Lost and Found Sons/Daughters

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Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." 'So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, "Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.' " (Luke 15:1-3; 1b-32 NRSV)

The nerve of Jesus to hang around and care for the lost, the last, and the least!  His socializing with "those people" upset "these people" -namely the ones God had called them to love in the first place.  But it is in the midst of that discussion that Jesus shares one of the best known and best loved stories of God's love.  And the story includes everyone, for Jesus speaks of fathers and sons, and brothers and brothers; and yes, sisters are a part of this story too; for who has not had a problem with siblings?

The story starts with wealth and property, and the youngest child demanding his share.  This is also a story of impatience, for the child could not wait for Daddy to die; he wanted his inheritance right away.  The story is about leaving home and traveling, something most everyone wants to do.  And no better way to travel that with lots of money.  The son goes everywhere he wants and spends his money however he wanted.  It may have been that he even sent postcards to his older brother sharing all the details of the good time he was having - wish you were here!

Then the money runs out just as a famine hits the place where he spent his last cent.  The only work this good Jewish boy can find is with a pig farmer who hires him to slop the hogs.  In other words, Jesus says, our hero has fallen to the lowest place he could possible fall.  And to top it all off, he's hungry.  He's so hungry, Jesus say, he would have eaten some of the pig slop, but he did not have permission to do such a thing, and it is there that it hits him - Daddy has farmhands who eat three squares each and every day, and here he is starving among hogs.  In his mind, he prepares the statement for Daddy - "I don't deserve to be your son, but could I please come on as one of your hired hands?"  And he sets off home.  What many do not know is that since day one that this child has been gone, Dad's been sitting on the front porch of his house on his rocking chair looking down the dirt road that leads to the main highway in hopes that one day his long lost child might be making his way up that road.  And that day was today, when he saw the skeleton of that child walking towards the main house.  The moment he had been waiting on for so many years and Dad in his old age, gets up from that rocker and runs to meet his son.  He grabs his son and kisses him, and the boy tries to give his little speech; Dad doesn't hear a word, for he immediately plans a celebration, a huge barbecue, and he outfits his son in decent clothing, and a DJ starts the party with music.

Meanwhile, the oldest son comes in from another part of the farm and hears the music.  He asks one of the hands what's going on, and the worker says,"Your brother's back, and your Dad's throwing him a party!"  Not so good news to this older child.  He goes straight to Daddy and confronts him, "What's the meaning of this?  I've been here slaving for you and not once have you even given me a goat with which to have a party of my own; this child of yours went and wasted your money on prostitutes and you've killed the fatted calf for him?"  Dad lovingly and patiently replies, "Son, you've been the good son; you've stayed here and worked hard for me, and all that I have is yours, but we had to throw this party of thanksgiving, because your brother was dead and now he is alive, lost and he has been found."  Yikes, that story was for the religious people!  They had failed at their job and here they were criticizing Jesus for doing what they should have been doing.  Did they get the story?

Did you?

PRAYER:  Loving God, bless me with understanding; lead me to faithfulness and fruitfulness.  I want to be a part of reaching the lost, the last , and the least.  Help me to rejoice greatly when that happens.  This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Can't Get Enough of God!

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God - you're my God! I can't get enough of you! I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you. I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy; I smack my lips. It's time to shout praises! If I'm sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection. Because you've always stood up for me, I'm free to run and play. I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post. (Psalm 63:1-8 The Message)

What in your life can't you get enough of?  If you asked me, I'd have to say chocolate anything.  But, the psalmist says he can't get enough of God.  Isn't that awesome?  David had a hunger and thirst for God.  He had walked through some tough spots in his life and so he knew the only real satisfaction for his life was God.  We should too.

Re-read the psalm slowly.  Enjoy the fullness of life that comes from knowing and loving God.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for your love.  Thank You for filling me up with Your love and grace.  Help us to enjoy you and be satisfied with you.  This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Personal Privilege:  Happy Anniversary to my darling wife of 38 years!  What a bless you have been to me and our family!  I love you!  :)

Choosing Wisely the Things of Life

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I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play." We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

If you've ever read the story of the Exodus, you can't help but compare it to our story.  God brought us out of some sin or suffering, we were thankful and joyful, but only for a season, then we forgot and we were either back in that same old sin, or on our way there.  The Exodus was a 40 journey of formation; God used the experience to form His people into a people of faith and witness, and in the same way our life experiences have formed us into people of faith and witness.  In a few words we know we can tell others:  DON'T GO BACK THERE!

We are called to choose the things that build up and bless.  Everything else falls under the category of "kill, steal, and destroy," and we know who's behind that.  DON'T GO BACK THERE!

PRAYER:  Awesome God, let this day be a day of wise and life-giving choices.  I seek You and Your leadership to the place where I can be.  This I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord and Example, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Repent. Be Fruitful in Faithfulness

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At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did." Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, "See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?'  He replied, "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.' " (Luke 13;1-9)

Fear of death, and a tragic one at that,  drove some who were with Jesus to share with Him about how some Galileans had died.  Jesus speaks about repentance.  Jesus knew it was best to talk about new birth than tragic death.  Repentance is surrendering to God for sins, and receiving God's grace and a new spiritual start in our life, a new birth as it were.  And repentance is but the start of this new life, for it should be followed with fruitfulness; that of telling others what God has done for you and praying they will do the same, and thus the kingdom grows.  The other option is to not repent and to perish in a sad way.

You and I are given new opportunities each day to confess our sins to God and to ask that we be forgiven.  We are also allowed to start over and go forward and upward in our lives, telling others the goodness and mercy that God has for all who would but ask.

PRAYER:  Loving God, I confess I am a sinner, please remove that sin from my life.  I ask that I might turn away from this sin and move towards You and the fullness of life that You offer to me.  Help me to be fruitful today in all things with all people.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Calm as a Baby

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Light, space, zest - that's God! So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, Those bullies and toughs fall flat on their faces. When besieged, I'm calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool.   I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic.  God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I'm headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I'm singing God-songs; I'm making music to God.  Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs: "Be good to me! Answer me!" When my heart whispered, "Seek God," my whole being replied, "I'm seeking him!" Don't hide from me now! You've always been right there for me; don't turn your back on me now. Don't throw me out, don't abandon me; you've always kept the door open. My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in. Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you're on. Don't throw me to the dogs, those liars who are out to get me, filling the air with their threats. I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don't quit. I'll say it again: Stay with God. (Psalm 27 The Message Version)

Yes, the adult joke of "I don't know about you, but I slept like a baby - I cried all night and couldn't wait for someone to hold me!"  Not how the psalmist sees it in this psalm.  Eugene Peterson, in his translation and paraphrase version of the Bible, called The Message, shares new insights into some old, familiar passages. I find it helpful from time to time to see what other meanings one can find in such a passage.  This is no exception.  The psalmist is describing the day of one of our lives; calamity all around, things are not going right, the world is collapsing, or so we think, because the difference is, for the believer, that he or she knows that God is with us.  I love that verse that reads, "When besieged, I'm calm as a baby.  When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool."  Is that true for you?

To know God is to know that in the quiet and the noisy; in the calm and in the calamity, God is with us.  We can sense His grip on us when it feels like we're about to fall.  We hear his gentle voice even in the midst of loud shouting towards us and at us.  And we in return, offer up our praise to God, which is a part of the relationship; God cares for us and love us - we praise God and offer our love to God.

And for those still not sure how to live in that way, listen to the end of the psalm:  Stay with God!  Take heart. Don't quit.  I'll say it again:  Stay with God.  Amen.

PRAYER:  Lord, I'm staying with You.  Regardless of the day that awaits me, I await You and Your calm and strength in all things.  I love You and I know You love me.  With You on my side, I know that I will be okay.  Thank You, Lord; in Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God Keeps Promises. Do We?

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After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."  But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"  And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." But the word of the Lord came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir."  He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be."  And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.  Then he said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess." But he said, "O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?"  He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."  He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.  And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.  As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.  On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates. (Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18)

From time to time I will have the time to just stare up at the night sky.  On clear nights when the lights of the city are not so bright, one can see many stars, and I think of that old man, Abraham, taken outside by God and told to count the stars.  I chuckle remembering when I was little I tried counting the stars.  I gave up quickly, for there are too many to count.  And yet, that was the premise of the promise; God keeps promises.  This old man, with no heir from his wife, is told that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars.  And he doubted.  He had plenty of good reasons; I'm old, I'm old, and I'm old.  Wrong on all counts.  God kept his promise and who can count Abraham's descendents?

God has made a promise to be with us all of our days.  Have we promised to be with God all of our days?  God has promised to lead us through all things.  Have we promised to do all things for God?  The covenant of God made at our baptism still holds true, if we still hold on to God.  I pray that we are, and that we are eager, ready, and willing, to do God's will for our lives and those around us.

PRAYER:  LOVING God, help me to be obedient to my promises to You, for I know You are faithful to me.  Help me know and obey the premise of the promise, and I will be blessed and a blessing to You.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

I Pledge Allegiance to...?

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Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.  Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. (Philippians 3:17-21)

Paul considered himself a citizen of heaven, and as a citizen of one who believed in the power and purpose of the cross, he knew that those who did not believe or did their best to keep others from believing, were "enemies of the cross of Christ."  It reached a point at this writing, that he cried for them.  He saw their destruction coming, and he wanted to do all he could to save them.  He saw where their allegiance lay; satisfaction in all things earthly.  He describes it as filling their desires of food and drink, living out in ways that brought shame to them - their minds completely on the here and now, and all for me.

Paul encourages you and me to remember we are, because of our faith in the cross of Christ, citizens of heaven, from whence shall come our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His return will mean a complete transformation of this body to a glorious body like His; all by the power that is Jesus'.

Some churches and schools have developed a simple Pledge to the Cross, but the best pledge is to live a life that says to God and others, "I belong to God, my citizenship is in heaven; but while here I have work to do to glorify my God and help God's children."  

May it be so.

PRAYER:  Loving God, bless us in this day to live a life that pledges to You our all.  Help us be that blessing of invitation to those who have not yet heard, but need to hear.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update:  Our niece Nellie Ann Rodrigue is being transferred to a rehab facility in Houston.  Sad news is that her grandfather, Robert Rodrigue, Jr., passed away early this morning in Mission, Texas.  Please hold the Rodrigue family in your prayers.

God Cares So Much for Us, Jesus Came

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, "Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.' " (Luke 13:31-35)

Jesus was very observant about nature.  He knew the nature of the fox, which was cunning and wily; and He knew the protective nature of a mother hen.  He employs both in this passage.  Told by those who sought to kill Him, that Herod wanted to kill Him, Jesus calls Herod a fox and shares again what they knew; Jesus was casting out demons and healing people.  Then he addresses the reality of the situation; He would not die outside of Jerusalem, He would have to make His way to the holy city because there He would fulfill God's plan, and be part of that city's tragic history regarding the servants of God.

Jesus knew that God's desire was to save those who love and serve Him; and though God had tried many times to save His people, the people rejected that help and went on their own way, as we still sometimes do.

God works through Jesus and brings us the chance to be made right with Him.  That's what Lent serves to remind us of, and leads us towards the celebration of that eternal victory of Jesus over sin and death.

Where will that find you?

PRAYER:  LORD, let me be found in You.  Let me seek Your shelter and protection, and guide me to faithfulness and fruitfulness.  This I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God Answers Prayer

"When you come into the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, and have taken possession of it, and live in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place which the LORD your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, 'I declare this day to the LORD your God that I have come into the land which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.' Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God. "And you shall make response before the LORD your God, 'A wandering Aramean was my father; and he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. And the Egyptians treated us harshly, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage. Then we cried to the LORD the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice, and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which thou, O LORD, hast given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God; and you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you. (Deuteronomy 26:1-11)

No one likes to wander lost in the wilderness for very long. One can choose to hike in the wilderness for a spell, but there are limits to how long you want to be there. The same is true for our wandering lost in sin. There is no way out on our own, it takes God hearing and answering our prayers to lead us out of the wilderness of sin into the light and freedom of the new life found in Him.

This passage is a remembrance and thanksgiving one, reminding the Israelites that after forty years in the wilderness, the time was coming when they would rejoice and be thankful that God heard their prayers and allowed them to finally be free. In the same way, God has heard and answered our prayers and led us out of our sinful lives into ones that contribute to the work and ministry of God's Kingdom.

Remember to give thanks to God for having answered your prayers and for leading you to a better life today.

PRAYER: Lord, receive my thanks and praise for having led me here away from the sin and destruction of my previous life, to the one You guided me to. Bless those still on the journey to You, help them find You and Your love. This I pray in Your name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Lenten Journey Begins

"Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21)

I love treasure hunts, or did when I was a child. The idea of finding a treasure map and finding the right clues to the right places, and finally getting to the treasure was a dream every child growing up during my era. Once I did go on a treasure hunt in Denver, Colorado; a new mall had built a huge clay "mountain" and lined cubic zirconias all around it, and placed five diamonds in their midst. For a small fee, you could hunt for a diamond. My friends had just recently moved there, and the wife worked at a jewelry store. They suggested I talk to their jeweler and he would give me the things to look for in a real diamond. He simply said the diamonds are smaller and duller than the fakes. The fakes are a bit larger and shiny. Long story short, I found the last diamond.

Lent is very much like a treasure hunt. We have the Bible as our map, we have the life of Jesus as our model, we have prayer and the Holy Spirit as our guide, and each of the forty days we journey within our spirits and minds to find the true treasure which is a deeper relationship with the One who died for us, and then rose again to give us victory over sin and death.

This is day one. Read the passage and mark those things on your heart; this is a deeply personal journey between you and God. You should pray more, listen as you pray, and if you should fast, replace the meal or the food you are giving up with a spiritual discipline, such as reading passages of scripture or praying more. And notice the last verse in today's passage, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

PRAYER: Lord, bless us on this journey. Help us to travel steady and true. It is You we seek within ourselves so that others may see You, too. We pray in Jesus Christ's precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed journey in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Confession & Salvation

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"The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:8b-13)

What we say is usually heard and remembered by the people with whom we speak. We know the power of words to heal, encourage, also to hurt, harm, and kill. What we as believers also know is the power of the Word to bring salvation to our lives. This passage is all about that; if we confess with our lips that Jesus is the Lord and if we believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.

What is salvation? It is being pulled away from all the wrong relationships with people and things that are taking our lives away from God, and pulled into a new, right and healthy relationship with God. Remember Jesus said, "The enemy comes only to kill, steal, and destroy, I have come that you might have life and that in abundance." Asking Jesus to forgive us starts with our confession that we are sinners and need to repent (turn away) from our sins, and then to invite Jesus to be a part of our lives. The beauty of that is that this passage says, "No one who believes in Him will be put to shame." With Jesus in us and on our side, we face all trials and temptations with a Victor, Who gives us the victory in all things.

We then begin a life of growing in our knowledge and love of Jesus and we begin to love like Him, and we begin to serve Him. Ours is the joy to tell others, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." And you may just save a life from an eternity separated from God.

PRAYER: Lord, let me live such a life. Let me be bold enough to tell others about what You have done in my life, how you saved me from my sin and the path I was on, to the path of perfect peace. This I ask in Thy precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Not By Bread Alone

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." Jesus answered him, "It is written, "One does not live by bread alone.' " Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' " Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, "He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and "On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' " Jesus answered him, "It is said, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:1-13)

Those of us who are bread lovers know the goodness of bread, don't we? Imagine being hungry and being surrounded by rocks that look like bread? And imagine having the power to turn those rocks into bread? Hot, soft, fresh-out-of-the-oven bread!

Jesus went through that very thing. Led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness to pray and prepare for His ministry, He finds Himself very hungry at the end of forty days of fasting from food and instead feasting on prayer. The devil comes at the right time and begins his temptation of Jesus. "I don't really believe you're the son of God, let alone have any sort of power, but just in case you are the son of God and possess any sort of power turn this bread into Mrs. Baird's bread!" Ouch, what a spot to hit Jesus, His human hunger. But Jesus was ready; He replies, "You know the Bible better than most Christians, you know it says there, 'One cannot live by bread alone.'" Jesus knew that the devil knew the rest of that verse he was quoting. (Deut. 8:3). Then the devil, remember he's the father of lies, takes Jesus to a place where he can and does show Him all the kingdoms of the world; "Wouldn't you like to have rule over them? I can give it to you if you would just worship me. It'll all be yours." Jesus knows Who we are to worship and He only and so He says, "Tempter, you know what the Good Book says, "We are to only worship the Lord you God, and to serve only Him.'" The devil then takes Jesus to the holy city and places Him on the highest point of the temple. The devil then says, "I still don't believe that you are the Son of God, but if you are throw yourself down from here, because the Bible says that God will protect You." Jesus answered him with another biblical reference, "We shouldn't put the Lord God to the test." And the temptation was over. For the time being. Don't you love how Luke says, "he departed from him until an opportune time."

You and I get tempted. All. The. Time. But to respond like Jesus, we have to be like Jesus; we must know, love, study, live, and believe the Bible. In reading the Word of God, God prepares us for life and the challenges of life. I recommend very highly, getting a book (and if I've shared this before, please forgive me and go get it anyway!) "The Divine Mentor" by Wayne Cordiero. It helps you know how for life you have the greatest mentors, including Jesus Himself, as one who wants to mentor your life in the best way. Without the resources of the Bible as our assistance for life, we will struggle mightily in all things.

PRAYER: Loving God, as we live life, we want to live life in You. Help us capture the joy and spirit of Your Word so that as the challenges of life present themselves we will find ourselves ready and in all of the, victors! We pray this in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Build Upon the God Foundation

Image from globalrecordings.net

God rules. On your toes, everybody! He rules from his angel throne - take notice! God looms majestic in Zion, He towers in splendor over all the big names. Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you! Holy. Yes, holy. Strong King, lover of justice, You laid things out fair and square; You set down the foundations in Jacob, Foundation stones of just and right ways. Honor God, our God; worship his rule! Holy. Yes, holy. Moses and Aaron were his priests, Samuel among those who prayed to him. They prayed to God and he answered them; He spoke from the pillar of cloud. And they did what he said; they kept the law he gave them. And then God, our God, answered them (But you were never soft on their sins). Lift high God, our God; worship at his holy mountain. Holy. Yes, holy is God our God. (Psalm 99 The Message)

This past weekend I loaded up a red wagon with my three youngest grandkids. I had Caleb, the oldest of the siblings, in the back. He supported Eliana, second oldest, and she supported Adi, the youngest. I pulled them around our neighborhood and acted as tour guide of the real and imagined things they were seeing. Living in a coastal town, the ground does not lend itself to fully support sidewalks and the kids laughed when I told them the wagon was going to be bumpy because we were going over the Grand Canyon.

Is your spiritual life supporting your way? If you're not solid, the way will get bumpy and if you're really not trying, it may even sink. The psalmist says it all in this psalm: God rules. And we should follow and built on that knowledge. Our life should be set to honor and obey God through worship and service. Our every thought, word, and deed, should lift high the name of the Lord!

PRAYER: Loving God, let me honor You by what I say, think, and do. Let me build a solid life upon You and my devotion to You. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Let Your Face Glow!

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai carrying the two Tablets of The Testimony, he didn't know that the skin of his face glowed because he had been speaking with God. Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, saw his radiant face, and held back, afraid to get close to him. Moses called out to them. Aaron and the leaders in the community came back and Moses talked with them. Later all the Israelites came up to him and he passed on the commands, everything that God had told him on Mount Sinai. When Moses finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face, but when he went into the presence of God to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. When he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they would see Moses' face, its skin glowing, and then he would again put the veil on his face until he went back in to speak with God. (Exodus 34:29-35 The Message Version)

We're not talking about potato packs you place on your face to make your face glow. I know this because in my search for an image to share with you, like the one above of the classic painting of God and Moses, when I typed in "Glowing face" it took me to photos of a woman with a glowing face thanks to potato packs you can buy. Of course. But, the glowing face we're talking about comes from encounters with God. On Monday, we saw Jesus' whole body glow and today's passage it is Moses' face that glows because of his encounters with God. Ours may not glow brilliantly bright that our friends or family will say, "Get a veil on that face!" but the flow of the contentment and peace of having spent time with God will show a glow that others may wonder about. Time spent with God is awesome. Time spent listening to God is a blessing. Time spent walking with God is the beginning of an eternal reward.

If you read The Upper Room, today's little message comes from Argentina, by a man whose mother became bedridden and had to be placed in a caring facility. She was visited by a priest who asked to pray for her. She replied she was from another denomination but would welcome a prayer. When the priest finished, she prayed. The next week the priest returned, but this time with a young companion. The priest said, "I want you to listen to how this woman prays. It is as if she is conversing with a friend."

Spend time with your best friend, God. God listens, and you will be blessed; and your face may even glow!

PRAYER: Loving Lord Jesus, we pray not for our faces to glow, but to be blessed by our love together. May we seek to know You more and help others to come to You. This I pray in Thy name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Remove the Veil!

Image from christianglobe.com

Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2)

For over twenty years now, I have had the same wonderful eye doctor, Dr. Richard Evans of San Antonio. He is kind, gentle man who loves God and daily shares a devotional thought as well. He is an active member of University United Methodist Church, and his faith shines through his practice. I love seeing Dr. Evans because of two things, 1) He does not weigh me before seeing me, and 2) I feel no threat of having to face an injection after my visit. (I'm still praying that never happen!). But the one thing I do endure is the dilation of my eyes. And I must say, that having had it done last week, that medicine has come a long way. The first time I felt like I would never see clearly again. Some years later a new rapid de-dilation medicine was introduced and more drops into the eyes sped up the return to normal. Now, it is a gentle return back to normal and with the free visors you can walk outside and drive and do whatever. I have to confess that I like to have fun with my bride; this year I was escorting her and saw the pavement had changed from concrete to a patch of gravel and asked, "Is this water we're about to step in?" And then I led her to a car that I knew was not ours, and tried to convince her that I needed her to drive.

Today's passage speaks of a spiritual veil that may be keeping us from understanding God's will for our lives correctly and that may also be keeping us from full service to God. It is the difference between reading the law of Moses and the grace that the Lord Jesus gives us while reading about Him. Paul says the veil is removed from our being blinded from the truth of God's love and purpose; Paul calls it freedom that we receive as we give ourselves to Jesus, and we are able to see the glory of the Lord and see even ourselves transformed more into the image of Christ to better serve Him. We also are led to renounce the shameful sins we have committed and try to hide, and commit ourselves to truth.

We, therefore, friends, have freedom to love and serve God. What is holding us back?

PRAYER: Thank You, loving God, for the un-veiling of our minds and spirits. Help us to see You more clearly and to love and serve You more freely. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Here and There

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God. (Luke 9:28-43)

This passage is about the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus. It is an awesome event for several reasons. The first is that these three trusted inner circle members of the disciples, Peter, James, and John, got to experience the presence and power of heaven without dying. They saw in the person or body of Jesus, the glory of God. This also shows the awesomeness of prayer, for it was in the prayer time of Jesus that this event happened. The event also showed the connectedness of Jesus to all scripture; the passages of the Bible that gave us Moses, and the closing of our Old Testament with the foretelling of the coming of both of these men in Malachi. And the greatest is the declaration from God for a second time of these powerful words: "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to Him!" That said, everything was back to normal. Except for what would reside in the minds of the three disciples for the rest of their lives. The story then shifts back to the needs of the people; sickness, demon-possessions, poverty, hunger, etc. And how Jesus delivers and heals those in need. And again, how it is Jesus who comes to the rescue when we think we have been defeated or have failed in our attempts to do God's work.

What we should take away from this are these things; pray like never before and pray expecting powerful answers to your prayers; read the Bible like never before with a plan to complete a thorough study of God's word in a year; look and listen to God's voice all around you and you will hear God directing you to the work God would have you do on His behalf. Seek also to be God's hands in the work that still needs to be done.

PRAYER: Loving God, as I pray this morning, I ask that I be blessed with the things mentioned above. I want to know You more and I want to do Your will. Help me to stay connected through prayer and Bible study. This I ask in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update: Please continue to pray for our niece, Nellie Ann. She's had her ups and downs and we are still praying that God's will be done in her body and her life. Thank you for caring.