Those Who Said Yes to Jesus: Simon the Zealot

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and Simon, who was called the Zealot, (Luke 6:15b)

Dear Friend, is there an adjective after your name?  ______ the Dad?  ______ the wife?  ______ the Astros Fan? What does that word say about your personally?  Today's disciple had this adjective after his name, though sources varied as to what word was actually used; most scholars know him as Simon the Zealot.

The lesser manuscripts from which the Bible came to be, believed the adjective to be Cananite; thus many people wrongly assumed that he was the bridegroom from the wedding of Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed His first miracle of turning water into wine.  The legend goes that after the wedding, he became a believer and thus a disciple.  The greater manuscripts, or those whom the scholars trusted more, have him as a zealot, so he could not have been that bridegroom.  Sadly, other than his name, the scriptures do not tell us much, if anything about this man.

If he was indeed a Zealot, we know him to have a been a part of the last of there great Jewish parties to emerge; enthusiastic patriots of the Jewish nation, whose actions led to the final destruction of the Jewish state.  We cannot forget that Palestine was under Roman rule, and the Jews had never learned to accept the fact.  Palestine was a sleeping volcano, even during the days of Jesus, ready and quite liable to erupt in violence.  Herod the Great, for many years, kept the Zealots under his peace, by his sheer force of personality and his skills in diplomacy; this blessed his relationship with the Romans and the Jews.  When he died in 4 B.C., he left the country to his sons:  Philip received the regions of Ituarea and Trachnonitis in the northeast; to Herod Antipas he left Galilee; and to Archelaus he left Judea and Samaria.  This had to first be ratified by Roman authorities, and of course, before it could be Palestine erupted.  The violence was quickly calmed by Roman soldiers.

We know this much about Zealots from Judas the Galilaean philosopher:  "They [the Zealots] have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is their only Ruler and Lord.  They do not mind dying any kind of death, nor do they heed the torture of their kindred and their friends, nor can such fear make them call any man lord." (The Antiquities of the Jews, 18, 1, 6).

This gives us the background of Simon; he was a man of fanatical nationalism, a man devoted to the Law, a man with bitter hatred of anyone who dared to compromise with Rome.  And because we know that, two things emerge.  1.  The makeup of the Twelve as nothing short of a miracle given all who made up that band of followers.  There were tax collectors, and Simon the Zealot.  Those two would have made most groups very uncomfortable!  Matthew accepted and benefitted from the political situation; Simon would have willingly stabbed to death any Roman within his reach (or someone who agreed with the politics of the day; like Matthew).  The common love of Christ destroyed the personal enmity of these two men; examples of what Jesus can still do today.  2.  As Acts 1:13 shows, after the Cross, Simon was still there.  Further proof that the dagger must abdicate for the Cross.  Simon had rededicated his life to sacrificial love as he had been taught by Jesus.

Legend has Simon the Z preaching in Egypt, in Africa, and Britain.  We read about him being in Persia, where he went up against two magicians, Zaroes and Arfaxat; their power and wisdom were not match for Simon's; even being defeated in the presence of a king who ordered the two murdered; the disciple and Jude refused to kill the two magicians basing their decision on Jesus.  The two magicians were set free, but they were not convinced or grateful for that action.  They continued to follow Jude and Simon, to warn and incite the people about them and their Christian teachings.

Simon and Jude ended up in the city of Suanir, where there were 70 priests and a great temple.  These had the two arrested for their preaching agains their gods.  They were arrested and sentenced to death.  An angel of the Lord appeared and gave them a choice:  Escape and you will live, and all these here in the Temple will die with the collapse of the building or suffer martyrdom.  Simon chose to preach in hopes of converting some, rather than having them all die, and so Jude and Simon died.  The man who once would have killed for the Jews, became the man who saw that God will have no forced service and a man who would not buy his life at the price of the lives of others.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, grant me the faith to allow You to live and guide in me.  May my allegiance to You be greater than any earthly allegiance I may have now.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Has the Bottom of Your Life Fallen Out from Under You?

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Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.  Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you,so that you may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love,and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. (Psalm 130 NRSV)

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)

Good day dear Friend.  Praying that this be a day of blessing for you; as you receive, may you also give blessing after blessing, in Jesus' name!

Yesterday we visited David at one of the lowest points in his life.  He lost his best friend, and he lost a king that he respected, who besides being king was his father-in-law (You know, or should know how wonderful that marriage was!  You don't?  Read the Book!)

David's main outlet for his feelings, both good and bad, was to write praises or petitions to God.  It's a practice some of you already have, and it might be one you might want to develop as well.  For now, as we reread the verses, it could be our lives that he's describing, certainly days that we've had at some point in our lives.  One of those days for me was this past Monday.  I was in my office in Gonzales, had just finished my sandwich lunch, when the phone rings and it's Nellie.  She was crying and in obvious pain.  She said she had fallen and she thought she had broken her wrist. Yikes!  I left everything I was working on as it was, rushed down the stairs, shared with our business manager and our organist and her husband who were visiting the office, what had happened and that I was headed home.  Praying all the time I rushed the 32.9 miles to our home in Seguin.  I juggled multiple calls and ideas from our daughters, finally listening to Nellie who said our insurance card quoted the price we would pay at the ER; so to the Seguin ER we headed.  A very long, tiring journey that doesn't make a good story, but shares with you that when we hit the depths as the tradition version says above, there is only One on Whom we can depend, and that is God.  The modern version has the same thought, "Help, God."  And help is ours when we cry out to the Lord.  My continued prayer when I realized the injury to her wrist would require surgery was that her orthopedic surgeon who worked on her foot also work on her wrist.  Nellie said she'd rather my not having to drive her all the way to San Antonio, that the Seguin doctor would be fine.  So, we made the appointment for Monday, when the surgeon there would evaluate the needs of her wrist.  Yesterday in our visit to have the stitches removed from her foot, the nurse said they were going to x-ray both the foot and the wrist as our doctor would work on both.  Silently, I said, "Thank You, Lord!"  

When we reach low points, it is natural to reflect on our wrongdoings and faults.  We think also, "What could I have done to have prevented this?"  Some think of their iniquities before the Lord.  The modern version says, "As it turns out, forgiveness if your habit, and that's why you're worshiped."  Indeed.  At our lowest point we turn to God, who in His Highest point, forgives us and restores us.  The seemingly never-ending night ends.  The morning watch is over, and in God's steadfast love we rejoice; thankful for God's great power to make us new.  

Dear Reader, I pray that even if you believe yourself to be at a low point, you would call out to God and allow God to lift you up.  Share what you feel with God, and let God deal with it.  The tears of those nights spent crying as if no hope or solution was ever going to be available will soon dry up with the joy of the morning's arrival.  God is here, and has brought with Him, this new day filled with great possibilities and opportunities.  Rejoice!

PRAYER:  Awesome Heavenly Father, as we pray, we pray for those who are low as they read this; lift them up in a special way.  We also pray for those who are soaring high; bless them with continued joys.  For those who are still thinking they've done too much to turn You off, remind them of Your steadfast love (a love that never ends) and lift them up as well.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Dear one, may the joy of the Lord be your strength today!

Eradio Valverde

How The Mighty Have Fallen!

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After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan. (He ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said: Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor bounteous fields! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury,who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.  I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me;your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished! (2 Samuel 1:1, 1:17-27)

Good day dear Friend; may the rich blessings of the Lord be with you and yours this day and all days is my prayer for you.  You probably have heard the phrase "How the mighty have fallen," and you may have known it comes from King David's lips. And if you didn't, it's a good thing to know.  Somewhere down the line there may be a sermon series called, "Is that in the Bible?" which will address a lot of sayings and beliefs that are not in the Bible.  It's not like we said in college, "If Elvis didn't say it - he meant to!"  

Here is why this is in the Bible.  David, though he had a troubled relationship with King Saul; he still loved him, loved his son, and was married to his daughter.  It was really King Saul who had the problem with David.  As we mentioned in weeks past, after David's win over the Philistine giant, Saul was very threatened by the young boy.  This second book of Samuel opens after King Saul saw his son, Jonathan, and the remaining sons, killed in battle, and Saul seeing that his army was being defeated, and having been wounded several times by the enemy's archers, fell upon his sword and died.  David has returned from his campaign against the Amalekites and hears the sad news that Saul is dead.  Please note that the young Amalekite brought a different version of Saul's death, and fabricated the story to find favor in the new King's eyes.  (It didn't work!  Read the between verses from 2 Samuel 1:2-16).  David does several things as part of his grief.  He laments and mourns, of course, but he also orders that a song called "The Song of the Bow" be taught to the people of Judah, and orders that news of Saul's death not reach the Philistine cities, for he did not want anyone celebrated this death.  And in his grief he exclaims the phrase, "How the mighty have fallen!"  Saul and Jonathan were professional soldiers, esteemed by most of Judah and especially by David, and David knew them to be as he describes them, "swifter than eagles, (and) stronger than lions."  The only comfort for David was that father and son died together.  

David has a great love for Jonathan.  He was that friend the shepherd boy never had growing up.  A confidant, colleague, trusted partner.  In Jonathan he found love from one who should have hated him; for David was to take the throne from him.  Jonathan knew this was God's doing, not David's, and his love for the shepherd never wavered.  You can imagine the sorrow and pain David felt at their death.  It was in his laments of Jonathan's death that David again exclaimed, "the mighty have fallen." and a hopeful wish that "the weapons of war perished."

Pain and grief are part of death, just as death is a part of life.  For some, death comes as a beloved friend, at the right time, in the right way - with it pain and suffering are taken away, and God's ultimate healing is received.  For others, death is anything but beloved; it comes as an uninvited visitor, who interrupts, better said, disrupts lives and relationships, plans, goals, pretty much the future.  And all perspectives are, of course, based on faith and personal beliefs in God.  The most important is to grieve as comes natural to us, remembering the promises and hopes we have in the Lord.  Though life be interrupted in severe ways by death, the hope in an eternal life reigns supreme over the despair of this life.  Jarius' grief was severe, but the resurrection of his daughter brought him and his family, great joy.  Lazarus' death even made Jesus cry, but the raising of that dear friend was as much for us as it was for him and his sisters and friends.  The power of Jesus to raise up the death, and yes, that same power that God used to raise His Only Son from the grave is the one in Whom we hope.

PRAYER:  Loving God of life, speak to the hearts of those who mourn this day.  Bless them in their grief and let the words of hope and comfort come from the lips of those who care.  We know the day is coming when death will be no more, but for now, speak to those who face it.  The comfort that You bring is the only relief we can hope to have.  Bless this dear reader to be one who shares that comfort with those in need.  And we pray in the Name of He who defeated death's grip on us, Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Speak life to those who are in need!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Please continue to pray for the Gindler family who yesterday said their goodbyes to Andy in a worship service at FUMC-Gonzales.  Continued prayers for the Koehl Family (Cheryl Meadows' mom) as they prepare to say their goodbyes soon.  Pray for Nellie, as today she gets the stitches out of her foot. Pray as she continues in severe pain from the broken wrist that she has.  Pray for those who are in need at this hour. Pray for one another.  Pray for yourself.

Be Generous in All Things!

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Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something—now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, ‘The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.’ (2 Corinthians 8:7-15)

Well, dear Friend, yesterday was an unexpected day for us, but I trust you are well and enjoying God's blessings.  As most of you read the email I sent last night, my bride fell and broke her left wrist.  Please pray as we'll try to see an orthopedic doctor today.  Pray that her pain subside.  Nellie has a high threshold of pain and to see her this way means she's in a LOT of pain.  Thank you for your prayers!

A dear friend used to say in her sermons and in talks with people; "I didn't know I was poor growing up until somebody told me!"  I resemble that remark.  Dad was the only one of the two parents working outside the home and we were okay.  It wasn't until the economy shifted, and the creamery where he worked moved south that we noticed that we were not getting or doing the things we used to.  Dad tried many places in Kingsville to find work, but none worked out.  The day came when he decided to join other neighbors who had decided Houston was the place to find good work.  And so, one Sunday afternoon, after church, we said goodbye to Daddy.  He got in a car with some other men and off he went.  Needless to say, that was a traumatic event.  But it blessed us in that we started praying like never before.  And every single Friday, Dad would return home with someone from the neighborhood or he would hitchhike his way home.  Sunday he would return back to Houston.  That went on for six months and then we moved to Houston with him.  That's when we realized we were poor.

Poverty or the lack of money does not stop anything unless you let it.  Dreams still flowed into our hearts, and visions of what could be were still ours.  Joy and excitement for life were still real and very present; and those were fueled by the blessing of being a part of a great church. And all of those experiences fueled my wanting to be generous.  In particular I remember that one Friday afternoon, Dad did not come home at his usual hour.  The routine on Fridays was one I looked forward to.  Dad would come home.  He had been paid, and off we went, all seven of us piled into the '55 Chevy to Kroger.  We would buy our week's groceries and back home.  Once home, the weenies and celery were devoured by the three boys (me included), so plans for hot dogs vanished as did whatever Mom used the celery for.  LOL.  But this one Friday, Dad was late.  It soon got dark.  And supper time came and went.  We lived in a four-plex type of apartment.  An old wooden house was made into four apartments.  Two of the apartments were empty, and a family lived downstairs.  The mom of the family was called Tommie.  Tommie came upstairs, knocked and asked my Mom if we were okay.  By now the little ones in our family were restless with hunger.  Tommie had brought with her "the only thing I have which is this can of Spagehetti-O's, which you can have."  Mom accepted that and added about four times the water recommended on the label.  And that was our meal.  Dad finally arrive after having accepted to work overtime for additional money.  The generosity of Tommie, who like the first part of this chapter in 2 Corinthians talks about people in Macedonia like her, " for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part" (v. 2). If Tommie knew how to share from the little she had, so could I.

Paul encourages the people of Corinth as well as all who read this passage, to share, to give, to be generous, remembering the greatest gift ever given was by God.  Re-read John 3:16 in this way:  For God so loved the world He gave."  Re-read what Jesus gave in the above passage.  Jesus gave all.  He left the riches of Heaven so that we might have life.  I love that Paul stresses to give based on what we have, not what we hope/wish/dream we will have; give.  Share.  Do.  Good intentions are foundations if we build on them.  What's the old adage, "The road where? is paved with good intentions?"

PRAYER:  Awesome and loving God; in the good and the bad, we love You and thank You for all things.  For people like dear Tommie, who modeled a life of sharing and giving, let us also follow that, so that we might bless others.  We thank You for those churches that bless people and encourage lives that will bless others.  Bless them richly we ask; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Give today of yourself to someone in need; not to have them pay you back when it's their turn, but just because you love as God loves you!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Please continue to pray for the family of Doris Koehl, mother of Cheryl Meadows, who passed away yesterday afternoon.  For the Gindler family as they prepare to say goodbye to Andy, their son.  For all everywhere who mourn, who need healing, and who could be blessed by our generosity.  Pray for one another, pray for yourself.

Gossips and Casseroles

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After Jesus crossed over by boat, a large crowd met him at the seaside.  One of the meeting-place leaders named Jairus came. When he saw Jesus, he fell to his knees, beside himself as he begged, "My dear daughter is at death's door. Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live." Jesus went with him, the whole crowd tagging along, pushing and jostling him. A woman who had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years -  a long succession of physicians had treated her, and treated her badly, taking all her money and leaving her worse off than before - had heard about Jesus. She slipped in from behind and touched his robe.  She was thinking to herself, "If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well."  The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. She could feel the change and knew her plague was over and done with. At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?" His disciples said, "What are you talking about? With this crowd pushing and jostling you, you're asking, 'Who touched me?' Dozens have touched you!" But he went on asking, looking around to see who had done it.  The woman, knowing what had happened, knowing she was the one, stepped up in fear and trembling, knelt before him, and gave him the whole story.  Jesus said to her, "Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague." While he was still talking, some people came from the leader's house and told him, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?" Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, "Don't listen to them; just trust me."  He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John.  They entered the leader's house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: "Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn't dead; she's sleeping."  Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn't know what he was talking about.  He clasped the girl's hand and said, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, get up."  At that, she was up and walking around! This girl was twelve years of age. They, of course, were all beside themselves with joy. He gave them strict orders that no one was to know what had taken place in that room. Then he said, "Give her something to eat." (Mark 5:21-43)

Good day dear Friend!  Here's trusting you had a fairly good weekend and are ready for what this week holds.  Never forget, dear one, whatever the week holds, God holds you!

This is a wonderful passage that I recommend you read from your favorite Bible.  I chose the Message Version because of some of the words it uses, and the title comes from this version.  This is a story of the ability Jesus had to multi-task; for we find a miracle inside of a miracle or as our friends the sheep in today's graphic said, "Two miracles in one day?"  Yes, two.  Such is the grace and power of Jesus Christ.

The Lord had just landed on the shore when a man named Jairus came to plead with Jesus for the life of his little daughter.  Those of you who have daughters, or granddaughters, or nieces, or family friend's daughters, know how delicate it is to see any of them sick.  The first fever our firstborn had had us calling the doctor every five minutes in near-panic.  We were ready to rush her to the hospital if need be!  Imagine Jairus' heart in seeing his child at the point of death.  Please keep in mind that Jairus was a leader of a synagogue, and one who could have easily been Jesus' nemeses, for it was the religious people of the day that disliked Jesus' ministry; but that was put aside when Jairus said, like most parents:  I will do whatever it takes to make my little girl well!  And, perhaps, swallowing his pride, he goes to Jesus.  He affirms his faith in the Lord when he says, Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live."  That was his plead, and that was his prayer.  So, Jesus agrees and tries to make his way through the crowds that gathered whenever they heard  Jesus was near.  As our Lord makes His way to Jairus' home, there was a woman who sought Jesus' healing touch as well.  For 12 years she had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging.  One can only imagine the discomfort, not to mention the weakness and general yucky-ness of losing so much blood during each day; and then to know this poor lady suffered this for twelve years.  That's 146 months, 4,380 days of this misery.  She also was willing, and had, done everything to get healed.  Scripture tells us she spent all her money on doctors; so she not only suffered a flow of blood, but a flow of money, and only to get worse physically.  Her faith was now in Jesus.  "If only I can touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed."  She makes her way to Jesus, touches Him, and immediately is healed.  End of story, right?  Nope.  Jesus knows that some of His power has left Him and so He asks, "Who touched my robe?"  The disciples think it funny for Him to ask such a question as the crowds were massive and there would be no way to know who had done it.  But He kept asking, and she, to her credit, goes and with "fear and trembling" kneels before Jesus and confesses.  Jesus responds, "Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole.  Live well, lived blessed!  Be healed of your plague."  She receives her healing and a blessing from the Son of God.

Then the news comes that Jairus' daughter has died.  The opinion of those near Jesus was that they should no longer bother Jesus.  Death is final after all.  Leave Jesus alone.  Jairus, get home and start that awful task of planning a funeral.  Jesus ignores all of this and still continues on His way to the home where the body of the little girl lay.  Taking the intimate three in with Him; Peter, James, and John, Jesus pushes His way into the house.  The verse I love says, "They entered the leader's house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles." Ouch.  

Jesus then asks, "Why all this busybody grief and gossip? The child isn't dead; she's sleeping."  Folks laughed and provoked the Lord.  He takes the girl's hand and says, "Talitha Koum," which means, "Little girl, get up."  And just like that, she awakes and starts walking around.  Everyone was now besides themselves with joy.  Jesus leaves them with the plea no one was to know what had taken place in that room, and for them to feed the little girl.

Dear reader, if you have fear of approaching the Lord, you're missing out on a lot! Learn from these folks we just read about.  Jairus did not let his position and pride get in the way of seeking the help of Jesus.  The woman who had suffered for 12 years did not let the size of the crowd dampen her faith and hope that in Jesus she would find healing.  And whatever excuse you may have been using to not seek the Lord should be put to bed.  Take courage and seek help!  The Lord knows what you are facing and the size of your needs; He stands ready to help and to bless.  All we have to do is approach Him with faith and see what He will do for us.

PRAYER:  Loving God, for the power of healing as found in this passage, we thank You.  We pray that we might have the courage of a Jairus and of that brave woman, to seek You and share with You that which troubles us.  Let us find in You that which we need.  But above all, we pray that Thy will be done.  In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Approach the Lord today.  And tell someone about what Christ can do.

Eradio Valverde

Those Who Said Yes to Jesus: Philip

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The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ (John 1:43)

Dear Friend, you don't need my permission to jump up and down and celebrate Fridays!  So, go ahead!  I pray this is a blessed day for you and yours.  May the word of the Lord uplift your day and weekend!

Imagine being the first one to hear from our Lord, "Follow me."  That honor belongs to Philip.  His name is found in all four gospels, but it is the Fourth Gospel, John, that tells us a little bit about this disciple.  The honor of hearing those words was a blessing doubled when Philip said yes to Jesus.

We should know that there are two Philips in the Bible.  The disciple who we are studying, and the one whom we meet in Acts.  The one in Acts was a Deacon and a successful missionary for the Lord.  But, he is not the one whom we see in Acts 8; that's the missionary.  Sadly, the Bible tells us more about Philip the missionary than Philip the disciple; but we will explore his life and what he brought to the Kingdom of God.

He was from Bethsaida, and he was a homeboy to Peter and Andrew, and more than likely was, like them, a fisherman.  Besides being the first to hear "Follow Me" from Jesus, we know these four things about him from the Gospel of John:  1)  His first action was to bring Nathanael to Jesus.  Philip goes to Nate and tells him all about the Lord. It was Nate who asked if anything good could come from Nazareth.  Philip doesn't argue with him, simply says, "Come and see." (John 1:45-46).  This action tells us that Philip had an evangelistic zeal; from meeting Christ he learned all he needed to know about Him and wanted to tell others about Him.  Nate becomes the first.  Philip also had the right approach to dealing with skeptics - don't argue just say, "come and see" for yourself.  Skeptics usually want to experience for themselves that which one tries to share with them. 2). We find Philip next at the feeding of the 5,000.  Jesus has asked Philip the question, "Where can we find bread, that these people may eat?"  Philip replies, Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’  It has been suggested that Philip may have been the quartermaster of the disciples' band.  It would fall to him to find food and supplies for their needs, and so Jesus spoke to them about the need of the five thousand.  His quick answer shows that Philip had been already thinking and evaluating the situation and how best to address it. The Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels tells us that in Palestine one denarius normally bought twelve wheaten or thirty-six barley "loaves," a span in diameter and about an inch and a half thick.  To have bought that with that amount of money even if they had it, would have only provided a bite for each person present.  Philip had a warm heart but a pessimistic head; like many, who would love to do something good for someone else, but do not see how it could possibly be done.  Cavour has said that the supreme essential of a statesman was "a sense of the possible."  Philip had not yet reached the point of knowing that with Christ even a little is much, and that with God all things are possible.  

3). As Jesus' days on earth are coming to an end we see Philip greeting some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem, and the approach Philip with a request to see Jesus.  They may have thought Philip, with a typical Greek name would identify with them.  Philip goes to Andrew and tells him; and on Ethen did Andrew and Philip bring the Greeks to Jesus (John 12:20-22).  

4). Philip's last appearance is in the Upper Room, where Jesus is talking about the Father and Philip, still not yet strong in his faith asks Jesus to show him the Father.  Yet, if nothing else, we see in Philip the confidence to approach Jesus with his problems with neither fear nor shame.  We can learn from that.

We have a legend, among many others, of Philip after his NT days.  The most common is how he came to die.  He came to Hierapolis and found the people worshipping a giant snake. Philip arrives there with Bartholomew and with his sister, Mariamne, who had taken a vow of virginity and sought to serve the Lord alongside her brother.  Philip preaches  and is successful in converting many.  This, however, angers the proconsul, who orders Philip arrested.  He is stripped, pierced in the ankles and ankles and thighs and hung upside down.  Philip does not want this sort of treatment and orders the ground to swallow up those around him, and the ground swallows seven thousand people.  Jesus then appears and rebukes Philip for his anger and action, and restores to life those whom had been killed in the ground swallowing.  It was then that Philip confessed his sin and died upside down.  His last request was that he not be buried in linen as was the custom, but in papyrus, for he was not worthy to be buried like Jesus.  That request is granted, and as soon as his body is in the ground the heavens open up and a voice declares that Philip had received his crown.  So we can say that Philip was faithful even unto death.

PRAYER:  Loving God grant us stronger faith to be faithful and fruitful.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed weekend!  Show your faith in Christ to many as often as you can!

Eradio Valverde

Words Without Knowledge

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Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. ‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk,or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? ‘Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go and say to you, “Here we are”? Who has put wisdom in the inward parts,or given understanding to the mind? Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, when the dust runs into a mass and the clods cling together? ‘Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens,or lie in wait in their covert? Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?  (Job 38:1-7, 34-41)

Good day, dear Friend!  I'm praying that today be a special and wonderful day for you in spite of what you dread doing, or whom you dread seeing.  Hear the word of God to a man whose life was unlike any other in history, dear Job.  May we find strength and comfort in God much like Job ultimately did.

In case we have forgotten, Job was a wealthy and blessed man.  So blessed that even Satan envied him.  And in a scene where God and the devil talk, Satan blames Job's blessings for his faithfulness.  "I bet if you took everything away from him, he would despise you and turn away from you!"  were Satan's words to God. Fast forward to where we find Job being told what's what from God.  And this after three friends have tried to explain to Job how they see God and life.

"Words without knowledge" is how God describes our attempts at understanding and explaining things we don 't know.  I smile as I remember the days of our little ones asking, "Why?"  And that was followed by "Why?"  I smile also because their children now ask us, "Why?"  And that is a good question when we would dare to say we know more than God.  We don't.  Try as we would, we would still fall way short of knowing God and what God is thinking.  God's exact words were that Job's friends and even Job's attempt were "(darkened) counsel by words without knowledge."  And God then asks Job to be ready to answer like a man the following questions:  "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Tell me, if you have understanding."  Ouch.  A good question that proves a point without our even trying to answer it.  We were not there.  We did not see it.  We can't even understand it, let alone try to explain it.  Next question, "Who determined its measurements-- surely you know!"  I personally have trouble determining how far a mile is, let alone .03 of a mile as my GPS tries to guide me someplace.  "Was it you that stretched out the Equator of the Earth?"  No sir, it wasn't me.  I barely understand pier and beam, let alone the foundations or bases of the world.  And though I don't even know where the cornerstone of the Earth is, I sure would have loved to be there "when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy"!  I love the way today's graphic asks, "Why do you talk so much when you know so little?"  Ouch again.

The most difficult person to explain the difficult things of life to is ourselves.  We have a less than perfect teacher and we make poor students when we are also the instructor.  We should trust God and leave all things to God's understanding, will, and purpose.  Left to ourselves many times the best response is "I don't know."  But add to it, "But God knows, and I trust God."

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, as  this dear reader and I sometimes try to make sense of life and life's most difficult and trying challenges, remind us as you reminded Job, that we can and should trust You.  We can ask, and we do, pray for victory in all of the challenges before us this day.  May we find peace so that we can share it with someone who doe not yet trust You.  May the love You have placed in our hearts be exactly that which we can share with someone today.  This we pray in Christ Jesus, the Cornerstone of Life's strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Be a blessing to someone by learning how to be a blessing.  It's not what you know, it's who you are that may bless someone today.  So be the best!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST: Please be in prayer for Mr. Tim Wilson (Charlotte's son) who is undergoing surgery this morning here in Seguin.  Prayers for the family and friends of The Rev. Thom Elliott, whose memorial service is today in Georgetown, Texas.  Pray for each other.  Pray for yourself.

The Rest of the Story... for David, anyway...

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On David’s return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. Saul said to him, ‘Whose son are you, young man?’ And David answered, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.’ When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armour, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved. The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, ‘I will pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. David had success in all his undertakings; for the Lord was with him. When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David; (! Samuel 17:57-18:5, 18:10-16)

I pray this finds you dear one doing well and enjoying God's blessings upon your life.  I pray that today's devotional speak to your heart and needs.  Let us be in a posture of worship and listening.

"And they lived happily ever after."  Great ending.  For fairy tales.  How we wish we could tack that on to big, special events in our lives, don't we?  After our wedding..."and they lived happily ever after."  After the birth of our child... "and they lived happily ever after."  You get the picture.  How about, David killed Goliath, and he lived happily ever after?  Today's passage begins the narrative about David's life after his big win.  We see the general of the army taking David formally before the king, King Saul.  Saul asks who David was, and David replies he is the son of Jesse, who is from Bethlehem.  And as this introduction is being made, the heir to the throne, Prince Jonathan sees in David a friend that he longed for.  One can only imagine growing up in royalty and in a palace; access to peers would be limited, and not everyone would be considered a peer.  Keep in mind that David is about to become Jonnie's brother-in-law; for Saul promised his daughter to whoever killed the giant, and that would be David.  And that would be the first of many wives for David, as was the known custom of the day.  But, we also see the reality of how Jonnie may have grown up; in the household of a troubled man.  

Saturday night was the night we finally got to see the movie "I Can Only Imagine" on the story behind the hit song by the same name by Bart Millard.  If you have not yet seen it, I will only say that Bart grew up in the home of a troubled man, much like Saul.  The Old Testament explanation was that "an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul," which is as scientific as the OT got.  The thinking is that all things were created by God and so this that Saul had must have surely come from God, when in reality it must have been a personality disorder of some kind.  There are demons and evil spirits, but in this case, Saul's life as king led him slowly away from God, and when one gets too far from God, one is open to all sorts of influences and temptations.  Saul tries to kill David.  It is finally dawning on him that this boy is going to take the throne away from him and his son.  This boy also seems to be filled with the presence of God.  Remember that Saul, in his good moments, made David the head of military operations, but now wants him dead.  David escapes, but never enjoyed peace until that fateful day that Saul died.  Suffice it to say that David did enjoy the blessings of God "in all of his undertakings; for the Lord was with him."  Saul is in awe of this, but the people of Israel and Judah (these were the people of God in divided kingdoms at this point of their history) loved David.

The key to the story is that we don't all live happily ever after without the bad thrown in by life.  This was the case with David and may be the case with you, dear friend.  The key to David's success and true happiness, as it is to our successes and happiness, is that God is invited in, and God is given all credit and glory for what comes next in our lives.  This may have been a rough week for you; unexpected challenges and worries have come to your life; take heart, we are not to be afraid nor are we supposed to give up or to give in.  Stand with God as God stands with you.  There is still much to do and experience and that is best done walking and trusting God.  Your having taken time at this moment to read God's word, to pray and to be prayed for, means you're on the right path right now.  And that, dear friend, is good news!

PRAYER: Awesome Father, thank You for the faith and life of David.  Speak to our hearts at this point of our lives.  You better than we know what is ahead for us and we turn it all over to You.  We ask that You be gloried in our lives.  May the victories coming our way be because of You.  We thank You right now for that which will bless our lives.  And we pray all these things in He who is Our Lord, Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Tell someone that you're standing and walking with God.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Please be in prayer for Bruce and Lisa Gindler  as they have lost their oldest son, Andy who died unexpectedly at age 38.  Please be in prayer for Tom Lester, Jr and testing that he is undergoing.  Prayers for Rosannah Green who also is to undergo some tests today with an oncologist.  And for John Lucas who received two heart stents this past week in San Antonio.  He is home recovering well. Pray for one another.  Please pray for yourself.

The Smallness You Feel Comes From Within You

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Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us.  God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help.  Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated - or not - in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times;  when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted;  ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.  Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively! (2 Corinthians 6:11-13)

Good day dear Friend!  May this find you in a place where God's voice can speak lovingly and openly to you.  May all the cares and worries of yesterday cease to bother you today.  Listen to God's voice, learn to recognize it, and learn to be blessed and guided by it.

Our youngest grandchild lives in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.  Yet, must of her early education has been coming from England.  The other day when she was visiting, she talked to her grandma and me about sending us something in the post.  And we received it yesterday.  "Post?" I asked.  She gave me the look every grandchild gives to their grandfather at least once that says it all:  Grandpa, I thought you were smarter than this!  Her favorite show is Peppa Pig, a show from England.  It has allowed our baby girl to say the number four like someone on the streets of London, as well as other words which amuse us.  You could say that even at three years old, she's living "openly and expansively."  The cares and worries that most grown ups have, are not hers yet; and my prayer is that they will never overwhelm her or any of our little ones ever. Yet, here we are.  We're human and we worry.  And it seems like we sometimes forget Whose we are, and what we have become because of Jesus Christ.  Our attitude towards life should be like children; life is marvelous more so because we see with Christ's eyes; "in the nick of time" God heard our pleas and rescued us.  His strength is that which allows us to face the truly difficult days that may come into our lives.

The Apostle Paul lives a marvelous life even though as he shares the list of things he endured, we shake our heads and wonder how he was able to survive it all.  But Jesus was so important, so central to his life, that nothing else mattered.  Jesus when He called Paul revealed to him all he was to suffer, and Paul still said yes.  "Hard times, tough times, bad times," - Yes Lord, if Thou goes with me.  "When we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed," - yes Lord, if Thou goes with me.  "Working hard, working late, working without eating" - Yes Lord, if Thou goes with me.  "With pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love - all of this because He is with us.  Dear one, did I happen to share a word with which you identify this morning?  Then, leave the constricted places behind and enter into the "wide-open, spacious life" that is ours through Jesus Christ.  Dear Reader, if you feel a smallness about life, or feel hemmed or boxed in, that's you that's sharing that with you!  Paul said it best, "You're living (life) in a small way... Open up your lives.  Live openly and expansively!"

That's good news!  

PRAYER:  Loving God, bless this dear reader with all that we have read above, and please include me as well.  Remove the restrains, open wide the jail doors of the prisons we have made for ourselves and let us be the people You called us to be.  Remove the smallness of thinking and belief; grant to us the faith of a trusting child, and let us live big!  In Christ Jesus we pray and live, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Today, we shall be big!  

Eradio Valverde

The Wind Ran Out of Breath!

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On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’ (Mark 4:35-41) Good day, dear Friend!  I trust this finds you in the calm of the day, when God can speak to you and share with you that which your spirit needs today.  May it be found in His word and in the words of this servant.

The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful place to be.  Nellie and I were blessed to spend three nights on its shore in a very nice resort.  The sea is also called a lake, and it is nestled in a valley of sorts, with mountains in just the right places to allow the wind to do some scary things, like the storm in this passage.  A simple crossing from one side to the other is long enough for a nap and long enough for a storm to make itself known on the normally quiet waters.  This great gale that arose brought with it huge waves, as the illustration above shows.  One can only imagine that a boat would not last long in such a storm.  Though some of the disciples were professional fishermen, and experienced boatmen, this storm was more than they could handle.  The storm found them in a panic, while Jesus slept soundly on a cushion.  Their fear drove them to wake Jesus up and to ask the question, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"  Jesus woke up and calmed the storm.  The Message version says that "the wind ran out of breath, and the sea became like glass."  The words of Jesus were "Peace!  Be still!"  Those words might as well have been directed to the disciples, for Jesus said to them, "Why are you afraid?  Have you still no faith?"  Have you stopped to consider how many times God, Jesus, and angels have come with the same message?  Do you remember when God visited Adam and Eve in the garden after they had disobeyed Him and ate from the forbidden fruit; what did the man say to God?  "We were afraid?"  Since that day, humanity has had to put up with fear.  The angel comes to Mary to announce her role in Jesus' birth and his words were "Be not afraid."  And it may just be that those words come to you saying the same thing:  "Why are you afraid?"  

You may have a list.  You may have no idea of what to answer, but you may still fear a bit unsure or uneasy about today and the things expected of you.  Hear Jesus speaking His word of peace and power; for the Man who calmed the sea is the Man at your side.  No storm, no gale force winds can harm you, for with Jesus, the wind will run out of breath!  And the sea will become smooth as glass.  I have shared how my mom, dad, and grandmother all prayed for me while I was still in college.  I was walking on unexplored territory when it came to our family.  I, after all, was the one who said I would sign up for 40 hours thinking college hours were the same as work week hours.  What decent person doesn't want to work 40 hours?  And imagine the anxiety on the upcoming first exam of my college career!  I was told I needed to bring a blue book.  I searched through my stack of new books and none of them was blue, and certainly not the one I had bought for my class!  Thankfully, I was not too shy to ask a classmate, "What blue book are we talking about for the exam?"  The classmate walked me to the school bookstore and showed me the stack of Blue Books, the college exam books for sale for all students.  Aw! said I; now I know.  The blue book did not calm the storm; but a call home to ask for prayer did.  And so did studying.  And my own prayers.  The storm was nothing to fear for I was ready, thanks to the Lord.

Dear one, what storms are you facing today?  Are there gale force winds coming your way?  Guess what, with the Lord walking beside you and in you, that storm, like the wind, is going to run out of breath!  And your spirit will be renewed by the breath of the Living One who gives us new life.  So, in the Name of Jesus, hear again the words that the Bible shares so often from God (who truly means it!):  Be not afraid!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, in Your hands you hold this dear reader.  You know the storms or the dangers of storms in their life, but You, who calmed the sea, can calm the nerves and heart of this dear reader and share with them the calm and peace that will bless them today.  Be glorified in our lives we pray, in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Share those words with someone today:  Be not afraid.  God will direct you to them and you will know who needs to hear that today.

Eradio Valverde

Those Who Said Yes to Jesus: James, the Brother of Jesus

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  but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. (Galatians 1:19)

Friday!  Dear Reader, why do we make a big deal about Friday?  Well, how much time do you have?  For many, the end of the work week!  For some pastors, it's their day of Sabbath (day off)!  Whatever day makes you happy, seek to bless the Lord and make Him happy!  

"The enemy who became the friend," is how one scholar begins his treatise on James, Jesus' brother.  As we have studied this week, King David was the youngest of 8 brothers.  Joseph, the one with the technicolor coat, was the youngest of his brood; and on Sunday I mentioned in my sermon how annoying younger siblings can be to us older, wiser, smarter, better looking... Okay, I'm getting us ready for today's devotional.

James was not one of the original 12.  Yet, we know him to have been the president of the Jerusalem Church, and he was a martyr for the faith.  And we include him in the list of Apostles, because of what Paul wrote in today's passage.  Suffice it to say we do not know much about this follower of Jesus.  One thing we do know is that he first said NO to Jesus.  We should remember he was part of the clan who came to regard Jesus as being mad, as in crazy.  James was among those who wanted to take Jesus home to care for Him. (Mark 3:31-33).  We also can read in John 7:5 where John says, "neither did His brethren believe in Him." Also, in Matthew 10:36, Jesus says, "A man's foes shall be they of His own household," words Jesus spoke from personal experience.  Ouch.

James had a change of heart.  When the Apostle Luke listed those present after the death of Jesus, the Resurrection, and the Ascension, he includes the brothers of Jesus (Acts 1:14). Later, as the question of Gentiles coming into the Christian faith, it is James, who in a clear-thinking, clear-speaking voice that settled the issue to allow them in. A clean indication that he had become the leader of the Jerusalem Church. (Acts 12:17). Later, when Paul comes to Jerusalem with the collection for the poor, it is James who meets him.  On his very first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion, Paul met with James and Peter.

Beyond the New Testament, we have two accounts of how James died.  Josephus, the Jewish historian records that between Festus, the Roman governor, and the arrival of Albinus the next governor, Ananus, the high priest took advantage of the transition to do as he please, which included holding a judicial council and brought James before it, on the charges of having violated the Law, so James and others were ordered to be stoned. (Antiguities of the Jews, 20, 9, 1).  Hegesippus, a Christian historian, wrote a fuller account of James' death.  He writes that James lived such a life of holiness and piety that he was respected by all.  He never ceased to follow the Jewish Law, and Christians and Jews alike, respected him and regarded him a saint.  The account states, "He was holy from his mother's womb; wine and strong drink he drank not, nor did he eat flesh; no razor touched his head; he never anointed himself with oil; and he used not the bath."  His knees were hard as a camel's because he was so constant in prayer and in his pleas for God to forgive his people.  His piety led people to call him James the Just, and Oblias, which means The Bulwark of the People.

This story makes it clear that the Jewish authorities did not realize where James stood in his belief.  What alarmed them was the large number of people who came to him to become Christians.  This led them to plead with James to "restrain the people who are led astray after Jesus... for we all have confidence in you. Stand in the wing of the Temple that your words may be heard by all the people."  During Passover, as the city was crowed, they place James in the wing of the Temple, but his message was not as they had expected.  "Why do you ask me concerning Jesus the Son of Man?  He is now sitting in the heavens on the right hand of the Great Power, and He is about to come on the clouds of Heaven."  The Jewish leaders grabbed him and threw him down the pinnacle of the Temple, stoned him, and one of them ran up to him and clubbed his head, and James' brains came out.  The fact remains that the man who once considered Jesus as the enemy, died for Him.  From contempt to content in Jesus.

As James' life was renewed by the Resurrection, so should ours.  We can leave behind that which separated us from the Son of Man, and become one of his most faithful followers.

PRAYER:  Loving God, for the testimony and faith of James, we give You thanks.  Increase our faith to move from that of yesterday which separated us, to the faith of today, of right now, to become better and more faithful disciples.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.   Dear one, Take up your cross, follow Jesus!

Eradio Valverde

May God Grant You the Desires of Your Heart

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The Lord answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you!  May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion. May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices.May he grant you your heart’s desire,and fulfil all your plans. May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners.May the Lord fulfil all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand. Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God. They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright. Give victory to the king, O Lord; answer us when we call. (Psalm 20)

May this day find you blessed, dear Friend is my prayer for you.  May the concerns and worries of last night be but a distant memory as you find the strength and peace that only God can give for the living of today.

This was my grandfather Carlos Valverde's favorite psalm.  He loved the Spanish version of it and would repeat it often.  He came to faith late in life, having struggled with alcoholism and a divorce, but his latter days found him living and loving the Lord Jesus Christ.  His favorite verse of this psalm was verse 7:  "Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God."  The Spanish translation has chariot as "carros" which sounds more like cars than chariots, thus more applicable to him.  He had a love for cars and always had the car/truck Ford made called Ranchero, if I'm remembering correctly. And he also owned, I believe, a Chevy El Camino, which was the same incarnation (no pun intended!) of a car front, but a pickup back.  The Spanish version also reads, Some place their confidence in cars, others in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord."  At that point in his life, he sought to know more about the Lord.  I have mentioned often how at night he would kneel by his bed and pray out loud (emphasis on LOUD) for everyone he knew.  Those nights we spent at his house we would be so blessed to hear our names mentioned in that "neighborhood" prayer.

David had that kind of faith too.  He knew that in God we find the answer to our troubles if we cry out to Him. We know God's name; God knows ours.  God loves us and protects us if we but ask.  He loves and appreciates all we offer to Him, and David's desire is for God to grant us the desires of our heart, while fulfilling our plans.  What a celebration will occur when these come true and all who love the Lord join in with us as we return thanks to God for all God offers to us.  God will see to it that those of us who love Him will stand at the end.  Share the goodness of the Lord with others and great will be the multitude blessed by what God does in each of our lives.

PRAYER:  Loving God, may our confidence be only in You.  There are so many things that call out to us as being that which we need or we believe, deserve; but we deserve only to serve and praise You - what greater blessing is there?  Bless the life of this dear reader in a glorious way!  In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Share a smile and a story about God's goodness with every one!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST:  Please be in prayer for the family of Mr. Forrest Penny, who died last night at 8:45 p.m.  He bravely fought the cancer that came so quickly; he always trusted the Lord.  Pray for the comfort and peace of his wife, Sue, and their children and all their loved ones.  I thank you for your prayers for Nellie, whose first pre-op checkup showed she is healing well.  In two weeks the stitches will come out and in five weeks, so will the pins in her two toes. (those are the ones that scare the faint of heart!).  Pray for one another.  Pray for your pastor.  Pray for yourself.  Glorify the Lord today!

God Looks at Our Heart

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel. 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 15:34-16:13)

Good day dear Friend! May the blessings of the Lord be with you in a great way today! May we seek to cheerfully please the Lord with our service today is my prayer.

This is the time of year that a lot of United Methodist Churches are in a period of transition. Long time pastors are leaving, either to another church, or retiring; and new pastors have been introduced and are in the midst of packing and unpacking as they begin new assignments. It is not an easy process. There is joy and sadness in the hearts of all who are involved. Some in the church will be sad for a long time; others will be rejoicing. Some pastors leave with gladness in their hearts for finally seeing the door opened from the last church, others are sad for they have left a part of their heart there with the "old" church. Imagine the transition of national power in the days of Samuel the prophet. He had tried to be the true mouthpiece of God only to have the people say they were tired of being a theocracy, a government where God was king; they wanted a human king and the job fell to the rejected prophet to obey the Lord as He selected the first king of Israel. Then, the day came when King Saul's days as king were over. The Lord puts it as written, "And the Lord was sorry that He had made Saul king over Israel". This hurt God's heart as it did the prophet's. Samuel grieved, for he had come to respect and follow the king. God asks that the prophet move on with the new task, that of finding and anointing the new king of Israel. Please keep in mind that Saul is still king and the new king will be anointed only, and will not assume the throne until the King Saul dies. And, also keep in mind, that Kng Saul had a son whom he wanted to be king after him, and that was his son Jonathan, who also was the new anointed king's best friend.

Samuel's arrival was usually received as when a district superintendent comes to worship in a church that has a pastor who may or may not stay. The elders of the city of Bethlehem met Samuel with trembling. God had prepared him for this and the answer given by God to Samuel allowed him to come into the region in peace and to do what God expected of him.

The man of the hour was Jesse, the father of eight sons. The prophet had sacrificed in his presence and had sanctified Jesse and his sons. As each of the sons presents himself to the prophet, the Spirit of the Lord speaks to the prophet as to whether this is was the new king. This happened seven times with the sons who were present. Interesting how the prophet reports how he thought a tall, handsome man would make a good replacement to Saul. It is here we find one of the most telling and powerful statements in the Bible about how God see you and me. ‘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. For God, our heart is more important than how we look. This is great news for me and any who think we could improve our outward appearance. What we should be concerned about is our inner appearance before the Lord. Do our hearts reflect that God sits on the throne of our heart? Do our hearts reflect a love and concern for all people or is it turned totally inward towards us? The prophet then asked Jesse if these were his only sons. The father replied that he had the youngest out in the fields working as a shepherd. The son is David, and he is called for and when he presents himself before the prophet, he is anointed as the new soon-to-be king of Israel. This allowed for the Holy Spirit to come "mightily" upon this new king, and the prophet moved on.

God saw the mustard seed potential of faith the boy David had in his heart towards Him. God used that faith to make David the psalmist king that continues to bless so many years since he first sat to write them down. I pray that God see in you and me, a mustard seed of faith that will bless God and those whom we have around us.

PRAYER: Loving God, bless my heart to be blossoming into a greater blessing for Your Kingdom. Help me to be one who draws others to come to You. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. If your heart needs cleaning, rely on the Lord, for He is good!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS: Prayers for our brother Forrest Penny, who is being placed in hospice care tomorrow. He may be at the point of leaving us and needs our prayers for his transition. Pray for his wife and family. Prayers for Nellie as she goes for her followup to surgery tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. Prayers for our Vacation Bible School and all VBSs that are blessing children and families!

You Have a Fresh Start! For You are a New Creation!

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That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.  But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions.  Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad. That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care.  We're not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we're on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are.  If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! (2 Corinthians 5:6-17 The Message Version)

Good day dear Friend!  May this find you blessed and prepared for a great day in the Lord!  The above passage should be read in one of your favorite older translations to best receive the word from the Lord today.  The Message Version also speaks with a POW!  And that's why I use it today.  Hear the first words of the passage again:  "That's why we live with such good cheer.  You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet!"  May that be you and me this day!

It's easy sometimes to focus on the negative, such as past memories or experiences, but the key is to not let them rule this day.  Yes, we may have lost very special loved ones and their absence is still one that makes us mourn and cry, but if you think about what they would want for you it would more than likely be for you to continue onward and upward.  The final book of the Bible speaks of no tears in Heaven, so why should we live like those who have been defeated?  We are not defeated.  Not now, nor ever.  Christ brought us the victory over sin and death and that should be enough to set the pace for the walk forward. Yes, as the writer above says, there may be some ruts or rocks in our path, but onward we go!  The day is coming when we will gladly exchange exile for homecoming.  But for now, "Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our condition."  Christ's death has brought us new life for we died with Him. And, here's the best part, dear one, those who have united with the Messiah (that's you and me) have gotten a fresh start, and we are a new creation!  Yep.  The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!  Look and enjoy it in Christ Jesus!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, there are times we do feel down and out; You better than anyone understand those days, but we ask that in Your love for us, You would bring us up - fill us with Your Holy Spirit that He may lift us up to the high places to do that which pleases You.  Let that be my main aim today, dear Father, to cheerfully please You.  This I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Lift up your head and live as one who has received a fresh start and who has been made a new creation!  POW!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER UPDATES:  Mr. Herman Grauke underwent successful knee replacement and was in good spirits yesterday afternoon when I visited him.  He has some pain but expects to be released from the Seguin hospital on Thursday and then into a rehab center for about three weeks.  Pray for his recovery.  Continued prayers for Mr. Forrest Penny, who is in the hospital battling cancer.  May the Lord comfort him is our prayer. Thank you for your prayers.  Pray for someone you know needs it.  Then, pray for yourself.

Leave It to God, But Do Your Share!

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(Jesus) also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’  He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’ With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. (Mark 4:26-34)

Good day dear Friend!  I pray the weekend was good to you, that you were blessed and that you blessed someone in a kind way.  May our time in devotion to the Lord's word speak to our hearts and guide our paths for today and all days.

If you share a word about God and His goodness to someone, or if you take it farther and share a word about how important the Lord is in your life, you're planting a seed.  Jesus, in this passage, shares who we become like the farmer who scatters seed on the ground, and then leaves it.  The seed, in proper conditions, will grow and we may not be able to explain how.  For example, when our third child was little she was scared one night.  Dad went to lay down beside her and the Lord gave me a simple song that I sang to her.  "Who takes care of Carli in the middle of the night?/Who takes care of Carli when she's had a fright?/Who takes care of Carli even when she's all right?/Jesus does."  I've sang that to all of my girls and now to our grandchildren.  The youngest, Ada, the other day was a bit scared and she told my daughter, her aunt, "Sing me that song that Grandpa sings!"  My daughter asked, "Which song?"  Ada replied, "You know, 'Jesus!  Jesus! Jesus!'"  She couldn't remember the other words, but she knew Jesus was in there somewhere!  I pray that's a seed planted in her soul that will sprout and bear much fruit for Jesus.  We share, and we leave it to God.  

We may think, my faith is not that strong, how can I share?  Share what little you have! God will take care of the rest.  This is why Jesus spoke of the mustard seed.  It is a tiny seed, but it bears fruit; so does our faith.  The Message Version talks of the piñon seed, also a tiny seed, and it's quite tasty!  But when planted bears huge trees.  In the same way, the mother or father that speaks a word of faith should not be surprised when their little one(s) begin to understand and share their faith.  The key is to start yesterday!

Jesus used parables, short stories with meaning behind them, to share the truth about God's kingdom; we should too.  Our stories of faith hold the attention of people and others come to understand what it means.  The key is to start yesterday.  Oh.  Wait.  We don't have yesterday; but we have today.  And, more importantly, we have right now!

PRAYER:  Loving Father, increase my faith, but for now, what little faith I have, let me share it in ways that bless and plant a seed of faith.  Let me begin with those around me so that they may be blessed and later they will bless others.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  What story do you have about how God worked a wonder in your life?  Share it!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST:  For those who feel depressed and alone.  Prayers for Mr. Herman Grauke, who undergoes knee replacement surgery today here in Seguin Hospital.  Continued prayers for my wife, Nellie.  She sees her surgeon on Wednesday and we pray all is going well. Pray for those pastors who are returning back to their churches for another year, and a special prayer for those who are moving to new churches!  Pray for one another.  Pray for yourself.

Those Who Said Yes to Jesus: Matthew

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As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)

Good day, dear Friend.  Can I add your name to those who have said Yes to Jesus?  I pray so!  Don't worry, I won't be digging up stuff on you (or me) so that I can write a devotional on you.  But, I do hope our lives are having a positive and profound impact on those around us.

We find Matthew in the first three Gospels who tell us:  Matthew was also called Levi.  And as far as I know, he had nothing to do with blue jeans.  Matthew means gift of God, which indicates this name was given to him by Jesus.  We also believe that James, son of Alphaeus, who is also Matthew's father, was his brother.  The one big fact we know about Matthew is that he was a tax collector.  He was a civil servant, which is what the meaning behind the King James version has for publican.  I should add there were no other class of men more hated than the tax collector in the ancient world.  "Stapher calls them, 'a class of despised parish.'"  Cicero spoke of trades unbecoming to a gentleman and being vulgar, "the trades of tax gatherer and usurer (De Officiis, 1, 42).  Lucian, in his vision of the underworld (Hell) sees a long line of men being led to the throne of Minos where the Tormentors await them, and this line was made up of "adulterers, procurers, tax-collectors, toadies, informers...millionaires, and money lenders, pale, pot-bellied, and gouty."  (Menippus, II).

For the Jews, the presence of Roman influence and government, and especially Roman tax-collectors, was a vile thing.  It was considered unholy to pay tax to any one other than God.  Jewish law prohibited tax-collectors from being either a witness or judge.  He was also barred from worship, which was why the tax-collector in the parable stood far off.  Even repentance was considered especially difficult for a tax gatherer. And the position lent itself for dishonest tax collectors to become rich.

Matthew was more of a customs officer, whose office was probably near the seashore.  We read where Matthew, when he met Jesus, threw a big party in his house with his only friends, other tax collectors, because he wanted everyone to meet Jesus.  Jesus was criticized for His even being with, let alone eating with tax collectors; and the fact that one of those could become a disciple says a lot even now, to you and me.  No one stands so far off from God, that God cannot claim them back and use them for good.  Luke in his gospel says Matthew left everything to follow Jesus (Luke 5:28).  Ancient tradition has Matthew writing the gospel that bears his name.  And it has been long held that his gospel was written with the Hebrews in mind; that all Jews might come to know the Savior, the Messiah of God.  His account of the Sermon on the Mount has more in it than the other, for it was hitting home with him, a Jew and former outcast from society.  

Matthew spent his life after Jesus' ascension as a preacher to the Jews.  Clement of Alexandria says that Matthew was a vegetarian in that "he partook of seeds, nuts, and vegetables without flesh."  (Paedagogus, 2, 1).  There are several legends about his death, but the one thing we are certain of, is that Matthew lived and died for Jesus.

PRAYER:  Loving God, make me a person of deep faith, like Matthew.  Let my life reflect a commitment and joy that others will be blessed by, and desire for themselves.  Mold me to know that you can use even me, away from that which I may despise about myself into becoming the one You can use.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Remember God always wants to claim you back for His use!

Eradio Valverde

The Lord Will Fulfill His Purpose for Your Life!

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Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!" Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!" Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word.  The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength. When they hear what you have to say, God, all earth's kings will say "Thank you."  They'll sing of what you've done: "How great the glory of God!" And here's why: God, high above, sees far below; no matter the distance, he knows everything about us. When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, With your other hand save me.  Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal - don't quit on me now. (Psalm 138 The Message)

May the blessings of the Lord Jesus be with you this day, dear Friend!  May the reading and devotion time you spend with God as did the Psalmist bless your day and your life is my prayer for you.

During my second year of college, many of my classmates were from the Middle East.  We were attending a United Methodist Junior College, and they were Muslims.  They were very devout and spent the required time praying, facing Mecca.  That intrigued us.  My friend and I joked about how we as Methodists didn't really have a direction in which to face; but years later, he was an associate pastor in a Central Texas town and on one Sunday, their church was celebrating Heritage Sunday and the senior pastor led the congregation outside onto the steps and lawn of the church and said the closing prayer would be said facing Wesley's Chapel in London, and to better focus the crowd, the pastor said, "Now, everybody face Minyards!" He smiled remembering the times we joined about facing Mecca.

The psalmist loved the Lord God so much, he wanted his life to say, "Thank You, God!" all the time.  He wanted his speech and song to reflect the deep gratitude he had towards God.  He knelt facing Jerusalem in prayer so that he could worship the Lord as he prayed.  He wanted his prayers to say, thank you to God for God's love, for God's faithfulness, and for the holiness of God's name and God's word.  As soon as he was able, he invited God into his life and I love this translation's way of explaining it:  "The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength."  Is your life large with God's strength?  I pray it is.  We surely need it.  We also need to model our lives after David's gratitude as we learn to say over and over again, "Thank You, God!"  Even as we are walking, as the psalmist says, "into the thick of trouble," we are kept alive by God's strength in angry turmoil.  Our trust remains in the Lord.

He ends the psalm by what our title for today says; God has a purpose for our lives, and our prayer should be, like David's, for God to fulfill His purpose for our life.  It matters not the size of that purpose, it is important to God and to the ones God has appointed to receive that blessing from your purpose.  As a pastor was preparing his annual report, back in the days when we had to report in the number of lives saved, he was a bit disappointed that he had only converted one shoe salesman to the Lord.  That shoe salesman was Dwight L. Moody, whose faith continues to impact lives through the ministries and schools that salesman started.  You may think God isn't using you for big purposes, but that's your take now; God sees the big, eternal picture (and God uses broad strokes!), but one day you will know just what you were supposed to do. You may say, "I can only pray for people..."  That's the best thing someone needs right now.  Whatever your purpose, discover it, give thanks for it; and get busy!

PRAYER:  Awesome God, great is Your faithfulness unto me; make me be a thankful person.  I start now by thanking You for all You have shared in my life thus far.  Help me to do all You expect of me, and let me bless You and Yours by what my purpose asks of me.  Never let me think lowly of what I do for You; bless Your kingdom with my contributions.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Smile.  Let that be the first blessing you share with someone today.  Then add to it!

Eradio Valverde