Respond to God's Giving

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"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'"

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"'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!

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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

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"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!

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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!

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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!

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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

Trust God, and You'll Always Have Enough

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth." She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:8-16)

My first new car note was $103.00 per month. That was a lot of money back then, especially if you're about to leave a high-paying job with Ma Bell and go to seminary. I remember my Dad talking to me about that, and sounding worried. I had been running from God, hiding in the belly of the large whale that was AT&T in Houston, but God still found me, and called me to seminary in Denver, Colorado. I was leaving a very good job, a nice apartment, all the trappings of a successful life to go into the unknown, to complete my seminary degree and get back to serving God. Years later, my Dad said he admired my faith for having done what I did. God provided. I never lost my car,and I was able to pay it off in full.

The situation was much more difficult for a widow in those days; having no means of support, a son to feed, and having run out of the basic food items on which to live. Along comes a man of God asking for the last cake possible from the meal and oil that she had. She could have easily run him off and told him off. But, her faith allowed her to do that, for she heard the prophet say that the jar would not be empty nor the oil until God sent rain on the earth again. She fed the prophet, herself, and her son, not only that day, but for the days until it rained again.

God provides, if we but ask and trust. You probably have your own stories of how it seemed you would not be able to make it, and God has come through and blessed you. Think back on the gospel lesson for this week, the widow in Jesus' story gave her all to God, even that which she lived on, out of faith, and she was provided for.

God will come through if we but trust and share with Him that which is His to begin with.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me the times I have not had the faith to share with You or Yours that which You need. I know You always provide and for that I am thankful and very blessed! I love You and praise You; in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The First Visit May Still Await You...

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:24-28)

We're in the season where the days may seem faster, but we can't wait for the "big" days! I don't know about you, but I love Thanksgiving, and I love all the trappings of the Christmas season (not losing sight of the real reason, of course!). Christmas is a celebration of Christ's first visit to the earth. As the writer of this book states, He accomplished all for our sake. As our High Priest, Jesus intercedes for us, doing all the ancient high priests did, but with His own blood done once and for all. And His message can be summed up with "He has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of Himself." That first visit took care of our sin. But that first visit doesn't count in the lives of those who have not yet taken advantage of it. Christ came out of love for us, and what do we show Him if we do nothing about His first visit?

Notice how this passage ends: "Christ...will appear a second time, not to deal with sin (that was the first visit's purpose), but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.

We await our Lord and Savior because we have surrendered to Him and He has taken away our sin.

PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus. Visit us, but especially those who are surrendering to You for the first time. Bless and protect them. Grant to us all the fullness of life. We pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Give Your All!

As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (Mark 12: 38-44)

You have possessions and some possessions possess you. You like being liked. You liked being favored. You like special privileges. So do I. Jesus is teaching about that in this passage. The first part deals with who we are and what we like. Jesus noticed the scribes liked a lot of things. They liked how they dressed, and they likes how they were treated. And they also took advantage of that in the way they treated others. They loved to receive the best, but they took from others all they could. Jesus said their actions were piling up their condemnation.

The second part deals with giving to God. I have shared how my mother taught me how to tithe. My first "paycheck" was for an eleven hour day, at the age of 9, was for one dollar and fifty-cents. I was thrilled to be working at that age in a small grocery store. My mother said that Mr. Chapa would give me a dollar bill and two quarters at the end of my shift at 6 p.m. She said for me to give a quarter back to Mr. Chapa and request two dimes and a nickel and when she picked me up she would explain. I did as was told, and when she drove up to get me, she handed me a church offering envelope and asked me to put in one dime and the nickel. "That's your tithe; that's what belongs to God." "That's all I need to give?" I asked. "No, but it's a start." I thought fifteen cents seems like too little to me, though in those days one could even spend a penny and get something for it. With a quarter one could spend the morning or afternoon in the cool air of a movie theatre. Ten cents to get in, five cents for a soda drink, ten for popcorn. If you had fifteen cents you could even buy a hot dog. My mother taught to give of my first and best.

Here comes the people as Jesus sits by the treasury of the temple, and they are worshiping God with their gifts. Jesus noticed that some rich people put in large sums. The treasury was believed to be made of copper and as coins fell in it, it would make a lot of noise. Some people like to be noisy in their giving. But here comes a widow, known to be poor financially. A woman who had lost her husband to death was left to be cared for by her children if she had any, or by the kindness of others. Women in those days did not work outside of the house. And this widow came and put in two small copper coins, together worth a penny. Jesus calls His disciples and tells them, "Here this poor widow has given to God more than all those who came before her to contribute to the treasury. They came and shared out of their abundance (I read "left overs"); but she has given to God everything she had, even that which she had to live on."

Quite a difference between the attitudes of giving. Most gave out of obligation what they knew they could spare. Yes, some gave of their first and best; but this woman, gave all. She gave everything she had, even that which she would needed to live on. Her faith said that God would provide, and she knew from experience that God had come through all the time. Her faith blessed Jesus. What does our living and giving say about our faith? Are we blessing Jesus?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the giver of all gifts. Make my faith strong enough to bless You for all You have done and will do in my life. Grant me faith like this widow, who gave her all, even that which she needed to live on, because she knew that You provide. This I ask in the powerful name of Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde