessness before God. God is compassionate. Even at the end of our rope, God can step in and make all things right. David illustrates this by addressing his soul, his eye, and even his foot. HIs journey among the living can continue.

God loves you. God wants to hear from you. His line is open. Call now.

PRAYER: Thank You, Loving God, for loving me and wanting to listen to me. There are times when it seems no one has time to listen or are not paying attention - You are. Help me to have a stronger and better prayer life. I want to give witness to You and as I listen to You I know You are listening to me. I pray this prayer of faith in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Listening to God

Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9 It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

The tongue of a teacher works better with an ear for God. The theme for this week shows that those who listen for God can teach better than those who listen only to themselves. The Gospel lesson for this week was the dialogue between Jesus and His disciples about what people were saying. That required a listening ear. But when Jesus asked who they thought He was, only Peter was able to answer with the correct response. Peter's ears had been listening to God. As should ours. The writer in Isaiah is aware of the awesomeness of his task, "to sustain the weary with a word," and what better word than a Word from God? Isaiah knew who spoke from his lips and that was God because Isaiah had learned early enough to listen to God. This past Sunday two dear brothers in Christ were thanking me for ConCafe and how they were faithful readers and one of them said he had saved one because it spoke to him. I could only reply with "God amazes me every morning, for some mornings I think I have nothing to say, and God does." Isaiah's attitude was to be an obedient listener. Do you remember your Mom or Dad trying to teach you something and you were so eager to get on with it but could have been hurt had you not listened completely to what was being taught? This is the same thing only more important; God has something to share with us, but we have to listen closely and eagerly. I remember the times I did not want to hear what either parent had to say, I wanted to go outside and play! Time for instruction was not for me at that time. Wrong. That kind of attitude even today does not help me nor bless me, for I must listen intently to God.

Isaiah's results were not always pleasant nor will ours, but a spirit of faithfulness to God still blesses us. I pray that none of you reading will have to have your backs struck or your beards pulled from your cheeks, but insults and verbal "spits" may come our way. If we have been listening to God and we are sharing what God has shared with us through prayer and Bible readings, we will not "be put to shame" (v. 7). God is near, always. Those who listen to God and stand together with God in our midst will stand victorious over all things. Attacks will come and go. Truth is eternal.

PRAYER: Loving God, as a I pray this morning, let me share what is on my heart and mind. Let me pray for those who have asked me for prayer. Let me ask for healing, recovery safe travel, reconciliations, transformation, nourishment, and all else that is needed among those whom I know and love. But I also ask that You might teach me to learn that after I say Amen to this prayer, it will be Your turn to talk. Let me listen obediently and intently. Let me receive from you exactly what I will need today so that I might indeed be a good teacher for You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

What Evidence Do Our Tongues Leave?

James 2: 1 Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. 2 And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life. 3 A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. 4 A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. 5 A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything - or destroy it! 6 A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. 7 This is scary: You can tame a tiger, 8 but you can't tame a tongue - it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. 9 With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. 10 Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! 11 A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? 12 Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? (The Message)

It was difficult choosing the picture for this morning's Bible verse. I had one of my youngest grandson with a pacifier in his mouth and I had this one of our granddaughter with evidence of blue candy. The pacifier shows how a tongue can be truly controlled; a baby is hungry or restless and if the baby accepts it, it allows for them to calm down and await his or her feeding. Blue candy leaves evidence. Our words also leave evidence sad to say. Some evidence shows the presence of God's Spirit in our lives. Some evidence we wish would be sent to the bottom of the sea. James knew that and so instructs his readers that to be a Christian is a difficult thing and to try and be a Christian teacher is even harder. I don't think he was trying to get people to not be teachers, but to say if you're going to be a teacher what you say outside of your Sunday school room may be remembered way longer than what was said inside. The comparisons James makes to the tongue are true; a bit in a horse's mouth, the rudder of a huge ship, all control the direction of that which they guide, but a misspoken word can destroy relationships, marriages, churches, or people. James knows that we use our tongues to bless God and with the same tongue curse God's creatures made in God's image. Can, should, curses and blessings come out of the same mouth?

A mouth guided by prayer and reflection is a mouth that springs forth life and carefully crafted thoughts of praise and comfort. A mouth guided by a heart that listens to God will bring life.

PRAYER: Lord, I seek a heart that is blessed and nourished by You so that I may bless and nourish others with my words. Help me to build instead of destroy, to fan flames of holiness rather than quench and kill. I ask these things in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me

What we say about Jesus is very different from the way we live with Jesus. It was a crucial point in the life of the disciples when Jesus had this conversation with them. They were hearing rumors and falsehoods about Jesus, and Jesus knew because certainly He had heard some of them, so He asks the disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" (v. 27). The answers were as varied as the people telling them; "Some say you are John the Baptist come back to life," "Others say you are Elijah, after all, Scripture says he was to come back," and "Others that you have to be one of the prophets." You could almost hear Jesus say, "Hmm, what about you? Who do you say that I am?" We don't know if there was a delay in the time the question left Jesus' lips until the time Peter opened his to answer, but it was Peter who said, "You are the Messiah." In other words, the people's answers were almost right, but not quite. They knew that a special messenger would come before the coming of the Anointed One of God showed up. This was John the Baptist. Others knew that their scriptures told of the return of Elijah, after all, he had not died, but had been taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. And the prophets lived interesting lives and were anointed of God, and if God's in all this, what's to keep God from sending one of them back? Yet, no one was yet saying that Jesus was the Messiah, for the Messiah was a big deal. The coming of the Chosen One of God would be a super special deal. This one, would be the One. Period. In Him, all the scriptures would be fulfilled and a new relationship between God and God's people would be established. No one dared say that Jesus was that One, for they were not sure. It took Everyman Peter to answer with the correct answer. Play all the game show time music, like the Jeopardy time to think music or the more dramatic Who Wants to Be a Millionaire music and here is Regis shocked, for Peter has answered correctly, "Jesus is the Messiah." You would think Jesus would celebrate that and say, "High five, Bro, you're right on!" No, read that passage again, "He sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about Him." (v. 30) Then the hard lesson follows; this Messiah will suffer greatly, suffer rejection by all the religious folks of our day, and he will be killed, and after three days rise again. Peter, the one with the right answer, doesn't buy it. Peter takes Jesus aside and began to rebuke Jesus! It was a loving rebuke along the line I would think of, "Lord, how could we possibly let anything like this happen to You? We'd rather die than let You suffer and be killed!" Jesus then calls Peter "Satan" for Peter was putting his mind on earthly things not divine ones.

Mark 8: 27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28 And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." 34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (NRSV)

The cross is a heavenly thing. This weekend we were in one of my old churches, where I served eleven years. One of the most striking features of that church is the huge cross that runs almost from the floor to the very top of the vaulted ceiling. I smiled as I remembered the comment my mentor and dear friend, whom I followed there, said about his grandson when talking about different churches. His grandson associated the cross with Jesus and when he asked his grandpa, "My Jesus is bigger than your Jesus!" The little boy had seen both crosses and knew that the one in his church was way bigger. What Jesus is saying here is not about that decorative item that we sometimes wear around our neck or place on our walls; Jesus was talking about the reality of the cost of discipleship, of truly being His disciple in a world that draws further from Him it seems almost each day. "Put yourself last, take up this cross of suffering, anguish and pain, and then, follow me." What good does it do to try and save your own life and then realize you've lost the most important part of your life. Override the human mode of survival, and think divinely of serving God and others, and you will be saved. If you do less, you run the risk of Jesus being ashame of you and how you lived your life.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to see as You see. Help me to see that I do need to put You and Yours first and become a true servant who seeks to serve even at the risk of pain, anguish and suffering. I do want my life to count and to count for You. I ask this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Mountain Strength

Psalm 125:1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore. 3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, so that the righteous might not stretch out their hands to do wrong. 4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts. 5 But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers. Peace be upon Israel!

Mountains have always fascinated me. The first "mountain" in my life was Mt. Wesley. While that may make some of you laugh, as this is a hill in the Texas Hill Country, for a boy from Kingsville, it was and still is, a real treat. When I first saw it, it was far from the town of Kerrville. Getting to it was an adventure as was spending a week on it. At Vesper Point one could see a distant town and a few scattered homes, and of course, the drive-in theatre, which provided a secondary treat in trying to decipher dialogue or identification of the movie. Years later I would see the true mountains of Monterrey, Mexico, and later still, the Rockies in Colorado. There is, pardon the word, a certain majesty with mountains. And as the Psalmist came to know Mt. Zion, he also knew there was a certain strength and certainty to it as there is with all mountains. Jesus would tease this when He said if we had the faith the size of a mustard seed we could tell the mountain to move. Today's passage says that when we trust the Lord our faith will not waver, we will stand strong for God stands with us. Verse two drives the point even further, as mountains surround Jerusalem so does God surround us. Then the prayer that closes out the passage, asking God to do good by the righteous, and to share justice with the unjust. He ends with asking for peace to be upon the people of God.

May our day be a mountain day in which our trust stays strong in the Lord come what may. If we stand with God, God will stand with us and there is no better winning combination for facing the joys and the challenges of the day.

PRAYER: Loving God, come and stand with me. I proclaim that my faith is mountain strong in You. Surround me and mine with that strength and peace. I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God Still Brings Wholeness!

Isaiah 35:4 Tell fearful souls, "Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs. He's on his way! He'll save you!" 5 Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, 6 Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. 7 Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly. (The Message)




The above photograph shows one of our pastors (in a cap) baptizing a brand-new believer in Christ Jesus, being baptized in the Bay. In a cooperative ministry with another church in her town, Pastor Camille Bryant, started a new Sunday night ministry that is drawing the sort of crowd that does not come to a Sunday morning service. And if it did, it would not sit still for the type of worship found in most of our churches. The message is about Jesus and what Jesus offers and so far since its start, seven young people have made the life-saving decision to trust Jesus and enter into a relationship with God. Could it be that their once fearful souls now have courage? (See verse 4). Could it also be that now God has put right the things in their lives that were once not right? Have the wrongs either done to them or that they did, now been redressed? Could it truly be that God has saved these people? You better believe it!

The Gospel still continues to be the message that opens blind eyes. New vision and perspectives are given to those who ask. The eyes of love and compassion are given to the ones who before, because of hatred and fear saw only anger and prejudice. The Gospel still opens deaf ears and now the words of God flow smoothly into the ears and lives of those once closed to God and as a result, these people can now hear the "cry of the needy," as is prayed everytime we celebrate Holy Communion. Those once paralyzed by doubt now leap forward to go and do the things of God as a result of the saving power of Jesus' powerful message. Once timid and shy persons are now passionate and bold about their faith. Souls once parched and dry by a drought of spiritual presence are now "springs of water," and "streams" flowing freely in what was once a desert.

God still provides this to us all. All we have to do is ask and we will receive. And once we have received, we will move forward to sharing it with those who have yet to receive.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the faith and boldness of pastors like our sister Camille, who are open to Your leading and can do new things in old settings or who look for new settings in which to proclaim Your love and wholeness. I pray You bless this dear reader with whatever she or he lacks so that they too, and me, can be all about bringing new life to those almost dead. I pray this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Do We Really Want Those Whom Nobody Else Sees Nor Wants?

James 2:1 My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. 2 If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, 3 and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row," 4 haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted? 5 Listen, dear friends. Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world's down-and-out as the kingdom's first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. 6 And here you are abusing these same citizens! Isn't it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind? 7 Aren't they the ones who scorn the new name - "Christian" - used in your baptisms? 8 You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." 9 But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. 10 You can't pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God's law and ignoring others. 11 The same God who said, "Don't commit adultery," also said, "Don't murder." If you don't commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you're a murderer, period. 12 Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. 13 For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. 14 Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? 15 For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved 16 and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup - where does that get you? 17 Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? (The message)

What a concept to pray to ask God for those for whom we can offer grace and compassion or even to ask for new church members, but the ones nobody else wants or sees! We should be people who ask God for everything, especially for how we can best serve God's people. We tend to limit our prayers to asking God to bless "the fellowship" or membership. Our prayer lists may reflect the exclusive nature of our "club;" those outside of membership need not bother. I know this is not true, but it is not the message we sometimes share? "If you pray for me, I'll pray for you!" I had one person unsubscribe from this devotional list because "I don't know these people for whom you're asking prayer so I'm not going to pray for them." Hmmm. If our prayer life, which we do in private conversation with God reflects such an attitude then how are we living out our "Christian" life? James tackles that from experience. We have room, he says, for the ones with money, in fact, the best room, the best seats; but we don't seem to have room for the poor or the down and out. I keep referring back to an old movie I used to show my students in campus ministry, "Kevin Can Wait" which was loosely based on the popular movie "Heaven Can Wait," except this one was about a young man, Kevin, who is visited by an angel who is told that God had a special plan for his life. Kevin begins to imagine all the glamorous things he is being groomed for; a large arena-sized church, or as a Banana Republic (yes, they used to sell safari clothes!) clad missionary, or hosting a Tonight Show type Christian talk show. And spoiler alert, God wanted Kevin to make the young mechanic with the dirty fingernails who was visiting his Sunday school (remember those?) to be made feel welcome. Kevin was a university-aged young man and one of the young ladies in his class was dating the university football star quarterback and his first Sunday there everyone clamored to greet and meet him, while the young mechanic lingered in the back. He was the one not seen and not wanted. God wanted Kevin to make him feel welcome.

God already has too many "judges who can't be trusted." What God needs are "attorneys/cousenlors" who represent the cause of the unseen and unwanted, who truly "Love others as you love yourself." (v. 8). We are asked to "Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free." We are free; free to love and care for those whom no one else seems to want nor see. Put your freedom into action by caring for "the least, the lost, and the last."

PRAYER: Loving God, do send to me and whoever else makes this their prayer, the ones no one else can see nor wants. Let me live my life as one who represents and cares for them. I know there is a place also for the rich and mighty in your kingdom, but let us all know we are in service to the One who calls and welcomes all. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Though for the Day

If you seek to welcome Jesus, you welcome Him and all his "interesting friends".

From Crumbs to Wholeness

Mark 7: 24 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter." 30 So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. 31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

"No somos dignos de aun recoger las migajas baja de tu mesa." From years of celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion, that is the line that stands out loud and clear from the Great Thanksgiving; "we are not worthy even to gather up the crumbs from under your table," a part of the confession the celebrant prays and acknowledges our state before God. In the passage from today, Jesus had sought a quiet place to rest and reflect, but as was the custom, people found Him and wanted something from Him. In this case, a foreign woman, a Greek, "of Syrophoenician origin" wanted healing for her daughter. The daugher was demon possessed and she knew Jesus had the power to cast this demon out. Jesus' reply was an interesting one for He said that "the children" must be fed first, "for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." Her reply was a wise one for he said, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." It was a statement of faith that touched Jesus and at that moment the demon had fled and Jesus tells her so.

Jesus goes to yet another place and they bring to him a deaf man who also suffered from a speech ailment. The plea from loved ones and friends was that Jesus just touch him and heal him. This healing Jesus does away from the crowd but in the presence of His disciples and the man is healed. The crowd reacts with disbelief, though they knew of Jesus' power and abilities; their declaration, "He has done everything well; He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

We all come with needs before God on a daily basis. Our needs may be smaller or even greater than the ones mentioned in Scripture, yet our faith should tell us that while we may think we are unworthy, God thinks otherwise. We are worthy and we are going to be blessed. Our nagging spirits of fear or doubt may be keeping us from peace, especially at night, but God through Jesus has the power to cast those spirits out of us. We may think we cannot function fully before God that we may not understand all things so we keep our mouths shut from sharing as we should, but God can help us not only to hear but to understand completely and fully and thus we have loosened and healed lips to share our story. In other words, the limitations we may think we have or that we have placed on ourselves are nothing for God to remove; we must ask and receive and then utilize these to help bring others to the salvation knowledge of God.

PRAYER: Loving God, come and cast out from me those spirits of doubt, fear, mistrust, or whatever is keeping us from feeling or being whole. We celebrate that while we may think we are not worthy of eating crumbs from underneath your table, You invite us to the banquet of celebration and wholeness. May we share that celebration with others with new tongues and lips that proclaim Your love and goodness; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.