Dressed for Success?

Image from ziglar.com

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17)

There's nothing more embarrassing than to be dressed incorrectly for an important event. If one is invited to a formal event, especially one which will be a blessing to us for attending, one will go to the lengths needed to dress appropriately.

The same is true for the disciple's life we are called to live. We should be dressed, as Paul says here, in the clothing that blesses God and God's children. Nothing says NON-CHRISTIAN or NON-DISCIPLE better than "wearing" non-compassion, rudeness, arrogance, and impatience. Paul knew the way people learn from us as they observe us and Who we represent, and the finest clothing for our lives as believers is to be compassionate and kind to others. We should remember we are God's and have that humility about our call. We should seek to listen and love rather than shout and judge, reject and scare off. We are called to bear with one another, and seek solutions to our differences; especially forgiving those who have offended or hurt us. For you see, the peace of Christ should rule in our hearts and we are called to be one body; a thankful body. And Christ's body is called to grow, not just stay in shape.

The best way to clothe ourselves in this way is to pray, read the Word, and let the Word come to dwell in our hearts. With Christ present and active in our living, we will be teachers and shapers of others, and we will show the world how blessed they can be as well, through God's love as found in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, as I pray and plan for next year, let me plan on growing and living in ways that bless You and Yours. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS I have been a bit restful during these days, and starting later today will be moving one of our daughters to her new home. Therefore, you will not have a ConCafe again until next year. So, have a Happy New Year's celebration; welcome the Year in prayer.

Love,

Eradio

The Adventure Continues!

Image from kidsermons.com

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. (Luke 2:41-52)

A comedian that I follow on Twitter is Cristela. She's from the Valley and had her own sitcom on ABC for a little while last year. On the 24th she tweeted, "i'm dreading the 26th because that's when they start playing all that Easter music." That made me laugh and smile, because she reflects what a lot of people reflect; once the gifts are open, Christmas is over. Wrong. This was made true last night as we took our grandkids on a walking tour of our neighbor's Christmas lights. "Why are these lights still on, since Christmas is over?" I told them in the Christian calendar Christmas is not over and won't be for a while. The adventure continues!

The gospel for this Sunday deals with Jesus as a boy, lost from His parents during a pilgrimage they took to the holy city of Jerusalem. The family had joined other relatives and friends from their town to visit the holy city for the Passover. Once the festival was over, they started their walk back. Mary assumed Joseph knew where the boy was, and Joseph assumed Mary knew where Jesus was. They both agreed that He must be with their relatives and friends. Wrong. Jesus was not with family and friends. He was lost! The most terrifying feeling of a parent or grandparent came home to their hearts. They journeyed back to Jerusalem and it took three days to finally find Him in the temple. Yikes. "Let's look here; let's look there!" They started at the Galleria, went downtown, back to the Loop, the toy store, the candy store; finally, let's look in church. That's where He was. Listening to the teachers, and asking them questions. The temple's cafeteria probably fed him, and at night the dorms must have had an extra bed for the boy. They were amazed at His ability to understand religious and theological things, and they loved His answers. Interesting how some of these very teachers years later would be the ones who would seek to find a way to trap, arrest, and kill Him.

After Christmas, like we did before Christmas, we were on a search. We started in the Galleria (or La Palmera or Ingram or North Park), we tried downtown (Wal-Mart or Family Dollar or Dollar General), we tried the toy store(s), candy store(s), and why do all stores have candy?? Even in the Ladies section of department stores, while you're paying, why not buy an expensive, but very delicious chocolate bar of candy? We looked everywhere, and some of us finally made it to the Christmas Eve service. Did we find what we were looking for?

Jesus is easy to find, but difficult to follow. He loves us and offers us new life, but demands our very lives of love and service to Him and to His. Are we willing? Or, as the hymn asks, "Are Ye Able, Said the Master?"

PRAYER: Yes, we are able, our spirits are thine. Lord, our spirits are Thine. Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty. In Jesus we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed Christmas adventure today!

Eradio Valverde PS Prayer Updates, for those who prayed for the Stan Foreman family, our brother went home to the Lord yesterday at 11:25 a.m. Prayers for his wife, Pat, their two daughters and their families. For those who prayed for safe travel for my family; all are well and with us for now. Thanks be to God for God's presence and power in our daily needs!

Christ is Born!

Image from interruptingthesilence.com

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:1-20)

The universal gospel of Luke records the birth of Jesus as being for all people. The clue is that he includes in his Nativity story, the visit of the Christ child by shepherds, the most universal of occupations of the day. He also gives as much historical setting as he can, recording the name of the Emperor who ordered a census of all the world, or that controlled by Rome, which included Israel. The decree ordered each person to return to their town to be registered there. Joseph, being of the house and lineage of David, returns to Bethlehem, taking with him, his betrothed Mary. He sought lodging in the inns of the area only to be told there was no room. The only place he could secure for the night was a stable, where Mary delivered the son promised to her. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, laid Him in a manger. A meager beginning of this Son of God. Luke records that in fields nearby, shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and "the glory of the Lord shone around them," which terrified them, but the angel said, "Do not be afraid; for see- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." And the angel gives them the way to find the child. Then an angelic choir appears singing praises to God. The shepherds go and find the child and praised God. Mary heard their words and treasured them in her heart, as the shepherds returned to work with the glory of God in their hearts.

This took place just as much as for you and me as well as the shepherds. God acted on our behalf, and brought to the world, He who would bring about the reconciliation between God and us. Just last night in a restitution center near here, one of our pastors was there with the prisoners watching the end of the movie, "God's Not Dead," and one of them, "Joe," asked about being baptized. This pastor explained to Joe the meaning of baptism and Joe asked if he could be baptized right then and there. He was baptized, and the glory of the Lord shone round about those men and that pastor. No, God is not dead, neither is the work being done for those who still seek God and being made right with God.

Merry Christmas, dear friend; may the Lord bless you and keep you is my prayer for this holiday season.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the work still being done in those who need You. Come and make this season special by blessing this dear reader and their family and needs. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed Merry Christmas!

Love,

Eradio Valverde

This is a Time for Singing, So, Sing!

Image from singcambridge.co.uk

Sing God a brand-new song! Earth and everyone in it, sing! Sing to God - worship God! Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea, Take the news of his glory to the lost, News of his wonders to one and all! For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs. His terrible beauty makes the gods look cheap; Pagan gods are mere tatters and rags. God made the heavens - Royal splendor radiates from him, A powerful beauty sets him apart. Bravo, God, Bravo! Everyone join in the great shout: Encore! In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might. Bring gifts and celebrate, Bow before the beauty of God, Then to your knees - everyone worship! Get out the message - God Rules! He put the world on a firm foundation; He treats everyone fair and square. Let's hear it from Sky, With Earth joining in, And a huge round of applause from Sea. Let Wilderness turn cartwheels, Animals, come dance, Put every tree of the forest in the choir - An extravaganza before God as he comes, As he comes to set everything right on earth, Set everything right, treat everyone fair. (Psalm 96)

I used to walk our two dogs in San Antonio, Lucy and Deacon. Deacon was the first gift that Nellie ever asked of me and she wanted a Golden Retriever. Lucy was a hand-me-down dog that our daughter was asked to babysit and then the owner didn't want her back. Both were great dogs. When I walked them I would sing to them, "Home on the Range." The first time I sang, Deacon looked at Lucy as if to laughingly say, "Can you get a load of this guy, trying to sing? To us??" And I would continue and sing, and every time after that as I started, Deacon had to give Lucy that knowing glance. But I love to sing, especially around this time of year. The carols and hymns for this season are awesome and I love to hear singing of these songs as often as I can. Singing is a pure expression of joy and love, and more so after reading this modern version of the ancient psalm.

We should use our voices to praise God and to tell others of the joy and love we have found in God. Our celebrations are missing a key element if we don't sing.

The message today: Sing! It'll do your heart (and God's!) good!

PRAYER: I love you, Lord! Let me make a joyful and loving noise as I sing today.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord as you stop right now to sing!

Love,

Eradio Valverde

Living a Self-Controlled, Upright, Godly Life

Image from shareyouressays.com

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14)

We're just hours away from the celebration of the greatest event the world has ever known; the birth of God's Son, our Messiah, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Yet, for many, this is a time of rush and hurry to get the last-minute gift for that hard-to-please person on their list; others are rushing to the grocery store to fight the crowds that must prepare a feast to the liking of even the pickiest of eaters. What if we sat down, took a deep breath and prayed this prayer: "Lord, help me to live a self-controlled, upright, and Godly life; for You have taken care of all the rest through Jesus, amen."?

Titus writes these words because he knew all about life and all about God. He knew that through Christ, God has taken care of us with the most important aspects of our life: Our souls are saved; with the right attitude, we become people for all people to bring them along this journey of life and that in abundance; and as we work for the good of all, we await the final glory that is coming. It does require our part as illustrated in the photo selected for today's reading; We must find the right balance for our lives, a certain calmness that fights against anxiety; the determination to move forward in spite of unexpected setbacks or illnesses, the confidence that says, "I can do this" that comes from God's Holy Spirit in our lives, and the willpower that is ours for the taking by asking God to help us. That is self-control. For upright, God's Spirit helps us make the right and best decisions for our lives; staying away from the harmful to us and others choices that come our way. For the Godly, that comes from the time we spend with God in prayer and scripture reading and study. If we start there, the other two come easier.

PRAYER: LORD, it was the birth of a tiny baby that has brought all this traffic to our areas, shoppers to our stores, and a hurried pace. Many have forgotten that, but I pray not to be among those; I want to be those Titus mentioned who have it altogether because of You. This I pray in He born for us, Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

We Who Have Walked in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light!

But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9: 1-7)

My brother is a photographer. He used to use real film, the kind when you put it into his camera, he had to be in a room completely devoid of light. Once he visited us when we lived in Edinburg, and the only room I knew like that was Room 102 in the Campus Ministry Building owned by the Diocese of Brownsville, which in those days, the UMC rented space for my office and our group's activities. By putting towels on the bottom of the door he had complete darkness to load new film into his camera. This is a positive use of darkness, and I can think of very few other positive uses of it. Usually darkness is not conducive for walking. Spiritual darkness is even worse for our walk through life. It was for that reason that this week builds us up for Christmas; There is no longer any gloom for us to be in anguish, no longer any need to walk in darkness or live in darkness, on us a great light has shined! God has increased our joy and we are to rejoice in what God has done for us: "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom." This is Christmas. This is the act of God on our behalf.

Rejoice. I will say it again, rejoice.

Rejoice, indeed!

PRAYER: LORD, thank You! In Jesus we have all we need, and we are in the Light, Your light! Thank You. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

P.S. I slept yesterday until 6 a.m. And today until 7. Hmm. This is a bit late for some of you. I pray it's the right message, right on time.

It Matters Not Where You're From

Image from bobcornwall.com

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace. (Micah 5:2-5a)

"O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie..." It's a question we get asked from time to time, "Where are you from?" I read just yesterday someone who said, "Though I don't actually live in Dallas, I like to say that I live in Dallas, because no one has heard of my little town." We believe the one asking will immediately put on his/her GPS or Maps on in his/her brain and locate the general vicinity of where we are from. The years I served in Mission, Texas, I would say, "I'm from Mission, which is close to McAllen," which didn't do anything for those from north of the Mason-Dixon line who had never heard of either place. Sometimes I would have to add, "It's about 10 miles from the border with Mexico."

Little Bethlehem, quoted first here in Micah, later in the gospel that shares that part of Jesus' story, and later in the song that I began this devotional with; it was considered among the smallest of the towns, from the smallest of the clans of Judah. Yet, out of it would come one who was to rule Israel; in fact, One known now as the King of Kings, and the Prince of Peace. It didn't matter where He was from, but Who He Was. God can take the smallest or most insignificant (in the eyes of the world) and transform that into something of greatness and importance. What matters, as Micah shares, was the "strength of the Lord" with which He has used to "feed His flock," and "the majesty of the name of the Lord His God," which also was a part of that feeding. Great was this man from the small town that those who believe in Him now live secure, and the greatness of the Lord extends to "the ends of the earth." And He is, Jesus, "the one of peace."

Advent means reorienting ourselves to where we are, and where we are going. More importantly, with Who we're making the journey. Our life's journey as believers centers solely on Jesus, who will lead us safely to where He would have us be.

PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, to where I am, but lead me to where I should be. In Your name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God's Way, Not Ours

Image from christianglobe.com

Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, "See, God, I have come to do your will, O God' (in the scroll of the book it is written of me)." When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10: 5-10)

I have come to know the universal face of kids during this season is the angry frown. It doesn't matter what store I'm in, I see it everywhere, even Sam's Club. I had to chuckle as I saw it on a boy, about 4 or 5 years old. He was trailing his mom and his face said it all: I am mad at you! You don't love me enough to buy me that toy! I NEED THAT TOY! It is also saying, "I did not get my way."

The passage today is all about God getting His way. Jesus' entrance into the world was about fulfilling God's plan for humanity, not humanity's plan for God. The world, at least the religious one, knew that sins were deadly, and so an animal would be sacrificed, debt paid, sin gone. But as the saying goes, it was really, "no skin off of our back." The animal paid it all. Unless that animal was a pet, or you have a strong feeling towards the suffering and treatment of animals, most people just saw it as complying with what was expected. Sacrifice over. Go home.

Jesus said, "I have come to do Your will." He said this to God so that God's will of being reconciled with us could take place with the ultimate sacrifice; the death of God's only begotten Son. That death paid the final price for sin. Every time we see the cross we should remember that on that instrument of death came our life, and that in abundance. We cannot celebrate Christmas without thinking of Easter. The two, thank God, go hand in hand with what was needed for our sake. The question remains, what are we going to do about it, to glorify God?

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for Your love that insisted on Your way for us. It cost a great price, the death of Jesus, but that only demonstrates the great love You have for us. Help us receive it, help us ask forgiveness of our sins, and help us be the people You called us to be. In Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Magnify the Lord!

Image from thejesusquestion.org

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." (Luke 1:39-55)

For our grandson Caleb Eradio's birthday, we got him a microscope. He is a boy fascinated with science and having never had one, was amazed by what he could see with this new gift. He saw brine shrimp that came with the set, and he said he should feed those to his lizards. His mom explained the state they were in and probably would not be good food for his lizards. His mom also said they could see other microscopic things, including a human specimen, to which he replied, "Who would want to stick that thing in their mouth??"

Making seen the unseen is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit in us making seen the presence and power of the Lord Jesus to others as we see in this passage. Mary, fresh from hearing news of her own pregnancy, rushes to see her cousin Elizabeth, whom she heard was also expecting a child. Upon entering the room and extending her greeting to Elizabeth, "the child leaped in her womb." Elizabeth was then filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed that Mary was blessed among women and blessed was the fruit of her womb, to which Mary replies with what is known as The Magnificat, a desire to make known what God had done in her. Her praise included the words, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant." She goes on to list that which God had and would do for all of His people; truly an Advent message of the coming of the Christ child.

We read that list and we must ponder where in the list we find ourselves? Are we among the proud, guilty of self-grandiose thoughts? We are about to be scattered! Or are we among the powerful? We might be brought down! But if we are among the lowly, the hungry; God came for us! Christ came to lift up the lowly and to feed the hungry - our lives should now do as Mary did, magnify the Lord!

Let us live our lives today and all days, in ways that bring the unseen into the visible, especially the things that God has done, and is doing for each of us.

PRAYER: Let it be so in my life, loving God, that I may truly and wonderfully magnify You. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Sing! A Joyful Noise Only Adds to Life!

Image from brucemctague.com

So sing, Daughter Zion! Raise the rafters, Israel! Daughter Jerusalem, be happy! celebrate! God has reversed his judgments against you and sent your enemies off chasing their tails. From now on, God is Israel's king, in charge at the center. There's nothing to fear from evil ever again! God Is Present Among You Jerusalem will be told: "Don't be afraid. Dear Zion, don't despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. "The accumulated sorrows of your exile will dissipate. I, your God, will get rid of them for you. You've carried those burdens long enough. At the same time, I'll get rid of all those who've made your life miserable. I'll heal the maimed; I'll bring home the homeless. In the very countries where they were hated they will be venerated. On Judgment Day I'll bring you back home - a great family gathering! You'll be famous and honored all over the world. You'll see it with your own eyes - all those painful partings turned into reunions!" God's Promise. (Zephaniah 4:14-20 The Message)

Yesterday, I was sitting in a doctor's office where Christmas music was being played rather louder than normal offices, and a dear old lady came in and without thinking, started to sing the song, caught herself and stopped; the chorus came back on, and she almost started to sing. The nurse came to get her and said, "You like Christmas music, don't you?" The old lady smiles and said, "Oh, yes!"

What happened to singing out loud? Has proper etiquette and behavior stifled our bursting out in song? I love being around children that haven't learned that lesson yet; whether they know the real words or not, there they go, joining in song. Pharrell Williams had a great hit song, "Happy" that made so many children just drop what they were doing to start dancing and singing, "Because I'm happy!" Advent is just that type of season as well; the prophet says, "Start singing again, people of God!" He lists the reasons for our need to sing, and encourages us to sing! There is no judgment or condemnation against you, so sing! Your enemies have hightailed it to the hills, so sing! There's nothing to fear, so sing! There is no reason to be afraid, not even of your own voice, so sing! Your prodigal days are over, you've made your way home, and God has given you the Welcome Home, Child embrace, dang it! - SING! God has taken your sorrows and removed them, so sing. The burdens that you've carried have been taken away, so sing. Those who opposed or afflicted you, gone! So, sing! God is healing the sick; bringing in the homeless from the cold, so sing. Hatred has turned into welcoming love, so sing. The day of reunion is coming, and you know there will be great singing there, so sing.

PRAYER: Lord, let me sing today out loud and proud, of the many things You have done for me and mine. The list is too long, but I am blessed, and let me bless You and many with the sounds of praise. Help me sing in Jesus' Name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! And sing!!

Eradio Valverde

I Will Trust God, and Not Be Afraid

Image from youtube.com

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." (Isaiah 12:2-6 NIV)

Our grandson called us last night and he was excited! "We're having a book fair!" We love hearing that all our grandkids love to read, and just yesterday I read an article that says that the more books one has in ones home, the more likely the children of that household will love to read, and that is the truth with our daughters, and now with their children. He continued, "All we have to do is put which books we want on a wish list, and we'll get them!" His mom chuckled and said, "You still have to buy them." But, what faith and joy was his! Precisely why Jesus said we must have childlike faith when it comes to matters of faith and trusting God. The prophet is saying that having God as our salvation is the basis of living a life of trust and not being afraid. Have you ever been so afraid that your life was paralyzed? I know some who have been so afraid they stop functioning as adults or even humans. Some won't leave their houses. Some won't go to church anymore. Some are afraid to see their doctors, and some turn to stimulants to numb that fear. Case in point: Yesterday on our morning walk, Nellie and I were stopped by a woman in a car, who told us she had circled the block twice because a young man on the bus bench was slumped over. I ran to check on him and he was non responsive. The lady was on the phone with non-emergency 911, and I told her he needed an ambulance. We ran back to the young man, and an EMT just off duty, obviously with a scanner in his truck, came out and started care for the man. He turned to me and said he was seeing this almost on a daily basis, and sometimes more than once a day.

There is the work that is before us; to find those who have not yet found that salvation from fear, whose lives are marked and marred by fear and foolish decisions. They have no songs to sing, compared to what Isaiah says, those who know the Lord as their strength have songs to sing, they have deep wells of living water found in that salvation. They also have an attitude of thanksgiving, thankful for all that God has done. Yesterday I also read that said the three types of people with whom should surround yourself: The inspired. The excited. The grateful.

Are you in at least one of those categories because of your salvation in the Lord?

PRAYER: Loving God, inspire my life to be an inspiration to others. Grant me the faith that excites me about what You are doing in and around me. And help me to be grateful for all things, especially my salvation. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Rejoice Times Two!

Image from crossmap.com

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV)

Rejoice is a verb; an action word that means "to show great joy or delight." It comes as a command from the Apostle Paul, who later in this same chapter will talk about his joy even in the midst of what most of us would call joyless situations. He knew the secret to rejoicing is no secret at all, but to know the Lord Jesus Christ. And it's so important, he said it twice! "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" You and I have heard the expression that some Christians are so sour, it seems they were baptized in lemon juice. Ouch! Is that you? It shouldn't be! You and I know the source of all joy and that is God; and to know that God loves us and walks with us should be enough to say that what Paul is commanding is possible and needful for any life: Rejoice times two!

Paul's attitude was that Christ was near. He had seen the Risen Christ in his encounter with Jesus, and so he knew Jesus was real and alive and nearby. He stresses that in the verses that follow his command to rejoice. His presence should be enough to dispel our anxiety about anything; knowing that prayer is connecting with Him and His power and might. Paul knew more about Jesus through prayer, and so he knew and trusted the power of prayer. He knew that as we pray we can petition, or ask, what it is we believe we need, but to do so with thanksgiving. And the end result will always be the gift of God's peace even in the midst of what we think overcomes us. God's peace will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. What more could we need?

PRAYER: Come, peace of God to this heart and mind. Guard my heart and grant me peace. And this shall cause me to rejoice, and rejoice. Amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Advent: Get Ready!

Image from agnusday.org

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. (Luke 3:7-18 NIV)

John Wesley had a simple, but powerful question for those wanting to join the weekly class meeting of Methodists: "Are you will to flee the coming wrath of God?" Gulp. How many of us would join a Sunday school class that would ask that of us by the teacher standing at the door? How many Sunday school teachers would dare ask that question? But perhaps they should, and we certainly should ask ourselves that question. John the Baptist did. His message of good news was for all to repent for the kingdom of God was near. This struck many to the core of their being and they sought to be forgiven and baptized clean of their sins. But John wants to make sure they're ready aware of what they are asking. He then shares, as the sheep above discuss, actions to match the decision: "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." In other words, live a life that tells others that we have been forgiven and so can they. Sin no longer needs to keep visiting our minds from years ago; we have been forgiven and we should live like it. John also says we can't hide behind what our parents or grandparents have done: "'We have Abraham as our father.'" That counts for nothing; you've heard the expression, "God has no grandchildren"? It's true! All of us are sons and daughters if we surrender to God.

John continues, share with those in need; do right in your workplace; be straightforward in your dealings; do not tell lies about others. These are but the beginning of a solid foundation for Christ-centered living.

Then John speaks of Jesus as He would who come in a powerful way, Who would baptize with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and Who would clean out those who had not been living as they should and separate them from those who had; those who heard this, still had a chance to turn their lives around. This is the good news!

PRAYER: Loving God, I seek repentance and new direction for my life. Set me on the path I should follow, to be the person You called me to be. Help me in my home, with my family and friends, help me to be the best at my work. And help me accept Your forgiveness, so that the memory of previous, forgiven sins, stays where it should, in the past. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Respond to God's Giving

Image from Isaiahministries.wordpress.com

"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion - do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6:25-34 The Message)

Take a deep breath. If you were able to, thank God, because you are still alive. If you woke up in a bed this morning, thank God, for you are blessed beyond so many in the world. If you have a choice of what to have for breakfast, thank God. If you're going to have a delicious meal at noon or this evening, thank God; you are in that small percentage of the world that has choices and plenty of them, on what to eat. If you have the chance to open your Bible this morning and read from it, thank God, for there are those places where believers have no access to Bibles and some even suffer for wanting one. If you have a place at which to worship God, do so! For there are those in the world who still must hide as they worship. I say all this because today is a day to give thanks. The emphasis is not on turkey nor food; it is on God. We thank the Lord for all He has shared with us. Some do it around the table, some do it in a worship setting, some on their knees by their bed. Serve a great portion of worship and time to God, and you're on the right path to a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving Day.

Re-read the above passage and see all that Jesus shared about worry. I love the line, "relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving." Amen!

Happy Thanksgiving dear friends!

Love,

Eradio Valverde

"Watch For It: 'The Time is Coming'"

Image from meredithgould.blogspot.com

"'Watch for this: The time is coming' - God's Decree - 'when I will keep the promise I made to the families of Israel and Judah. 15 When that time comes, I will make a fresh and true shoot sprout from the David-Tree. He will run this country honestly and fairly. He will set things right. 16 That's when Judah will be secure and Jerusalem live in safety. The motto for the city will be, "God Has Set Things Right for Us." (Jeremiah 33:14-16 The Message)

Carly Simon years ago sang a song called "Anticipation." It was used in a ketchup commercial to describe how rich and slow out of the bottle this wonderful condiment took to reach our food. Carly Simon also wrote and sang a song called, "You're So Vain," and for years people wondered who the song was about. One man paid her $500,000 years ago to know who the man was in the song. This year, she said that in her new book, she would reveal who the man was. I told my wife I was buying the book! Then, about a week ago, she revealed in the news, who this man was. It only took me 43 years to know who this man was, that was so vain. In other news: Christ will come again; He came at the first Nativity, and Scripture and our Communion ritual affirms what I just said: Christ will come again.

The awaiting of Christ's arrival is part of the prophet Jeremiah's declaration to God's people, who awaited the fulfillment of God's promise to them. Their cyclic living of being right with God, to not being right with God, took them on an interesting spiritual, political, and historical journey. They needed God was the bottom line, as it is with us. God declares, through the prophet, "I will keep the promise," and then proceeds to give the clues of that fulfillment: A fresh and true shoot from the tree of David. A coming ruler who will rule honestly and fairly. One who will set things right. One who will usher in a time of security and safety, so much so, the motto of the people will be "God Has Set Things Right for Us." And, indeed, God has, through the birth of Jesus Christ, His ministry, His promises and teachings, and the relationship He desires with you and me. A relationship that is a life lived in service that helps in the bringing about safety and security for all people (no exceptions or conditions needed!).

PRAYER: Lord, as I prepare for this Advent Season, prepare my heart to know that You have already come, You will come again; I have but to believe and live a life worthy of Your life and teaching for me. This I ask in Thy Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING. If you're traveling today, please be safe, and remember to give thanks for all God has shared with us!

I love and appreciate you!

Eradio Valverde

Let God's Love in You Splash Out on Others!

Image from lori78.wordpress.com

What would be an adequate thanksgiving to offer God for all the joy we experience before him because of you? We do what we can, praying away, night and day, asking for the bonus of seeing your faces again and doing what we can to help when your faith falters. May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers. (Thessalonians 3:9-13 The Message)

I remember my first visit to Sea World. It was quite the experience, especially when we saw the Killer Whale show. As were sought seats we were told we should be careful not to sit in the Splash Zone for we would get wet. I saw those excitedly walking towards where we were told not to sit. But once I saw the show, remember how hot the day was, I thought, "Those folks knew exactly what they wanted, and they got it!" They saw the show, got a refreshing splash of cold water and can now stay cool for a bit.

Advent is about love. God showed His love for the world, as John 3:16 so beautifully shares, in sending His only begotten Son, Jesus our Lord. We prepare to remember that first arrival, we continue to do the work before us as we await the coming of the Son again. Paul's words share that his joy was being with those who loved the Lord and who had come to faith in the work he shared among them. He said it was Thanksgiving Day all the time when he thought about them, and had made it part of his prayer to see these brothers and sisters again. He prayed that God would open the road that led to a reunion with them. But, what I love about this passage is his reference to love: "And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all His followers."

There should be a Splash Zone around us! We should be so filled with love that those who come near us will be splashed with the overflowing love that God is pouring into our hearts; and that love can serve to bring strength to us to continue our work for the Lord with joyful and grateful hearts. Our prayers will serve to bring us purity and confidence to continue the work of reaching those not yet reached. And when He does return, what a joyous reunion it will be with Jesus and those who followed Him.

Dear friend, God loves you enough to pour out His love on you; love God back by splashing that love on others.

PRAYER: Loving God, pour out a double portion of love on me, and let me splash that love out on those who are foreign to such displays of love. Help me gain strength and purity to make ready those who love You for Your return to the earth. In the meantime, there is room in my heart for You, Lord Jesus; in Thy name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Image from angusday.com

"It will seem like all hell has broken loose - sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking. "And then - then! - they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style - a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!" He told them a story. "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here - when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too - these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. "But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man." (Luke 21: 25-36 The Message)

It was comical. I wore my blue blazer to church yesterday. I felt in my side pocket and discovered an energy bar I had taken with me to a day-long meeting that only took four days to complete! But, snacks were provided and I didn't eat the bar. I pulled it out and showed Nellie and said, "In case I get hungry during church!" She smiled and I thanked God for a wife that puts up with me! We worshiped at FUMC of San Marcos. We had been in town for helping our daughter, Carli, with an event at her new job and we had not seen our other daughter nor granddaughter. She called her grandma to make sure we were going to her church, and added she could not wait to see us. What more motivation did we need? We arrived at church and filled up our row. As the church proceeded, our granddaughter, Saraí Evangelina told her grandmother she was hungry. I heard that, smiled, and sent the energy bar her way. What made me smile was that she knelt on the floor to eat her snack unnoticed by others. And that act was brought to mind as I read this passage.

Advent begins next Sunday. It is that portion of the Christian year meant for preparation. It is a twofold preparation, for we are called to remember all that God did for us in the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we are also called to remember that He will come again. In this passage from Luke, in a modern version called The Message, we see the description in a way that perhaps we've not seen nor heard. The signs are there, Jesus says, and it will seem like everything is out of control, even "The powers-that-be (will be) quaking." And here's the part I like, "And then - then! - they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style - a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet." Yes! We're taught to seek shelter and pretty much hide when we hear the sirens or alarms of coming storms, and that is what we should do. When this event comes, those who are still living, who love and trust the Lord, will know that He is on the way. And if that is us, who might still be here, are called to stand to welcome Jesus, not kneel or hide or run to shelter - we'll know, and we'll stand to join the victory celebration of He who has returned.

What may make some run and hide is that they are not ready spiritually. Their lives continued to be centered on themselves and their pleasures, not on God and serving those who needed their help - these will have reason to hide and seek shelter. They will be caught off-guard even though they have read or heard the words, "Be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping." (Ouch! Did He say, "shopping?" During this time of year when Friday is THE shopping day??) Jesus continues, "Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once." We are lovingly called to stay awake, alert, and at work, doing what our baptism should have called us to be: Servants of the Most High God, loving everyone, and giving of ourselves to serve God and God's children; the frightened, the dispossessed, the refugee in our midst, the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and imprisoned. It's all there in the gospels.

Pray constantly to have strength, Jesus continued, and stay smart enough to make it through, even to the end of this world, to enter into the new one with Him.

PRAYER: Loving God, I'm praying even now for strength, for wisdom, courage, and boldness - so much left to do, and it starts now. I want to be ready, but I want to be working even now, so that when You return, I will join others on my feet, to welcome You; knowing that I welcome You every time I give of myself to help someone who is lost, who feels like the least, or has in their opinion, ended up "last." This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong and precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

You're a Child of the King!

Image is from verseaday.com

God is King, robed and ruling, God is robed and surging with strength. And yes, the world is firm, immovable, Your throne ever firm - you're Eternal! Sea storms are up, God, Sea storms wild and roaring, Sea storms with thunderous breakers. Stronger than wild sea storms, Mightier than sea-storm breakers, Mighty God rules from High Heaven. What you say goes - it always has. "Beauty" and "Holy" mark your palace rule, God, to the very end of time. (Psalm 93 The Message)

You've heard the expression, "P.K."? It means "Preacher's Kid," and while that designation wasn't always one of fondness, more of a label and stereotype, *|FNAME|*, you're a "K.K.!" A King's Kid! All of the scriptures for this week have pointed to Christ the King, and the awesomeness that implies for us of faith. Today's psalm reminds us that God is King, and as children of the Living God, you and I are His children. What an honor and responsibility at the same time; to be the child of the Living God, and to serve God with that blessedness that is ours.

At the beginning of the week I shared how those of us who live in this country do not know what it means to serve under an earthly king; and the monarchs that we have seen in our lifetime have left something to be desired. Yet, we've seen glimmers of hope in how some of the offspring of the monarchs have tried to give back in service and work, to bring some hope to the lives of those less fortunate. We have the model and example of Jesus, true Son of the King of the Universe and all that is, and how He gave of Himself for us.

Our role as a King's Kid is to bring honor and glory to God, and to invite others to join the family. God desires the best for us and we should work to bring others to come and know of that great love that God has for us. Listen again to the key words of this psalm; God is King, robed and ruling over us, and God is not a king of weakness, but of surging strength; seated on an eternal throne. All that is around us may move and change, and even go away, but God remains ever true, ever real, and ever present with, and for, us. Imagine seeing all that is from God as "Beauty" and "Holy," starting with us.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for being our King. Let me live a life that brings You honor and glory, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus is King!

Image is from biblepeadia.wordpress.com

As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:9-10; 13-14)

I laughed when I read this passage in Daniel, because earlier in the day I had read Matthew's account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, because in it, as you will remember, the devil tries to get Jesus to worship him and if he did, he would give Jesus dominion of all the world's capitals. The nerve of the devil to try to give away things that are not his, but that's how he works. In these pages of the Old Testament, the author is sharing the vision he received; among all the thrones set in place, one he called "an Ancient One, took his throne." The description fits our vision of God as He was seen in the description of the Scriptures; "Clothing white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames." To this one, comes whom we believe to be Jesus, who receives from "the Ancient One...dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and His kingdom is one that shall never be destroyed."

I believe this is a prophetic word fulfilled in Christ Jesus years before Jesus was even born. God shared this vision as a foretelling of hope and the power of the reign of Jesus over all people, all nations, and all languages. His reign over us will not pass away and Jesus' kingship will not be destroyed. If we think about it, that's our connection to infinity, our faith and hope in the One who will never go away, never die, and never fail us. Our spirits are connected to eternity and we are under the dominion of the King who never fail us.

PRAYER: Eternal God, speak to my heart and mind as I read this which came to us from so many years ago, but still is as relevant and fresh today. I want to live in a way that blesses You and Yours. I truly believe and accept that Jesus is the King of my life. It's in His name that I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day.

Eradio Valverde

Jesus the King is coming back!

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:4b-8) New Revised Standard Version

Our firstborn was raised on Disney stories and videos. A common theme ran through them, obviously, as we sat with her during a worship service of our annual conference in Perkins Chapel of Southwestern University. The choir was magnificent, from La Trinidad UMC of San Antonio, and they were singing "The King Is Coming." Our baby, who was not yet two, heard the words and sat up, looked behind her and loudly said, "Oh my God, get me out of here! The king is coming!" Disney's kings and queens were not to her liking, at least from the stories she had been exposed to.

Jesus, as the writer above says is "the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." And He's coming back! To those who do not know Him when he returns, their reaction may very well be like our daughter's, one of unexpected fear - they are not ready and they fear what may be their fate. But this fate has been their own choosing, not God's. God desires a relationship with everyone of us; some say yes, others say no. It is our job to make sure others come to know Jesus as the King of Kings, and especially, as our king. Jesus also declares as His witness that He is the first and the last, the one present at creation, and the one who will be present at the end of time; the Alpha and the Omega. His desire is to take all of us with Him to the land of no time, where eternity will reign under God's control. Are you ready? Do you know God's love through Jesus?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I do desire a relationship with You. I want to be called yours now, and for all time. Help me life be in order; help my life to be a blessing to others. This i pray in the Name of He Who is my King, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus is King of Kings!

Image is from iloveheartstudio.com

Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?" Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?" Pilate said, "Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?" "My kingdom," said Jesus, "doesn't consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But I'm not that kind of king, not the world's kind of king." Then Pilate said, "So, are you a king or not?" Jesus answered, "You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice." (John 18:33-37 The Message)

Say it loud, and say it proud, Jesus is my King! Most of us reading this, and perhaps saying it out loud right now, have never lived under a king, or queen for that matter. We have elected our leaders, and in this country that can be a kind of messy endeavor; but it's ours and may be the best there is. But to know that one person has absolute rule over your life could be a troubling thing; but in the case of Jesus, it is a comforting thing - Jesus is the King of Kings. In the passage we read today, Pilate is confronting Jesus. It's a Passion story, but it is a universal, always-relevant story, where Pilate, not knowing what to do with Him, has to ask, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'? In re-reading the Gospel of Matthew this week, Nellie and I came across the visit of the Magi, who arrive in the capital city to ask the then-"king" Herod, "Where is He born king of the Jews?" which we all know was the wrong question to the wrong guy. He ordered his wise men to tell him all about this birth, who direct the magi to Bethlehem, and the star took them directly to the child Jesus. Here, yet another king is confronted with the news found in Scripture about One who would be king, and he asked Jesus, "Is it You?" Jesus in turn, asks Pilate, "Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?" Pilate asks, "Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priest turned you over to me. What did you do?" Pilate's troubled reign in the land of Jews was that he was not a Jew; added to his troubles, the Jewish leaders do not want Jesus alive and so turn Him over to Pilate. Jesus further explains that HIs kingdom is not one easily understood or seen. If Jesus was an earthly king, like the parade on Palm Sunday wanted him to be, Jesus says that people would be fighting for Him not to be turned over to the Romans. I love this version's reply: "I'm not that kind of king, not the world's kind of king...I was born so that I could witness to the truth...Everyone who cares for truth,who has any feelings for the truth, recognizes my voice."

Dear Friend, do you care for truth? Do you recognize Jesus' voice? These are important questions as our churches will this coming Sunday celebrate Christ the King Sunday, but more importantly, in your life, as you continue to make decisions and seek direction for your life, you can't do better than to acknowledge the need in your life for truth, as only Jesus can provide it, and have no better voice from which to draw inspiration, than the voice of He, our King, the King of Kings.

PRAYER: King Jesus, hear my plea: I want to know truth, the liberating, set-me-free truth from my sin and my past, and I want to hear Your voice, the voice that will lead me on the path to the fullness of life, and one day, to life with You. I pray this in Your Name, Jesus my Lord, my King, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Happy From the Inside Out!

Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you. I say to God, "Be my Lord!" Without you, nothing makes sense. And these God-chosen lives all around - what splendid friends they make! Don't just go shopping for a god. Gods are not for sale. I swear I'll never treat god-names like brand-names. My choice is you, God, first and only. And now I find I'm your choice! You set me up with a house and yard. And then you made me your heir! The wise counsel God gives when I'm awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I'll stick with God; I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go. I'm happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed. You canceled my ticket to hell - that's not my destination! Now you've got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I'm on the right way. (Psalm 16)

Happy from the inside out! What a feeling! The psalmist, in this version, The Message version of the Bible, sure describes well what every believer should know, the true, deep-down happiness found in the Lord. One finds acceptance, love, shelter, protection, blessing, and countless other things too numerous to list, just from knowing and having a relationship with God. I can try to connect it to a relationship that Nellie and I have with all our grandchildren; we love being with them all, and trying to show that love to them in all the ways we can. As they grow older, we rejoice and think back to what they used to do, and pray that we have life to see them when they mature and bless God with their choices and actions. Just two days ago, we were able to visit our oldest grandchild in San Marcos. She was to be in her first play, and it was a role she auditioned for, and got; Jolly the Elf. She knows that in grandpa she has a sucker for buying her almost anything she wants. Even before we saw her, we stopped at a store for some things for our dog. Given this was Target, Nellie's favorite store, she could not leave the store without a purchase of "something for our baby." Yes, it happens often. When we first entered the store, I saw a white and black faux fur vest that I said, "I bet Sarita would love that." Nellie just smiled. She found what she thought Sarita would like and called our daughter to make sure we had the right sizes. Her mom says, "You know what she'd really, really like? A white and black fur vest." I laughed and said, "I knew it!" We found a sales associate and found out the only one left was on a mannequin and asked if we had checked the size on it. Yes, the right size, off the mannequin and into the cart. The gift made our girl happy on the inside out, and from the outside in. This morning we received a picture of her wearing it, since it is cold enough now to wear.

God does the same things for you and me. God provides just the right blessing we need. But more importantly, a careful read of the psalm says some other things that God does that should bless our day: God has canceled our ticket to hell; it's no longer our destination - our feet are on the right path, the one leading to fullness of life, and life eternal. Smile. This is your blessing! A loving gift from God!

PRAYER: Lord, please see my heart smiling for all You do. I'm happy from the inside out knowing You and from the outside in, in serving You. Thank You! I pray in Jesus' wonderful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Be Wise and Shine!

"At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:1-3)

Dear Friend, you are the brightest bulb some people will see today, so shine brightly! I love the picture above because it shows how those who know the Lord Jesus can shine even in the darkness of those who do not yet know Him. You are the sermon that might touch a life; yours is the example and model of those who are seeking for hope and direction. Shine!

Why? This ancient text from the book of Daniel speaks of that which is coming. A time of "great anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence," but those whose name appears in the book, will escape the anguish. This will also be a time of awakening, "some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Hear the words: "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." We have heard the news; we have received them with joy and gladness and I pray our lives have turned around to follow Him who set us free. Our job is to serve Him in a way that shines before others. You know people like that, be like them. Their joy of life is abundant, enough to share. Their hope and peace is contagious, so should ours be. Their hope is apparent, and those who see it, want it. Live in that manner!

PRAYER: Loving God, let me be wise and shine. My name is in the Book of Life, put there in blood by Jesus and His blood. Let me live a life that guides others to the fullness and abundance of life. Help me overcome whatever I think stands in my way, so that not one more person be lost to the truth and love that is Yours for all people. This I ask in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Perfect Gift

And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God," and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet." For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds," he also adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:11-25)

Here November has barely begun, and the emphasis for many, is on the perfect gift. Member of the family are already asking what I want, and we're asking what our grandchildren want. Two of the grands have sent their wish list, and grandma and grandpa wish they were rich! This text above covers the perfect gift for all. It is a continuation of the discussion of the author of Hebrews in all that Christ has done for us. He begins by comparing the priests of the day, who day after day, offer again and again, the sacrifices that can never really take away sins. It was the job of the priest to receive from each person or family, an unblemished animal, offer it to God, kill it, and with its blood symbolically atone for the sins of that person or family. Jesus only had to do it once. His death and blood was the perfect gift. It took away the sins of the world, including the sins of you and me. "An assurance was given me, that He has taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from he law of sin and death." These are the words of John Wesley, the night he had his Aldersgate experience, when he felt his heart strangely warmed, and he realized that he was in relationship with Christ.

The passage goes on to stay that Christ now sits at the right hand of God awaiting the day when His enemies will become his footstool. And the Holy Spirit gives testimony to us saying that we are a part of the covenant which should bless our hearts and minds with the same assurance that Wesley had on that night. We belong to God; our sins have been taken away! This has begun a lifetime of a new way of approaching and interacting with God: A new life of worship, a renewed life of prayer, a new way of reading and understanding the Word of God, and all combined; a new way to live!

Our new life should be a constant provocation to all to do love and do good deeds to all people; meeting together, welcoming all, encouraging all; working together to bring new believers into our fellowship.

PRAYER: Loving God, renew me. Help me to live with that bold assurance that Jesus is mine, and I am Jesus'. This I pray in that precious name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update: I spoke with Rev. Gerald Harvey, and his wife's eye surgery went well! Her vision is safe and we thank God. But with all the stress of this, our brother Gerald has gotten shingles. He needs our prayers.

When Will It Be?

As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down." When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?" Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, "I am he!' and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. (Mark 13:1-8)

The anxiousness of your first baby's arrival helps you remember most details. Nellie, bless her heart, went through twenty-two hours of labor pains before the doctor recommended a C-section. During those 22 hours, every ache and pain made me hope that this, at last, was the one sign that our baby would arrive quickly. Once in the operating room, the doctor said that within 15 minutes we would have our first child. It didn't seem that long, yet it seemed like another eternity, and we had our first baby girl. I can only imagine how the disciples' minds raced as they went from being curious tourists to expectant fathers of God's kingdom. They marveled at the magnificent temple, an architectural wonder for its time, and a symbol of their country's once-greatness. You and I have seen building that have made us marvel at their greatness and even our country's greatness for what they represent. Before that day I finally saw the capitol building in Washington, D.C., my first glimpse at our state capitol had been sufficient. They heard Jesus' response to their gawking; "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down." Ouch! It was when they were alone, that four of them asked Jesus, "When will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?" Good question. Who would want to be caught unaware of this coming event?

Jesus' response still holds true even for us. First, do not be led astray by so many who claim to know the signs and the dates. Second, do not fall for false messiahs who will claim to be Christ himself. Next, we will hear of wars and rumors of wars, and this should not alarm us, for it will take place, and has, since that time Jesus uttered these words. Last, know that these signs are but the beginning of the birth pangs, and no one knows how soon after these begin when the actual delivery will be.

We should be ready now. We should know, love, trust, and serve Jesus. The needs before us have not diminished, in fact, the need to know Him grow each day. We should respond with who we are, and what we have, starting now.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to be ready right now, to love You enough to respond to needs around me. Help me to share the good news with those who have not yet heard about Your great love. This is my prayer so that when You do return, it will be for me. In Thy name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Happy Are Those Who Know the Lord!

Image from howardcarter.blogspot.com

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 146)

If I had had my way, I probably wouldn't have chosen to know the Lord. There was a time that I resented having to go to church, and I did not like my father for making me go; until that day I paid attention to the sermon, in Spanish yet, and I heard the Good News; I needed to invite Jesus into my heart and life, and I did. I thank the Lord for fathers like mine, who decided they would expose their children to the Truth. I pray for those fathers who don't know to decide this, and for those children who never "got it" and continued on their merry way and now find themselves completely and totally lost. David knew that to know God was to know the source of true happiness, and true happiness brings gratitude and gratitude brings praise. He sensed the need for praise as a child and got involved, as he matured, he kept praising God and as the graphic above shows, praising God should be a life-long endeavor.

And not only praise, but hope comes from the Lord; and from hope come the blessings that the psalmist outlines here: justice for the oppressed, food for the hungry, freedom for the prisoners, sight for the blind, the uplifting of those who are down, protection for the strangers, and orphans and widows. The wicked have chosen their own road, and that road leads to destruction. May the Lord help us bring those on that road off of it, and on the right path.

PRAYER: AWESOME Father, I praise You for who You are and what You share with me. Help me to share it with others. Help me to guide others to come to You. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde