Be Renewed in The Lord!

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Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles,they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:21-31)

For many of us it seems that life just runs too fast.  For many life is stressful; we can't find time to just take a breather.  You and I have probably heard someone say, "I'm beat!"  Hopefully, this is a reference to the tiredness we have and not a reflection of defeat.  We cannot be defeated if we have hope in the Lord.  It is God who fights our battles and it is God who wins all the time.  The prophet Isaiah knew about being beat, in many senses of the word.  Yet, he had a message from God that speaks to us all the time, even now thousands of years after he said and wrote it.  One of my favorite songs is "Everlasting God" by Lincoln Brewster because at the very end when the radio plays it, it has a child's voice reading the last part of this verse.  The child's voice takes me back to when our oldest was asked to read scripture in worship at La Trinidad, a huge downtown church in San Antonio.  Our little Nellie read and started weeping.  The pastor's wife went up as did a couple of other people to hug and hold her and she was able to read the passage.  To hear the child on the song say, "the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" blesses me every time.

This passage of Scripture should speak to us right where we are at this moment.  It begins with a question, "Have you not known?  Have you not heard?" (Sounds like a good gossip coming, right?)  And midway through it gets asked again; "Have you not known?  Have you not heard?"  God is everlasting.  Our problems, our worries, our illnesses, whatever the challenge, are not.  They will end.  God will fight that battle, and God will win.  God is creator, sustainer, and redeemer through Jesus and His Holy Spirit.  God gives power to those feeling faint.  The powerless gets strength from God.  Even young people may feel faint and weak, and the young may fall exhausted, but those who know to wait on the Lord will receive a renewal and a power unequaled by anything, even caffeine!

PRAYER:  Awesome God of love and power, bless this dear reader in whatever they are facing.  My prayer is for renewal and re-strengthening of their spirit, their body, their emotions and thoughts.  Make possible a victory where there seems to be looming defeat. Lord you know the need and you know our name; speak to us a word of joy and peace.  It's in Christ Jesus that we pray, amen.

Dear one, have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Be a force of renewal today in the life of someone down and almost out.  You can do it! 

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER JOY:  I have to praise God on behalf of Nellie and myself.  Yesterday, our Nellie mentioned above, Nellie Garcia, called us with great news!  She was named the Teacher of the Year of Mission Junior High, Mission, TX.  She has been teaching in this particular school only two years and she was reluctant to submit herself for consideration, but our son-in-law, Jorge Garcia, urged her as did her principal.  In previous schools, it's been more or less a popularity contest and this school has a different process.  The only votes come from a committee who read statements by each teacher, followed by an interview.  The selection was made in her classroom by the principal and the reaction by her students was something I wished had been videotaped!  Loud cheers, yelling, and banging on the wall made the day even more special.  We are proud of our daughter.  Thank you for indulging me!

Don't Just Talk About It, Be In On It!

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If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe betide me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel. For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. (1Corinthians 9:16-23)

"I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some."  What a powerful timeless statement.  Paul sought to win as many people from all around the world to Jesus Christ.  His drive matched his desire.  He put others first.  Who among us if we saw a child about to cross the street onto rushing traffic would not run to stop them?  Paul felt the same.  The freeway of sin has claimed too many lives and what are we doing about it?  Paul would say we have to do something, anything; whatever it takes. The message is still the same as the one John the Baptist and Jesus preached:  Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.  I always read both the traditional version and the modern version.  If I don't use the modern version I borrow a verse to make it the title, and today's just jumped out at me, verse 23 in The Message:  "I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!"  Yes, indeed in on it.  There's such a difference in talking about something and quite another in being in on it.  I remember my first year as an intern, our church was doing outreach work in one of the poorest sections of the state's poorest counties.  It began by our taking drinking water to them.  We then worked with county officials to get them electricity and the basic infrastructures for decent living.  Crime before we got there averaged a stabbing or shooting per week.  As we shared these needed things and started praying with people, the crime rate dropped.  When the work began, our senior pastor, The Rev. Jose Galindo heard this important word from them; "Don't just come and do good and leave, be a part of us."  And that's what he and the church did and it made all the difference in the world.

You and I are called to identify with those whom God may lead to us.  We don't abandon our beliefs and practices, but we seek to fully understand and even, if possible, become like them in knowing how to best share Jesus with them.  You read about Paul's list of those whom he targeted and won; we should do the same.  Is it a quilting friend you have that needs Jesus?  Learn more about quilting, sit down, quilt and share Jesus.  Is it a rancher friend?  Share Jesus in ways that they will understand, identify with and accept.  All for the sake of Jesus.  Do it today right where you are, with those who are around you.  If you don't have a group, get out and share.  If you're limited by age or condition, pray for those who are at work around you; that's a needed ministry as well.  Bottom line:  Do something! Don't just talk about it - Be in on it!

PRAYER:  Loving God, help us to be helpers.  Allow us to become something for someone that needs you.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Step outside your comfort zone to become someone who helps and blesses others.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS AND UPDATES:  Dear friend, thank you for your prayers.  Faithful prayers bless not on the ones for whom we are praying, they bless us.  Who among us does not need a blessing?  Please pray for Jeannette Mayer undergoing an eye procedure today in San Antonio.  Prayers for the Ellis Family as today is the funeral of baby Joaquin Ellis.  Prayers of safe travel for Pastor Matt as he returns from there later today.  Prayers for continued healing for those in recovery:  I spoke with Charlotte Wilson who is home now from the hospital.  She got home on Sunday and needs our prayers as home health works with her and helps with mobility challenges. Prayers for Dick Goss who is recovering well, that healing may continue.  I dropped in to check on him just as they were about to call me to drop by.  (God works!).  Rosannah Green is coming along and will be in church again soon. For these and all who are on your heart, lift a prayer.  May the Lord bless and keep you is my prayer.

Jesus Prayed, Taught, Healed & Delivered,

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  As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:29-39)

The passage for this coming Sunday's lectionary reading is again from the Gospel of Mark, and it begins with a story that troubles some men; for Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law.  We've long heard jokes or comedic laments on those women who are the mothers of our brides, and I thank God for the one who birthed my wife, for she was as loving and sweet as could to be, never once giving me cause to label her as "one of those mother-in-laws."  But you and I know most of those men may laugh at the jokes but know in their hearts they've been blessed too.  Peter was one such man.  As soon as he got word that she was sick he tells Jesus about her illness and takes Him to his home where Jesus heals her.  A fever in those days was not easily remedied like most today with aspirin or a pain reliever; fevers were indications of something serious and Peter did not want his wife or family nor his mother-in-law to suffer.  All Jesus had to do was to lift her up by the hand and she was healed.  Reports of the healing spread and soon the community had brought to Jesus all who were sick or possessed with demons.  It seemed as if the whole city was gathered at the door.  Jesus "cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons," this time not letting the demons speak as one did in last week's gospel reading.  

Early the next morning, Jesus found a quiet place where He could pray.  He left Peter's house while it was till early and when everyone else was awake they came searching for him because "Everyone is searching for you."  They choose to leave that town and go to the nearby towns as once again Jesus preaches and teaches about the Kingdom of God, healing those who were sick and again casting out demons.

What jumps out at me is Jesus' need for prayer.  He needed that constant connection with God the Father so He could continue the work ever before Him.  The messages He preached, the teachings, the healings, the deliverance of demons, all of these could not be done without major prayer time.  In much the same way all we encounter from day to day requires our serious prayer time.  We need to be connected like Jesus, and we might even do some of the things Jesus did because we are connected to God through our prayers.

PRAYER:  Loving God, You who hear all prayer, listen as I ask for my strength to come from You as we pray. Help me to be connected to You and all that I need to do.  Help me to be one who because I trust in You can face whatever may come into my life today.  I seek to be faithful and fruitful.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Take/Make time to pray today and let it shine in all you do.

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Updates:  Dear one, please use this time to pray for yourself and whatever perceived weaknesses you think you have in your daily walk with the Lord.  Ask Him to strengthen and use you.  Our prayers remain; we pray for the Ellis family as they will tomorrow worship God and thank God for the life of baby Joaquin Ellis.  Prayers for Pastor Matt Pennington as he travels there tonight to be with Katrina and Brian Sherman.  Prayers for Alison Davis, who left the hospital yesterday and is home; pray for her continued healing and strength.  Pray for moms everywhere, pray for single moms who struggle mightily to feed, dress and nurture children, pray for moms in troubled relationships; pray for grandmothers who have stepped in to help.  The prayers are after yesterday's sermon for moms, but we also pray for all women, and all men in whatever their challenges may be.  May the Lord bless and keep you is my prayer for you.

Jesus' "I Am" Statements: I am the Bread of Life

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Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)

There's something about bread that I can't explain, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying it!  Bread is a universal staple for most peoples; a grain based substance for sustenance.  I have some vivid smell memories from my childhood and youth; the smell of bakeries baking fresh bread every day.  The first was on Broadway Street in San Antonio.  If you came at the right time and drove along Broadway from downtown heading towards Brackenridge Park you could smell the fresh bread.  That aroma ranks high among most people.  And, you could see the baked loaves making their way in the process in what seemed like a theme ride roller coaster in the big window facing the street.  As a seminarian at Perkins at SMU, the aroma of fresh bread would waif its way to the campus, bringing with it smiles and good thoughts about bread.

Many a diet has been ruined by bread.  We know why, but can't accept that most doctors will tell us who wish to lose a few pounds, to quit bread for a while.  "But we just bought a new bread maker!  It's the most amazing machine!  You put in the right ingredients before work, go work, come home to the sweetest smelling environment you ever had in your home and open the lid and enjoy fresh bread!"  Nah, too many carbs...

Jesus' statement comes to those hungry.  Some were hungry physically.  They had heard of the miracle of the loaves and fishes and wanted a taste.  When the Texas Roadhouse opened in a community in which we lived, what was immediately shared about that new restaurant?  "Hey, as soon as you walk in, they give you a basket of hot rolls!  Hot rolls!" (They thought we didn't hear the first time!).  I gave the wait person a hard time because I not only wanted the sweet butter that came with it, I wanted jelly!  "Sir, we don't have jelly."  Can I bring some from home next time?  "I suppose."  Most, if not all, of the people listening to Jesus on that day had a hunger that real bread could not satisfy.  So, Jesus says, "I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."  A connection with Jesus; a surrender of our lives to the One who satisfies, will do just that.  Those who came to Jesus as they had their sins removed, they also had their spirits filled with the joy of hope and love.  Plain bread could never do that. Our hunger for God, and our thirst for righteousness would find fulfillment, eternal fulfillment in Christ Jesus.  Watch a worship service crowd and see if you can spot those whose faces show their being filled with spiritual nourishment; you can tell.  What would you see if you held up a mirror to your face during that same worship time?

I am the bread of Life.  Jesus still offers that to you, dear *|FNAME|*.  All you have to say with faith is, fill me, Jesus.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, for all You provide, thank You!  For the bread of life, thank You too!  May we be filled today and all days with the bread that always hits the spot.  May our thirsts also be quenched in You; this we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Please forward this to someone you know will be blessed by this!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Requests and Updates:  Dear friend, please hold Alison Davis in your prayers.  She is set to come home today after a few days in the hospital.  Your prayers have made this possible; pray for her recovery.  The funeral service for baby Joaquin Ellis will be Tuesday morning in Weslaco, TX.  This has been a most difficult time for his family, including our Katrina and Brian Sherman, his aunt and uncle.  Please hold them up in prayer.  We have an update on Laura Silva's needed medical attention.  Laura is set for a followup dr's appointment on Monday, Feb. 5th with surgery set for Friday the 9th at UT Southwestern Hospital in Dallas.  Recovery is expected to be 5 or 6 days in the hospital.  Dear one, I encourage you to worship at the church of your choice.  This is the Lord's Day and prayers and worship bless our souls.  Make time for God today!

The Good Life Begins in the Fear of the Lord!

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Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures for ever. He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established for ever and ever,to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures for ever. (Psalm 111)

One of the most difficult part of writing a devotional is coming up with a title!  And this is especially true with the psalms, for David and his love for God included many things for which God was to be praised and thus includes many areas of focus.  For example, today's psalm.  The first verse is a command to praise the Lord. Yes!  We should praise God!  Then, he says he is thankful to the Lord with his whole heart.  Yes!  What hasn't God shared with us that hasn't blessed us enough for us to not be thankful?  We should all have an attitude of gratitude for all God does.  And David says we should do it in the presence of other believers (church).  He then says great are God's works.  Indeed!  All of God's handiwork is to be admired with awe; yes.  God is known by those who are aware of His wonderful deeds; God has forgiven all who have asked and we have seen God's mercy.  And, God "provides food for those who fear Him."  Yes!  God keeps His promises.  Yes!  God's work never ceases to amaze, for He continues to work among and through us.  And the verse I chose, because of the powerful truth it contains and promises, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."  The Message version's of this verse is our title:  "The good life beings in the fear of the Lord."

One of my joys is to share the Bible with my grandkids and I remember sharing what fear means when it comes to fearing God.  "It's not to be afraid of God, but to have a deep respect for God, because God is so awesome, " I said.  "Oh," came the little voice.  "We should love God and seek to obey God; this is part of what that word means."  And indeed, the fullness of life, the abundant life begins with that loving deep respect we should have for God.  Jesus said that He had come to bring us life, and life in abundance; and a good life begins fearing God.  Yesterday in our Heaven class, we talked about the one thing that can keep us out of Heaven and that is sin.  We talked also about how someone moved the line and what was once considered a sin for some people is no longer viewed that way, and few say anything out of the wrong kind of fear; we don't want to make anyone uncomfortable, but I can't imagine a more uncomfortable thing than spending eternity separated from God.  A good life is one who values what God has done and shared with us, and one that seeks the good for others, and one that has great gratitude towards God. As the verse continues, "All those who practice it have a good understanding."  Indeed.

PRAYER:  Loving God, help me life have all this psalm includes in it.  I want to praise and serve You.  I want to sing your praises with all.  I want to have a thankful attitude towards all You have shared with me.  And I want to have the proper fear of You so that my life may be good.  This I pray in Christ Jesus who has brought me abundant life.  Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Show some "fear" today!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Request and Updates:  I finally got to see Charlotte Wilson in San Antonio yesterday (It only took me two days!) and she is in good spirits.  Please pray for her healing.  She had a reaction to the metal used in her leg and infections have set in.  Prayers for the family of Joaquin Ellis, who was on life support after a seizure.  He is the baby nephew of Katrina and Brian Sherman, our youth directors here at the church. Prayers for healing for Alison Davis, our children's ministry coordinator, who is hospitalized.  Prayers for Mary Tomas, who is slowly recovering from her surgery and will be out of commission as one of our ushers until March.  Continued prayers for Ann Robinson, who was transferred back to Gonzales from Victoria. Again, your prayers matter much to God and for those for whom we are praying.  Dear Reader, you are a blessing!

Listen to God

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The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: ‘If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.’ Then the Lord replied to me: ‘They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.’ (Deuteronomy 18:15-20)

The first time I heard a prophetic word I was about six years old.  I was the son of a man who loved to see his children dressed up for church and that usually meant a suit with a tie.  On a Sunday, my pastor said, "I think you would make a good pastor one day!"  Nope.  Not what a six year old wants to hear.  Thanks anyway.  The truth is that God still speaks to us; through His word, through sermons, and even through the voice of someone we know.  A prophetic verse is not necessarily a "I can see the future and this is what it holds" word, it is a word from God that speaks to our situation right here and now.  It is not always a pleasant word either.  

In today's passage, the people of God, sadly a grumbling and complaining bunch, for almost 40 years heard God's thunder on the mountain; they saw the fire lead them by night, and the cloud by day.  They had been fed and watered by God, and they even heard the word of God from Moses.  But they had reached a point where they said above, "If I have to hear God one more time or see this great fire, I will die!"  Sounds like us when offered leftovers for supper.  But God heard that and told them He would raise up a new prophet from among them, a peer prophet.  God would use that prophet to continue to speak to them His commands, and the people were to hear and obey whatever this prophet shared with them.

Do you listen to God?  After you read this devotional, what do you do to stay in touch with God?  Have you heard in your conversations anything God-like that spoke to your heart and need?  Have you opened your mouth with a word from God because you felt led or have you pretty much just tried to lead a quiet life?  Do you think the world around us still needs to hear from God?  We might not see it much in our settings, but in others, you can't see young people without seeing them wearing earbuds or headphones.  I've seen people working in setting where they're allowed to have these and I wonder how much they truly hear?  I believe they're looking for something and listening to anything to try and find that something.  It might just be the word of God they are looking for and haven't found someone to share it with them.  Could it be you they're waiting for to share a word of hope and peace with them?

PRAYER:  Awesome God, speak to us in ways that lead us to speak to others what You would have us speak.  Bless us with enthusiasm and joy about what You share so that it be a contagious word that speaks to their hearts, minds, and spirits.  Help us break the silences that people may be in with the joyful noise of Your love; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Be the joyful noise someone needs to hear today!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER UPDATES AND REQUESTS:  Dear one, thank you for your continued prayers.  Rev. Emet Huntsman, after a long procedure, is in a room recovering from the ablation they did to him.  It was about a six hour procedure and he is resting well.  Please continue to pray for his recover and for Rev. Sue, his wife.  Charlotte Wilson underwent her surgery and needs our prayers as she recovers.  Our sister Myrtle Ann Robinson was taken to DeTar Hospital in Victoria.  The niece of Marie Curie is fighting cancer but may be in the last stages of life.  Your prayers mean so much to God and to the people for whom we pray.  Never underestimate the power of prayer.  We are a praying people!

Humble Heart or Proud Mind?

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Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him. Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘no idol in the world really exists’, and that ‘there is no God but one.’ Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ‘Food will not bring us close to God.’ We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling-block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall. (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)

You've heard people talk about 1st World problems?  Well, this was a 1st Corinthians problem.  One could, if they so desired, to to a meat market and buy meat offered to idols.  I imagine it might be in the discount or "Buy Today" section of the market, because some of it was already cooked or burned.  For the believers in Corinth, some thought that it would be  sin to buy such a meat, for it had been used in the worship of an idol or false god.  And a great discussion was happening in that small church.  "To eat or not to eat?  That is the question."  Paul responds to that question in this passage.  The purpose of fellowship among believers is to build up, not tear down, so Paul talks about knowledge versus love.  The Message version of the Bible gave us the title for today's devotional.  Paul believes everyone should make up their own mind about this matter, but says that for the sake of building up, if he offends someone by eating meat offered first to idols, he would not eat it.   Paul knew there was no real existing idol in the world, just as he knew there was only one true, living God, so the meat could be eaten, but if it destroyed the faith of some, he would not want to be a part of that practice.  Others first was his belief and practice.  Is this your practice or something you see in your church?

The Christ-centered church puts Jesus first, and the needs of others right alongside Him.  All work together for the good of the community, seeking to build one another up.  Yesterday's passage was about the destruction that sometimes happens because something changes and causes disruption. And sometimes those things are not as important in the big scheme of things.  I remember a church I served once change the Doxology we sang.  There is the traditional one that a lot of churches sing, and the newer one, with the same words included in it, along with other words.  One person left the church because of her anger on this change.  If a church changes a worship time, some will leave.  If the color of the carpet is changed, the same.  Really?

A humble heart towards God beats out a proud mind.  Knowledge is not bad, but using it to lord over others is.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, bless us to be a stronger presence in all things, but as a presence of love and humility towards You and one another.  Help us to bless others into a deeper faith, for we want to build up Your kingdom.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Show your heart as one of love today.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Dear friend, thank you for your prayers!  Please pray today for Charlotte Wilson having surgery in San Antonio today.  Also, Rev. Emet Huntsman is set to have his procedure done at about 10 am today as sell in San Antonio.  Prayer is a working gift from God that blesses us as we pray and blesses those for whom we pray.  It matters not whether we know the individual or not!  God bless you and your day today is my prayer for you!

Don't Disrupt What We Have!

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They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28)

For seven years I had the honor and privilege of introducing new pastors to old congregations.  I stress old because of all that implies.  I could see the smile on most faces, sometimes I could see the resentment and pain of having lost a favored pastor.  And as the conversations began I could hear the title of today's devotional, "Don't disrupt what we have!"  It made me sad because I knew that has been what has kept most churches from growing and even forced some churches to close.  One church in particular did not hide their anger and hatred to most people.  "As long as the church is here to bury me, that's all I'm worried about!"  It closed down before most of them could die.

Jesus taught with authority and He was known by those old foes, the realm of the spiritual forces of evil.  I'm talking about demons and evil spirits.  They know Jesus by name, and by fame.  And they FEAR Jesus because they know how the story ends; they are a defeated enemy of God.  And it was in church (synagogue) that Jesus has His first show-down with a demon.  I have often said this demon-possessed man was the chair of (Fill in the blank) committee or board.  You have to wonder, how long did that demon-possessed man lead some aspect of the synagogue?  We know his purpose (read John 10:10).  But the surprising thing is that for a long time he went unchallenged.  He could come and go as he pleased, and pretty much carry on whatever agenda of death and destruction he wanted.  Not until Jesus taught did he feel frightened.  

I have to ask this question:  Is your church harboring such people now?  A better question:  Has Jesus been allowed in with His teachings and authority to change lives and make changes in the status quo to reach more people?  The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect new results.  This holds true in our worship, our programs, our ministries, our outreach, et al.  Friends, we must invite Jesus in to challenge us out of our comfort zones and into those realms of service where we have not yet been.  And then, the church will grow and see new life.

This holds true for our lives as well.  If Jesus is still just an idea or ideal, what change has come over us?  Unless we invite Jesus in as Lord and Savior of our lives, nothing good will come of us and our service to God.  Today may be the day for decision.  Jesus' fame spread by word of mouth by those whose lives He had touched and changed.  And He's still doing it, if asked.

PRAYER:  Loving God, speak to our hearts openly and honestly.  Some of us fear change.  Some of us are just too comfortable, but we all need Jesus.  Share Him with us again and anew.  Let us receive Him and allow Him to reign in our lives.  Then let His fame spread among those whom we know.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Become demon-proof by asking Jesus to be your Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Requests:  Dear reader, we understand that Charlotte Wilson from FUMC-Gonzales is having surgery yet again in San Antonio tomorrow.  We do not know the details, but we believe she is allergic to the metal in the braces placed in her leg.  She has suffered much and needs our prayers.  The Rev. Emet Huntsman is scheduled for surgery tomorrow in San Antonio on his heart.  It is a delicate procedure that involves freezing a part of his heart, and naturally prayers for he and his wife, Rev. Sue Huntsman.  Thank you again for your loving prayers even for people you don't know.

Trust in God Always

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For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.Those of low estate are but a breath,those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this:that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work. (Psalm 62:5-12)

There are days when we can't help but feel sad or down; it may be minor reasons for our thinking all things look bleak, that prayers don't seem to be getting answered - all of us have been through those.  David was no exception.  This is a prayer and a reflection of where he was as he wrote it.  He was in silence, meaning a time of reflecting and listening for God; yet his hope was still in Him.  David knew, as we should as well, God is our rock and salvation, and as a hiding place, God is a fortress and nothing can shake us from our faith.  God is our way out of despair and doubt, out of challenges and worries.  David knew to trust in God at all times as should we.

The key is what we discussed yesterday to be people of prayer.  David writes that we should "pour out" our hearts before God; let God carry the weight of our worry.  No matter our station in life, the only eternal we have is God.  We should not seek solutions in ways that we know to be wrong or illegal.  Our hearts should stay focused on God. David heard over and over, that power belong to God, the God of steadfast love.

That is the good news for today and all days.  It matters not where we stand, or sit, or lay; God is with us and God is ready to listen to us.  Speak.  God will listen.  Hear.  God will speak.  In fact, God has spoken.

PRAYER:  Loving God, I thank You for knowing just where we are and just what we need.  We trust in You and rely on You to provide all which lifts and blesses us.  Let our trust remain in You; this we pray in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Show your trust in God to someone today.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER UPDATES:  Dear one, Dick Goss' surgery went well.  It started much later in the day than expected, but all went well.  He should return home today and start a long period of recovery.  Please for Dick and Shirley during this time.  I had a nice visit with Col. Bill Weaver who is in hospice care.  He is a gracious man in good spirits and while there a representative from hospice presented him with a certificate of appreciation for Col. Weaver's service to our country.  Bill served us in the Air Force retiring as a commander of a training unit in Spokane Washington. Larry Erhig had been in Gonzales Hospital and went home Wednesday night.  We ask for prayers for Charlotte Wilson who continues a time of recovery.  Prayers for the family of Jane Boothe as her funeral is set for Sunday at 2 p.m.  Thank you for your prayers for Eliana, our granddaughter.  She was set to have dental procedures today, but her parents decided to seek a second opinion for what Eliana needs.  She is not in any pain, but pray that a second opinion may be found.  Again, thank you for your prayers and faithfulness!

Faithfulness leads to Fruitfulness

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The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across.Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. (Jonah 3:1-5, 10)

The Bible has shown in several places how when God speaks to an individual and asks them to share their faith about God, people respond, and in great crowds.  I remember Peter's first sermon after the arrival of the Holy Spirit upon them and 3,000 responded and believed.  This passage, which makes us think of whales swallowing this disobedient guy, shows the true purpose and plan of God; Jonah preached a difficult message, people listened, and the entire city responded, including the king who decreed that all should repent, wear sackcloth and fast before the Lord.  Even animals were to do that!  Such was the response of this message.

Jonah knew the city to which he had been called, and some have compared it to modern day Las Vegas (think sin city), and he knew the simple but difficult sermon he was to preach:  "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"  When God revealed that to him, he chose to go the other way.  He set sail on the ocean away from the landlocked city of Nineveh.  You know the rest of the story how he ended up in the belly of a large fish that we assume was a whale and in the deepest part of his misery (in this fish's belly) Jonah cries out to God, God listens, the fish vomits him on the shore.  Jonah makes his way to Nineveh and preaches and his faithfulness produces fruitfulness.

Sometimes it's like that for us.  We know we are to do something for God, we size it up and we may say, "You know what, Lord?  No, thanks."  And we go in the opposite direction.  Hint:  This is not faithfulness.  Sometimes we think again, usually after praying, and we say, "Okay, Lord, I will go."  And boom!  The results we thought were not possible become a blessing to the Lord and to the people to whom we have shared our faith.  That's fruitfulness.  

This has been a week of calls and responses.  Make this a week of powerful, positive responses that bless God and God's people in your life!

PRAYER:  Loving God, we pray for wisdom and strength as we face the challenges and opportunities you are providing for us.  We pray that we might be faithful and in turn, fruitful for the work of Your Kingdom.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name.  Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Make a difference today by being faithful and fruitful.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS AND UPDATES:  Dear reader, I received word that our sister Jane Boothe died this morning at 4 a.m.  Please keep her family in your prayers as they mourn the loss of a lovely lady of faith.  May God's comfort be with them is our prayer.  Please lift up Dick Goss who undergoes surgery in San Antonio later this morning.  Pray for a successful surgery and a great recovery.

Focus on Christ & Be Free to Live Your Life

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I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (1Corinthians 7:29-31)

One Sunday morning some years ago, a long time friend came and said very seriously, "I dreamed that I had died and was taken into the pearly gates where St. Peter was talking to folks as he led them into glory.  When my turn had arrived, he said he needed to check something in the offices and asked me to follow him. I went in and saw clocks of all shapes and sizes, colors and designs.  Cuckoo clocks, small smiley face clocks.  The one thing I noticed was that each clock had a name and each clock moved differently from the rest.  Some moved very slow if at all, some at a more visible pace.  When St. Peter came back from his office, I had to ask, 'What are these clocks all about?  I see names and different movements from each.'  He smiled and said, 'My child, each clock represents a life still on earth, thus the name.  And the movement of the hands of each clock moves each time a person commits a sin.  The faster the movement the more sinful the person.'  I had to ask another question; 'I see Billy's clock and Mary's clock, but I don't see Pastor Eradio's clock...'  St. Peter laughed and said, 'Oh! His?  I keep it in the office on my desk as a fan!'"

With the clock as a graphic for today I had to work that ancient joke in.  The focus is, for many people, on the clock and the pressures of each day with nary a thought about Jesus.  As Paul is writing, he was in the early stages of his ministry when he felt a "hurry up and repent and come to Jesus because Jesus is coming soon!" phase.  It was evident in some of his early writings and then he matures and begins to realize the importance of salvation but in a way that encourages people who meanwhile are enduring persecution and suffering and asking, "Where is Jesus?  I thought you said He was coming soon?"

The reality is, we don't know the day nor the hour of His return.  We don't know the day nor the hour of our departure from this earth either.  It could be many years from now (Lord, hear our prayer I hear us praying!) or it could be sooner than that; Paul says, focus on Christ and His return and live a life that says you are focused on the important things of life like sharing Jesus and sharing God's love.  He is saying marriage is a blessing, but focusing on it as your only life distracts from the demands of Christ on your life and the life of those around you.  Those who have lost loved ones should mourn but not to the point of emotional paralysis. Those who are happy should be happy but not to the point of constant celebrations that are really distractions from the needs of life; whatever it is you are doing, please keep in mind that our focus should be on Christ and His return.  Thus Paul's last verse in this passage, "For the present form of this world is passing away."

Make the most of each day by blessing others and sharing the good news of Jesus.

PRAYER:  Loving God, bless this dear reader in this day.  May our day be a blessing to You and Yours.  You know our needs and our names; keep us close and help us bring others closer to You; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Share a smile and a word of kindness with someone today for God's sake and yours.

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Updates:  Dear one, the cold weather continues in our area of Texas.  The roads are still dangerous and the advice being shared is to not travel if you can avoid it.  Our church, First Methodist of Gonzales and all its ministries and studies for today are closed. The regular Wednesday Bible studies will return next week, Lord willing.  We celebrate some needed steps taken in the healing of the Rev. Michael Dobbs, and we shout out Amen! to the Lord; thank you for your prayers for him.  The rest continue in our hearts and prayers as we pray the Lord's blessings on them.  Please stay safe and warm.

God's Kingdom has Come Near, Repent & Believe

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  Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’  As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. (Mark 1: 14-20)

Jesus' first sermon in Galilee was short, simple, and very powerful.  He needed no illustrations, no jokes; just the truth of the matter:  The time was right according to God, and God's Kingdom had come near; "repent, and believe in the good news."  That's the first part of this passage, and it's an important one.  The second part is the call of the first four disciples; Simon and Andrew; James and John, all professional fishermen.

The first part is what Jesus and His disciples would be all about:  Preaching that time was up; God had acted; people needed to listen, repent of their sins, and start believing and living the good news.  The four hundred year silence was over.  Not since the prophet Malachi had God spoken a word.  The people wondered if they were alone and lost.  Now, God has acted, sending His only Son to the world with this simple and powerful message.  It comes with instructions:  Repent and believe.  The first means to confess our sinfulness to God, surrender our sins to God, and then ask God to turn us around, away from our sins and onto the road of life, eternal life.  The second part is to truly receive, believe and live the good news.  A forgiven person celebrates new life and walks away from all that was making him fall and fail.  He or she tells everyone about this new life they have found in Jesus.  

As Jesus is preaching this sermon he finds the first two disciples, Simon Peter and Andrew.  They are busy casting nets into the lake.  Jesus comes to them and says, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people."  It has always struck me how quickly these two said yes.  As a youth in MYF or Sunday school, this passage always made me say Wow!  In college and seminary as we studied this passage we find that the "back story" is that Simon Peter and Andrew may have been John the Baptist's disciples, so they had complete knowledge of Who Jesus was and what He was about.  So, an invitation was a great thing and the only response they could think of was to say Yes!  Remember, these men are professional fishermen, whose livelihoods impact families and community; the call from God made them place that responsibility behind the call and positive answer to God.  God would provide, as God always does; the first thing was to follow and find out what adventure lay ahead for them.  The second pair, also brothers, and also fishermen, James and John, left their father and his hired men in the boat as they too, said yes to this call from God.  And off they went on an adventure that would forever change their lives, never to return to their homes, to be new and different men who would experience unexplainable things that only the Son of God could perform before them.  And as far as we know, none of the four ever regretted their decision or living the new life they had.

You and I, through our baptism, have received the same call; to represent Jesus in our lives.  Most of you to simply stay where you are and live a life that glorifies God right now.  Some of us, have left our homes years ago, to follow Jesus on adventures that have taken us to experience unexplainable things that only the Son of God could perform, and our job has been to share those with others.  Even now, as a retired pastor I say, "What's next, Lord?  Where are You leading me?  Let's go!"  What are you saying?

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for the good news of Your love, compassion, and mercy for us.  We take advantage of this prayer to say that we repent of our sins, and turn to You to lead us towards faithfulness and fruitfulness.  Grand us courage, wisdom, boldness to share with joy the way You have worked in my life.  Make our faith bigger and stronger; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have and great and blessed day in the Lord!  Be vocal about your faith; people gotta know!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Dear reader, the first thing on this cold morning is for you and yours to stay safe.  As I write this, it's already cold here in Seguin; it has rained for a while and there is moisture on the streets and I would imagine on the roads.  It's only going to get colder and worse.  The advisory reports ask for us to stay indoors and to limit our travel on the roads.  Please pray for first-responders as they answer calls in this weather.  Pray for those who do have to travel to work that they travel safely.  Please pray for Jane Boothe and Larry Ehrig, both in the hospital in Gonzales; may God bring healing to them.  Please pray for Bill Weaver and his healing.  Pray for those who do not have shelter in this weather and for those who offer it to them.  Thank you for your prayers.  My prayers are with you.

You're Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

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God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.  I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.  You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight.  You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence.  I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too - your reassuring presence, coming and going.  This is too much, too wonderful - I can't take it all in! Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration - what a creation!  You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.  Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.  Your thoughts - how rare, how beautiful! God, I'll never comprehend them!  I couldn't even begin to count them - any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! (Psalm 139:16, 13-18 The Message Version)

Our family doctor in a previous setting, was an internal doctor who specialized in cardiac medicine.  That meant our first visits with him involved stress tests while he performed a sonogram on our hearts.  The doctor's faith was strong; he had been blessed by the challenges of previous pastors who urged him to read the Bible more and to pray more, and he did.  I will never forget the first visit with him.  He had me laying down on a table while pedaling on a bicycle type stress machine.  He then began the sonogram.  He had a screen where we all could see it, and it was amazing to see my own heart in action.  The doctor teared up and asked, "How can anyone say there is no God when you see how wonderfully made we are?"  Indeed.  I was choked up just seeing my heart.  

David never saw his heart beat live on a sonogram screen, yet he knew.  You may have never seen your heart beat either, but you know. God has done an amazing thing in making you.  You can exclaim what the psalmist said that God formed us while in the womb and that we are, indeed, fearfully and wonderfully made. This version has it, "Body and soul, I am marvelously made!"  And that lead us to praise of the One who made us.  It should lead us also to sharing and service.  And may our thoughts be like God's.  And may we live each day in the knowledge that we are in the presence of God.

PRAYER:  Loving God, we thank You for the way You have formed us and made us.  May we be led to praise You and serve You.  May my thoughts be Your thoughts today and all days.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Let your heart be seen today by the acts of love you will do!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Requests and Updates:  Dear one, please be in prayer for the Warren family.  My brother-in-law Rev. John Warren's brother-in-law whom he has known since John was 7 died unexpectedly yesterday.  The family is, as you can imagine, in shock and taking the death very hard.  Pray for their comfort.  My apologies for the computer changing Rosannah Green's name to Johanna.  We visited Rosannah yesterday and she looks good and Lord willing, should be home tomorrow.  We thank God for the progress Martha Jo Whitt is making who expects to be home today from the Seguin Hospital.  We also visited Pal Lester and he is coming along well as well.  Thank you for your prayers!  May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Here I Am, For You Called Me

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ Then the Lord said to Samuel, ‘See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfil against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house for ever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering for ever.’ Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, ‘Samuel, my son.’ He said, ‘Here I am.’ Eli said, ‘What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.’ So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, ‘It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.’ As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord. (1 Samuel 3:1-20)

The biblical texts for this week have been about God's call and the response those calls have received.  On Monday we read about Philip and Nathanael.  Yesterday it was about righteous living among the called, and today is the famous story of the call of the boy Samuel to be God's prophet.  Samuel's story is an interesting one.  His mother was believed barren yet she never stopped praying that God provide her with a child; in fact, Hannah said if God gave her a son, she would return him to God so that the boy could serve Him.  God gave her a son, and Hannah keep her promise and we find the boy ministering to the prophet Eli.  God had not spoken in some time and the prophet Eli had not been a good father or good prophet.  It may have been the behavior of his sons that kept him from spending time with God as he should.  I should say at this point, those who are called should make time often to pray and to listen to God.  Those whose children are in ministry should be in constant prayer and have the same selfless love and support of Hannah towards their children.

It was bedtime and little Samuel was in his bed in the temple.  God comes and says, "Samuel!  Samuel!"  The boy immediately says, "Here I am!" and ran to see the prophet, for he thought it was Eli who called him.  The old man said that he did not call him and for him to go back and lay down. A second time, God calls and again the boy runs to Eli, and again the prophet tells him to lay down.  Interesting to note that the Bible says that during this time of call, Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord been revealed to him.  A third time that night God calls and again the boy runs to the prophet.  Now the prophet gets it and tells Samuel to go and lie down and to say to the Lord, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."  And that's what happened.  And the word that came to the boy was not an easy one for him to share with Eli.  God basically said that Eli's days as a prophet were over, and that he, Samuel, would become the new prophet.  With a message like that the boy could not sleep the rest of the night, and in the morning shared everything with Eli.  The old man's response, "It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him."  

We don't know what happened to Eli from this reading, but the passage ends with "As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.  And all Israel..knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord."

Our call from God depends on our willingness and faithfulness to answer in the affirmative our desire to serve Him.  It requires our willingness to become, if we're not yet one, a person of much prayer.  And it requires our obedience to sharing God's word in an honest and bold way.  Those called are called not to please people and to preach popular messages, but messages that need to be heard.  Our prayer should be that whatever ministry we find ourselves should be one in which God's word through us "fall to the ground."  We are called ever to march forward and upward.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for my call into service.  Remind me again and again what it is that best will serve You.  Grant me wisdom.  Grant me courage.  Help me to speak on Your behalf, not mine, that which brings honor and glory to You.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Speak a word on God's behalf today!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Requests and Updates:  Dear friend, again my thanks for being one willing to pray for others.  Rev. Mike Dobbs after having his bladder removed was discovered to have a large mass that had been undetected on his thigh muscles, which through three surgeons was removed.  We pray for a good report that this mass not be cancerous.  Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for Pal Lester, for his surgery went well and the tumor removed from his spine is benign.  Glory to God!  Prayers for Johanna Green who is in the Gonzales Hospital with a suspected blood clot.  Pray that the doctors find where it is and quickly remove it.  Prayers for the continued recovery of knee replacement surgery on Martha Jo Whitt.

Your Body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit

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‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but I will not be dominated by anything. ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’, and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, ‘The two shall be one flesh.’ But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

It's the New Year and for the next two weeks or so the gyms will be full of people who resolved to do something for their bodies.  This passage seems to address that as well; but it goes deeper than looking good.  It's about righteousness and spiritual living.  The problem Paul is addressing seems like one the Church would never face, but it does and has since Paul's day; sexual immorality.  It seemed there was a problem with members of the church in Corinth who believed that the spiritual and the physical never intersected and as long as one stayed "spiritual," one could do whatever one wanted.  And in this case, their lust for prostitutes continued because they felt they were not being affected spiritually.  Wrong!  Paul says God will destroy our bodies at our death and we, who are right with God, will be raised up with God.  "The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."  Paul knows that any physical relationship we have unites us spiritual as Genesis says, "The two shall be one flesh."  The only union we should seek is that we can have with Christ.  Every sin we commit affects us spiritually.  Thus, Paul's famous statement, "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, with you have from God, and that you are not your own."  We were bought with a price and we should glorify God in our bodies.

The next time you look in the mirror say to yourself, "This body is God's dwelling place.  May all I say, think, and do, bring honor to God."  It's short and simple, but powerful, for it affects how we see ourselves and how we should live.  Any negative thoughts about appearance or images we have engraved in our minds should flee and allow the positive, loving image we have before God, because we belong to God.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for loving me and for buying us with a price.  Thank You for leading us away from sin.  May I be reminded today and all days, that my body is Your temple.  Let it be a holy place and a place of worship and service to You.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  If your temple needs attention, now is the time to address it, but start with the spiritual first!

Eradio Valverde

Dear friends, thank you for your prayers yesterday for Rev. Michael Dobbs.  His surgery went well; after about 8 hours it was all over, his bladder was removed and now the healing begins and an adaptation to a new style of life begins as well.  Pray for Mike's recover.  Also, our sister Martha Jo Whitt underwent successful knee replacement and she needs prayers for her recovery.  We understand that Bill Weaver is not doing well.  He is in a hospital in San Antonio and may be coming home with hospice care.  Please pray for Bill and Christine.

Follow Me

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The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’ (John 1:43-51)

Jesus has called many into His ministry, both clergy (professional) and laity (volunteers).  Many have said Yes without reservation and entered into the program or process that qualifies them.  Some have said Not Yet, and continued with their lives and careers and later in life feel another nudge from God, retire or relocate, and enter as a second-career person into ministry.  And there are some who simply say No.  Not now, not ever.  Worse are those who say Yes and do nothing.  Blessed are those who say No and then decide they will do something for Jesus.

Today's passage has Jesus calling Philip with the simple invitation of "Follow Me."  Philip was known by Jesus, and Jesus was known by Philip.  The gospels tell us that perhaps Philip went on to be like the road manager for Jesus and the other disciples, being the one questioning the amount of money they had to feed a multitude.  But something about Philip impressed Jesus enough to be the first disciple, according to John, that Jesus approaches and says, "Follow Me."  His enthusiasm for this invitation reaches his friend Nathanael to whom Philip says, "We have found Him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth."  Nate wasn't overly impressed with that and says something rather rude, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Yet, Jesus bowls over Nate with His remark as Nate approaches, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"  Whoa!  Nate asks, "Where did you come to know me?"  Jesus says that He had seen Nate sitting under a fig tree.  Nate replies with a grand declaration:  "You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus probably smiles and said, "All that because I saw you under a fig tree?  Man, will you see greater things, even Heaven opened and God's angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  

I did not have that type of call into ministry.  And many a time as I heard others share their call I questioned the validity of my call.  But it's not about that, it's about how we respond after Jesus calls us and what we do for Him.  Whatever you have been called to, dear friend, how are you doing with that call?  Are you still waiting for a call, or do you know that Jesus can use you right now, right where you are, to better and build the Kingdom of God!  Simply make that a part of your daily prayer life in which you ask God what it is you should do.  And God will answer.

PRAYER:  Loving God, as we close this devotional time, may the adventure begin for this dear reader by showing just what You expect.  Let us all respond with "Here I am, Lord."  This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Practice saying Yes to God in all things!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Request:  Dear one, today at about 8 a.m., my dear friend and colleague, Rev. Michael Dobbs, undergoes a very delicate surgery to remove his bladder.  Mike has battled cancer for a while and options will be explored as to the next steps for him.  He serves as our pastor in Mathis at First UMC.  Please pray for Olga, his wife, for their children and grandchildren as well.  Pray for a victory in Jesus for Mike and the whole family.  Thank you ahead of time for your prayers!

Prayers for our Children; Prophecy of our Lord

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Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. May he live while the sun endures,and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute,may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. For he delivers the needy when they call,the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy,and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight. (Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14)

King David as he reflects on his service as king and as he sees Solomon prepare to take the throne; prays for his child that God would give him justice and righteousness; no better things for a parent to pray for his/her child(ren).  He asks for the child to live a life that blesses God and God's people.  Then the words shift to a message that prophecies the coming King whose birth we just celebrated; Jesus our Lord, and King of kings.  The vision is one of a just king who takes the side of the downtrodden and poor, again a plea for righteousness and justice to be traits lived out by the king.

What sort of things have you prayed for your children and grandchildren?  It's not too late to add them to our prayer lists, and we should move away from the common, "I just want my kids to be happy."  Our prayers should be that our children be good and righteous; that their lives serve God in seeking justice and righteousness for all people, and not be a journey of self-service and self-centeredness. And that prayer should include us as well.  The journey of the Magi was one that no selfish or self-centered person would have made; it was a long, difficult trek of sacrifice and risk; so should our lives be.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, as we pray, we pray for our children and their children, and for all the little ones around us.  May our lives be examples to them of how to best live a life guided by You, to care for one another and to do our best to share life, love, hope, and compassion.  May our eyes never be blinded to the needs around us, and may we do all we can to meet those needs; as individuals and as members of the Body of Christ, in Whose name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Give of yourself to someone in need today.

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Requests and Updates:  We being by thanking God for Bob Cowan, who is set to return home after his surgery in San Antonio.  We ask your prayers for Pal Lester who undergoes surgery in Austin later today to remove pressure on his spine.  And we give thanks for the life and ministry of Rev. Eubaldo Ponce, retired servant of the Rio Grande Conference who died last night in Dallas.  Eubaldo was a dear friend and mentor to me as I started in ministry years ago in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.  Please pray for his wife, Susie, and their children.

God is Doing a Great Thing!

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Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;but the Lord will arise upon you,and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. (Isaiah 60:1-6)

We just finished, most of us anyway, the season of homecoming.  Christmas and Thanksgiving in our country are those days when families try to come together to celebrate the holiday and to celebrate each other.  Parents longs to see their children; grandparents long to see their grandchildren; and most siblings long to see each other.  Israel was no exception.  Their history had events that separated many from each other and from places they loved.  Some left Israel by force, carried off as prisoners; some found life easier in other countries.  I believe most longed to return.  The prophet sees the day when God's light would come and shine upon them and in turn, they would shine God's light on others, and it could come during a time of darkness; the glory of the Lord would be needed to be seen after many years of not having it.  This was the visit of the Magi as they were led by the star; the birth of the Messiah would further the light and it would call people together once again; "your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms."  And as prophesied, the Magi did "bring gold and frankincense, and " did "proclaim the praise of the Lord."

That joy continues and should be part of our motivation and drive to continue to share the Good News with those still in darkness; those separated from God - God's act in Jesus served to bring all together for one purpose.

Find the ones not yet present for this homecoming, and invite them in!

PRAYER:  Lord of the Homecoming, Lord of great Light; shine upon us and guide us to those who need to be brought home.  Bring us in if we have strayed; use us all to share the Good News of Your love; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Shine a light on your smile today on those who may be in darkness.

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Requests:  Pray for Bob Cowan as he recovers from surgery; his discomfort prevents him from receiving visitors, but does request prayers for healing.  Prayers for those having consultation with doctors today, as they seek hope for ailments that have shown up in their lives.

Begin By Crossing the Room...

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This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. (Ephesians 3:1-12)

The greatest and most effective form of evangelism, the sharing of the Good News, is person to person.  Yes, other forms work, but when one cares enough for another to share what God has done for them, people listen and usually take action for themselves.  Paul in his passage for today explains how God called him to share the Gospel with the Gentiles, the non-Jews.  Yesterday's text was about the Magi and how their appearance was a realization that Christ's birth was for all; today's passage explains how it came about.  All who believe are brothers and sisters in Christ, and members of the same body.  In this morning's Upper Room devotional, a believer in the Ukraine, shares how he and a group of believers had to travel to Russia for the 125th Anniversary of the celebration of Christian work in Eurasia during a time of great political upheaval including war and they feared the border checkpoints along the way.  Some had been turned back. This group prayed the whole way and not once were they turned back.  The final checkpoint was the most feared, but there they were not asked a thing; their passports were simply stamped.  The need is still so great to share God's love, that doors, even windows are being opened even now for the servants of God who trust God enough to follow Him everywhere to share the Good News.

And, it might begin by walking across the room.  Several years ago, a big church pastor wrote a book Just Walk Across the Room, urging his members and all who read the book, to take a bold step and share with people they did not know.  Sunday's sermon was on Matthew 25 where Jesus said, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me..."  and I shared how many of us are so comfortable with those we know, we sometimes ignore the new guests among us - that's not welcoming.

We have full "access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in Him" which means that we can go anywhere, anytime, as led by God, and have an opportunity to share in a mighty way.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, grant us the courage and boldness to walk across the room and greet someone.  Then make us bolder and go into areas and places we had not thought about entering; let us share the Good News in a mighty way; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Walk across the room today and say Hi to someone.  And maybe more!

Eradio Valverde

For All the World to Worship

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In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’ Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (Matthew 2:1-12)

Christmas is not over.  It ends with Epiphany, which is the 6th of January.  That is the day attributed to the visit of the Magi, or kings, who visited the Christ child.  This is their account as told by Matthew.  Their visit is not mentioned in Luke, nor in any other gospel.  Matthew's gospel was written primarily for a Jewish audience and Matthew's desire was to confirm to his own people, that Jesus was the fulfillment of all prophecy and thus, the Messiah that Israel awaited.

We know the story of these wise men from the East.  They were not necessarily Jews; they were educated men, who awaited the fulfillment of prophecies they had heard about and knew, and as this star appeared in the sky, they followed it.  Their first stop was at the wrong place.  They naturally assumed the birth of a king would be in the palace and thus a stop in Jerusalem.  The king there did not want to hear that a new king had been born, for this man, Herod, had killed even his own son and other relatives to protect his throne.  So, naturally, Herod wanted to know where this child was and lies about why.  His motives were not to pay the child homage, but to murder him.  The magi leave Herod and again, led by the star, find the child Jesus.  We believe there were several, but since their gifts were only three, tradition holds that the magi were only three men.  The gifts were symbolic of the child's future:  Gold, the only gift suitable for a king, and we hold Jesus as the King of kings, and Lord of Lords; frankincense, the gift for a priest, and we hold Jesus as the "bridge" between God and man, which is what the word priest means.  Myrrh, a gift for embalming the dead; used to symbolize the death of Jesus.  Then, led by the Holy Spirit in a dream, they returned home "by another road."

Epiphany is a day to celebrate the unveiling or realization of God's love for all people, not just the Jews. That these men from outside of the Jewish faith would come to worship God's Son is an example for believers that the Gospel is for all the world.  We can still be led by God, and as we obediently follow His Son, Jesus, we can find that we too, can serve the purposes of God's kingdom.

PRAYER:  Loving God, speak to my heart and my spirit.  Let me be led by Thee today in all things.  I want to be faithful and fruitful.  I want to serve You in all things and all ways.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Be a bearer of gifts for Jesus in all you say, think, and do today.

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Requests:  Please hold Ms. Libby Grimes in your prayers.  She is Jane Boothe's sister, who lives in Longview, TX, and is failing health.  Pray God's will be done and that His comfort be with Jane and all her family.  Prayers for those having surgery today; God knows who they are.  Prayer Update:  Donna Hisey's surgery went well and she is recovering at home, thank God!  And thank you dear friend for your faithful prayers.