Thanksgiving Blessings for You and Yours
We are so blessed to know you, and to know the love of God. May this day be a spiritual day of renewal and rejoicing. For those who are in need of blessings, please share your love in prayer and outstretched hands of grace.
Eradio Valverde
Image from thecollegecrush.com
An Attitude of Gratitude Gives Us a Higher Altitude
From Luke 17:11-19: On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
Thanksgiving 1963 was one of the most somber days in my life. The country has just witnessed the killing of a sitting United States president, and that act may have caused the heart attack and death of my aunt, Paulina Martinez, or "Tía Nina" as we called her. She was my grandmother's sister and really my Dad's aunt, but we grew up calling her our aunt and she was well-loved by us. She lived and died in McAllen, Texas, and her funeral was in La Havana, TX, where she and my grandmother were raised. Our Thanksgiving meal was held in the roadside part of US 281, just north of the checkpoint. We pulled over at lunch, and Mom brought out white bread and baloney and I think, cheese. There may have been potato chips, and drinks of some kind. She made the declaration, "This is our Thanksgiving meal for this year!" I think my Dad might have laughed; the kids not so much. I, being the oldest, protested, "This cannot be our Thanksgiving meal! We don't have a turkey, or dressing and all the other foods that you make on this day!" I don't remember their response, but I do know that the next day we had that meal with all the fixing's.
In thinking about the significance of Thanksgiving, it is all about giving thanks to God. It is a national day of gratitude. And in thinking about gratitude I realize that in having a grateful attitude, you're lifted above the petty, above the griping and grumbling of dissatisfaction, to the realm of the spiritual; it is a connection with God, Who supplies and shares all things. In today's gospel passage, it was a foreigner, who was lifted above the attitude of It's about time!, to woah, I am well. It was that attitude that allowed him and only him, to return to Jesus, and with a loud voice, to praise God, and then to fall prostate before Jesus and thank Him. It was this act of gratitude that made him, and only him, completely well. The others may have had their skin disease removed from their bodies, but the hearts were untouched by this act of God's love.
Don't let the pettiness of things barricade your heart from seeing and connecting with God and all that God has done in your life. Rise above the griping and grumbling, and connect with God in a manner that makes you completely well, heart and all.
PRAYER: Lord, for all You have provided, Thank YOU! For making me well in all things, Thank YOU! Let me tell others about what You do in a loud manner that blessed You and Yours. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day, and may tomorrow's celebrations be truly a day of Giving Thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Eradio Valverde
Image from shiloumc-mt.com
Advent means Christ came once; Christ will come again!
From Mark 13:24-37 "But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."
Every year I wonder who or what will be first in placing the subtle reminder that the Christmas holidays are coming. For many years it was the old department store Foley's, who would place in mid to late August, their Christmas china on display. A quiet, subtle reminder that yes, the holiday season would soon be here. Dishes, cups, saucers, platters, with poinsettia designs, red and green and gold on beautiful white china. Those who walked by knew what they were up to. Then by late September, early October, and yes, it gets earlier each year, more and more Christmas displays. The purists cry stop! The nostalgic cry more!
Advent begins this Sunday. The scriptures are those telling us to be watchful, and hopeful. The first coming of Jesus was through His birth; the second shall be His return in glory. This week's passage says it will be a welcomed return for it will follow much suffering. In fact, the passage says that this advent of Christ's second return comes with full effects too; a darkened sun, a moon without light, stars falling from heaven, and even "the powers in the heavens will be shaken." For many it will be a frightening experience. The "'Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory." It will be a time of gathering those who believed in Him together. The signs, Jesus says, are subtle, but telling; be aware, be ready, and do not be afraid.
This passage comes at a time when many are expecting loved ones for the Thanksgiving holiday. The question many ask or wonder, "When will you get here?" In our case, we're expecting all four of our children and their families. It will be a time with a full household, great food, and a great time seeing and being with those who live far from us. We're expectant of these things, but we have lots to do. We still have to brave the crowds at the grocery store, buy all the ingredients to all things that will be roasted, baked, and prepared. All done with great hope and joy; the day soon comes. Pity to those who just wait and do not prepare. Even those who do not prepare anything, must call and make reservations at the place where they might eat. All must prepare. All must be ready. And yes, it is the same with what Jesus said about His return. We celebrate the joy of the birth, with all its trimmings and trappings; but we should have in our hearts and minds, that Christ will come again.
Keep awake!
PRAYER: Lord, for those waiting loved ones, we pray Your protection and blessings. Guide safely to homes those traveling today and in the days ahead. May Your Spirit be present at every home and at every table. For those who do not have homes or tables, keep us mindful and loving. For those sick who can not be with us, bring comfort and healing. For those awaiting an empty spot at a table for the first time ever, bring Your peace. But in every heart, mind, and spirit, may we know You love enough to come back for us. Help us to be ready. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
And We Might Have a Part In It!
From Ezekiel 34:11-16; 20-24: For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.
For many this is the time of year some question, "Who will join us at the table this year?" Some ask, "Who can I join at the table?" The question is asked as preparations are beginning for the biggest meal in the USA, Thanksgiving. If you have walked the aisles of your grocery store you have seen and perhaps already bought turkey gravy, a huge pumpkin/pecan pie (or both). Many will remember the loved ones who sadly, for the first time ever, will not join us, because they have departed this earth. Imagine God's heart as God seeks those children who have left His table, to wander the earth in search of meaning and purpose, and are looking in all the wrong places. Such was the purpose behind Ezekiel's word from God. God is a seeking God, who rests and rejoices when the lost are found. God is a protecting God, who even in the midst of life's most terrific storms, can reach out a strong, loving hand and bring the lost back into safety.
The image used by the prophet is similar to the one used by Jesus from the Matthew text of Monday. Sheep matter to God; so much so, the one being neglected matter the most to God. In this passage, that theme is again stated this time in terms of those who are well fed, and those who are hungry. The injured, the weak, will all be restored to health; those who neglected them will be dealt with accordingly.
God is a God of salvation, meaning that God desires and will establish a loving relationship with those who are lost and seek it. God is a God who knocks on the door of all hearts; our job is to make sure others hear it. If we have heard that knock and have invited Christ into our lives, we should live it! We should be the light that leads people out of darkness. We may even have to knock on some doors ourselves.
PRAYER: Loving God, lead us to faithful obedience. Help us be those who helpers of those still wandering. Thank You for your love that seeks and protects. Let me be a part of Your work. In Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Image from textweek.com
Christ is Coming; Be Busy!
From Matthew 25:31-46: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
I do not like movies where children die. I do not like reading books where children die. And I especially do not like news reports where children die. Imaging God's heart on seeing the same thing from His throne in Heaven. And God sees not just the death of children, but the slow death of people of all ages, from hunger, disease, nakedness, loneliness, friendlessness, and thirst. So the message from His Son, Jesus Christ to us in this passage is serious, y'all. We, you and me, through our churches, and our nation, and especially ourselves, have a life-saving, life-affirming responsibility to care for one another, especially those in need. It is interesting to note that this powerful message comes after the disciples ask about His return to earth. Jesus' message is simply this: be ready, but be working in the meantime, for there is much to do.
At the time of this writing, there are only nine days before most of us will sit down to the greatest meal we have in our year. Most Thanksgiving tables at which I have sat, both mine and others, have been laden with food; more food than we can consume in one sitting. There is, if grandmas and moms of college students home for the holiday have anything to do with the choices, foods of all kinds. Not just the roasted or fried turkey, but the dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, casseroles of all kinds, and the list goes on and on. On the dessert table; okay, I'll stop. I'm hungry, too. Yet, our hearts and minds should be attuned to those who have nothing; who, if they wander into a place that feeds the hungry, get a similar meal; but do not enjoy the setting of family and love. Yes, even those in homes of family may feel some loneliness or experience tensions of past hurts and pains; but the message should be clear: Do for one another as God has done for us.
Feed the hungry. Quench the thirst of the thirsty. Welcome the stranger. Clothe the naked (and Christ did not mean, at low prices in a rummage or church garage sale!). Care for the sick. Visit the prisons. This was a partial list of all that is needed even today. And, Jesus said, when you do this for the "least of these, you did it for me." By the same token, if we neglect to do that, we are neglecting Christ. The rewards are there because they are real in my opinion. Heaven is as real as hell; and it will be us who decide in which we will reside.
Choose to share life, and you will enjoy the fullness of life here, and when it is time to return home; there with God.
PRAYER: Loving God, prepare our hearts, minds, spirits, and hands to care for one another. Help us to be all about being YOU in the midst of those who do not yet know You. Give us courage, boldness and vision, to do Your will. This, we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Photo of Eliana Beth Garcia
Where Do You Come Alive?
From Psalm 90:1-8; 13-17: Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn us back to dust, and say, "Turn back, you mortals." For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night. You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning; in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance. Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands!
To think of a dwelling for some reason, takes my mind back to cartoons of the Flintstones. Not that they live in a cave, but they should have! Dwelling is a word that I seldom, if ever, use. We use home, or house, or whatever you may call the place where you "live." The question I ask is, Where do you come alive? For many of us it is our home. I laugh as I have seen how my grandchildren love their homes and how relaxed and carefree they become in them. Most of them relax immediately upon arriving home. They undress. Some put on comfortable clothes; others choose to stay undressed. They watch and dance to videos on television or on iPads; they yell at action on screens or laugh uncontrollably at the silliest things. In other words, they come alive!
Do you come alive in God? I've been amazed at the ways some truly do come alive in God in different settings, whether it be worship or study or prayer. It's a change of attitude because of gratitude or become hope becomes real on the inside and we can face all things that we are facing. This psalm is attributed to Moses, whose life we know all too well. Interesting infancy, raised as a prince of Egypt, murderer, fugitive, deliverer, prophet, and a man of God. He saw God face to face and did not die. In all that he did and encountered, he lived a life secure in knowing that in God he came alive. He knew God and and trusted and loved Him.
How about you? Do the external things affect your internal spiritual side? Or is it, as it should be, the spiritual side affects your external side? Come alive in God and you'll be alive and well to face all things.
PRAYER: God of the fullness of life, come alive in me, and le me come alive in You. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
photo by Eradio Valverde. Painting by Jason Rodriguez of Corpus Christi.
The Prophetess Deborah From Judges 4:1-7 we find these words: The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died. So the Lord sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years. At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, "The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, "Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.' "
The Concert for Valor was held last night in Washington, DC, to honor Veterans and to raise money to assist those in need. Top name musical acts and celebrities from other art forms were on hand to honor our warriors. Video clips introduced some heroes that were present on stage. One such clip featured one of the first female combat officer. The first words from her were, "I am five feet tall; so I don't consider myself an officer who can be looked up to..." but her valor and leadership gained her the respect of her troops, proving herself three days into combat.
The Bible introduces us to a woman of faith, valor and leadership; Deborah. She is the fourth judge of Israel, and the only female judge ever to serve in pre-monarchic Israel. She was married to Lappidoth. She had great faith for God and as prophet, spoke for God. God used her to answer a great cry for help from Israel, after they had done "again...what was evil in the sight of the Lord." Their unfaithfulness and wickedness led them to be "sold...into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan," a cruel oppressor of Israel. God speaks to Deborah the answer they are seeking and it will involve a military campaign.
God answers all prayers. Sometimes the answer is no, other times, not yet. But these are answers. Sometimes the answer involves work on our part, assisted at times by the wisdom of those in tune with God, who understand our situation and guide us to next steps or even first steps towards that prayer being answered. The photograph above features Melanie, a young woman from our church in Port Lavaca, Texas. She was the only child who spoke during our Witness part of our charge conference there, sharing "My hope for the church is..." She is standing beside the painting our worship painter shared during the worship hour, which he entitled, after being inspired at earlier charge conferences by children and youth, "My Hope For The Church Is..." These children and youth are part of our hope for the Church, and we know they are, and will, work hard to answer our prayers for the future of His work on earth.
What is God calling you to do?
PRAYER: God, please grant us the faith and strength of Deborah in all facets of our spiritual life. Help us to have courage and boldness, like her, to face the enemies of doubt, discouragement, indifference, apathy, and evil. We know we are more than conquerors in all things because of You. And it is in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior that we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Photo from Beach Retreat 2011 with Rusty Freeman, by Eradio Valverde
Instructions on Preparation
From 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11: Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
Some people are ready for whatever in a matter of minutes. Others, and you can't see me pointing at myself, or you for that matter; take our time. Very few people like to leave for an event or a journey in a rushed manner. I never like to leave the house for an extended stay without my medicines. Life would become too interesting without them. I know from experience. So, now my medicines never leave my suitcase, and my suitcase never leaves the side of my bed. Okay, TMI. But it lets us understand how the author of this passage took being ready for Christ's return. One thing was certain, it is emphasized, no one knows the day nor hour. "A thief in the night" is the most common illustration. Nor should we be lulled by a false sense of security and peace. And, taking a lesson from pregnancy, the start of labor for some is the start of a long day or night; the longer the delay the more the urgency for wanting the baby born. And, like a pregnant woman who cannot tell her baby to wait until a more opportune time, can we expect that the coming of the Lord will depend on our readiness or willingness.
The good news is that we who believe an trust the Lord, are ready now. And we should be awake and sober, keeping to our task of helping us know and be ready for Jesus. Here, the writer uses the illustration of the Roman soldier's armor: Protect our hearts with the breastplate of faith and love, and keep our thoughts protected with the certainty of our salvation; for we are ready, not for wrath or destruction, but for eternal life through Jesus Christ, who is our Lord and Savior. Live a life that encourages and builds up one another.
In other words, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, live a life that says Yes, I know Jesus. I love Jesus, and I'm ready right now for Jesus to return.
PRAYER: Loving God, may that be my prayer; that I live a life that reflects and encourages others to believe and be ready for Your coming. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Photograph by Eradio Valverde
Jesus Wants Us Prepared, but Working
From Matthew 25:14-30: "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
The young lady above in the photograph is named Melanie. She's from First United Methodist Church of Port Lavaca, Texas. She participated in the Witness part of our charge conference. She was the last of a good group of children and youth who have shared their hope for the Church. We have had with us at each charge conference, an exciting worship painter named Jason Rodriguez, who yesterday, painted this awesome painting that he named, My Hope for the Church Is... He said he was inspired by the words shared by these children and youth about the church.
In the same way, we can say that this parable is Jesus' Hope for the Church. It is a parable of preparation and utilization. In other words, what has God shared with you; and what are you doing with it? The use of the word talent in this parable lends itself to be limited to just ability; but it goes beyond that. Jesus is talking about something valuable entrusted to the care of these three servants/slaves. The Master obviously has everything, and these slaves have nothing, even limited freedom. Each is entrusted with different amounts of this prize possession and the master leaves on a journey. The first received five talents or five shares of this entrusted property. He is a wise and savvy person and goes and makes five more. He risked what had been entrusted to him and reaped a reward double in size to the initial gift. The second, does the same. Risks and wins. The last, who was entrusted with only one share, does nothing. Risks nothing, and buries his entrusted possession in the ground, and gains nothing. His concern was more about not losing so he risked nothing.
What has God entrusted to your care and what risks have you taken with it? If we were to with an ability that we call a talent, what talents has God entrusted to your care and what risks have you taken? For those who preach, great risk occurs every time we step behind a pulpit or podium. To open our mouths to share that first word scares the honest ones more than we care to share. For Jason to have one day felt that his talent was good enough to paint a picture was to risk trying it out and risk being criticized for that first painting. You see above what great talent this risk has brought to God's Kingdom.
In the same way, Jesus' hope for the church rests in you and what He has shared with you. What are you doing with it? If you're scared of taking that first step or speaking that first word, or lifting that first paint brush, or entering into a Sunday school room as teacher; what have you got to gain?
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for putting Your trust and hope for the Church in me. It is a daunting task, but one, with your help and blessing that I can take. Help me to grow your church with risks that I need to take. But I take comfort in knowing that You are with me. In Your name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Image by Eradio Valverde of Caleb, Eliana, and Liam; grandkids!
Touch, Touching, Touched
From the Psalmist these words from Psalm 78: 1-4, 12-16: Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. In the sight of their ancestors he worked marvels in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all night long with a fiery light. He split rocks open in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down like rivers.
Facebook has done more to keep people in touch. Some of it has been great; seeing old friends and meeting relatives we did not know we had or with whom we had lost touch. Some of it not so good; spouses making contact with old lovers or ex's that have led to breakups of marriages and destruction of families. We'll focus on the good for this morning. You have probably reconnected with someone you had been thinking about and had not seen, and been blessed to have received a message from them. You've seen pictures of new family members. We've even seen how some cannot live without Facebook. (I won't ask for a show of hands...) But imagine how in touch with God we could stay if we rushed to the Word of God as some of us to to see updates or messages on Facebook? This is what the Psalmist is sharing in this psalm. As he has stayed in touch with God, he wants to share the same urgency and need that he has discovered in his times of prayer, fasting, and worship. God, he reminds all, has done great things, spoken great things and these must be shared with everybody, starting with our children or little ones around us. I won't forget the time my two grandsons were playing in our living room where we have a large family Bible with pictures; they stopped their playing because there was a picture that had lions all around this man. "What's going on in this picture, grandpa?" they asked. And I had a marvelous opportunity to tell them the story of Daniel in the lion's den. It is a great story and it helped bring two young minds to the thinking and teaching of God's power to help us in our time of need.
What are the great things God has done in your life that you have not yet shared? Whom have you told? When has God provided life-saving, life-affirming help to you that you should be telling others about? They may be facing what you did and your taking time to share with them might be exactly what they need to hear.
Okay, at least post it on Facebook.
PRAYER: Loving God of love and touch; touch me anew and bring me to fullness of life. Help me to share all things that You have done so that the touch given me may help me touch others and let them touch someone and they someone new. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
We Will Serve the Lord
From Joshua 24:1-3a,14-25 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac; "Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God." But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good." And the people said to Joshua, "No, we will serve the Lord!" Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses." He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel." The people said to Joshua, "The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey." So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
You never forget kindness shown to you, or assistance when you needed it the most. You probably have a list of those who have blessed your life in a significant way. Their help allowed you to get something or to be something. Imagine now, if you can, trying to put a list together of all that God has done for you. Mine would be a long list. I cannot, in all honestly, remember all the good God has shown me, and/or all the wonderful, special blessings that God has given me. Where I sit today is a place of blessing only because of God. This is what Joshua is trying to convey to the people of Israel at this important thing in their history. They had reached the point of blessing as promised by God, and Joshua knows our limited memory, and so he says, friends, today we have to decide Who we're going to believe in and serve. He shares his belief: God has done so much for me, I will revere the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness. As for foolish gods and idols, out the window they go! "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Put that on a plaque and hang in your living room!)
Then the challenge from Joshua, who wanted to make sure they truly understood what they were promising. His final command in this sermon; if you will serve the Lord, give evidence by putting away the gods and idols you were drawn to during this journey; that all stops now.
Friend, you have said it with your mouth and mind, that you, too, would serve the Lord. As Joshua has said, Put that into practice. Put away that which takes God's place in your life, home, or family. Give evidence of a life truly committed to Almighty God. It is that kind of life that helps make disciples of those who have yet to believe.
PRAYER: Lord, let my life be a living sermon of that which has blessed me and might bless others. Help me to prioritize and order my life in ways that praise You. This I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Photo by Eradio Valverde
People, Get Ready!
From Matthew 25:1-13: "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, "Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, "No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, "Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, "Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Jesus loved weddings. We know He attended the one at Cana of Galilee and images of God's coming kingdom contain wedding references and images. And as He shared stories about the coming kingdom, He stressed common themes; readiness and responsibility. The common practice of His day was a days long celebration, with some element of mystery and surprise, such as this story contains. The bridesmaids were to be ready for the bridegroom's arrival, and some would say a tradition that continues in most marriage ceremonies even today, it never starts on time! But in Jesus' day, the bridegroom would come in, usually at night, the bridesmaids had to help light the way and announce the wedding. Five bridesmaids were ready; five were not. Some planned ahead; some did not. Those who did, showed their capacity for responsibility by being ready ahead of time by bringing additional oil. The ones who were not ready, brought only the oil in their lamps. The arrival of the groom was not until midnight and all had fallen asleep until the shout, "Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!" Those who were ready enjoyed the bright light of readiness, the others could not. They asked for the readied ones to share with them, but in the rush to greet and walk with the groom, they could not. They were sent to buy, at midnight, from the dealers; the bridegroom came and off they went, the not prepared were left out.
Jesus is saying for us to live a life that is ready and responsible for all that needs to be done both now and in the coming days. We do not know when the Bridegroom is coming to take us home, so we have to be ready; and responsibility to be ready is ours alone. Our task is to get others ready and encourage their readiness. No one knows the day nor the hour, but those who are ready will not care about the day nor hour for they will be ready and in the procession that leads to the eternal celebration.
Are you ready? Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you know that He died to free you from all your sins and make you right with God? If you do not, simply say the simple, but powerful prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess I am a sinner. I repent of my sins and desire a relationship with You. Come into my heart to be my Lord and Savior. Amen. That is but the first of the readiness Christ expects from you. Be active in a church, study all you can, and grow in your love and relationship with Jesus and love others. Be a part of that which brings them in!
PRAYER: Loving Lord, for those who today have said that simple prayer, thank You! I know the angels in Heaven are rejoicing for the one who has returned to You. And for those who have not yet said that prayer or invited You in, help me be a part of that effort that will bring them in. Give us courage and strength. This I pray in Your name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde