I Can't Wait Until Morning!

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Help, God - the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help! Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy.  If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped.  I pray to God - my life a prayer - and wait for what he'll say and do. My life's on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.  O Israel, wait and watch for God - with God's arrival comes love, with God's arrival comes generous redemption. No doubt about it - he'll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin. (Psalm 130 The Message)

There are some days that never seem to arrive!  Have you ever had to wait for those?  Some might compare it to those Christmas Eves when it seems that the activities of the day will never end so you can go to sleep and awaken the next morning to what you've been waiting for.  (I hate to tell you I'm guilty of that and that sometimes makes us guilty of missing the point about whose birthday it really is!).  But I'm talking about the anxious expectation for the day that brings a tremendous blessing.  The psalmist had one of those as he prayed and repented and waited for God's mercy to finally bless his life.And he compares it to the sin of his nation and how they should be waiting for God's mercy as well; and it seems that day never arrives.  But it does, and when it does, the psalmist says, "With God's arrival comes love, (and) with God's arrival comes generous redemption."  God will redeem the nation and bring it out of captivity into freedom.

Perhaps you relate to that.  You said something to a loved one that you can't take back.  You wait until that person says you're forgiven and the relationship can be on the right track again.  Or you've done something you regret and you await for true mercy to find its way into your heart and soul.  That day does come when we surround to God and truly believe that God forgives and allows us to have a new start.  Sometimes the hardest judge on us is us.  

Make this day count.  Make this a day of new beginnings in your life as you hear God's voice say to you, "My child, you are forgiven; You've been set free to live in me a life that pleases me."  And then believe it and live it.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for Your love and mercy.  Thank You for redemption.  May I truly hear You speaking words of new life to me, so that I may be a blessing to others.  This I pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

God Can Bring Life Even...

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The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’ Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’ I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.Then he said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.’  (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

I have a bag of bones in my office closet.  They're plastic, but have served as a good prop for the passage reading for today.  Its has made many a kid scared to see them when used in a children't sermon, but usually fascinates some.  Though plastic, the bones say death all over them.  Such was the vision that the prophet had as he was set down in the middle of this valley full of bones.  (God uses props, too!).  There were many bones, the prophet writes, and he notes that these bones are very dry.  Then God asks the question many a district superintendent asks of pastors and lay leadership at various meetings, "Where is the life of this place?"  God's question was more direct"  "Can these bones live?"  The prophet has a great charge conference response, "O Lord God, You know."  Or maybe I pronouncing the response wrong?  But God said to the prophet, preach to them!  And God even gives the prophet the sermon they should hear.  It is a sermon of hope, renewal, awakening, and revival.  And the prophet did just that and he then heard a noise, "a rattling," and the bones came together, "bone to tis bone."  And once the skeleton was in place, so came the sinews and then flesh, then skin...one thing was missing!  Breath!  Then the sermon continued, preach to the breath and may it comes from the four winds and bring the breath of life.  It came, the now completed humans stood up, a vast multitude of them and God said, "This is the house of Israel and the present state they find themselves in; dried up because of the lack of hope.  "You can have new life!" should be your sermon, so preach that.

That sermon may need to come to our lives as well as our churches.  For you who have given up and believe there is nothing more that God can do, think again.  Even in the midst of what seems like certain death, God can act and bring us new life.  Even to the hopeless, there is a message of hope they can hear.  God is prepared to share His Spirit with all who call upon God's name.  I've said it many times before and I continue to affirm that God is not through with us, if we would but humble ourselves before Him and call upon Him to have His way among us.

*|FNAME|*, make that your prayer today for the needs in your life.  Pray for new life, for a new hope, for a new drive to make your way to that hope; and may that hope give you a new strength to lead yourself and others to the place where God would have you be.  

PRAYER:  Loving God, we pray for new life.  Blow hard on our dryness and our bones with the breath of life and new hope.  May we come to life in You in Your way to be the people and church You called us to be.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Do You Belong to God?

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To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. (Romans 8:6-11)

Where is your focus?  That's the basic question being asked here.  If you're turned inward (selfish), you may be saying you belong to yourself only.  If you're turned towards God (service), you are saying you belong to God.  Imagine the distractions of living in the largest and busiest city in the world at the time, which was Rome, and trying to live a Christian life?  Everything you can imagine is there; yours for the taking, and Paul says, "Take God!"  Anyone can take the things of the world and live a carnal life.  The higher and more blessed calling is to take the things of the Spirit and live a spiritual life - that's the life in abundance that Jesus spoke of, and it's also a life of peace.  Paul reminds those turned inward that a life lived only for and in the flesh becomes hostile to God.  These are the ones who complain that God is demanding too much; and you can list the list they have that shows in their mind as being too demanding.  And these people never please God.  Those who live in the Spirit are guided by the Spirit and they please God, and they belong to God.  And the graphic sums up the power that dwells within us:  "The same power that raised Christ from the dead is living in you."  That's an awesome thing to know and to be guided by.  God will give us the life that blesses our "mortal bodies" and will take us to higher and deeper blessings in Him.

PRAYER:  Living God, speak to us right now.  Help us to realize that Your power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in us and can guide us and bless us to Thy service.  We pray in Christ Jesus' powerful name, amen.

Go and overcome the world!

Eradio Valverde

Do YOU Believe This?

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Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.’ After saying this, he told them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.’ Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’ Thomas, who was called the Twin,said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’ When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away,and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’ When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’ Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’ Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. (John 11:1-45)

John tells some long but powerful stories.  This gospel reading is no exception.  It is long and it is very powerful.  And it can be very personal, too.  Jesus here tackles the question of death.  Death is a given and death can be very personal.  Death comes to individuals but it disrupts families and even communities.  Death does not ask permission.  Death comes usually unannounced.  And it came to a family of two sisters and one brother.  The family was well known by Jesus and Jesus counted them as friends.  Death came as an illness.  The illness caused the sisters, Mary and Martha, known in the Bible for other things as quarreling about who should do what, and the anointing of perfume on Jesus; but this hits them just as vulnerable humans who a sick loved one.  They knew they needed to call on Jesus for they knew Jesus love and power, and knew that if He came to see their brother, Lazarus, they would see him well and healed.  

It didn't turn out that way.  Jesus delayed traveling to Bethany telling His disciples that this would be for God's glory, and that the "Son of God may be glorified through it."  The disciples ever without a clue talked about it and resolved to go with Him even if it meant death.  Jesus arrives to both sisters asking the same question:  "Where were you Jesus?  If you have been here our bother would not have died!"  Jesus speaks of Lazarus rising again.  Martha repeats her Sunday school lessons and says, "Yes, I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day," referring to the common held belief that God would have a "last day" when all would rise up for their judgment.  But Jesus is speaking of a resurrection then and there and he tells her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."  And the key question to all of this passage is the one Jesus asks the sister: "Do you believe this?"  Nothing else matters if she did not believe.  And the same applies to us; whatever we believe about Jesus is that which gets us through the death of loved ones.  A strong faith still will mourn and cry the death of a loved one, but it will grant us that peace that Jesus has this; Jesus has the last word on all things, especially death.  Just as God raised Jesus from the dead in fulfillment of a promise, so are Jesus' promises to us true.  All who believe in Him shall not die, but receive eternal life in Him.  Just as the tomb of Lazarus could not hold him forever, and just as the tomb of Jesus could not hold Him forever, the tomb or grave in which they will place our loved ones and us, will not hold us forever, for we belong to God and God is a God of the living, not the dead.

Dear friend, whatever you may be going through as your loved one is ill or you fear dying, trust in Jesus.  There is no one else in whom we can place eternal trust.  If you still mourn the loss of a loved one, turn to Jesus and receive the comfort and peace that only He can give.  Some days will be harder than others, but look for the good around you.  In my case I miss my parents very much.  My memory on FaceBook yesterday was that of an old picture of my mother and my grandmother going into church on a Sunday morning.  I wept seeing that picture and get a bit teary eyed thinking about them now.  But then I see the face of a grandchild and see in them my parents and grandparents, and I turn again to Jesus with gratitude.  My loved ones rest in the Lord and my faith says that this life is not the only life there is.  A better, eternal life awaits us all.

PRAYER:  Loving God speak to the heart of *|FNAME|* and whatever they may be facing or thinking.  Grant your comfort to them and strengthen them today.  Remind us always of the promises of Jesus, for we will be champions in the end.  It is in His precious and powerful name that we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

What More Could I Need?

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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23 King James Version)

I still find it interesting to be in a large department store or at least a store with a toy department in it, for the drama that occurs there daily is something to be observed.  It involves both boys and girls.  A stroll through the toy aisles will reveal something that a child will want.  The child will bring this want to the attention of one or both parents and the child will say, "Mom/Dad, I want this!"  After all, the fulfillment of life's call and purpose is found in the item the child has at long last found for him or herself.  And the typical response of a parent is no.  Grandparents, you know that word is not found in our vocabulary, no matter how hard we try or act like we won't get our grandchild that which they want.  The response of the parent triggers a wail that fills the store.  "But I need this!"  And the child will begin a slow, dazed, shocked walk with the wail on, clutching or dragging the needed toy with them.

We get like that somethings and we too, sometimes confuse want with need.  Most of us have many wants, perhaps even possess a list of wants; but if we're honest with God and ourselves, we have all we need to get by.  David knew that and he knew why.  In God he had found a savior and a provider.  Thinking back to his days in the pasture, he remembered the virtues of a good shepherd, and he lists those in this psalm, attributing them to what God provides to us as our Good Shepherd. 

Dear friend, you and I have found all we need in God; and isn't it wonderful?  Nothing that we could possibly need to have joy and peace in this life has been denied us.  Yes, we might have challenges come our way, but we find in God that which blesses us, and keeps us moving ever forward and ever upward.  David says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."  And they do.  And in the shelter and protection of that grace, I have found God's house and I plan on staying in it.

So come on life, bring it on!  We're ready, we're blessed, and protected.  And best of all, we're loved!

To God be the glory!

PRAYER:  Loving Father, our Good Shepherd, thank You for all You provide.  Guide me to what I need next, be it rest, be it nourishment, be it a refreshing of my soul, or guiding me to what's next in my life, even walking the scary places of this life, Thank You for being with me.  I have enough.  Yours is the glory.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Lord Looks on our Heart

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The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’ Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.’ And the Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you, and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.” Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.’ Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’ He said, ‘Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.’ And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’ Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen any of these.’ Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.’ He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

There's a popular tv show on right now that judges not on appearance but on another quality.  For many of the contestants on The Voice, they love that aspect of it.  Four judges sit with their back to the singer, and the chairs they sit on are designed to not allow any peeking.  They must concentrate on the voice.  If they like what they hear, and would like the singer to be on their team, they press a button, the chair turns around, the floor in front of the judge lights up with the judge's name, and the singer knows that this judge wants him/her.  Have you ever been in a situation where you  hoped you would be judged not by looks but by character or ability?  This is the essence to today's reading.  God rejects Saul as king of Israel, the prophet Samuel mourns this for he had come to love Saul as king, but God sends him to the house of Jesse to find the new king.  Samuel goes under a false pretense to that area for fear of Saul and his anger.  He comes to Jesse of Bethlehem and asks to see his sons.  The oldest one is Eliab, tall and handsome, the prophet thinks this is he!  (Remember that Saul was among the tallest in Israel and was chosen as king).  But hear the interesting word from God:"Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."  Wow!  God knows our heart and what's in our heart counts.  Remember Jesus said later, that it was not what goes into our mouth that defiles us, but what comes out of our mouths; for that reveals what is in our hearts.  

The parade of sons continued until all the older ones were seen. None of them were the one.  The prophet asks the dad if there were any other sons, and Jesse said the youngest, or as the Message version says, "the runt."  The youngest was tending sheep and had missed out on the barbecue.  But Samuel said to call for him, for they would not sit down until all were present.  Now, the writer describes David's appearance as being "ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome."  And he was the one.  The thing that counted before the Lord were not his eyes or cheeks, but David's heart.

That begs us to ask the question what is in our heart.  I would pray that in our heats would be seen the love we have for God and that we have for others.  Oh that our hearts would reflect compassion and mercy for all people.  Oh that our hearts be filled with God's grace enough to share with others.  Oh that our hearts would reveal a hunger for God and the things of God.  That is what counts before the Lord.

If we're not happy with what is in our heart, we can ask that it be changed.  The same boy whose heart was pleasing to God would later write, "create in me a clean heart, O Lord," meaning that he knew God had that power and grace to change our hearts for the better.  Cancer had weakened the heart of my dad's uncle, and as he lay dying, he told his wife, "Eva, my heart may not be working great, but it's filled with love for you, and my heart is yours."  May it be that ours as well, be filled with love for God and God's people, and may it always be known of us that our heart belonged to God.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, fill our hearts with love for You and for Yours.  Fill it with all that pleases You and serves You. May we live a life that gives us away as being Yours.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Once You Were Darkness; Now You Are Light

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For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,‘Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ (Ephesians 5:8-14)

Having received Jesus as Lord and Savior has taken us from darkness to light.  Our deeds done before Christ forgave us were deeds done in darkness.  We were either ignorant of their being wrong, or we were intentional in doing them; regardless of what we say, we were in sin.  Christ came to take away our sin and bring us into the light.  Traveling a lot in this job as district superintendent means that many a night I have spent in a hotel room which like Bob Bodett says, "All look the same once the light is out," but it also means stumbling around the dark if nature calls.  The room looks much better and is easier to navigate if a light is on.  So is life.  With the light of Christ living in us we navigate our lives better; making the right choices and life-affirming decisions, becoming people who bless others.  Our light so shine so brightly that others will be attracted to it and ask what it is about us that makes us different.

The closing part of the passage also says we have lived among the dead for too long; Christ has come with life and that in abundance if we would just receive it and live it.  Why continue among the ones who no longer live?  Let the light of Christ shine on us and move from among the dead to the living.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, may the light of Christ shine brightly and may His gift of life to the fullest be mine.  Help me shine a light that brings others to You, in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Raise the Roof for the Rock Who Saved Us!

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Come, let's shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let's march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns! And why? Because God is the best, High King over all the gods. In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns, in the other hand grasps the high mountains. He made Ocean - he owns it! His hands sculpted Earth! So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us! Oh yes, he's our God, and we're the people he pastures, the flock he feeds. Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks: "Don't turn a deaf ear as in the Bitter Uprising, As on the day of the Wilderness Test, when your ancestors turned and put me to the test. For forty years they watched me at work among them, as over and over they tried my patience. And I was provoked - oh, was I provoked! 'Can't they keep their minds on God for five minutes? Do they simply refuse to walk down my road?' Exasperated, I exploded, 'They'll never get where they're headed, never be able to sit down and rest.'"  (Psalm 95)

Worship is the fuel that blesses our journey.  I wonder how some people can get by without worshiping God?  There is a purpose for our singing praises to God whether it be hymns or praise songs; the join the chorus of all around the world who have the desire to praise God.  And it is all because God deserves it.  God is the "Rock who saved us."  It is God who made all things, and holds all things.  It is God who feeds us, the sheep of His flock.  It is God who guides us.  And we will never get to where we're headed unless we turn to God.

It matters not the style of worship you like, it just matters that you should worship God.  The day nor the place matters.  Yes, you should regularly join other believers to praise God for the fellowship fuel that blesses our journey too, but the charge is:  Worship God!  As a young man away from home going to college, I found myself having to work on Sundays.  Thankfully, it was every other Sunday, so I could return home on occasion and be at my home church .  But I found out that First United Methodist of Jacksonville, Texas, had a night service, so I was determined that I would still worship God even if it was at night and even if it was in a new church.  I convinced a group of cafeteria workers who also worked the morning and noon of that Sunday, to join me as we trekked over to FUMC.  We must have shocked and surprised the small crowd and Dr. Gilpin, the pastor, but we were welcomed and we sang, and we heard a marvelous sermon, and we praised God.  That blessed my week and the week of the co-workers.  We continued that every other Sunday night, walking as a group from the church to the DQ for our meal (when we had money), and it was a  complete day of the Lord for us.

Make your life complete by worshiping God.  

PRAYER:  Loving God for those of Your who serve in preparing and offering worship, thank You.  For places prepared for our worship, thank You.  May we not take them for granted as we gather to worship and praise You.  In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Is God Among Us or Not?

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From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarrelled with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’ But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?’ So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.’ Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’  (Exodus 17:1-7)

Traveling with small children is a difficult task at times.  "Are we there yet?" or "When do we eat?" or "Mom, I'm thirsty!"  You kinda know where I'm headed with this; the people of Israel on their forty-year outing became like finicky children.  They had been set free from their captivity as slaves and here they were on a journey to form them as God's people and they were not happy with any of it.  They lost sight of the big picture, namely their freedom and their way to a new land they would soon possess, and it seemed a better deal to them to return back to slavery, back to the known, verses a journey into the unknown.  And here they find there is no water to drink and they begin to gripe about it.  God always provided in His time, and this time was not different, but for them they wanted it when they wanted it.  

God did provide the water and from a rock no less.  And when the water came gushing out, Moses named the place Massah and Meribah because the people kept quarreling and asking, "Is the Lord among us or not?"  The answer is of course, yes, the Lord is with us.  And the other answer is yes, the Lord always provides.  And the other answer is why do you gripe?  But this is just like us even today.  We hardly like venturing out from our comfort zones, even if we are being enslaved by our comfort and its trappings, rather than venture into the unknown, even if led by God.  We do not yet know the great things that could be ours if we would but trust the Lord and walk with the Lord forward towards full obedience.

The great blessings of tomorrow are just over the ridge of our quarreling, in the Valley of God is among us.

PRAYER:  Loving God, help me to see beyond the quarreling which shows our frustration of new things, to see that which is possible through obedience.  Guide me to faithfulness and let me be a blessing to You.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Here is a video of yesterday's ConCafe off the Cuff:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaCZzThH85M

God's Love Has Been Poured into Our Hearts!

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Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:1-11)

A lot happens to us when we say yes to Jesus.  Theologically, we call it Justification by Faith.  Practically, we call it being saved.  We entered into a new, right relationship with God through Jesus and the first byproduct of that is peace.  This peace comes from God and it is difficult to describe, but wonderful to enjoy.  All around us people may be freaking out or panicking, but those with peace, remain calm and sure that God is in control and that God will see us through.  The second thing we gain is grace.  Another difficult to explain, but great to enjoy as well.  Grace is God's free flow of love into our lives, though we know we don't deserve it, but God is like that, sharing unconditional love to us.  And both of these help us even boast in our suffering, that is to say, while others may whine about what they are going through, the Christian says, "This is only leading to greater things!"  Look at the flow chart that Paul provides, and this from his own personal life experiences:  Suffering leads to our having endurance.  Endurance leads to our having character.  Character gives us hope.  Hope does not disappoint because, and hear this:  God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  All this happened while we were still weak, right at that time, Christ died for the ungodly.  God proved His love for us "in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."  Justified, made acceptable before God, because of Jesus' blood poured out for us at the cross; this led to our salvation - the being led away from God's wrath into God's loving embrace.  No longer enemies of God, but now reconciled people before God.

If you have said Yes to Jesus, you have all of the above things in your life.  You stand right before God.  You can lead a life that gives glory and honor to God.  Your heart is full of love, so share it willingly.  Make you face shine, smile like never before, and look around to the needs that you can meet and meet them in the name of the Lord.  We are called to make and be a difference in the lives of those who have not yet met the Lord.  Care for others.  Help one another.  Show love to those who do not yet know the love of God.  This may bless others in ways you did not dream possible.  

If you have not yet said yes to God, this could be the right time.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for this day and its blessings.  Thank You for Jesus to Whom we have said Yes, come into my heart, and be Lord and Savior.  I confess I am a sinner and ask forgiveness of my sins; remove them and cast them in the deepest part of the sea.  And let me live a life that gives You honor and glory.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Here is a video link to yesterday's Gospel message:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPQpahLBV2c&t=5s 

Christ Knows Our Sins and Still Loves Us!

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So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’ Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.’Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come back.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband”; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he,the one who is speaking to you.’Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him.Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’ Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word.They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.’  (John 4:5-42)

This is certainly not a short passage.  Yet, it contains power and truth.  Jesus alone, unfed, thirsty, and awaiting the return of the disciples, meets a woman who has come to draw water from the well known as Jacob's well.  This was a significant historical spot for it was here that Jacob had given this plot of land to his son Joseph.  "Give me a drink," is how Jesus starts a conversation that will end with the woman knowing exactly who Jesus is, and who she is.  She, being a Samaritan, tries to get Jesus not to ask for water by reminding Him of their differences. Jesus may have confused her by saying if you knew who I was, you would have asked living water from me.  She replies that He has no bucket, the well is deep, where in the world would you get such living water?  And Jesus proceeds to tell her all about that living water and how it leads to eternal life.  She still didn't get it and thinks that maybe this is finally the running water she needs to stop making this trip to the well.  Jesus asks her to bring her husband.  The woman is honest in saying she has no husband, and Jesus concurs and says, "You're right in saying you have no husband, because you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband.  What you have said is true!"  This takes the woman by surprise and wonders if Jesus is a prophet, and speaks of the place where they are located.Jesus speaks of true worship being done in spirit and truth, and she replies in saying she knows the Messiah is coming.  Jesus declares Himself to be the Messiah.  The disciples arrive, and the woman returns to her village inviting all to come and see a man "who told me everything I have ever done!  He cannot be the Messiah, can He?"  

The woman was amazed that Jesus knew everything she had ever done.  Jesus knew her sins, yet, she could tell He was not condemning her but inviting her to come into a new relationship with herself and with God.  How do we react when we find out that Jesus knows all of our sins?  "Everything (we) have ever done?"  Some might feel embarrassed, or shameful; few might feel relieved - but I hope all of us would feel thankful that in spite of our sin, we were still invited to love Jesus and receive from Jesus the forgiveness of our sins.  This encounter is a Lenten encounter.  Jesus shares with His disciples that His food was in doing the will of God.  They were hungry and believed Jesus to be, but He was content in doing what God asked of Him.  He was sharing forgiveness of sins, offering living water, and speaking truth about living water leading to eternal life.  It took a while for the woman to get it, but the villagers seemed to get it quicker because of Jesus' teachings, and they proclaimed Jesus to be the Savior of the world. 

Jesus' invitation to us still holds.  In spite of who we believe ourselves to be, the long list of sins that we have amassed, Jesus is with us, loving us and sharing with us that which blesses us with living water and eternal life.  I would pray dear friend, that you would, if you have not yet done so, accept His loving invitation to you. We're getting closer to that Friday in which Jesus died for us a painful death, becoming the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (that's you and me!).  Won't you accept Him?

PRAYER:  Awesome Father, thank You for Jesus and all He did on our behalf.  Help me to know and accept Jesus as MY Savior and Lord.  Thank You for loving us in spite of bad decisions, terrible choices that I have made.  Please give to me, living water, life in abundance, and life eternal.  Take my sins away and replace them with love and grace for all.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Need a Reminder?

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I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore.(Psalm 121)

I took our car to be serviced this past Tuesday.  It received a brand new dashboard.  The model year of my car had a recall to replace dashboards because the sun would make the old ones melt and become super sticky.  When I went online to find a "cure" for that I discovered there was a recall for sticky dashboards and it took about a year to order and get a new one, but we did.  As Nellie and I were taking it home I saw an old penny on the floor right under the steering wheel and I smiled, picked it up and said, "In God We Trust!"  Indeed.  I have shared with you the story of a woman going through a difficult time and she asked God for a sign or reminder of God's strength and presence with her during difficult times.  And she found a penny, picked it up and read the inscription I quoted above:  In God We Trust.  From then on she discovered the tougher the day and its challenges, she would find a penny and that would remind her and she was calm.  On a day she was facing surgery she prayed for God's presence and help and thought she would find a penny, but did not.  She was trying to calm herself on the gurney in the prep area that even though she had not found that heavenly reminder, God was still with her.  An orderly came in and asked, "Ma'am, I found a penny right outside the door; is it yours?"  Yes, she said, It is mine.

Not everyone needs reminders, but boy does this psalm do the trick for us as we face life and some of life's tough days.  The psalmist is said to have been surrounded by enemy armies on the hills around his camp; as far as the eye could see there they were, ready to attack and try to kill him and his men.  So, he wrote the famous lines that are the first verses of this powerful psalm.  He knew that God was with him and would see him through the challenge of battle.  His spirit reminded him, God made heaven and earth and with that same power and strength, God can protect you!  He won't even leet your foot be moved and He won't fall asleep or doze off while protecting you.  God is your keeper; beyond that God is your shade at your right hand, not even the sun or the moon can do you harm.  God is so strong, God can protect you from all evil and God will keep your life.  God watches as we go out and as we come in; not just now, but all the time, even forever.

What more of a reminder do we need?

PRAYER:  Loving God, speak to my heart and to my fears.  As the challenges of this day come my way, let them be chased away by the presence and power of God.  I claim the words of this psalm for my life, and I claim a victory in all that is before me; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Do Ya Have Enuff Faith to Get Up & Go?

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Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4a)

I'll never forget the first trip I took with my group from campus ministry from then-Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas.  Edinburg is deep in the heart of the Valley of Texas, and most of the students in that rented or borrowed van had never left the Valley!  It was unreal to imagine, but the church and my parents had allowed me to venture into other cities, and so a trip to Kerrville and just a bit beyond was a normal occurrence to me, but to hear and see the expressions of these kids wonder and marvel of the great big world that is out there, yes, beyond the Valley, was an incredible blessing to me.  And even as I write this and you read this, there are those who will not know there is a world beyond the Valley.  For some of them, to be born and raised, live and die in the Valley is sufficient for them.  Very few things, if any, will lure them away from the comfort and peace that for them is the Rio Grande Valley.  

Imagine yourself as one who has never traveled beyond your home.  Add to that that you're seventy-five years old.  You're a religious person, you pray to the Lord and believe in God; then one day your Lord speaks to you.  And here is what he says, , I want you to leave your home, your family, and your father's house to a new land that I am going to show you."  That in itself would be enough for some to say, "Uh, God, you have the wrong number!  I'm fine where I am.  Or, as my daughter say, "I'm good."  But listen as God continues, "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you, , all the families of the earth shall be blessed."  Wow, that's some promise you're making to me, Lord.  Abram had enough faith to say, as the old song, "I will follow Him, follow Him wherever He may go..."  (if you know the song you have it stuck in your head now, right?)

Abram is called the Father of the Faith for having said yes to God.  He was willing to leave everything and everyone who meant dear things to him, and become the father of a great nation.  It was not an easy decision.  It was a faith decision.  It required that faith that trusts God and follows God wherever God may lead.  And the promise from God was a great one as well.  It came true, finally, for the journey towards it was not an easy or simple one.  But with God at his side, Abram and Sarah journeyed forward and upward.

Do you have the courage to journey across the room to share your faith with someone in obedience to God?  How about across the street?

PRAYER:  Lord, increase my faith.  Help me to trust You enough to venture where You will lead me.  I want to serve You and be faithful and fruitful to You.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

True Gifts Come By Love, Not Works!

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What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. ’Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (Romans 5:1-5, 13-17)

Years ago I taught Introduction into the New Testament as part of my work as a campus minister.  In those days the state of Texas allowed off-campus instructors to teach Bible courses for university credit.  The university kept the money and we got a chance to work with students.  I learned that there was a house off campus where single men considering the priesthood lived under the tutelage of a priest, and these young men were told to take my course so they could see the difference in theology between themselves and Protestants.  The main difference was faith vs. works.  They would argue they had to work out their salvation.  I would point them to passages such as this.  Some, because of past sins, thought that being in a religious vocation was the only way to earn forgiveness.  I would argue they were forgiven just by asking.  The message of Lent should be that God forgives those who ask, not who follow acts of obedience and penitence.  And the reason God forgives us is that God loves us.  Think on your life and the greatest gifts you have received and probably most, if not all, have been the result of someone's love for you.  Our greatest gift of salvation came through Jesus' love through God in what Jesus did for us, not what we did for Him.

All Abraham did, was by faith.  He left his family and home by faith to receive the gift of faith; for that reason he is called the father of the faith.  For that reason Paul as he writes says, if you have a job the check you get is not out of love, but out of the work you did.  Our salvation came to us free.  I should point out that what we do after we are saved counts as fruits of that faith, and we should demonstrate what Christ has done in us.  Love someone enough to tell them about Jesus!

PRAYER:  Loving Father, grant to me that faith that shows Your love to all.  Thank You for Your grace and pardon.  Help me to share the good news with someone special today.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Nick Wants to Know Who Jesus Is. Do You?

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Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:1-17)

Have you ever wanted to visit someone or learn something and felt it was best to do that by night?  What was your reason?  In Nicodemus' case, it was because of who he was, a leader of the Jews.  His visit to Jesus would have shaken his status and he might have lost everything.  Yet, he took a chance and visited Jesus by night and asked Him who He was.  Notice Nick knows Jesus was from God because the things Jesus was doing no one could do if he was not from God.  Jesus takes the chance to reveal the first important teaching Nick receives that night.  Number one:  To understand God things, you must be spiritual.  And Jesus says it in a way that still speaks to many, "You must be born from above," or as some have learned it through the years, "born again."  This really confuses Nick and he asks a silly question about that process to which Jesus says, "You must be born of water and Spirit.  What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not be astonished that I said to you, "You must be born from above."  Then Jesus tries to explain it in a way that Nicodemus can understand it; just as the wind blows wherever it chooses, and one can hear it, you still don't know where it comes from nor where it goes; it's the same way with those who are Spirit-led.  Nick still is clueless and Jesus says, "You've been a teacher of Israel and still you don't understand these things?  That's one reason you guys don't get it."  You don't understand the earthly things I have been sharing, how will you ever understand the heavenly things?  Then a close about His death comparing it to what Moses did in the wilderness to bring salvation to those being bitten by snakes, so would His being lifted up on the cross would bring life to all who believe.  Then the second and great revelation that Jesus shares with Nicodemus and with us:  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life.  'Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.'"

A dear friend of mine during a sharing time in a retreat said he came to faith when someone suggested that he change the part that reads, "the world" and substitute his own name.  His name is Skip.  So, the verse became real and true to him as he said, "For God so loved Skip that He gave His only Son, so that if Skip believes in Him, Skip may have eternal life.  Have you ever thought it might read, For God so loved (your name) that He gave His only Son, so that if (your name) believes in Him, (your name) might have eternal life."?  I hope you have, because it is true.

This is the good news that we must share before it gets to be too late for some.  No one wants to see their friends, or certainly not their family perish, so share it with them in a loving way.  Live a life that becomes the gospel so that they can see in you what they are lacking.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for Jesus and for Jesus' mission here on the earth.  I pray that we might truly come to receive and know Him as our Lord and Savior.  Give us the boldness and right opportunity to share Jesus with those we love and certainly more with those we don't love; for we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Video Link:  Here is ConCafe On the Cuff:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SSCQKKRZKU

God-Affirmers Raise the Roof!

Image from wearies.wheatfield.org

Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be - you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean. Count yourself lucky - God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him. When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up. Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to God." Suddenly the pressure was gone - my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we'll be on high ground, untouched. God's my island hideaway, keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.  Let me give you some good advice; I'm looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight: "Don't be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track." God-defiers are always in trouble; God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around. Celebrate God. Sing together - everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof! (Psalm 32)

What do you do when you win something?  Do you jump up and down in the air, hollering?  This has been quite the season for such celebrations.  Think back to the World Series and those who follow the Cubs; did they not celebrate?  And as far as I know, they're still whooping and hollering.  Think back a few nights to the Academy Awards and the very last presentation; sadly, one group stood up to celebrate, only to be told, "No, we had the wrong envelope!"  Awkward.  Then when the right winner was announced, they started their celebration.  Part of these celebrations mentioned include a message put on almost everything. The Cubs immediately release their caps with the words WORLD CHAMPIONS!  You could also buy the t-shirt, the official uniform shirt, etc.  The movies that won now have the posters and tv announcement:  WINNER OF BEST PICTURE..., etc.  What do you do when you realized your sins have been truly taken away?  Do you whoop and holler and jump up and down?  Well, very few do.  This version of the psalm really celebrates that which happens when God removes the stains of disobedience from our hearts.  The more traditional verses that begin this psalm read:  "Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit."  But I love the words, "happy, fresh start, and slate's wiped clean."  That is the journey of Lent and the Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday all rolled into one.  All that was held against us, and in fact, holding us back from true service - gone!  Nothing should hold us back, we should all be now "God-affirmers," who "find themselves loved every time they turn around."  Who indeed celebrate God, who sing together, and who "raise the roof!"

You can find caps with words to the effect:  Forgiven or Set Free, but the greatest way to share the message of God is to live a life that says, "I am free from my sin.  I am loved by God.  I can't hold back my joy and rejoicing.  You might even find a church of like-minded people or see one on tv or the internet where their joy truly does raise the roof.

What are you waiting for?

PRAYER:  Loving God, fill me with Your joy as I know You have forgiven my sins.  Help me live a life that truly raises the roof as I celebrate You and Your love for me.  Help me find those whose sins are still weighing them down so that I may share the joy with them.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REPORT AND JOY:  The Rev. John Cochran is now home, after having a surgical procedure to remove his gall bladder.  He is still sore from this and asks our prayers for him.  Thank you all for praying!  God is good!

Paradise! The Relationship with God We Can Have

Image from answersingenesis.org

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.’ Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LordGod had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.” ’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7)

As a child my idea of the garden of Eden was an image of a land I have yet to visit; Hawaii.  I had seen pictures and imagined that paradise must look like that.  But as I have grown, the concept of paradise has been right in front of me; the relationship we can have with God is paradise!  In this garden, God supplied all their needs, and in the evenings God walked and talked with them.  What better place could they possibly want?  Well, apparently, like children and most of us, they want more, and they want better.  And the tempter certainly supplies those to us if we aren't careful.  We could see more, or something better, and we could want that by being blinded by what we truly have.  The key is to have that walking, talking, trusting, loving relationship with God; and our eyes will see beyond what is there to what is truly with us.

The journey of Lent is about that.  We sacrifice time or food or something we desire a lot of, to be closer to God.  We cannot let the tempter prey on our wants and desires like happened to the man and the woman; they wanted the knowledge of good and evil, and disobeyed God just to get it.  And the first decision they made with this knowledge?  That God's good creation is bad; that having no clothes was not kosher. And what did this new wisdom allow them to do?  They learned to sew, and they sewed sandpaper underwear to wear.  Smart, right?

May it be that our desire will be to know God better, for God truly knows the difference between good and evil, and if we listen closely God will guide us.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, guide me to obedience and faithfulness.  May Your rich blessings of discernment, joy, peace and comfort be with this dear reader.  May this day be one filled with Your wonder and may they know how blessed they truly are.  We pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

It Starts with a Reminder of Our Mortality...

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‘Beware of practising 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 rustconsume 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)

Today is Ash Wednesday, the formal start of Lent, a forty day (not counting Sundays) walk with God.  It is meant to be a time when we draw closer to God by praying and fasting, worshiping and praising God.  Fasting takes different meaning for different people.  Some will indeed give up physical food for spiritual nourishment.  Instead of eating three meals, they will eat two, the third one will be a time of prayer or reading from the Bible.  Some will give up sugar and so during these forty days will not touch anything that has sugar in it.  Others will give up something meaningful to take up something more meaningful.  It's a private matter between you and God.

When Jesus spoke about spiritual disciplines in the above passage, He said this was a matter between us and our Father in heaven.  We do it not for the outward approval or acknowledgement of others, but for what it can truly mean to be connecting with God.  Our outward appearance should reflect the true joy that is ours when we are truly walking with God.  The aim of this time should be to build up our heavenly treasure; the peace and joy that comes from knowing God, from trusting God, from loving God, and working for God.  Our heart should reflect where our true treasure lies, with God.

PRAYER:  LORD, for all who begin this spiritual journey, grant Your peace on them.  May it truly reflect where we are in our relationship with You.  May this be a time in which our treasure there with us grows so that our blessings here may be shared with others.  This we pray in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update:  Rev. John Cochran will remain the hospital for about three days.  Some concerns have arisen about his liver and they want to make sure there is not a stone in the duct.  This morning will see him get new blood work and if that comes back clear then surgery will happen today.  So, please continue to pray for him.

Here is a video on this week's gospel reading:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp8dv7mqLyg&t=15s