Let All People Praise God!

Image from flc-boston.org

May God be gracious to us and bless us    and make his face to shine upon us,   

        that your way may be known upon earth,    your saving power among all nations.  Let the peoples praise you, O God;    let all the peoples praise you. 

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,    for you judge the peoples with equity    and guide the nations upon earth.    

   Let the peoples praise you, O God;    let all the peoples praise you. 

The earth has yielded its increase;    God, our God, has blessed us.  May God continue to bless us;    let all the ends of the earth revere him. (Psalm 67)

May this be part of the long prayer we need to pray today:  "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us."  The prayer goes on, and we will add to it throughout the day, but the focus should be on God, not us.  The very first part of the prayer says that God has been, and can be, and truly is, gracious to us, and certainly God has blessed us, and His face does shine upon those who seek it, but it is a part of the entire process; salvation among all people, and after salvation, praise, praise, praise!

Our praise should be in song, in words, in actions, and in thoughts; gladness should be exuding from our very being, for God has seen fit to call us into a loving, trusting, growing relationship with Him.  May it be seen as too inviting to pass up on, and too available not to say yes to God.

The best way to bless God is to be a blessing to others in God's name.

PRAYER:  Loving God, let me bless You.  In Christ I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Updates:  Pastor Dale White was blessed with a good outcome in his heart cath; he was able to go home yesterday.  The doctor discovered that he does have some blockage but the body figured out a way to do its own bypass.  Hmm.  God be praised!

Go to Where the Need Is

Image from endtimeupgrade.org

During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us. (Acts 16:9-15)

Do you want an adventurous faith?  Walk across the aisle in church this Sunday to greet someone you don't know!  If you really want adventure, cross the street from your church to meet those whom you don't know and just talk to them about their faith. Both seem hard, don't they?  Not to Paul.  He even dreamed of places and people he needed to visit.  In today's passage, "a man of Macedonia" appears in this dream/vision and pleads with him to "Come over to Macedonia and help us."  I love that he didn't say, "Let me think about it," or "Was I dreaming?  Does he really want me to 'cross over to Macedonia?'"  It says he immediately tried getting there, sailing there to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  He seeks a place of prayer along the river and meets a woman named Lydia, whose heart was opened to the Lord and she and her household were baptized.  Her life was never the same.

What would happen to that person who's across the aisle from you in church this Sunday if you just greeted them and asked how they were?  What would be the need you would find in that household across the street from your church?  It may be your own life you would be blessing by being obedient to the Lord's urging...

PRAYER:  Loving God, challenge my faith and my life by allowing me to cross aisles, barriers, obstacles, whatever is keeping me in my comfort zone.  I want to and I need to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with someone today.  May it be so.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio

Prayer Requests:  For Rev. Dale White, pastor at First UMC in Alice, TX, having an angiogram done here in Corpus Christi at Spohn Shoreline Hospital.  For my father, who was readmitted to Houston Hospice with doctor believing he has about a month to live.  We trust God.  

I'll Still Be Looking for My Taco Meat...

Image from temkit.com

And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.  I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.People will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practises abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. (Rev. 21:10, 22-22:5)

Country singer Pat Green wrote and sings a song called Songs About Texas.  It has my favorite lyric in it.  "Some day I hope to walk along Heaven's street, and I'll still be looking for my taco meat."  It fits this way in the stanza:  "Well it's nothing short of the gospel hymns, I guess that's why folks keep writing 'em; when I die, I want to go there too, some day I hope to walk along heaven's street, and I'll still be looking for my taco meat and I swear I hear a steel guitar rising in the air."  This may not be your description of heaven, but that may prove you're not from Texas... just kidding.

The Apostle John's description of heaven is shared in today's passage.  It shows the all encompassing love of God to care and bless His redeemed.  The place of worship will be heaven itself; there will be no need for a temple.  The glory of God will be light enough for all to see, for the sun and the moon will no longer need to shine on us.  The gates of heaven will never be closed during night, for there will no longer be night.  The descriptions of the streets and the trees, rivers, etc., all show the glory of God.  But it is also a reminder that we have work to do.  There are some on our street that may not make it.  There may even be some in our church that may not make it.  Someone, like you or I, has to tell them of God's love.  We have to work to have heaven-like conditions here on earth for all people, but also the desire to get everyone who accepts, into a loving relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  And yes, to get as many people to heaven as we can; whether there's taco meat or not.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for your love.  We thank You for the role John played in sharing this awesome vision with us.  Help me in what I have to do.  Let me be faithful.  This I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Comforter and Counselor

Image from agnusday.org

Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. (John 14:23-29)

Jesus had just told His disciples He was going into hospice care. Actually, Jesus was more direct; He told them He was going to suffer and die at the hands of His enemies. News about pending death do not arrive nor are received well in most cases. Jesus was 33 years old; I'm getting to be twice that old soon, Lord willing. Or let's just say I'm closer there than I am to 33, though I'm still young and feel young. Thirty-three years of age is not a good age to die in our opinion, and certainly not in the opinion of those disciples who had left everything to follow Him. But Jesus is saying, You won't be alone. Stay in love with me and show it by keeping what I've taught you and God will come and live in you; and, I'm sending you someone special, the Holy Spirit who will be your Advocate. The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I've taught you; I want you to have peace, the kind that soothes your heart and does not trouble you. You will see me again.

The sadness they felt, and the experiences they went through were tougher than they imagined, but it was after the Resurrection they began to understand as they witnessed what they saw and as Pentecost arrived, they were made sure of what Jesus had promised. From that point on they lived the life that Jesus had intended all along, a life that trusts God and blesses others. You and I are in Easter season approaching Pentecost and we have been blessed. We should live lives that give witness to that peace and strength that Jesus has shared with us. After all, we have a comforter and counselor who will guide us if asked.

PRAYER: Loving God, bless me with a deeper faith, peace, and strength to live like Jesus wanted. Let me bless those whom I meet today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Got Praise?

Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven, praise him from the mountaintops; Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you his warriors, Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you morning stars; Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly rain clouds; Praise, oh let them praise the name of God - he spoke the word, and there they were! He set them in place from all time to eternity; He gave his orders, and that's it! Praise God from earth, you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps; Fire and hail, snow and ice, hurricanes obeying his orders; Mountains and all hills, apple orchards and cedar forests; Wild beasts and herds of cattle, snakes, and birds in flight; Earth's kings and all races, leaders and important people, Robust men and women in their prime, and yes, graybeards and little children. Let them praise the name of God - it's the only Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky; he's built a monument - his very own people! Praise from all who love God! Israel's children, intimate friends of God. Hallelujah! (Psalm 148) The Message Version

What's your definition of praise?  My definition runs along the lines of pausing and lifting up positive thoughts, words, or songs to God, remembering that God is worthy of our praise.  And this psalm reinforces that.  The psalmist says that these pauses are important and necessary.  They are meant to be taken throughout the day, for our good.  Praise is a reminder of Who God is, and who we are.  Praise is a life-giving action to our souls and hearts; a blessing to our minds, but more importantly a blessing to God.

We can and should praise God at any time and in any place.  And it is an expected action of all creatures, all people, regardless of age or station.

Easter is a time of praise; for God has done great and mighty things for us.  And the best news?  God isn't finished with us yet.

PRAYER:  Loving God, for all You have done, I praise You.  For all You are doing, I praise You.  For all You will do I praise You!  Let me continue to praise You in such a way that others will come along and join in the happy song.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

You, Too?

Image from mostholyfaith.com

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But I replied, “By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.” And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’ (Acts 11:1-18)

What's more important?  What you eat or who you eat with?  There are some foods that you might already have decided, "I will not eat those!"  And for some, they have decided there are some people they will not eat with.  Hmm.  The second is the most serious because you have judged some people as being not as good as you or not deserving of your company.  This passage addresses both things.  The apostle Peter had a vision that spoke to him about his diet and his displeasure.  Having been raised a Jew there were certain things that he could not eat.  And because he was a Jew there were certain people he could not eat with; namely anyone who was not a Jew.  These people are called Gentiles.  Yet, God spoke to him in a vision and set him on a new course about his ideas regarding his diet and his discrimination.

The gospel is for all people.  We have to love and welcome all people to the faith.  We have to get to know those we don't know and maybe, share a meal with them so that we can know each other better.  Don't be like the two coworkers who worked alongside each other for 35 years and when they retired at their retirement celebration they found out they were both United Methodists.  "You, too?"  Sigh.  Don't wait 35 years to talk to your coworkers about what you believe and who you are.  If you do wait 35 years, they'll know exactly who you are.

PRAYER:  Loving God, speak to my fears about sharing my faith and declaring who I am.  Help me to spread the good news with all people, especially those by my side each day.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus: Alpha and Omega

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them;  he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’

 And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:1-6a)

Death does not end all things.  John saw and heard all about great, new, eternal things in this passage and throughout this last book of our scriptures.  He witnessed a new heaven and a new earth, and, "The sea was no more."  I have loved sharing with you the passage from Micah 7:19 where the prophet says of God, "You cast all our iniquities (sins) into the deepest part of the sea."  This passage shows the finality of our sins.  More importantly, John saw that God was among all people who had died in their faith and relationship with Jesus, and it is God who will declare, "Death will be no more; mourning and crying and brain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."  And then the declaration that all things will be made new, promised and guaranteed by the Lord Himself.  At that time, Jesus will say, "It is done!  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."  

For this we labor now; to make sure we get as many people as we can into our faith, to find hope, forgiveness, mercy, joy, and the promise of a life that never ends.  The empty pews and seats we see on Sundays are those people whom we have yet to invite and bring into a loving, trusting relationship with Christ; there is still room, but there is work to be done.

Share this word with someone today.  

PRAYER:  Loving God, put me to work sharing the good news.  This I ask in Thy name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayers for those still affected by the heavy rains and flooding, especially in parts of Houston.

And They'll Know We Are Christians By Our ___?

Image from angusday.org

When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ (John 13:31-35)

God blessed me with a wonderful day yesterday.  It was a long day, but one I spent with my sweet wife, going the width of our district.  We got up early to be in worship at First UMC in Port Lavaca, where our web master and his wife asked that I baptize their daughter.  His mother is our associate pastor at FUMC there, and it was a great morning, followed by a good lunch.  Then we zoomed over to George West, Texas, where I shared my faith story with a large group of confirmands.  And as I was reading the gospel text for this coming Sunday that thinking about the day and especially the giggly confirmands sitting on the front row that I thought of that old song which I quoted in the titles of this devotional.  The refrain says, "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love."  Did I mention I got attacked as soon as I walked in the sanctuary at the first church?  Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our lack of love in some cases...  It was not a personal attack but an attack against a pastor is still an attack.  Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love...

The object of our lives is to glorify God in everything we say, think, and do.  And nothing glorifies God more than our love towards God, towards ourselves in positive, healthy ways, and our love for others.  It's the new commandment, and it's one that will never get old, especially as new people come to that understanding of its importance and centrality to our faith.  Jesus was suggesting or hinting this; He was commanding this.  "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Yes, everyone.  No exceptions.  Not even jerks.

PRAYER:  Lord, Easter is about Your love for us, and our love for you and others.  We sometimes fear the "others" because of what we have seen or experienced from some, but nonetheless, our commandment is to love one another.  Forgive us when we find it hard or try to ignore doing that; we are called to people The People of Love.  May it be so in my heart and life right now!  In Your Name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS  That attack did not ruin my day nor deny me my blessings!  Amen!

Ah, The Good Life!

Image from angusday.org

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.     He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;     he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths    for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,    I fear no evil; for you are with me;    your rod and your staff—    they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me    in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;    my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me    all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord    my whole life long. - 23rd Psalm

I entered the good life at around nine years of age.  It was at that age that Jesus became my shepherd.  It was at that age I got my first paying job; and I became a tither.  And around that age that I was confirmed into the Methodist Church on this very day (it was a Sunday back then!).  I can think of no better life that I could want.  I am the richest man when it comes to blessings from the Lord; His love and care for me.  I have never wanted for anything; many have been the green pastures in which I have laid down in.  Cool has been the water I have drank.  And many have been the times the Lord has restored my soul.  He's been my G.P.S.; my Good Providing Shepherd, and has led me on the right path and what an adventure that has been.  I wish I could say that I've stayed on that path; I sometimes resemble that verse that says, "And we, like sheep, have gone astray..." but He's led me back and more importantly welcomed me back.  Yes, I've been scared and many have been the tears I have shed; but I've never feared, especially evil, for the power and might of the Lord have protected me, and yes, I've been comforted.

I've attended the finest banquets possible, sometimes even with people that didn't care for me, and some may have been my enemies; but that was okay because as far as the Lord was concerned I was the guest of honor; and so were they - for Jesus died for sinners.  To receive bread and wine in Jesus' name and presence, and power; I'm full!  And while the journey has been a great one and no one know how much more we have, we hold on to the hand of He who leads us, and you know what?  The best is yet to come!  I have reservations at the Shepherd's house.

PRAYER:  Lord, bless those who have read it; may those who know You celebrate You, and may those who seek You come to know You as Lord and Shepherd.  I pray in Thy name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

P.S.  The year was 1963 - 53 years ago.  I still have the Bible given to me on that day, and I still have the certificate of my church membership!  To God be the glory!

All About New Life!

Image from christianglobe.com

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, ‘Please come to us without delay.’ So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner. (Acts 9:36-43)

This is yet another resurrection story in the Bible.  A person has died, and God intervenes through one of His servants, and the person comes back to life.  The person in this story was a loving and caring woman; devoted to doing good for others in various ways, then gets sick and dies.  Her body was washed and placed for viewing in an upstairs room.  The friends of Tabitha, who happened to be disciples, heard that Peter was in a nearby town and send for me.  Peter arrives and immediately is taken to the upstairs room and in typical mourning fashion, her friends begin to show their grief by showing the things Tabitha had made while she was alive; Peter asks them to leave, kneels down and prays, then turns to her body and says, "Tabitha, get up."  She opens her eyes, recognizes Peter and sits up.  He helps her up and takes her back downstairs and shows her alive.  Many came to faith because of this miracle.

From this one death, many eternal deaths were avoided.  Those who had wandered in the dark came to light; those who may have been spiritually dead came to life.  That is what Easter should be about.  One of our churches sent out a massive campaign to its members and in a thumb drive they included videos of testimonies of lives that have been changed through its ministry.  One was a drug addict who is now almost two years sober because he knew he was on the wrong path and came to this church seeking life.  Praise God he found it, and his eternal death, and a certain physical death was avoided.  That is Easter.  

Those of us who have new life because of Christ must tell others about it.  It's too powerful a message to keep to ourselves.  Christ does bring new life, yes, even through us.

PRAYER:  Loving God, use me to share the good news of new life.  In the name of He who gives it to us, Jesus my Lord, I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

No More Hunger, No More Thirst - The Great Reunion

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ (Revelation 7:9-17)

The apostle John in his old age was given a chance to see in a vision a full revelation of Heaven.  Written to comfort those who suffer in this life for the sake of Jesus Christ and as a foretelling of all that is to come, he saw this great multitude before the throne of God.  He heard the crowd crying out in a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!" Salvation.  That act which rescues from certain death into life, and not only life, but fullness of life, as Christ Himself promised in John 10:10.  Those in that multitude had been saved from their sin and now found themselves in the presence of God.  John was able to see that these were from every nation, from every tribe, who spoke all languages and all praising God.  No segregation, no separation; all fully included and fully welcomed before God.  And the message is loud and clear:  "They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Have you been saved from the misery of sin?  Have you cried out to God right here, right now to ask that sin be taken away from you and have you enter into a life-long relationship with God?  If not, please do that right now.  You don't want to miss being a part of that which awaits the saved.  Yes, life is tough and we've made some bad choices and decisions, but God can remove that from us and lead us to where we need to be.

PRAYER:  Loving God, let me be a part of that throng who is now worshiping You and praising You.  I want to be part of that great reunion, starting now.  I pray asking forgiveness of my sins and I want to invite You to enter my heart and life and be my Lord and Savior.  This I pray in the name of He who died for me and who is my shepherd, Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Request:  This morning a pair of conjoined twins is in surgery here in Corpus Christi at Driscoll Children's Hospital for the first ever surgery done here in CC.  The surgery may take up to 18 hours and it is the top news story here this morning.  Pray for the little girls, their mom and dad, and especially for the doctors who are doing this surgery.  May God be glorified.

What Have You Done in God's Name?

Image from angusday.org

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’ (John 10:22-30)

Everything that Jesus did, He did in God's name.  Jesus wanted the world to know about God and God's love for us.  The purpose of the Messiah was to point the way to God, and Jesus, as the Messiah, did just that.  It made me wonder how much I do in my personal life points to God?  Not that I'm a messiah -far from it, but as a son of the Most High God, everything I do should point back to God.  What I am, what I have, who I have influenced, should all reflect that from God have come all these things.

Easter is a season to continue to reflect on God's awesome love for us.  This chapter of John points to Jesus as our shepherd and the revelations of Jesus should bless us:  We who are His sheep know His voice; we know Him, and He will never let anyone or anything snatch out of God's hand.  What better news to start the work week?

God is good.

All the time!

PRAYER:  Loving Father, thank You for Your love.  Help me reflect all things back to You so that others may come to know You.  In Jesus Christ's precious and powerful name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Second Chances. Don't Blow It!

Image from theodysseyonline.com

I give you all the credit, God - you got me out of that mess, you didn't let my foes gloat. God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out. All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. When things were going great I crowed, "I've got it made. I'm God's favorite. He made me king of the mountain." Then you looked the other way and I fell to pieces. I called out to you, God; I laid my case before you: "Can you sell me for a profit when I'm dead? auction me off at a cemetery yard sale? When I'm 'dust to dust' my songs and stories of you won't sell.So listen! and be kind! Help me out of this!" You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you. God, my God, I can't thank you enough. (Psalm 30 The Message Version)

Instead of a ticket, you're given a warning.  Instead of jury duty, you're sent home.  Instead of an F, you were given a D.  Instead of staying after school, you were sent home.  Instead of detention, you were given recess.  Instead of an angry response, you were hugged.  We all love second chances.  Instead of death because of our sin, we are led into life, and that to the fullest by Jesus Christ.  This is the best second chance we could ever be given.  And what's even better, it is a daily thing, for daily we sin, and if we ask for forgiveness it is granted.  King David knew all about second chances.  Instead of losing his life or those of his sheep, he defeated his enemies, including a huge one by the name of Goliath.  And being a poetic, thankful soul, he never forgot the mercies of God and shares some of them in this psalm.  It applies to us and our lives.  It speaks to where we have been, where we are now. And can we keep quiet about it?  Some try, but the best answer is no.  We should tell others how awesome God is, has been, and will be.

Tell someone!

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for second chances in my life. Thank You for forgiving my sin and giving me a new lease on life.  I pray this in the name of He who died for me, Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

There's Been a Change Come Over Me!

Image from aumethodists.org

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying,and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ (Acts 9:1-20)

This is one of the most powerful conversation stories in the Bible.  A young, well-connected, influential man of faith, educated by the greatest teachers in the land, dedicates his life to destruction; all in the name of faith.  Present at the death of the first Christian martyrs, he is inspired to do more of the same, and using his connections gets permission to continue that sort of work in Damascus.  He loved seeing Christians suffer for their faith,and sets off to Big D to arrest any who belonged to the Way.  But as happens in our lives, we make plans, God laughs, and plans change.  Sometimes, lives even change.

You've heard this story before; Paul gets knocked off his high horse, as it were, and gets asked by Jesus Himself, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  Bam!  Saul, because his name had not yet changed, asks, "Who are you, Lord?"  He knew in his spirit that the voice belonged to the Lord; we'll give him that, and Jesus identifies Himself and tells him all about how his life is now changed.

Another of the things that gets me about this story is that Jesus showed Paul everything, especially how much he was going to suffer for the sake of Jesus' name - and still Paul said yes.  I've jokingly said if I had known about some of the church meetings I would have to sit through as I was being called to ministry I might have said no.  Paul said yes.  And his life was never the same.  He became the greatest Christian evangelist in the world at a critical time and touched lives as he started churches in most of the known world in parts no one else dared enter.  His life is a testimony to the power of God to make us new creations - if we allow that to happen to us.

Where are you?  Are you where God would have you be?  Are you doing what God has asked of you?  It is never too late to start; to get where God would have you be, and to do what God has asked of you.

PRAYER:  LOVING God, take me to the place where I should be.  Help me become the person I should be; this I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Resurrection Breakfast, With a Question

bible pasture.blogspot.com

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ (John 21:1-19)

The readings for the Sundays after Easter center on the appearances of the Risen Christ at different times and at different places. Yesterday, I came across a quote from Charles Colson, who said that Watergate helped him believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus. "Twelve men went to their death never changing their story. No one would suffer what they did; beatings, abuse, scorn, even the deaths they suffered for a lie. Watergate had twelve men who could not keep quiet about a lie for three days." This is one of those passages. The disciples had been fishing all night and had nothing to show for it. As the sun came up on that day, they see on the beach Jesus and a fire and breakfast cooking. It was Jesus who called to them, "Children you haven't caught anything have you?" No, came the answer. Jesus said, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some fish." They did as they were told and they had trouble hauling in the fish. It was then that Simon Peter realizes it is Jesus on the shore and he jumps in to swim to Him. The others float in on the boat, and Jesus invites them to eat. Jesus offered them bread, then fish; all confirming that this was Jesus. This marked the third time they had seen the risen Lord.

After breakfast, Jesus turns to Simon Peter and asks him, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" Simon answered, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Then again, Jesus asks Peter if he loved Him. "yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Then Jesus says, "Tend my sheep." And a third time, Jesus asks him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" This time was the hurtful time for Jesus had already asked him that question twice before but still he answered, "Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You." Jesus responded, "Feed my sheep." And He adds to this response, "Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." And after this He said, "Follow me."

The three times that Peter denied Jesus that night of His betrayal are the same three times that Jesus asks if Peter loves Him. All three times Peter says yes, that he does love Him. And with each response, Jesus is giving him a task; feed, and tend to my sheep, and He even reveals the manner in which Peter would die, and still again, for the second time in his life, Peter is asked to follow Jesus. It is to say, If you want to be with me, where I am, continue with that which you were called to do, and follow me.

The old hymn says, "Lord, we are able, our spirits are Thine, remold them, make us, like Thee divine." May it be so with us as well. We have been called to serve and follow Jesus, and only with Jesus' power and strength can we be faithful and fruitful.

PRAYER: Loving God, grant to me that which I need to serve and follow You. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde