May Everything Good from God Be Yours!

1 Peter 1:1 I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten. 2 God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!

The above symbol is a symbol for the Apostle Peter. The rooster a symbol of one of Peter's not finest hours, when he betrayed Jesus; we won't let him forget that will we? Yet, we have in some letters in the New Testament some solid teachings that I thought would be a logical followup to Timothy's letters. The authorship of the letters attributed to Peter is contested. Some scholars believe it was Peter. Some do not. We'll leave the arguing to them; we'll enjoy the Word.

The author says he is Peter and is writing to those who have been scattered throughout the world because of persecution. The writer believes that Jesus is the Expected One, the One selected by God to be the Messiah. And God, who called Jesus, is aware of those who were scattered, for God knows where they are, so Peter says "Not one is missing, not one forgotten." And he assures us that God has His eye on each of us. And not only that, God has sent the Holy Spirit to be among us to guide our work in faithful obedience to God. And the desire of Peter as he writes is that "everything good from God be yours (ours)."

If we seek to serve God, no matter where that may take us, God goes with us and helps us in our work. This was a theme of Jesus' teaching about those who leave homes, and fathers, and mothers, and lands for the sake of the Gospel. In our obedience, we are rewarded for our efforts. We can go no place where God is not aware of exactly where we are and more importantly, God is there with us.

PRAYER: Loving God, bless this Your servant as s/he seeks to serve You. Guide them to the place where You would have them be, so they can be faithful in service to You. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name. As we pray, we are mindful of those along the Eastern seaboard who are being hit by a hurricane. We know that millions are without electricity and we pray Your presence and power among them. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

What Percentage Are You In?

2 Timothy 4: 8 All that's left now is the shouting - God's applause! Depend on it, he's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming. 9 Get here as fast as you can. 10 Demas, chasing fads, went off to Thessalonica and left me here. Crescens is in Galatia province, Titus in Dalmatia. 11 Luke is the only one here with me. Bring Mark with you; he'll be my right-hand man 12 since I'm sending Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 Bring the winter coat I left in Troas with Carpus; also the books and parchment notebooks. 14 Watch out for Alexander the coppersmith. 15 Fiercely opposed to our Message, he caused no end of trouble. God will give him what he's got coming. 16 At my preliminary hearing no one stood by me. They all ran like scared rabbits. But it doesn't matter - 17 the Master stood by me and helped me spread the Message loud and clear to those who had never heard it. I was snatched from the jaws of the lion! 18 God's looking after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of heaven. All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes! 19 Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila; also, the family of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed behind in Corinth. I had to leave Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Try hard to get here before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all your friends here send greetings. 22 God be with you. Grace be with you. (The Message)

This marks the end of the study on Timothy's letters. Paul eager to hear God's applause for what he has been able to do, though he would be the first to admit it wasn't everything he wanted to do, but he knows God's an honest judge. What's sad are the verses that details who's gone where and who's doing what. It's an early peek into church life even today; a few do the majority of the work, and the majority can be counted on to do little to nothing in most cases. Paul lists them by name (Imagine your name in Scripture as a quitter? Yikes!). Demas, ran after some fads, leaving Paul without warning. Crescens is in Galatia and Titus in Dalmatia, leaving Luke as Paul's only assistant there, but Paul does tell Tim to bring Mark with him so that Mark can be Paul's right-hand man. Tychicus was being sent to Ephesus; and don't forget to bring my winter coat! And the books and the parchment notebooks. What a treasure those things would be if found today! Then a warning about a coppersmith who has opposed the Gospel. Paul is certain that God will "give him what he's got coming." Then Paul sadly shares that no one stood by him during his preliminary hearing. Everyone ran like scared rabbits. Yet, Paul knows Jesus stood by him and helped him in the spreading of the Good News, even rescuing him "from the jaws of the lion!, " which means he was spared death in the Colosseum. But Paul ends the letter on a very positive note: God's looking after me, keep me safe in the kingdom of Heaven." God deserves our praise, our praise forever. Then greetings to loved ones, and a final benediction of peace and grace.

I pray the words Paul wrote have helped your faith, for Paul wrote with his certainty of faith to a young believer, who faced and would face many trials. God shared the means for Timothy to be blessed and in turn, you and me. I pray you would be in the percentage of those who, regardless of what others may do, do your fair share and more, just so that others may live.

Stay faithful and run the race. Stay the course and help others, knowing that God is always with us.

PRAYER: Loving God of mercy and truth, bless and protect this dear reader in all that is before Him. The prize is ours already, but we run eagerly forward to help those who feel like giving up. Help us to stay strong in You, we pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Here She Is! Our Newest Pride and Joy!

Nellie and I praise God for the recent addition to our family of Eliana Garcia, daughter of Jorge and Nellie Garcia of Mission, TX. Eliana has as her big brother, Caleb Eradio Garcia, the "runner" in yesterday's devotional illustration.

Please receive our thanks for this wonderful gift from God.

May God bless you and yours is our prayer!

Eradio & Nellie Valverde

The Only Race Worth Running!

2 Timothy 4:1 I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, 2 so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple. 3 You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food - catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. 4 They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. 5 But you - keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant. 6 You take over. I'm about to die, my life an offering on God's altar. 7 This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. (The Message)

The young man in the picture above is Caleb Eradio Garcia. Today, Lord willing, he becomes an older brother. What he already is, is a runner! Last evening I offered to take him to a park with a playground in hopes of spending time with him and getting some time to exercise. The park we selected has a running track used by a lot of folks. Caleb saw the track and said, "Let's run!" So, he starts running. Head down, very serious, he ran. I would outrun him, then walk to allow him to catch up and he would shout, "Run!" So, off I would run, until the next lapse and again, "Run!" People in front of us would move over as they heard this little guy's voice and one man even laughed when he saw how little Caleb was as he yelled to his grandpa, "Run!" On our first lap, he fell and skinned his knee. We sat for a while, and a couple of girls walked by and Caleb asked, "Why are they walking?" In other words, why aren't they running. Once Mommy stopped the bleeding, guess what? "Let's run!"

Paul is like Caleb sharing with young Tim, the need to keep running in the faith. Paul is certain that time was running out, especially for him personally, but he presses Tim to keep going with the faith and the job ahead of him. Paul knows that Christ will have the last say on all people, both living and dead. But he also knew that Jesus was going to come in a revealing way to all people; but in the meantime, continue to share the Good News. He exhorts, "Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple." Paul warned Tim that folks might stray attracted to "junk food" messages, but for him to stay on course with the Truth. The key, according to Paul, "This is the only race worth running."

Are you running?

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to focus on You as I run the race of faith. Thank You for those in my life who lovingly challenge me to keep running. Let me be one of those for others. I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde PS I thank God for this special day in which I turn another year older! Thank you for the birthday wishes shown me through FB, Twitter, and texts. Please keep Nellie Garcia in your prayers as she's set to deliver via C-Section our newest grandbaby, Eliana Garcia this afternoon at about 2:30 p.m. Thank you all!

Living All Out for Christ Jesus!

2 Timothy 3: 10 You've been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, 11 troubles, sufferings - suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. And you also well know that God rescued me! 12 Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there's no getting around it. 13 Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They're as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse. 14 But don't let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers - 15 why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother's milk! There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another - showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. 17 Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (The Message)

It's been some time since I heard or read the phrase, "all out" in the sense of giving it your all or having exerted oneself to fully participate and hopefully win. As a child I only had two speeds, All Out or Come Inside. In all my play it was all out. If we played war, we fought all out as if we were really in danger of being killed or really killing the enemy. If we were spys, we went all out in finding out secrets and plotting missions. If we rode our bikes, again, it was all out. If we ran races or played football in the street, all out. It wasn't until Mom called and said, "Come Inside," that I tuned it down. Come inside meant a time to eat and rest. Paul is encouraging Timothy again about his serious call to pastor this church. Paul knows that God has given Timothy the gifts and graces to serve God faithfully and fully, but Paul reminds Tim that it's not all fun and games. There would be risks and there would be times of opposition, but Tim was witness to the face that in all of these, God was present and God had the last word. For all believers, verse 12 is key: "Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there's no getting around it." Through this, Paul says, stay with what brought you this far. What you believe you learned from great teachers, from your Mom and from your grandma, and from all who have taken time to teach you about Christ Jesus. Then a plug for Scriptures: "There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. And the verse many of us have learned and been blessed by, "Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another - showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped for the tasks God has for us."

The more time we spend with God in God's Word, the better prepared we are for living a life that gives God witness and glory. We learn Truth and even truth about ouselves and that helps us correct ourselves to that we may live in the way that God wants. Time with the Bible prepares us for the jobs we've yet to do for and with God.

PRAYER: Loving God may this time we spend with You and Your Word truly prepare me for the tasks ahead today and tomorrow. Remind me that I am never alone, You come with me and You are the One who rescues me just in the nick of time. May I truly be shaped for what I need to do; this I pray in Christ Jesus' for myself and those who labor with me. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Allergic to God?

2 Timothy 3: 1 Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. 2 As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, 3 dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, 4 treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. 5 They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people. 6 These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself "truth." 7 They get exploited every time and never really learn. 8 These men are like those old Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres, who challenged Moses. They were rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself. 9 But nothing will come of these latest impostors. Everyone will see through them, just as people saw through that Egyptian hoax. (The Message)

It's hard living with allergies. The process for discovering allergies was uncomfortable and one you did not wish on your worst enemy. When we moved to San Antonio we discovered that one of our daughters was allergic to something. It became so bad we were referred to an allergist, who, needle by needle, pricked our daughter's back. I did not count nor did I want to look at this uncomfortable thing. It did allow the doctor to discover what she was allergic to and to come up with a serum that she had to receive every Friday first thing. It fell to Dad to take her there and wait until it was her turn to receive the injection that helped her breath and carry on for the rest of the week. Imagine being allergic to God. It was Paul's way, at least in this version, of saying you can't stand to be around God or the things of God. In his warnings to young Timothy, he shares a list he believes sums up this behavior that is contrary to the things of God: "self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God." (vss. 2-4). This sounds like the new fall lineup on most networks. Or the latest movie showing at the closest cinema. Or, it may sound like those secrets we like to think we're keeping well-hidden. The list is long, but think of the opposite of each: selfless, generous giver, caring for others, sincere, humble, loves and honors parents, thoughtful, genuine, lends a helping hand, flexible and open to compromise, positive enforcer, respectful, optimistic, compassionate, passionate listener, respectful of others, and loves God and the things of God. No allergies there, just the things that reflect a deep and committed love to God and the things of God. Paul's list continues with examples of those who are allergic to God; they are the ones who cause trouble, take advantage of others, and convince themselves that they're doing good. People see through these people eventually, when they compare them to the teachings and reality of God.

The good news is that we don't have to stay in that camp that is allergic to God. If we possess even one of the negative characteristics, we have in Jesus Christ the freedom to be liberated from that thing. Jesus provides the antidote to allergies against God.

Re-read the list of the things that please God and make that your desire for your life: selfless, generous giver, caring for others, sincere, humble, loves and honors parents, thoughtful, genuine, lends a helping hand, flexible and open to compromise, positive enforcer, respectful, optimistic, compassionate, passionate listener, respectful of others, and loves God and the things of God.

PRAYER: Loving God whos knows all things about us and about me, remove me from the list that shows an allergy against You. I want to breathe fully the breath of life and life in abundance that comes through knowing, loving, and serving You. May it be so I pray, in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Almost or Fully Christian?

2 Timothy 2:19 Meanwhile, God's firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones: God knows who belongs to him. spurn evil, all you who name god as god. 20 In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets - some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. 21 Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing. 22 Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness - faith, love, peace - joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. 23 Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. 24 God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, 25 working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, 26 enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands. (The Message Version)

Imagine some older person coming up to you and asking, "May I have the pleasure of making you a 'real Christian'?" How would you react? Such was a conversation that John Wesley had with a friend in 1725. Wesley did not believe in "almost Christians." You were either all in or completely out. Hmm, Jesus talked about that, too, didn't He? Jesus said lukewarm Christians would not like their fate. Paul stresses what the foundation thought of Christian is, God knows who belongs to Him. Closely behind, "Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness." Then, to drive home his point, Paul compares the believer, that's you and me, to kitchen utensils. Those of us who seek to be cleansed of our sinfulness are used to special purposes, "ready for every good work" (v. 21). And how do we cleanse ourselves? Paul writes to live a righteous life, saying yes to the passions of God, and no to the passions of the flesh. Seeking to be people of love, faith, and peace, because we have pure hearts. These avoid foolish quarrels and nonsensical arguments; seeking to be God's teachers, knowing even how to correct opponents with gentleness.

Back to Wesley, who believed later that the three traits of real, true, proper, scriptural Christianity are: 1) justification (freedom from the guilt of sin); 2) the new birth (freedom from the power or dominion of sin, but not from its being); and 3) a measure of assurance (occasionally makred by doubt and fear). These are in line with Paul's teachings. In a relationship with Jesus, we have found victory over sin and in having started that relationship we have come into a new way of living abundantly. And, in that relationship we have that assurance that we belong to Christ. Sing the hymn Blessed Assurance and learn what the hymn writer knew! No more, "I hope I get to heaven when I die!" If you're "in" with Jesus - you're in with Jesus eternally.

Get busy!

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Jesus, for Paul, for John Wesley. Thank You for the faith and love that is ours for the asking. I seek to deepen my relationship with You so that I can be a blessing and a teacher to others. Let me learn more so that I can share more. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Requests for today: For The Rev. Thom Elliott, our pastor in Burnet, TX, who is in Seaton Williamson County Hospital in Round Rock, TX. Doctors are trying to determine the cause of a fever that prevented him from receiving surgery a couple of weeks ago. For Caitlin Vasquez, our daughter, who undergoes a surgical procedure here in Corpus Christi this morning. And for the arrival of Eliana Garcia, our fourth grand baby, due by C-section on Wednesday, October 25, 2012 (my birthday BTW!). Thank you for caring enough to lift up prayers for all.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: May God cleanse me enough to get dirty for God!

Hold On To Your Faith!

2 Timothy 1:12 It's also the cause of all this trouble I'm in. But I have no regrets. I couldn't be more sure of my ground - the One I've trusted in can take care of what he's trusted me to do right to the end. 13 So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It's as sound as the day you first heard it from me. 14 Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us. 15 I'm sure you know by now that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, even Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 But God bless Onesiphorus and his family! Many's the time I've been refreshed in that house. And he wasn't embarrassed a bit that I was in jail. 17 The first thing he did when he got to Rome was look me up. 18 May God on the Last Day treat him as well as he treated me. And then there was all the help he provided in Ephesus - but you know that better than I. (The Message)

Very few churches today still have or use, a board similar to the one pictured above. This one is from Wesley's Chapel in London and it is a Hymn Tune board. It was used to identify the hymn that would be sung as well as the tune that would be used. I had an associate who loves to choose a hymn and then announce, "But we're going to use the tune of Amazing Grace to sing this hymn." It worked, and people liked it. In a few of my churches in this district there are these boards but they reflect those who came to church the previous Sunday, or two, as well as how much offering was collected during worship. The first time I saw that it reminded me of my boyhood church and how it was used during my days there as a boy. It was a reminder of my faith and I wondered how many of us who saw that board kept the faith. I know that many of the saints have gone on to glory; my godfather and very recently, my godmother, have gone on to Jesus. I wondered how many of my friends from that time have continued to walk with Jesus and to worship God on a regular basis. Could they say, "I'm in that number up there from two Sundays ago."

Paul wants Timothy to know that even though he is in prison and in chains, he has no regrets. In fact, Paul was even more sure of his faith because of the "trouble" than before. His faith was stronger and he was more sure that God would take care of him and provide like never before. I wonder how many of us would run out the door if trouble came looking for us? Would you be willing to be arrested for your faith? And would there be enough evidence to convict? Paul was, and there was in his case. Timothy hears Paul saying, "This is a precious thing, this faith in Jesus, guard it and never abandon it." Sadly, Paul lists that "everyone in the province of Asia deserted me," and lists the names of two who especially saddened Paul in their decision to flee. But he lists one who stayed faithful until the end, and encourages Timothy to be among those.

I pray that our faith be made stronger by the trials and challenges that come our way. Jesus never promised an easy walk with Him. But He did promise to be with us, even to the end of time. Can we make and keep that promise to Jesus as well?

PRAYER: Loving God, strengthen my faith in the good times so that when trials and challenges come, my faith be made stronger. I pray for those who are now going through tough times that they might hold fast to You and the love You have shared with us. Let us in all times be a blessing to You, I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

What is our Message?

2 Timothy 1: 8 So don't be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, 9 who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. 10 But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus. 11 This is the Message I've been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. (The Message)

If one day walking along the beach you found a message in a bottle, what would you hope that message said? Better asked, if you could write a message and then stick it in a bottle and threw that into the sea, what would your message say? I hope in our Christian walk, we don't stumble with our answers. This passage is one of encouragement to a young preacher about what he should be doing and what he should be sharing. We should be confident and bold about our faith in Jesus Christ. It won't always be easy, but it will always be necessary. Our task is to move forward with our faith-sharing, knowing that God will not disappoint us. God called us! And if God called us, God will supply all, I repeat, all we need! The message we have and we should share should get plainer each and every day: Jesus is our Savior, through Jesus, death is defeated, our lives have been made whole and worthy, and all through the work of Jesus, our Savior. This is the Message, the Good News, which we seek to proclaim to all.

Get busy! PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the wonderful news. In a world that hears more than its share of bad news, help us to boldly and loudly proclaim that which You have shared with us; that in Jesus we have salvation, taken from the jaws of death and destruction to a life that is abundant. Through Jesus we have seen death defeated, and through Jesus our lives mean something and we should live in a way that says that to all. I pray this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Keep the Fire Going!

2 Timothy 1:1 I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God's plan laid out in the Message of Life by Jesus. 2 I write this to you, Timothy, the son I love so much. All the best from our God and Christ be yours! 3 Every time I say your name in prayer - which is practically all the time - I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. 4 I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion. 5 That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith - and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! 6 And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed - keep that ablaze! 7 God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. (The Message)

We finished 1 Timothy! We look now to study 2 Timothy, long considered a "last will and testament" of Paul, but others see it as a letter of encouragement to a timid preacher. I pray that we find in its words encouragement to us and the work that is ever in front of us. My grandson Liam's favorite song is "Baa, We're Lambs," by the Apologetix, a Christian parody band. They've taken the music and style of "Barbara Ann" and made the song a cute Christian one. His second favorite, by the same group, is "Smooth Grandmama," a parody on "Smooth Criminal" a Michael Jackson song. But in this song, the group pays tribute to grandmothers who take and share their Christian faith in an effective way. Lois, is one of those "smooth grandmamas." For it was her faith that blessed and reached Eunice and together they shared and blessed the life of Timothy with the faith. One of the stanzas in that song reads, "Granny's not an old maid, She's a zealot, with a bold faith; She's a kind-hearted widow, and she bought you, a Nintendo, last week. You came into her apartment, left the mud stains on the carpet, And then she ran into the bedroom, she was knelt down, it was for you. Granny likes to crchet, and corquet, and quote Dear Abby. Granny causes road rage, in slow lanes, she's no Andretti, Granny's got the whole day, to go pray, for all her family. You've been hit, you've been struck by, a smooth grandmama." I knew only my dad's mom, for my mother's mom died when my mother was eleven years old. Momo, as we called her, was indeed like her name, Petra, a rock of faith. She came into deeper faith by an invitation by a neighbor to join their quilting circle at El Buen Pastor Methodist Church in Kingsville. That invitation blessed her life, her son's, her grandson and all of us. It was a faith ablaze, a sure conviction of all that she had been taught, and like the other song says, "It only takes a spark." Imagine what a blaze can do!

You and I have that same faith as Lois, Eunice, Timothy, and Paul. The question is, what are we doing about it? Whose life have we blessed because the fire in our souls would not let us rest until we shared it with someone?

Get busy!

PRAYER: Loving God, for the Loises, Enices, Petras, Timothys, and Pauls of the world, we give You thanks. We are especially thankful for the people whose blaze of faith touched and blessed us. We pray that we too, might with Your help and guidance, bless someone today and all days. You know better than us, that we need "to get a fire going." May it be so. We pray in faith and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Guarding the True Treasure

1 Timothy 6: 13 I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch: 14 Keep this command to the letter, and don't slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. 15 He'll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. 16 He's the only one death can't touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He's never been seen by human eyes - human eyes can't take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes. 17 Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage - 18 to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. 19 If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. 20 And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. 21 People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. Overwhelming grace keep you! (The Message)

It seemed during the days when I used to watch at those hours, that late-night television infomercials were geared for one of two things; being as thin as you wanted, and as rich as you wanted. Paul's command and charge to Timothy is to stay firm in the faith. There is nothing, Paul warns, that will ever equal the wealth of faith. Paul believed Jesus was on the way, and His arrival would be "right on time," and assured by the One Whom is "Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High Ruler, High King, High God." The message to accompany the preparations for that arrival is for all people, especially the wealthy, to overcome obession with money, for money is fleeting. The one pursuit that we should have is that of God, who will supply "all the riches we could ever manage - to be good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravangantly generous." For Paul, this is the treasure that will always last. And Timothy in his having been called, was already wealthy, and thus already had a treasure. Faithfulness to the faith as he had received it would endure, and he should stay away from the talk and teachings that come and go, serving only to confuse. God's grace is ours and that is for our living the faith in a way that honors God and blesses God's children.

The same is true for our churches. We should be all about the treasures that Paul mentions; The riches that come our way in faithful service to God and to the people of God. We should, as individuals and as churches, to strive to be good, to be all about helping others and to be extravangantly generous in all our dealings. Is this true in you?

PRAYER: Loving God, help us to be the rich blessing that You have instructed through Paul. May the teachings to Timothy be ours as well. We seek to be rich in giving. May it be so, we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

True Wealth

1 Timothy 6: 1 Whoever is a slave must make the best of it, giving respect to his master so that outsiders don't blame God and our teaching for his behavior. 2 Slaves with Christian masters all the more so - their masters are really their beloved brothers! 3 If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, 4 tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. 5 Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck. 6 A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. 7 Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, 8 if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough. 9 But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. 10 Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after. 11 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life - a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. 12 Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses. (The Message Version)

Who's the richest person in the world? Carlos Slim? Bill Gates? Warren Buffet? It might just be you! The sixth chapter of this letter to a young Christian leader begins with a then-cultural reality, the evil practice of slavery with thoughts on how it should be viewed in the context of the Christian faith. Thank God, for the most part, slavery does not exist in an open government-sanctioned practice. The reality is that many women and children are still sold into slavery by sex-traders and is an issue for us to destroy that practice. Then Paul shifts his teachings to those who would use the Christian faith and Christian service to get rich. The wonderful words of verse six ring so true: "A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God." Think about that truth in your life. If you seek to be devout and righteous before God, true wealth is already yours, because you can be yourself before God without being judged in any way negatively. Paul reminds Timothy that we were all born penniless and that's the same way we leave. Paul counts having bread on the table and shoes on our feet as being enough wealth; to seek more for personal gain may bring self-destruction in no time. An Internet story based on an old Presbyterian sermon and that believed based on an old Ann Landers column of the world's richest men and their fate with both truth and half-truths, does serve to teach that money and power do not necessarily bring happiness nor fulfillment to us. (read http://www.snopes.com/glurge/fortune.asp). Paul continues, "Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after." (v. 10). Paul is not necessarily condemning being rich, but what he is teaching is that when money and possessions take the place of God in our lives we are asking for trouble. It is not a sin to be rich. Rick Warren, himself very rich, teaches that it is a sin to die rich. Paul urges Timothy to flee from a life that pursues only money and wealth. His advice is still valid today; think of the richness of a life live right before God, open to wonder, faith, love, steadiness, and courtesy. (v. 11). Paul's urging is that it is best to work hard and fast for God, claiming the eternal life that is ours, the one which became ours in the presence of those who witnessed it or who live it alongside us now.

As you look in the mirror later today, see there the richest person in the world if you're living a devout and righteous life. May today bring new wonders, new and stronger faith, showers of love upon you and you upon others. May even the issues you may faith bring steadiness to you, and regardless how others may treat you, you be the example of courtesy and love.

PRAYER: Loving God, to You be all honor and glory. May today be the start of the day when I do consider myself the richest person in the world. May the blessings of family, friends, important and meaningful people in my life bless and strengthen me. Give me eyes and ears to enjoy wonder; the hands and feet to take faith and love to those who need it and may be counting on it from me. May even the challenges of today serve to steady my faith before you. And may the peace of being Yours for all eternity give me hope like no other. I pray this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Recognition of Leaders and Workers in God's House

1 Timothy 5: 17 Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 Scripture tells us, "Don't muzzle a working ox," and, "A worker deserves his pay." 19 Don't listen to a complaint against a leader that isn't backed up by two or three responsible witnesses. 20 If anyone falls into sin, call that person on the carpet. Those who are inclined that way will know right off they can't get by with it. 21 God and Jesus and angels all back me up in these instructions. Carry them out without favoritism, without taking sides. 22 Don't appoint people to church leadership positions too hastily. If a person is involved in some serious sins, you don't want to become an unwitting accomplice. In any event, keep a close check on yourself. 23 And don't worry too much about what the critics will say. Go ahead and drink a little wine, for instance; it's good for your digestion, good medicine for what ails you. 24 The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court. The sins of others don't show up until much later. 25 The same with good deeds. Some you see right off, but none are hidden forever. (The Message)

Please forgive the tardiness of this devotional. I started writing some of it last night and this morning at about 5:45 a.m. I sat to complete it. Then a bug decides to fly into my ear. It was the loudest buzzing and weirdest sensation I ever experienced; and the bug did not want to leave. Long story short: Two hours in ER and I'm now bug free! Of course I was late for an important district meeting and I've been playing catch-up since then. I now hate that expression, "Let me put a bug in your ear."

Christian leadership is both rewarding and demanding. Christian leadership is done out of love for Jesus Christ and not for pay. Some do get paid for it, and some very well, but overall, it is done to serve God and to enrich and bless the lives of believers and pre-believers alike. It is also done to reach new believers. Recognition is nice for Christian workers. It affirms their work and blesses others who have not yet said Yes to God in serving Him. The "bonus" that Paul speaks of, is the recognition that Timothy is to give hard-working leaders who excel at preaching and teaching. And the oversight of leaders and workers should be done in Christian love, with fairness and unbiased attention. Complaints against leaders should be backed up by two or three responsible witnesses, and those who sin should be dealt with quickly. Paul is so convinced about this procedure that he says that God and Jesus and angels all back him up in these instructions. Above all, a good Christian leader will keep an eye on him/herself. A leader will take care of him/herself in a way that renews and refreshes the body. He concludes by saying that both sins and good deeds cannot be hidden; sins should be dealt with and good deeds recognized.

What is God calling you to do? What will happen if you say Yes, as you know you should?

PRAYER: Loving God, bless those who pray this prayer as their own. May they come to the place of service to which You have called them. May they serve in loving ways out of the love they have for You and are blessed by the love You have for us. As we move into more responsibile positions, may we glorify You. We pray this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

House Rules for Believers!

1 Timothy 5:1 Don't be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. 2 Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters. 3 Take care of widows who are destitute. 4 If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely. 5 You can tell a legitimate widow by the way she has put all her hope in God, praying to him constantly for the needs of others as well as her own. 6 But a widow who exploits people's emotions and pocketbooks - well, there's nothing to her. 7 Tell these things to the people so that they will do the right thing in their extended family. 8 Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That's worse than refusing to believe in the first place. 9 Sign some widows up for the special ministry of offering assistance. They will in turn receive support from the church. They must be over sixty, married only once, 10 and have a reputation for helping out with children, strangers, tired Christians, the hurt and troubled. 11 Don't put young widows on this list. No sooner will they get on than they'll want to get off, obsessed with wanting to get a husband rather than serving Christ in this way. 12 By breaking their word, they're liable to go from bad to worse, 13 frittering away their days on empty talk, gossip, and trivialities. 14 No, I'd rather the young widows go ahead and get married in the first place, have children, manage their homes, and not give critics any foothold for finding fault. 15 Some of them have already left and gone after Satan. 16 Any Christian woman who has widows in her family is responsible for them. They shouldn't be dumped on the church. The church has its hands full already with widows who need help. (The Message)

This passage could be called "House Rules" for it includes some common sense attitudes and behaviors towards others. I thank God every time I encounter a young person who, in my opinion, was raised right. And by right, I mean respectful towards others, especially his or her elders, and those who might need special assistance. Paul, in trying to make sure that his envoy is received well and does well among the believers, writes instructions on how to interact with others. For older men, the instruction is to treat them as you would your father. Towards younger men, as you would your brothers. (This, of course, in full Christian love! Not the "real" way some brothers and sisters treat each other!). The instruction towards older women, the same as the men, as mothers, and younger women as sisters, and Paul adds, "with absolute purity." Then Paul shifts a significant portion towards widows. In this time, as in Jesus' time, widows were a special concern for they could not usually work outside of the home and had to depend on male relatives to provide and care for them. This is evident in the instructions Paul gives Timothy about them. He warns Timothy to be careful as to which among the widows is really in need, for Paul had encountered those who really needed assistance and those who played their status for all it was worth. How can you tell, Paul asks, those who put their whole trust in God, and who prays day and night for God's care, is the one worthy of help. The one "who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives." Paul adds that Timothy should teach this to others. Then, there is that verse that says, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (v. 8). Even today, sadly, there are those types. If anyone has a widow in their family, they should check on them and provide for them as they have need. Paul also believes a widow should be listed as worthy of assistance if she is sixty or older, has been faithful in her marriage, is known for providing assistance to the needy, has done a good job in raising her children, has shown hospitality to all, has washed the feet of the saints, has helped those in trouble, and has devoted herself to "all kinds of good deeds."

Younger widows, Paul cautions, should not be on the list of those to be helped. They may give in to their sensual desires and not serve as they should. His recommendation for younger widows is for them to marry, have children, manage their households and not be in a predicament that might embarrass her or the church. Women who have widows in their family should assist them rather than have the church burdened with helping them.

Would you say these are strict house rules or rather good rules for a younger person sent to preach among people? Paul knows that even when trying to preach and minister some earthly wisdom is necessary to have effective interaction with others. The resources of the early church were quite limited, and Paul wanted Timothy to be wise in sharing those among the truly needy and those who might take advantage. Paul knew this Ephesian church and its members, and especially their need. Having worked among them, his instructions to Timothy are those intendedn to bless the overall ministry of that church. Paul is saying, that in the best interest of God's work here in this time and place, how can we best serve God and God's people?

PRAYER: Loving God, give us wisdom and love as we minister among those entrusted to our care. May we serve with understanding and compassion among a people who need to learn and grow as do we. May we minister faithfully with them in ways to help all of us to grow closer to You and to each other. We pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Fit in the Lord!

1 Timothy 4:7 Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God - no spiritual flabbiness, please! 8 Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. 9 You can count on this. Take it to heart. 10 This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers. 11 Get the word out. Teach all these things. 12 And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. 13 Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. 14 And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed - keep that dusted off and in use. 15 Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! 16 Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation. (The Message version)

This passage could have been written to Francis Asbury, one of the first General Superintendents (bishops) of the Methodist Church in the Colonies, later United States. In the picture above, the 24 yr. old Asbury is being ordained prior to his being sent here to America. His task was similar to Timothy, though young, his was a mission to preach the Gospel to all who would listen. I heard this past week about this movement West and how the Methodists were more successful than other denominations because unlike others who waited for those with similar beliefs to move to an area before moving in themselves, the Methodists saw potential converts in all people. And this passage reinforces that belief (v.10) We share the Good News with all people. Timothy is being warned by Paul about the untruths and "silly stories" that were being passed off as gospel. The admonition was to stay strong in the Lord by taking the disciplined life to heart. Age shouldn't matter, maturity in the faith does. The best teaching is by, as Paul says, "Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity." We are to read the Word of God, give counsel as needed and by sharing what we know in all settings as invited or prompted. Whether it was by ordination or baptism, we all share in a special gift of ministry which we should be putting into practice, to make believers out of the whole world, eventually disciples of Jesus who will join us, for the re-making of this world for the better.

You have no excuse, just an opportunity and a challenge to be as Timothy, regardless of faith, mature in faith, living a life that is a compelling and inviting sermon to the better life found in Jesus Christ!

PRAYER: Loving God, make my life a great sermon, and like Timothy I pray that I could teach by what I say, how I present myself, by my love, by my faith, and by my fair dealings with others; I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed life in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

What is Your Affirmation of Faith?

1 Timothy 3: 14 I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I'm delayed, I'm writing this letter so 15 you'll know how things ought to go in God's household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth. 16 This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough: He appeared in a human body, was proved right by the invisible Spirit, was seen by angels. He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples, believed in all over the world, taken up into heavenly glory.

"What was it you remember your loved one saying over and over?" This is a question I asked family members immediately after the death of a loved one. It gave me the chance to get to know the loved one a little better as well as to see what sort of impact the deceased had on the family's life. There were some very powerful testaments of faith, and there were some zingers that were not sharable material from a pulpit. What would your family say about you? What is it that you say over and over about your faith in God? Or do you even say anything like that? When it comes right down to it, what sort of affirmation of faith have you shared thorugh your life and words with those around you? An affirmation of faith is important for it tells about what you believe in God. We have our standard Apostles Creed, Hispanic Creed, Korean Creed, among many, but what is yours? In this passage, Paul is sharing with Timothy one that could be considered an affirmation and one that Paul would like him to teach in the church. It doesn't appear as one in this version, but in the NIV it reads, "He (Jesus) appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angles, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."

I've been thinking of mine and I've tried to teach, perhaps not in a credal form, God is always with us; we should always pray, God hears our prayers, God is love, and in all things God has the final word. A creed should be memorable and should share Who we believe God to be and who we are in relation to God. It affirms and strengthens our faith. And it should for our family as well.

PRAYER: Lord, let every aspect of my life be an affirmation of faith. May it speak of my love for You and Your love for me and for all. May I be a teacher today to those around me, of that creed that I have. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

On Being a Good Follower

1 Timothy 3: 8 The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. 9 They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. 10 Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. 11 No exceptions are to be made for women - same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. 12 Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. 13 Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.

"Follow me on Twitter" is far different from what Jesus meant when He said to the disciples, "Follow me." To follow someone on Twitter is to be a fan of them; to follow Jesus is a whole-hearted commitment. The passage for today stresses that, for Paul writes that the ministry of Christ requires devoted followers as much as devoted leaders. Not all are called to lead; most are called to follow. How many churches have Follower Classes? Most churches are guilty of leadership development and leadership seminars. We never have a class on being a good follower. Why is that? This passage would serve as a good guide for being Christ's good follower, for the list for a follower is as extensive and true as for a leader. A follower must take their ministry seriously and honestly, both with God and God's people. A follower must recognize that in following Jesus, one becomes a servant, and a faithful servant is sober with his/her taks, and undertakes given tasks for the good of God, not personal gain. In being a servant one accepts any task and does it as best as they can. Being a servant is not just for one sex; all are servants, commited to family, and faithful in their own personal lives as well as the task of Christian ministry. A good servant-follower will earn the respect of others and bring honor and glory to our faith.

To follow Jesus is to follow humbly behind the One who gives us life. To follow Jesus as a servant is to submit willingly to tasks that perhaps others might not want nor see as meaningful or at their "level." Nonetheless, the work is done for the glory of God, not ours, and is but a piece of a larger picture we may not fully yet understand.

PRAYER: Loving God, allow me to follow You, not as a fan, but as a complete devotee and servant, willing to give You honor and glory by accepting that which You ask of me. Give me the right attitude and perspective for doing that which perhaps no one else will undertake. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde