No Better Hiding Place

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In thee, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline thy ear to me, and save me! Be thou to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. For thou, O Lord, art my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. Upon thee I have leaned from my birth; thou art he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of thee. (Psalm 71:1-6)

Growing up I lived in a house that stood on blocks. That made for a perfect and cool place to hide when I just wanted to be by myself and not easily found by anyone. The psalmist had found that his best hiding place was time with the Lord. Since birth, he never doubted the reality of God, nor the strength of the Lord to hide and protect him, so we get a psalm such as this. The Lord still is our hiding place, a fortress and a place of refuge; the One who protects us from wickedness and the wicked. It is God who gives us hope and helps us to live a life of trust.

There's no one better on which to lean, than on the Lord God.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, bless this dear reader in whatever may be challenging his or her life. Let them find in You a hiding place, a fortress and a place of refuge. Guide them to a place of protection from wickedness and the wicked; grant to them a life filled with hope and trust in You. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

No More Excuses!

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, "I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." (Jeremiah 1:4-10)

What are things that keep you from taking action? If you're like me, you have plenty of them. Hint: They're also known as excuses. Here in this powerful passage from Jeremiah, he shares his call story, how God came to him and asked him to be "a prophet to the nations." That was enough to start the excuse express! "I'm too young!" Wrong. You will go and I will go with you (You're not alone in other words), and I will tell you what to say. For those with fear of public speaking, this is what gets us up there at least. And it is difficult; no one is really born with no fear of public speaking. There is always that one split-second when you question what you are doing and what you are to say; but God provides!

God did use Jeremiah in a great way. God's word was shared through him in many situations and God's purposes were accomplished through him. And guess what? God can use you to accomplish the purposes to which God has called you!

PRAYER: Loving God, empty me of me, and fill me with You! In that way I can serve You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update: Friends, I thank you again for your prayers for our niece Nellie Ann. She was doing well on Saturday and once her family left on Sunday she became unresponsive. Her mom and dad and daughter showed up Monday and some response came back, but yesterday the doctor ran an MRI and found she had suffered another stroke. He also has found extensive internal damage in her organs by the big stroke and at this point she is at risk of a heart attack. Please continue to pray for Nellie Ann and her family. God bless you!

And the Greatest of These is Love!

Image from drgerrylewis.com

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

Have you done a spiritual gifts inventory lately? Is there a category for love? There should be. One could be the greatest preacher that ever lived, rank high on the scale of spiritual gifts and graces, but if that person does not have love; Fail! One could be the greatest Sunday school teacher that ever lived, rank high one the scale of talents and resources for excellent teaching, but if that person does not have love; Fail! Such was the inventory that was being reported to the Apostle Paul. The church as it was defining itself and as the Holy Spirit was working among them, the comparisons and the quarrels began; who is the greatest coffee maker? Who buys and brings the best donuts to church? Paul got to the point where he sat down and wrote this beautiful explanation of spiritual gifts and what really matters in a person's life and service as a believer and follower of Christ Jesus.

Love is the foundation and all other things should spring forth from that. And Paul lists carefully what he considers as essential to love; charity, self-sacrifice and service, patience, kindness, humility, giving, sharing, understanding; all of these, plus a spirit of one who keeps no record of past misdeeds or wrongs. One who works steadfastly with others, endures all things, has faith in all things, has a great hope for the big picture of things. These things coming from a person's heart, will never end. Pauls sums it up in this way; take these three awesome things that we should have; faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love.

Jesus summed it up by saying, "Love one another." If the church does not have love, it is in the wrong business.

PRAYER: Loving God, examine my heart. If You see a lacking of love in there, fill me up! I want to be a person of love. This I pray in the name of He who is love, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Truth Kills (Or Tries To!)

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Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, "Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, "Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.' " And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. (Luke 4: 21-30)

It's hard to believe that in a worship service some people actually get mad. I'm kidding, of course, it happens all the time. The question is should it be happening all the time? Worship is all about God; Us worshiping God, not the church worshiping us and our needs and desires and wants. Here in this passage, Jesus has read the scripture about what God would be doing through the Anointed, and then Jesus claimed that title for Himself and here is where the questions and comments began to fly. "Wait. I saw this guy on the roof the other day, working!" "He and his dad made cabinets for our home!" "I hear tell that He can do some amazing things; let's ask Him to entertain us as well!" But then Jesus spoke the truth: "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown." That and of itself would have sufficed, but Jesus really rubs it in; Jesus shares their history where during a drought and famine, it was the great prophet Elijah who fed only a widow not from Israel. And then a man suffering from leprosy, also not a Hebrew, was healed - and you all know how many lepers have been Jews... Enough was enough, and they drove Him out of the town and took Him to the brow of a hill in order to throw Him off the cliff and kill Him.

Something stopped them, and He "passed through the midst of them and went on His way." The lesson was to remember the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed (Luke 4:18); and the lesson was that God does sometimes favor those in need over those who are well blessed. And if a lesson from scripture convicts us of where we are versus where we need to be, we don't kill the preacher! We should kill our sin, rather, let Jesus take our sin and have it nailed to the cross and let it die there. Then we leave the worship space and go a live worthy of that which God has already done for us, with a spirit of gratitude and thankfulness in the way we serve God.

PRAYER: Lord, many have been the times I have looked in the Bible and have found a mirror that has pointed out my blemishes and wrinkles and pimples. I ask that during those times I would seek You deeper and find You as the One who heals and makes new. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Power in the Word of God

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and there is nothing hid from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern his errors? Clear thou me from hidden faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19

David was a man of discipline. He found time to do his chores, protect his sheep, learn a musical instrument, find time to worship and learn about God, rule an empire, and try to help run a huge household. In his psalms we see that of all he did, he loved spending time with God. I shared the other day how coach John Wooden, "The Wizard of Westwood" led his UCLA team to many a national championship based on his own personal discipline. The first day of practice was dedicated to solely one thing; the putting on and removing of the player's socks. Each player had to demonstrate to Coach Wooden that he knew how to put on his socks properly. Sounds minor doesn't it? Yet, if you think about it, and as he explained it, if your socks are not put on properly your feet will pay a terrible price and your play as a basketball player will not be good. David knew, as we should know, that the first thing and the main thing we should do each day is to cover our souls (pun intended) with the "socks" of God's word. (Scripture Observed Consecrated Kept in our Souls) Players that did not want to follow Coach W's instructions were not kept on the team, even All American, future NBA stars.

God has lovingly shared His word with you and me, not to sit and collect dust, but to lead us to live a life that says ultimately each day, the words of the last verse of this psalm as shown in the picture above: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Spend time putting on your socks each day!

PRAYER: Lord, let the time I spend in Your word truly cover my soul with the strength, power, and peace that I need. Let me live a life that praises You always. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Request: Dear friends, The Rev. Viterbo Montaño, a long-time UM pastor lies never death in San Antonio. He several several churches in the Valley and in the Panhandle of Texas. He left ministry because of an onset of Parkinson's and it is that disease along with a stroke that has him awaiting entrance into God's rest. Pray for his family that God's peace may be theirs, and that the joy of the memory of his faithful service be one that blesses them. Thank you for sharing your time in prayer.

The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength

Image from brucehigginsministries.org

All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:13, 5-6, 8-10)

Imagine being at your lowest. For some it's not imagination, it's reality. You're feeling defeat or rejection; you're at the lowest of the low in your life. Where can you turn? The people of God when they found themselves in this situation turned upward, to the word of God. They gathered with humble hearts and hungry spirits, to hear what God might say to them. And in a spirit of joyful reception, they heard God speak of the way we should live, and as their spirits and attitudes began to soar, they began to weep tears of joy. They realized any day spent in the word of God is a holy day, a day of great celebration. And they heard God through the prophet say, "This day is holy to our Lord; do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Dear friend, look upward always, but especially when you feel at your weakest, and remember that your strength will come through the joy of the Lord. And that joy is found in the worship of God, the reading of God's word, the prayers you lift up praising God.

PRAYER: Loving God, as we pray, lift up those who are down. Strengthen those who are weak. Let us all rise up from our prayer and devotional time with new strength, new joy, new attitudes; all ready to serve You. This we pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Everybody is Somebody in the Body; All Good!

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For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31a)

Did Jesus say, "Where two or three are gathered there's gonna be trouble?" Of course not. (If you don't know the real verse, please Google it!) Yet, this is what happens if we don't invite Jesus in, and churches are no exception. You and I have heard some of the most heart-warming, delightful things said among humans in church. And you and I have also, sadly, heard some of the most disheartening, sad things a human could ever tell among human. And sadder even still, you and I may have said some of those things. Pausing now for prayer. Stop to think of the power of the Holy Spirit upon the person called the Apostle Paul. His job was to spread the gospel which he did in marvelous ways, chief among them, the starting of new churches. Built with an urgency to believe and follow Jesus, people came to faith through Paul or through one of his churches in many parts of the known world. And as the church progressed, people began to notice that not all people had the same jobs in the church and this was largely determined by the spiritual gifts they possessed. Among the most confusing was the gift of tongues, and so people became angry at each other and some even with God. Paul writes this part of his letter to the church in Corinth to say, everybody is somebody in the Body of Christ, and they're all good!

You and I have work to do for Jesus. Your job may be a bit different from mine, and that's okay. All good. All needed.

Say or read this prayer. Then, get to work.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the gift(s) that I have as your follower. Help me to make the most of it, and help me as I mature and walk with You, recognize and realize other gifts to better serve You. This I ask in Christ's strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Get to work!

Eradio Valverde

Fulfillment as Found in God

Image by Eradio Valverde, Jr., made with ReType.

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4: 14-21 NRSV

Dr. Tony Campelo tells the story of a person visiting a factory. They are shown every aspect of this well-running operation, but finally they ask, "We've seen every part of the factory and I'm impressed, but where is the shipping department?" The tour person smiled and said, "Everything produced in this factory is done just to keep the factory running; we have no shipping department." Many churches are just like this factory, and in fact, Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood up in his church and spoke the very same words. Jesus shared the "shipping department" or fulfillment department of God; concern for the poor, love for the captives, deliverance for the blind, and preaching that glorifies God's favor to those who are favor-less in the eyes of the church/world.

How do you define fulfillment for your church? How do you define fulfillment for yourself? Is God's love and favor in those two definitions? If not, we've missed the point of fulfillment. Every Spirit-filled person who lives out their life for God is led to go among those not yet being reached by established organizations such as the church. First, most Spirit-filled persons are led to church to worship God. And they go to hear what God would have them do next in and with their lives. And most of that would include outreach for those not being reached. His sermon was not received well by the religious, but it touched the heart of those in relationship with God.

Fulfillment comes on through and in God. Go fulfill yourself!

PRAYER: Loving God of fulfillment; anoint me again and again with Your Holy Spirit. Lead me to the place where I find fulfillment in giving and sharing, not just in receiving and smiling. This I pray in the name of He who fulfills me, Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Where God's Love Is, There is a Feast!

Image from systraph.com

God's love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings, To eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You're a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light. Keep on loving your friends; do your work in welcoming hearts. (Psalm 36:5-10 The Message Version)

When I first fell in love with God, I was at the age where two or three animal crackers, and a cup of Kool-Aid was a feast. It wasn't the food, but it sure was good, it was the feeling and joy of being in the presence of God and others like me who also loved God. We wiggled and we giggled, we laughed and sometimes Kool-Aid came out of our noses, and that made us laugh all the more; and I can't remember being scolded or shh'ed for it. It may have happened, but my spirit and mind were in another world.

When I fell in love and married my wife, there was a feast at the wedding, and again it was not the food nor the cake or peanuts, it was in the feeling and joy of being in the presence of God and the one God had provided for me. That feast has continued; lavish meals of peanut butter on one slice of bread when that was all we had, or the extravagant baked chicken that lasted for four days when we had splurged on that - not the food but the love of God in our hearts.

The psalmist knew God's love. It is meteoric and astronomical. God's purposes for us are huge and spans the width of any ocean, yet even in that vastness, God knows and cares for us. We can run and hide under God's wings. We can feast at the banquet(s) that God has provided for us and the drink of God's "Eden spring water" is that which satisfied our hunger and thirst. In that love, we are called to go and love and work and welcome all; everybody, no exceptions.

PRAYER: Thank You, loving God, for Your love for me and for the world. Help me to celebrate with joy all that You provide. Help me to work in love for You and Yours, being a loving and welcoming person. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Sweet Beulah Land

Regarding Zion, I can't keep my mouth shut, regarding Jerusalem, I can't hold my tongue, Until her righteousness blazes down like the sun and her salvation flames up like a torch. Foreign countries will see your righteousness, and world leaders your glory. You'll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God. You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. You'll be called Hephzibah (My Delight), and your land Beulah (Married), Because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration. For as a young man marries his virgin bride, so your builder marries you, And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride, so your God is happy with you. (Isaiah 62: 1-6) The Message Version

You'll soon be invited to the best wedding you've ever attended. Yes, it will be unlike any you have ever attended. All the delights of a wedding will be there, but more importantly you will be there and so will the Lord. This will be even better than the wedding we read about on Monday in John 2, because you will be at this one.

The prophet Isaiah shared a word regarding Zion and Jerusalem, meaning the people of God. And he shared a word of great excitement because the people of God finally understood their role and responsibility before God, and others were noticing it! God's glory was being seen through the righteousness of His people, and God was going to give His people a new name, they would become a "stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled cup held high in the hand of your God." The old name of "Rejected" would not be God's Delight, and the land on which the would live would be called Beulah Land (Married), "because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration." Beulah Land is all about our marriage to the Groom (God).

The old hymn, first sung at a Methodist meeting on a Monday morning in Philadelphia, says these words in the Refrain:

O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land, As on thy highest mount I stand, I look away across the sea, Where mansions are prepared for me, And view the shining glory shore, My Heav’n, my home forever more!

The older hymn inspired a newer song with these words:

I'm kind of homesick for a country To which I've never been before. No sad goodbyes will there be spoken For time won't matter anymore.

Beulah Land (Beulah Land) I'm longing for you (I'm longing for you) And some day (And some day) on thee I'll stand (Someday we will stand) There my home (There my home) shall be eternal (Eternal) Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land

We are called to live a light of such righteousness that we'll show the glory of God to all people; may it be so!

PRAYER: May it be so in my life today, Loving God; let my life let others know of the great love You have for me; may this help our homesickness for that land we've never been before, but hope to someday. In Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

One Spirit, Many Gifts

Photo by Eradio Valverde

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1-13)

Take this simple test; say, "Jesus is Lord" out loud. Could you say that? Pat yourself on the back, for your are filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul, as he instructs the people at Corinth teaches about the Holy Spirit. There was much confusion about who was filled with the Holy Spirit and who was not. There were those that said, "If you don't or can't do this, you don't have the Spirit!" And the next chapter in that same letter addresses that problem (1 Cor. 13). Paul wanted all to know that everyone who asks for the Holy Spirit to dwell within them, receives Him. Where it gets confusing, Paul says, may be in understanding the different ways that the Spirit expresses Himself in you; Some have expressions of work or teachings for the common good; some have the ability to say wise and important things; some have incredible amounts of faith; some have the gift of healing; some can work miracles, some can share prophecy, some can discern spirits, another can speak in divine tongues - all are different gifts, but the same Spirit. All are still members of the one Body of Christ; everyone the same.

What's your gift? More importantly, how are you using it? There's a world of need out there that needs your gift. Share it with God and God will share you with others.

PRAYER: Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me; melt me, mold me, fill me, use me; Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update: Welcome to the world, Kaylee Jayne Copeland, born last night at 7:09 p.m. Praise God and pray for this precious child of God, for her mom, and for her dad!

God of the Celebration

The image is part of a large painting by Paolo Veronese; the complete painting can be seen at wikipedia.com by typing Wedding at Cana.

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-11)

As a boy, whenever I would ask for seconds in a household limited to the realities of our economy, my mother would respond in español: No es boda, muchacho. (It's not a wedding, boy!), and I would pout and wonder what in the world does that silly saying mean? It wasn't too much later that we were invited to a first cousin's wedding on the land where they were sharecroppers. My uncle and aunt put on a wedding! There was food on about six church-sized folding tables, and it was a delight; I finally knew what my mother was talking about; this was a boda! Weddings in most cultures have always been cause for great celebration. In Jesus' day, that was the case, and most weddings did not mean a religious ceremony, then a quick trip to the fellowship hall for cake, punch, and peanuts; these were days-long, and this first of Jesus' miracles took place in such a setting. Jesus and His disciples had been invited, as was Mary, Jesus' mother. The crowd must have been huge, so much so that the celebratory wine ran out. It was Mary who came to Jesus to inform Him of this sad situation. The response of Jesus at first indicates a little surprise or annoyance of this detail of the wedding and at the time of this comes in His ministry. "My hour has not yet come," is used by Jesus and could very well have been pointing to that which He knew was ultimately to be His fate of dying on the cross. It was at the crucifixion that Jesus again referred to His mother as "Woman." Some scholars have also said that at a wedding, Jesus should be invited to come and own the marriage, as was evidenced by what He did here. He took the water traditionally used for purification to make new and wonderful wine, symbolizing His entire mission to cleanse the world of its sin and to make new our relationship with God. His first of the many miracles of His, shows Jesus' connection with "glory," the splendor of the realm of God.

As I started in the introductory part of this devotional, Jesus loves to be invited to weddings, but we should also invite Jesus to our marriages. The God of the celebration becomes the God of the journey; every step both good and not so good, travels better when we know we are journeying with Christ; and this holds true for all key events in our lives; baptisms, confirmations, weddings, worship, funerals, etc.

Make God your partner in the journey of life.

PRAYER: Loving God, I invite You into all areas of my life; come, rejoice with me, and journey with me through all days. Hold my heart when I'm happy, and hold my hand when I feel scared and alone. This I pray in Your precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

P.S. Please remember Doug Copeland and his family as they may induce labor as they await the arrival of their first child, a daughter. May the Lord bless and keep them all safe is my prayer. Amen!

Bravo! Well Done, God!

Bravo, God, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, "Encore!" In awe before the glory, in awe before God's visible power. Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor him! God thunders across the waters, Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness - God, across the flood waters. God's thunder tympanic, God's thunder symphonic. God's thunder smashes cedars, God topples the northern cedars. The mountain ranges skip like spring colts, The high ridges jump like wild kid goats. God's thunder spits fire. God thunders, the wilderness quakes; He makes the desert of Kadesh shake. God's thunder sets the oak trees dancing A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches. We fall to our knees - we call out, "Glory!" Above the floodwaters is God's throne from which his power flows, from which he rules the world. God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace. (Psalm 29)

It is awesome what God has done, is doing, and will do, for you and me. If you don't believe me, turn off your radio, tv, iPhone, whatever (MUTE, in other words) and listen to the song being played by the creation. You might hear crickets, you might hear birds, even the silence joins in the chorus of praising God with their way of saying, bravo! And it's also interesting to note that in all of the passages for this week, especially at the baptism of His Son, God is the one who speaks a word of gratitude towards Jesus. It was as if the psalmist knew that God would speak at the moment that Jesus dressed his "best to honor (God)!"

The best way for us to say bravo is with our faith, our awe towards God and God's work in our lives; every aspect of our existence should motivate us to join in with all creation, "Bravo!"

PRAYER: Lord, let my mind tell my heart, and let my heart tell my lips, "Bravo, loving God!" for all you do. Thank You for today and the promise today holds for me to bless You and Yours. Let me do my best! This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Do Not Be Afraid!

Image of Grandpa's tennis shoes along with firstborn granddaughter, Saraí Evangelina Cortez' tennis shoes

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." (Isaiah 43:1-7)

I own a pair of Converse All Star hightops, a reminder of the only tennis shoes that were available for me to use during my elementary school days. I owned several pairs and usually wore them completely out. I would also write on them, because as a child, we think that's what white space is for, isn't it? And that big white space at the front invites our name, our school name or mascot. This pair I've had for some years, and when we started being blessed by grandchildren, Nellie and I thought it would be a great idea to buy tiny Converse tennis shoes for our babies (And yes, we still owe Adi a pair! (Blushing smiley face here!)). Though they were not yet even walking it was a symbol of our saying, "We walk with you; no need to be afraid. And that's the message of Jesus' baptism and the message found in this Old Testament passage: Do not be afraid; I created you, I redeemed you, I called you by name, you are mine! I walk with you!

As the days of the New Year start to zoom by us, slow down enough to know that God wears your shoes and more importantly, God walks with you. God formed you, God redeemed you through Jesus Christ, God called your name at your baptism, You belong to God. AND, God walks with you!

It matters not what the days may bring, God is there and God is walking with you. Floods, fires, job crisis, retirement, illness... God is there, and God is walking with you.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for creating, redeeming, and calling me. But especially, thank You for walking with me! I love You! And I pray in faith, in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

You Can Do It!

Image from architecturalstudio.com

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17)

I first saw this poor dog with the caption under its picture: WHEN THE PASTOR CALLS ON YOU TO PRAY. I had to laugh because I have been there and I have put people there. I've known of some pastors who wanted a month's notice before praying in a public function outside of church. You may have your own "rules" or limits about what you can or cannot do without notice, but over all, when it comes to Christian service, if you've been baptized, you've been empowered to do almost anything for which you are called. Take the story in today's scripture. The apostles heard that a region not known usually for its faith had now come to faith through having accepted the word of God. The apostles respond to this good news by sending Peter and John to the new converts. These two come to Samaria and pray for them asking God to send the Holy Spirit, and they did. This fulfilled what John the Baptist had spoken about when people believed him to be the Messiah. John pointed to Jesus and what Jesus would do later.

The power of the Holy Spirit is the locomotive power behind our determination to do what God calls on us to do. This goes beyond the children's story about the little locomotive that thought it could; this is the full-sized, full-powered locomotive powered up and full force pushing us up and over any and all obstacles that may stand between us and faithfulness. It was a promise of God and it is fulfilled in our baptism done in the Triune name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And it may go beyond the public prayer; it may go to public preaching and witnessing of our faith in Jesus Christ.

Look at the dog again; never have that look again when called by God to do anything; you can do it! (And you should do it!)

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the promise of the Holy Spirit! I can and will do all things with the blessing of the Holy Spirit. I want to move towards fullness of faithfulness to doing the things You call me to do. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus Gets Baptized!

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22)

So many [people today seek answers and direction for their lives. The people during Jesus' day did as well. One of the most obvious question had to do with their personal sin. And to have a preacher come to the River Jordan and proclaim a release from that sin, the crowds lined up to receive what John was offering. As this passage begins, the people were so excited to hear his message some even wondered if perhaps John wasn't the Messiah, the anointed one of God. John perceived that notion in his heart and directly said, "I'm not the messiah; I am baptizing you with water, but the one who is coming is more powerful than I and he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His purpose is already at work in getting those who should be right with God lined up; and those who could care less, their line is ready too, and longer!

Then comes Jesus to be baptized as well; His act of identification with our situation as humans. As He comes up out of the water, the heavens open and a voice comes from the sky saying, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." A declaration not heard by many, but the One who needed to hear it heard it. It was confirmation for Him that He was indeed the Son of God, sent precisely for the job for which He was preparing.

Such is the love God has for you that His own Son, Jesus Christ got in the sinners line, though He was without sin. Jesus never lorded His position or power over those for whom He had come. Jesus simply says, I am one of you and understand you. Sin has no business being in your life, and I have come to rid the world, and more importantly, to rid you of your sin. There can be no better news for any of us!

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for understanding me and for loving me enough to rid my life of my sin. Thank You for Jesus and His ministry and redemption of the world. In His name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde