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