Faith During Troubled Times

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1 The problem as God gave Habakkuk to see it: 2 God, how long do I have to cry out for help before you listen? How many times do I have to yell, "Help! Murder! Police!" before you come to the rescue? 3 Why do you force me to look at evil, stare trouble in the face day after day? Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels and fights all over the place.4 Law and order fall to pieces. Justice is a joke. The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on its head. God Says, "Look!" 1 What's God going to say to my questions? I'm braced for the worst. I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I'll wait to see what God says, how he'll answer my complaint. 2 And then God answered: "Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. 3 This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming. It aches for the coming - it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time. 4 "Look at that man, bloated by self-importance - full of himself but soul-empty. But the person in right standing before God through loyal and steady believing is fully alive, really alive. (Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 The Message)

Me: Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. I tried writing a devotional while watching the last game of the World Series, fully aware that my team would lose. I could not concentrate on either, and the thoughts in my head and heart did not correspond to my calling to be a Christian and a pastor. It's like I am the ancient prophet Habakkuk! I want to do right, but I keep seeing wrong, at least in my opinion. I'm not at the point of shouting, "Help! Murder! Police!" but I did want to yell out the names of those who could have done a better job pitching than the ones A. J. was putting in.

Me: Forgive me Readers, for I have sinned against you. It's quiet now. I reviewed my calendar for tomorrow and realized a free breakfast I was to have here in Seguin isn't until next week. I have prayed and asked God to forgive me and for Him to give me the words I need to share with you all about what I believe this passage means. In a way I already have. The mind of a preacher and a prophet, being human minds, do get distracted by earthly things. And yes, it is difficult at times to pray and listen when one wants to scream and shout. The old prophet stood on his tower and saw all that was going on around him by his own people; people called to be priests acting like punks. It felt like his prayers hit a ceiling that didn't allow them to get to Heaven. The more he prayed, the worse it got. It was every one for their own wants and desires. And still the prophet walked the tower, praying, waiting, looking, and asking, "How can we have faith during troubled times?"

And he wasn't upset over a baseball game, as I'm struggling to do as well. I thank God I have a wife who knows better and speaks to me about it. And like the prophet I have the same God who speaks to our minds, hearts, and spirits the words that transcend time; write the words of faith in letters big enough that those walking by you and your phone can see what you are reading; that God's answer is coming, and in our case, has come in Jesus. Yes, not all things are as we would like them to be, but our hope continues to be in God. Wait. It's on its way. It will come in God's time. Those who think they are self-important, but in truth, who are "soul-empty" will not find what they truly need. Yet the ones who stand right before God will realize they are fully alive, truly alive because they are right with God.

Our faith stands with us in troubled and good times. Our faith does not depend on what our neighbor is doing or not doing; our faith depends on our standing right and living right before God. The world around us may be shaken and moved, but we will not. God always sees us through.

Dear Friend, thank you for being a faithful reader of ConCafe. Thank you for your prayers for me, and for those who ask prayers from us. I saw my ophthalmologist yesterday morning, and as a birthday gift, the cataract in my left eye decided to grow a bit since last year and in six months he will check me again to see if I need to have it removed. Once it is out of the way, he may get a clearer look at the macular puckering going on behind it. Please pray for me. I also request you pray a prayer of thanksgiving for Mrs. Laurel Bradford, wife of The Rev. Scott Bradford of FUMC-San Angelo, who underwent successful surgery. Pray for her recovery. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.

PRAYER: Loving God, as we pray, speak to our listening hearts about our condition and need. Bring us light and direction. We pray for our sister Laurel as she recovers, thanking You that the surgery went well and she is home now. Bless Scott as he cares for her. We pray for anyone, anywhere who is hurting or ill. We pray for those places around us where we sense what the prophet from today's reading saw, heard, and experienced. We pray we might speak a word of peace to all; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be prophetic in your words to those who have yet to hear any.

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Thanking God is a Must!

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1 I, Paul, together with Silas and Timothy, greet the church of the Thessalonian Christians in the name of God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. 2 Our God gives you everything you need, makes you everything you're to be. 3 You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it's a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it's only right that we give thanks. 4 We're so proud of you; you're so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have come down on you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you.11 Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time - pray that our God will make you fit for what he's called you to be, pray that he'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. 12 If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely. (2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 The Message)

There is power in words. You know this, and I know this. Words, when put together nicely and lovingly, can bring such life to someone we call that a blessing. When words are thrown together in haste and anger, well they do the opposite and we call those curses. We should especially be careful with the words we share with little ones, the children in our midst. It is so wonderful when we hear a small child say, on his/her own, "Thank you!" That child learned that from someone. When a child says something we don't expect that makes us cringe; they learned that too. To hear a child volunteer a prayer is a special blessing; to hear a child say they don't know/want to pray, that's sad.

Paul was successful in his ministry because he was thoughtful. God had granted him that special ability to say thanks and words of encouragement to those around him. He also knew when to share words of correction to the same people. And Paul knew how to pray. His model of prayer is shared here in today's passage. Paul knew that God provides all things and knows how to make us who we were meant to be, and for that we are to say, thanks. In fact, above in verse 3 we read, "You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it's a must. We have to do it." And we realize that thankfulness is driven by love. And faith drives thankfulness especially in hard times.

So, dear one, reflect on your attitude about gratitude. Are you a praying person that always gives thanks in love to God for those with whom you live and work? Good news! You can start right now! Are you going through a rough spell and find it hard to give thanks? That's okay, God understands, but you can see whatever it is as a learning opportunity that can bless you in the days to come. Thank God for that. And you'll find that blessings are right behind it!

PRAYER: Awesome Father, thank You for the lessons shared by Paul. Help us to learn and to put into our lives the blessings that he has shared. And God, I pray for this dear reader; whatever they may be experiencing, we know it is something that will pass soon. Grant them peace and joy. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a person of positive prayers today!

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

A Giant of a Sinner?

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1 He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." 9 Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost." (Luke 19:1-10 NRSV)

May this be a tremendously blessed Tuesday for you, dear Friend! I pray the blessings of joy, health and peace be with you and yours.

Jesus enters the oldest city in the world, and the one we know from Old Testament days as the fortified city which lost its walls to the people of God as they marched around it and sounded trumpets as prescribed by God. And Jesus was about to encounter a man whose life had been walled up nice and tight. And what made the man even more significant was the meaning of his name, "Clean, pure" is what Zacchaeus means. His parents, upon being blessed by this child, gave him a name that they hoped would mark his life. As we will find out, the opposite meanings of the name marked the life of this man. He had grown up to be a chief tax collector and was a very rich man. As a Jew, he was guilty of interacting with those who had conquered Israel and whose money was now the currency of the day, both of which marked Zac's hands as unclean. And as was widely known, tax collectors skimmed money off the top at whatever rate they deemed right, usually making them very rich men. Not driven by purity now, was he? Yet, he was a human and had desires of seeing who this Jesus was, and finding out what He was about. And as happens usually to those who arrive a tad late to a parade, the best viewing spots were gone. Usually not a problem for tall people, but Zac was a short man. Yet Zac was a clever man and knew to climb a sycamore tree to have a good look at Jesus.

Zac's desire was to see Jesus, but gets a shock when Jesus calls this man by his proper name, and informs him that He would be staying at Zac's home. This sort of thing seldom happens. The "star" attraction of the day does not usually call people on the street by their name and inform them of their plans to stay the night! While this made Zac very happy, those around him, who knew him and his reputation, get riled up and begin to gripe, "This prophet/rabbi is going to the home of a terrible sinner! How dare he!" The reality should be that the clergy of the day would be known as those who associated with all people, not just their parishioners, but those whom nobody else wanted or could see. The true men of God for their day would be those whose daily life was all about being with all people especially those in most need. The presence and power of Jesus, and the comments of his neighbors brought about a change of heart in Zac. Zacchaeus undergoes a change of heart to the extent that He blurts out, "Look. half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." This is a moment of salvation. The man confesses his sin and offers to make right all the wrongs he has committed in his life. And not just a take out a check and pay something; this man was willing to give up half of ALL he owned and pay restitution of four times what he had defrauded people out of. The idea of repentance became the action of not only repentance but of love. The short man who was a giant of a sinner became a true giant of faith. He rid himself of all that he had sought while not a believer. He believed more in money and possessions, and acquired them in all the wrong ways, but came to faith in Christ Jesus and discovered a new life.

Dear friend, this message was for me, and I believe for you as well. We can so easily be mislead down the wrong paths, but when we hear the voice of Jesus calling us from death to life, we need to heed that call and come to life. The false life we need to leave behind and follow our Shepherd. I guarantee that He will lead us as David wrote, "He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake." And, we know that His "goodness and love will follow (us) all the days of (our) life." Amen.

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, smile down upon me as I renounce the things that seek to separate me from You. Grant to me the vision and courage to leave behind the things that serve no good purpose, and to seek You and Your paths. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Get small in sin and big in faith! And tell someone!

Blessings of love, Pastor Eradio Valverde

The Truth Shall Set You Free!

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31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, "You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31-36 NRSV)

May this be a wonderful and marvelous Monday for you and yours, dear Friend! I pray you had time to rest, reflect, and renew yourself. Nellie and I were blessed in spending my birthday with our granddaughter, Eliana Beth Garcia, and her siblings and our daughter and son-in-law, in Mission, Texas. Prayers for Iona and Clay Walden as they await the arrival of their daughter, who as of Friday had not yet made her appearance, as much as I wanted her to share her birthday with me, she has not yet decided. Prayers for all to be well with all. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.

In today's passage, Jesus' audience was made up of "Jews who had believed in Him," and Jesus is advising them of how to remain as His disciples, and that was through His word. Jesus had been preaching and teaching that which He knew, which was the teaching of the Law and the whole of the Hebrew Bible we call our Old Testament, as well as sharing His insights and truths behind the Law that the religious people of the day had misunderstood or erroneously taught. His teachings showed that there was freedom from sin, and so in this passage, Jesus clearly instructs the listeners that truth indeed can set you free. They misunderstand and then claim that as children of Abraham they had never been slaves to anyone. They were forgetting their history in Egypt. Some Jews begin counting their religious journey with Abraham rather than Moses. Jesus then explains what you and I know as true; "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin." That is truth. If we learn the truth of what Jesus offers, then we are free from sin, or can be. Jesus further explains, "The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever." Slaves to sin will not have a permanent or eternal place in the Kingdom, but a child, son or daughter, will. Thus, Jesus' next words, "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

Wow! There is the Good News! We do not have to live out our lives as slaves to sin. The truth Jesus shared then is still true today: Jesus defeated sin on the cross. We who ask forgiveness of our sins are affirming our belief in Jesus' victory over sin AND death. We need no longer stay as slaves to sin, but can enjoy our freedom from it. What is it that we say every first Sunday when we celebrate Communion? Our Prayer of Confession and Pardon says, "Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." We also affirm what Jesus read in His Bible, and that He Himself fulfilled,"Your Spirit anointed Him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed..." Amen. Yes, indeed.

Dear one, receive the Good News of Jesus for yourself. If you are enslaved by a sinful behavior, or addiction, or ritual or habit; Jesus died for you and has come to set you free. Believe and receive that and become the person Jesus wants.

PRAYER: Loving Father, we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and Deliverer, who came to set me free. I repent of my sins and ask that You lead me forward towards complete victory. I no longer want to be a slave to sin; I want to be Your child, with a rightful and blessed place at Your table. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share a freedom word with someone today, maybe even yourself!

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

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O God of Our Salvation!

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1 Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, And also obedience. 2 You hear the prayer in it all. We all arrive at your doorstep sooner or later, loaded with guilt, 3 Our sins too much for us - but you get rid of them once and for all. 4 Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest at home in your place! We expect our fill of good things in your house, your heavenly manse. 5 All your salvation wonders are on display in your trophy room. Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer, 6 Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser, 7 Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash, of mobs in noisy riot - 8 Far and wide they'll come to a stop, they'll stare in awe, in wonder. Dawn and dusk take turns calling, "Come and worship." 9 Oh, visit the earth, ask her to join the dance! Deck her out in spring showers, fill the God-River with living water. Paint the wheat fields golden. Creation was made for this! 10 Drench the plowed fields, soak the dirt clods With rainfall as harrow and rake bring her to blossom and fruit. 11 Snow-crown the peaks with splendor, scatter rose petals down your paths, 12 All through the wild meadows, rose petals. Set the hills to dancing, 13 Dress the canyon walls with live sheep, a drape of flax across the valleys. Let them shout, and shout, and shout! Oh, oh, let them sing! (Psalm 65 The Message)

A very blessed Thursday to you, dear Friend! May the tremendous blessings of God be with you as you go about your day today and all days.

If you set up a trophy room for God in your home, what would be on the walls, in the trophy cases, the tables, and book shelves? It's an image that the translator of this version had fun with as he describes what should be on display in God's trophy room. We can find those in verse 5 and 6, and he lists them as "salvation wonders," and then in the rest of the verse, Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer, Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser, Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash, of mobs in noisy riots." Wow. Quite a list and I suppose that photos of those would suffice. But "salvation wonders" tops the list. I would imagine a before and after picture of our spiritual being would tell the tale. Our heart, mind and spirit before we met Jesus and then what it looked like after we surrendered our life to Him. I would be shy to look at the before picture of my sinful heart, mind, and spirit. Sins, thoughts, deeds that had run freely without the restraint of a loving Savior make for quite an ugly picture. What a dreary picture that would be. But the after pictures would be bright, cheery, loving pictures of blessings and joys that have come our way after we entrusted our lives to Jesus. The trophy would be a crown that Jesus could wear for giving His all for you and me.

PRAYER: Awesome, Loving God, thank You. Make the recent sins and recent thoughts leave this realm and free us for joyful living. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Shine for Jesus the picture of the tremendous change that has come to your life. Make new pictures of God's victory in your life!

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Outpouring!

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23 O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. 24 The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you. 26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 28 Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 30 I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 32 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls. (Joel 2:23-32 NRSV)

A wonderful and blessed Wednesday to you and yours, dear Friend! Our prayers for Iona and Rev. Clay Walden as they still await the arrival of their daughter, Adena. Last we heard they were in Labor and Delivery as the doctors were running more tests. We pray for them and for a safe and healthy delivery. Prayers for those in Dallas who two nights ago had that terrible storm come through. A co-worker of our daughter who lives in Dallas lost her home, and this a week after being informed she had been laid off by her company. Pray for her and for all who have lost much, if not everything. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.

This passage appears in Acts, chapter 2, when Peter preaches the sermon that converted three thousand new believers to the faith. The prophetic passage as we find it here addresses a powerful hope that God promises to His children in Zion after they had suffered drought, pestilence, and famine. God sent them early rain, which was a necessary rain after their drought, and He promises a great harvest of wheat and wine. The ravages of the locust are gone and the newness of God's gifts will be a blessing to them. God's promise is that now the children of Zion will "eat in plenty and be satisfied"; His most important gift is His presence in the midst of them as their God.

The next promise is the passage that we find in Acts 2, a promise that the day would come when God's Spirit would be poured out on them and their sons and daughters would prophesy, and their old men would dream dreams, and their young men would see visions; even male and female slaves would receive God's Spirit. God's signs would be in the sky and on the earth, and what Jesus told His disciples that the sun would turn dark and the moon would turn blood red, right before the coming day of the Lord. And when that day arrived, all who called upon the Lord would be saved.

This passage could be about you and me and our life's history. We have seen the good and the bad; we have experienced the best and the worst that life can throw our way, but in Christ Jesus we finally find the hope of life that no one else can offer to us. That is salvation, the being pulled out of that which seeks to kill, steal and destroy us, to the life, and that in abundance that Jesus came to offer us (John 10:10). The Holy Spirit has been poured out on those who are open to His leading and to His speaking. It is through prayer and scripture study that we can hear that which God wants us to hear. And it is the message of salvation that the Church should be proclaiming.There is no greater joy, no greater nourishment to our souls than the message of God's Good News in Jesus Christ. And that is a message that is too good to keep to ourselves.

PRAYER: Awesome God, pour our Your Holy Spirit on us again and again. Fill us with what You would so that we might be the people who make a difference in the world for You. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share good news with someone today!

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Holier than Thou?

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9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14 NRSV)

A wonderful Monday greeting to you and yours, dear Friend! I pray the blessings of a restful weekend were yours and that time spent with the Lord through this devotional bless you for the week ahead. From your bulletins in church you have an idea of the prayer needs from the prayer list inside it. So, please lift those up and pray for one another, and pray for yourselves.

Prayer was something that Jesus did, and it was something that He taught with every opportunity that came to him. And as this chapter began, He was teaching prayer and then gives this example of prayer to those in His audience who "trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt." Two men, Jesus said, went up to the temple to pray. Remember that the temple was the place where heaven and earth met; the connecting place for God. A place where most would humble themselves for prayer and praise. The steps leading up to the entrance of the temple were made in a way to force people to look down and walk up with care and humility. Yet, as even happens in churches today, nothing means as much as what some bring or feel about themselves. The Pharisee begins his prayer with a thanksgiving about himself. "God, I thank You that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector." Ouch. You can bet this prayer was within earshot of this tax collector. Yet he continued, "I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income." Ouch again. Chances are the tax collector did none of these things.

The tax man then prayed from his heart, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" The prayer of a contrite heart. The prayer that we should all pray from time to time. During times that I run I pray this breath prayer. We all stand in need of God's grace and nothing better than to ask for His mercy on us, always.

Jesus then states that this man went home as the only justified person of the two. Further, Jesus adds, "All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Prayer is a time for honesty, not trying to impress others. The old story of a man called on to pray at a presidential cabinet meeting, rumored to have been in the cabinet of Lyndon B. Johnson; the man hardly spoke above a whisper and the President said, "I can't hear you!" The man without hesitating said, "I wasn't praying to you!" Or, the comedic routine of Anjelah Johnson who calls her squad together to pray, "For Karen, because she's pregnant." Gossip, not gospel. Prayer is about admitting to the One who knows how we are, how we are.

PRAYER: Loving God, You know who I am, and what's in my heart; forgive me and change me. Let me be the person You want me to be. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Bless someone with a prayer today. Pray for your pastor!

Blessings of love, Pastor Eradio Valverde

Better Than Home Cooking!

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97 Oh, how I love all you've revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long. 98 Your commands give me an edge on my enemies; they never become obsolete. 99 I've even become smarter than my teachers since I've pondered and absorbed your counsel. 100 I've become wiser than the wise old sages simply by doing what you tell me. 101 I watch my step, avoiding the ditches and ruts of evil so I can spend all my time keeping your Word. 102 I never make detours from the route you laid out; you gave me such good directions. 103 Your words are so choice, so tasty; I prefer them to the best home cooking. 104 With your instruction, I understand life; that's why I hate false propaganda. (Psalm 119: 97-104 The Message)

Some years ago, one of our nephews was getting ready to leave home for college. Nellie and I went to see him and asked if he was going to miss home and home cooking. He laughed and said, "Mom doesn't cook; I thought you knew that!" We acted like we didn't. "Well, I guess I'm going to miss Luby's, Whataburger, El Pato..." and he listed a bunch of fast food places in the area. We laughed. Those of us blessed with home cooking know there is no substitute for such a blessing. I was away from home in college and looked forward to every other weekend when I could return home to enjoy my mother's home cooking. The year I spent in Denver, Colorado, was an experience I will never forget. I had learned how to cook at the age of 9 and having an apartment there in Denver, I was able to improve my skills. But nothing matched what I got at home. I would call and ask Mom for suggestions on recipes, even venturing into making menudo once I found a meat market that would sell me tripe.

Can you imagine anything better than home cooking? David came to love God's law (scriptures) and the connection he got from reading it. Notice again what he lists as the blessings he got from reading it: An edge over his enemies. The law was always fresh and relevant. He even knew he was now smarter than his teachers; such was the time he spent in study and devotion. He believes he had even gotten to the point of knowing more than the wisest sages he had known. It had become a guide for his very steps; and here's the title; he loved that God's word was tasty, preferred even to "best home cooking." With God's word, he understood life.

When was the last time you "tasted and proved" the Lord's word? I mean, that you took time to truly enjoy and devour every word as morsels of nourishment and blessings. Guess what? it's not too late to start again. Pick the Bible up, and let the Bible pick you up!

PRAYER: Loving God, I want what David had; I want the joy, peace, strength, guidance, power, and comfort that he found the more he spent in time with You. Help me to be blessed and to share it with others. In Christ Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show your appreciation to those who teach Bible in your midst.

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

The Parents Ate the Green Apples; the Kids Got the Stomachache.

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27 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. 28 And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord. 29 In those days they shall no longer say: "The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." 30 But all shall die for their own sins; the teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge. 31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the Lord," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:27-34 NRSV)

Happy Thursday, dear Friend! I pray that the weather in the area where you live has been pleasant. We prayed on Tuesday night for rain and most of that night, we got rain. We also got some cooler weather. My prayers are that we all stay safe and that we are aware of the needs of those who have no homes. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves. Find a way to get involved in helping others.

We come to the Weeping Prophet again. As we're in the midst of the month set aside to show our appreciation for our pastors, his words and situations work well to help us all understand some of the pressures and challenges of pastoral ministry. I received this quote from a colleague, written by Frederick Buechner, a noted author and pastor:

"I HEAR YOU ARE entering the ministry," the woman said down the long table, meaning no real harm. "Was it your own idea or were you poorly advised?" And the answer that she could not have heard even if I had given it was that it was not an idea at all, neither my own nor anyone else's. It was a lump in the throat. It was an itching in the feet. It was a stirring in the blood at the sound of rain. It was a sickening of the heart at the sight of misery. It was a clamoring of ghosts. It was a name which, when I wrote it out in a dream, I knew was a name worth dying for even if I was not brave enough to do the dying myself and could not even name the name for sure. Come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you a high and driving peace. I will condemn you to death."

That statement is both powerful and true. It is difficult for most pastors to fully and satisfactorily answer the question of Why we were called into ministry. Those truly called were called by the Author of Life. The call was mysterious as was the road ahead. None that I know had the special privilege that Paul had to have the Lord reveal to us what we were to suffer; we have been surprised, both pleasantly and not so pleasantly. We have seen the absolute best and the worst in people. We have been blessed, and some of us have been cursed, cussed, and discussed. Some of us were even disgusted. Some us even have been in situations like Jeremiah saw and wept over. People doing the most incredible and unexpected things; and all like as if nothing bad or evil had even been done. As the Message version says, and it's today's theme, "parents have eaten the green apples and the kids have gotten the stomachache." The actions of parents leaving consequences for their children; yet the truth follows in the 30th verse, "But all shall die for their own sins." Yet, the coming of the new covenant in the Messiah is written in that passage; God still wants us, and God is willing to pay the ultimate price of losing His only Son for us. And the day is coming, God says through the prophet, "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." The day is coming, God says, when teaching others about God will no longer be necessary because all will know, and all will follow and all will obey. And all will have their sins forgiven.

PRAYER: Gracious God, we long for that day but for now we celebrate Jesus and all He has done. For now we also must continue to teach one another about You and all You do. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Tell someone about God's love for them today! AND show some appreciation for your pastor(s) before this month is up!

Blessings of love and strength,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Keep On Keepin' On!

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14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. 1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5 As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. (2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 NRSV)

May this Wednesday bless you beyond belief! That's my prayer for you, dear Friend! Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.

I may date myself in the title of this devotional, but it's what I thought about when I read the first verse of the veteran believer to the young protegé, Timothy. The phrase has an interesting history if you can believe the Internet; some say the phrase comes from the 1910s as used by the Salvation Army, or comes later like in the 1960s with Bob Dylan and others who changed the closely related "Keep on Truckin'" saying. Paul is telling Timothy to keep the faith going. Paul delights in reminding Timothy of his long history of faith from his mother's side to the point where he is now, and reminds him of the scriptures that helped his faith including the powerful "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work."

Paul's urging for Timothy is also for us: "Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching." And a prophetic word come true so many times since he originally wrote these words, "For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths." Need I say more? Does the church resemble this statement today?

Many say the church is dying because she has failed to relate to the issues of the day; and some churches bring in their so-called prophets to preach a more "acceptable" word and have the results been what was desired? Even in Paul's day, challenges from other theologies and beliefs threatened the established church, thus this letter to Timothy, and to us: Keep on keepin' on with what is true and right and affirming and life-giving - the scriptures that show us what Jesus can do for us. Dust off your Bibles, read 'em and share what you read!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, speak Your word loudly and clearly, for we need it more than ever before. Speak to our hearts and needs; challenge us, correct us and use us. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share a Bible verse with someone at random!

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Persistent Faith!

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1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, "Grant me justice against my opponent.' 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, "Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.' " 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:1-8 NRSV)

The founder of the movement that ultimately became the denomination in which we belong, The Reverend John Wesley, towards the end of his life reflected on the revival that God sent through his efforts in sharing Jesus, wrote, "I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out." It is as though Wesley sensed the people called Methodists would reach a point where complacency and secularity would have a negative impact on our soul. Some say that now, right now, we are a dead sect. We do have the "form of religion," but do we have "the power?" And in an even more serious note, Jesus asks, "When the Son of Man (that's Jesus!) comes, will He find faith on earth?" The Message Version has Jesus posing it as "But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when He returns?"

The passage, dear Friend asks the question about our prayer life. The parable of the persistent widow sets the example for the way we should pray. Jesus sets it in a context that all could identify with; a judge whom people probably thought of judges in their day, did not fear God nor respected people, and were not surprised that he didn't do right by the widow. Until Jesus said, the judge admits that he does not fear God, and did not respect people, but because of her persistence, he would grant to her her request and grant her justice. Jesus then says, "Imagine what God will do for His people "who cry to Him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, He will quickly grant justice to them." Then the question.

Sunday during my sermon in Marble Falls I shared again that when I received the call from the bishop about my being a district superintendent, Nellie and I went to God in prayer to ask what I could needed to do for the good of His kingdom and the first was for the people called Methodists needed to recapture the power of prayer. I still believe and stress that. Real spiritual power comes through the spiritual exercise of praying. We can ask for the power to come again, to truly fill out the form that we have. I truly don't believe God has given up on us, but we are too dangerously close to giving up on God. We should not take anything for granted. We need God more now than any other time in history. But God is still as close to us as ever. We have to but ask, and God will grant those things that we need to do God's work.

PRAYER: Loving God, as we pray, we pray for our prayer lives. We don't want to be stale and certainly not dead in our spirits. We have to ask for new life in our prayers, new power in our witness, and new light as we share. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Pray today like never before!

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Jesus is The Bread of Life!

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25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." 30 So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' " 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." 35 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 6:25-35 NRSV)

A marvelous Monday be yours, dear Friend, and for those whom you love. I trust your weekend was a refreshing and renewing one. As we pray this day, please lift up Mrs. Elisa Gaytan, of Edinburg, wife of The Rev. Francisco Gaytan, who will undergo knee surgery today. Pray all goes well. Please pray for Iona Walden, wife of The Rev. Clay Walden of Marble Falls, whose baby Adena, is due any day now! The Waldens are excitedly nervous about the arrival of their first baby! We ask continued prayers for Sammie Gibson as he recovers from outpatient surgery at home in Gonzales. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.

A young man with a son was at the head of a long line at the Dollar Tree in Marble Falls on Saturday. His son wanted a soft drink and had a Pepsi in his hands. I don't know what else the boy had, but the father's total for the purchase was $3.25. I believe the child had candy. The clerk working the register had a very slow internet connection and the machine was not reading the man's card. The clerk called for the manager to come and help. The man said he had already swiped his card twice and was reluctant to swipe it again. The manager asked if it was a food stamps card? The man shyly said yes. He then started to leave the store. "You haven't paid your bill yet!" The manager said, "Your card only has twenty-five cents on it." The man was getting impatient and angry. "I've already swiped it twice, and I'm nervous about it being swiped too many times. I'm going to check this as soon as I get home. The woman behind the man graciously offered to pay the three dollars. The man angrily said, "I've already paid it! How can they be charging me?" As the line grew longer, the man grew more nervous and irate. Finally, the manager said, "Go on. We'll take care of it." The man just walked out. A woman behind me yelled angrily, because the man left by sharing some bad words, "You should be grateful!" I knew the tone and it was about not having anything with which to buy food for his son. It's a helpless feeling no one wants to feel.

The people who wanted to see Jesus knew that feeling and perhaps more, because they themselves may have been hungry and had been present at the miraculous feeding of the multitudes. Free food, even if it's just loaves and fishes, works to cure hunger. And it would motivate more than one to seek out the man who can provide that; and that is what Jesus knew about this crowd. And it is not that Jesus didn't want to feed the crowd, He wanted to stress that they, and us, should work "for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." The crowd declares they will do whatever it takes to get this bread. Jesus replies the only thing they need to do is to believe in Him. Belief, they believe, would require yet another miracle or act on the part of Jesus, referring to the manna in the wilderness that the Jews ate while in the wilderness. Jesus responds with the truth, that it was not Moses that provided that bread, it was God, and further, that "the bread of God is that which comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world." This got their attention and they ask for Jesus to give them this "bread always." Jesus makes one of His "I am" declarations, as He 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."

These men and women were on the ground floor of some incredible revelations that no one had heard before, that God provides the bread of life that satisfies for all eternity. The hunger that so many people suffer and can't seem to satisfy with earthly bread or anything else that humans seem to try. Jesus is inviting people to go beyond the everyday realm of the physical to the supernatural realm; the only realm that truly satisfies for all things eternal. It us completely up to us to decide whether to believe or not. And whether we will serve God or not.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me take steps towards You and away from the mundane. Grant to my soul the bread that fully satisfies. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show others the satisfaction that is yours through Jesus Christ!

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Applause for God!

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1 All together now - applause for God! 2 Sing songs to the tune of his glory, set glory to the rhythms of his praise. 3 Say of God, "We've never seen anything like him!" When your enemies see you in action, they slink off like scolded dogs. 4 The whole earth falls to its knees - it worships you, sings to you, can't stop enjoying your name and fame. 5 Take a good look at God's wonders - they'll take your breath away. 6 He converted sea to dry land; travelers crossed the river on foot. Now isn't that cause for a song? 7 Ever sovereign in his high tower, he keeps his eye on the godless nations. Rebels don't dare raise a finger against him. 8 Bless our God, O peoples! Give him a thunderous welcome! 9 Didn't he set us on the road to life? Didn't he keep us out of the ditch? 10 He trained us first, passed us like silver through refining fires, 11 Brought us into hardscrabble country, pushed us to our very limit, 12 Road-tested us inside and out, took us to hell and back; Finally he brought us to this well-watered place. (Psalm 66:1-12 The Message)

A tremendous and terrific Thursday be yours as you study the scripture for today, spend time in prayer, and think about how God is speaking to you. I urge you pray for one another and pray for yourselves. Whatever your needs, worries, etc., turn them over to God.

Do you ever stop to think about what we humans do from time to time? As humans we sometimes "put our hands together" as some emcees ask, meaning we clap either for someone or for something. When was the last time you clapped for something God has done for you? Why, Reverend, I'm a Methodist and we Methodists are experts in restraint! (onlly a joke dear friends!). And I believe some years ago I shared how the Dean of a seminary lectured a congregation on why we shouldn't applaud during worship after someone sings a song; looks from the congregations showed some agreed, some did not. Take the same group and put them in a stadium on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon?! There will be applause. And screaming. And yelling. And cheering! What about in our churches? Honestly, nothing can ever stop us from applauding in our hearts for the things that God does for us. The psalm for today shows a psalmist who knows the good that God has done. And something else that no one can stop is the way we can sing our praises to God. God is unmatched in His goodness for and to us, and our tongues should employ for praising the works of God.

God is on your side. In the game of life, God is on your team; and guess Who wins? The psalmist describes God's enemies as "scolded dogs," and the entire earth falling to its knees; all have joined together to worship God, sing God's praises, and enjoying God's name and fame. And then a recap of all God has and is doing. The trip may be long and dusty, but it ends well.

I'd say clap for God!

PRAYER: LORD, let me not hold back from applauding all you have done for me. Guide me to sincere, unrestrained praising of Your name! Help me to share that hope with others. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Bless God in all you do today! Show some applause.

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Thank you for blessing this ministry with your prayers and your forwards of each devotion to others. Your support at paypal.me/eradiovalverde also blesses this work!

Making the Most of the Now

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1 These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 NRSV)

May this Wednesday be a wonderful day for you, dear Friend, and for your yours; loved ones, friends, neighbors, and community.

Have you ever found yourself in a place that you maybe didn't ask to be in? What did you do? In this passage, I will concentrate on the last verse of the passage for it spoke to my heart. "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." The reality was that the prophet knew the loneliness and the pressures of being a prisoner of war, captive from Judah in Babylon. The word comes as a form of hope even in the midst of where these prisoners found themselves. And to have God say to seek the wellbeing of the city in which you found yourselves, and in the wellbeing you will find wellbeing for yourself.

Just tonight Nellie read to me a very sad passage from a pastor in another state who confessed that being a pastor is one of the loneliest jobs you can have. And he asked if there were other pastors who resonated with that to contact him on social media, where the post came from. It made me sad because he's right; sometimes serving God in a town or city you didn't ask to be sent to can be a bit daunting. Of course I am blessed in that I married before I got my first church and so I had a loving, understanding wife that I could go home to and share with her my day and the challenges of the day. I know there are some not so blessed. I would pray that what God told Jeremiah would bless the pastor who posted of his loneliness and others who may feel a bit alone or out of place, for the sooner we connect with our "Babylon" the sooner we can truly engage the work of Jesus and the blessings will flow. It's a matter of choice. And a matter of attitude. Last week we read of these captives sitting by the rivers of Babylon and being asked to sing their songs, and their attitude of sadness and defeat prevented them from singing. Then God stepped in with the prophetic word of hope coming from actions that sadness had prevented from taking place. "Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease." What a list! Nothing says I am glad to be here than to build a house and live in it. That shows the putting down of roots. The planting of gardens also is a sign of not only stability but contentment as well. And to start a family also says a lot of permanence. As goes the family, so goes the community; a blessed family blesses the community. And to bring it to today, a blessed pastor blesses the church and the work of God.

Friend, if you're feeling down about where you find yourself today, the first thing you must tell yourself is that it's not over yet. You believe in God, trust in Him as well. If anyone knows your heart and your situation, it is God. Share with Him your heart, your doubts and your pain. No one will better understand than Him. Pray in a listening mode. Share but listen too. God will lift your heart. And if you're truly serious about bettering your situation and your place, just ask God to bless you to be a blessing. And please know you're never alone. God will richly bless you.

PRAYER: Awesome God bless this dear reader. You better than anyone know his/her needs, fears, pains, and doubt. Be at work on him/her even now, and may Your will be done. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Make the most of now in a way that blesses someone.

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

The Gospel of Paul!

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8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 14 Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2: 8-15 NRSV)

A Happy Tuesday to you dear Friend. I pray this finds you and yours doing well. I should mention if you have any prayer requests, please share those with me by replying to this email. I encourage you all to pray for one another and for yourselves. I also recommend you listen to my latest podcast on pimples and wrinkles on "Set Apart-The Gospel of Paul," for in it I begin to discuss how Paul understood the gospel of Jesus Christ to be about. In today's passage we will see reference to that as Paul shares in verse 8; Paul understood the gospel to be Jesus' resurrection; the new and radical idea that death was not the end and that Jesus offers new life to all who believe. It was like being on the ground floor of something the world had never seen before. Imagine having stock in Coca-Cola when it was first offered? Or Apple or Ford? Paul was on the ground floor of the world hearing that death was not the end and that Jesus had defeated death. And further Paul says that Jesus is a son of David, and he preached this to any who would hear him and in the process angered a lot of people and as he wrote these words he was in jail, "even to the point of being chained like a criminal." But he's urging his spiritual son Timothy, to know the gospel cannot be chained, and he, like Paul, should endure anything and everything that may come against him (and us), so that more could continue to be be saved. Paul stresses our faith: "If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him." Our enduring with Him will result in our reigning with Him; but if we deny Him, He will also deny us. Even if we are faithless, Christ will remain faithful. And in all things, present yourselves as persons approved by Jesus, workers who have no need to be ashamed, living in a way that shares the truth of God's love.

Paul knew the things of earth are temporary, and the things of God are eternal. The things of the world may bring some glorious temporary things, great feelings and experiences, but soon the truth wins out and those things fade, sometimes with the damage already having been made. The things of God on the other hand sometimes go way further than we expect or believe we can endure. Paul's life was an example of what someone could suffer for the sake of Christ. Yet, he was willing and we know he was victorious. Paul knew the harvest was ready and was willing to work as hard as he could to win as many souls as he could.

What about us? What are we willing to do? Are we aware of the challenges that we face and what will happen to so many if we don't reach out? An old illustration that you may have heard before that serves as a challenge is the story of a community that had a beautiful, but strong, river running through it. One day a villager spotted a baby drowning as it floated by. The villager jumped in and rescued the baby. Many gathered to see the baby and to thank the villager for his courage in risking his own life for saving this baby. The next day another baby floated by, and this time another villager jumped in to save the child. Again, the community gathered to see the baby and congratulate the rescuer. The next day two babies were in the river, and again the community responded to the need. But now, the question was asked, what can we do about this problem? Where are the babies coming from? What is causing them to fall into the river? What can we do about each once we have them? Do we raise them or seek a way to return them? Soon the community was split. Some wanted to build a permanent baby rescue station by the river with the appropriate life-saving apparatus so that not one baby would be lost to drowning. Others said that the real need was a training center for those who didn't know how to swim and properly rescue the baby. And another group wanted to create a proper celebratory committee to plan each rescue. And yet another group wanted to form a search committee to go and find out where the babies were coming from and seeking a way to truly respond to the need.

The modern church is kinda like that. We have a basic responsibility of saving souls. We have the need to disciple the new converts, as well have in place a continually training system of small groups, Sunday school, after school activities, etc. All working together towards the same goal. At the leadership are those, who like Paul, preach, witness, evangelize, and make disciples. Alongside the leaders are those called by God as baptized believers to also witness and share Jesus. We have many openings, all leading to our meeting the need of bringing in new disciples. Where will you plug in?

PRAYER: Lord, the good news is new each time we share it. Grant to us the courage and boldness of sharing it with those who have not yet heard. Let us not be blind to the need, or lulled into complacency of our having done enough. Be glorified in us is our prayer. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be the joyous hands and smiles of Jesus!

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

To listen to the podcast on Set Apart - The Gospel of Paul to to click here pimplesandwrinkles.org, then under Media section find podcast and listen. Share it with others after you hear it.

An Attitude of Gratitude

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11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:11-19 NRSV)

A most marvelous of Mondays be yours dear Friend, blessings upon blessings be yours and for your loved ones. I pray your weekend was a restful one. We enjoyed a great worship service and then the last day of the annual Come and Take It Festival in Gonzales. As we spend time in devotion, I pray God speak to our hearts and needs. Pray for one another, and pray for yourselves.

I love the passage for today and many of you will recognize it as one from Thanksgiving Day. I'm old enough to remember the day when churches held actual Thanksgiving Day worship services and they were well attended. It made sense to give thanks to God in God's house, but it was difficult for those of us who wanted to spend time with families in far away places. It did help us develop our own traditions. But, because this verse was so well known, I had members who knew that this one was the one recommended for that day. I will also never forget getting a note from a lady who said, "Momma doesn't want you to preach on this passage because leprosy makes her nauseous and she'll have difficulty eating afterwards." It made me chuckle because this note gets sent to me minutes after worship had already started. And yes, from the same church where I learned of "this verse isn't uplifting!"

Leprosy was more common during the days of Jesus and was considred a very highly contagious disease. It was such a serious disease that those who contracted it were sent to live away from the living and among the dead, near the tombs and graves of the dead. To have leprosy was a death sentence, for one would live there with hopes that the illness would leave or they would die with it. So, on this day, in the region between Samaria and Galilee, on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus travels near ten lepers. These lepers somehow came to know about Jesus and His ability to heal others. Their cry is "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" They knew Jesus would understand and might act on their request. Jesus does not approach them, and they keep their distance from Him according to the law. Jesus says to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." I have always been amazed that these men trusted Jesus enough to take the first steps away from death and towards life. They believed enough to take Jesus at His word and made their way to the only ones who could declare them clean and well enough to live among the living once again. I believe it was their faith in turning towards the place where the priests were that made possible their healing. They notice this as they walk towards the priests. And the thing that hurts to read is that only one of the ten, when he realized he was indeed healed, that at long last his prayers and hopes had been answered, turned back towards Jesus and begins to praise God with a loud voice. He then throws himself at Jesus' feet and thanks Him. And Luke mentions that he is a Samaritan. Again, from the people you would not expect gratitude or any kind thing. Jesus does have to ask, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?" And the tougher question, "Were none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Jesus knew the other nine were Jews just like him. And their attitude of gratitude was non-existent; a personal letdown, that His people had not cared enough to turn back to thank Him or even to praise God. Jesus then says to the man who did return to thank Him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

The other nine were healed physically. The marks and tell-tale signs of the dreaded disease were gone. The reality may be that inside they were still as sin-sick as ever. They would rejoin society, but would not be as joyful and free as that one grateful man. His attitude of gratitude connected him with the living God. He came to see that in God, through Jesus, there was power to heal and to make well. And beyond that, he realized that there was a relationship he needed to start with that living God so that whatever days he had left on this earth would be truly abundant days as Jesus had taught in John 10:10.

The "un-lifting" verses we have studied in the past couple of weeks come from the hearts of men like the nine. They were made physically well, but spiritually they were still in darkness, walking around with no meaning or purpose in their lives. We don't know for certain what became of these nine, I would hope they would later come to see Jesus for Who He truly was, and may have come to faith. We do know that the one foreigner, from a people known for being alienated from God, was now a person in relationship with the Son of Man, and never to turn back.

It begs us to ask the question where we are? Are we truly people with an attitude of gratitude towards God, or do we have a sense of entitlement? There are times when we do tend to take things for granted, or worse, we're blind to the things that God has shared with us. Last Sunday when I preached at the Presbyterian Church I did what I always do, ask by side of the church the joys and concerns. And as happens with a shy side, I say, "Okay, Lord, You know which side You have to bless this week," when I really want to say, "Lord, you know we take things for granted and don't see the multitude of blessings that have come our way. Forgive us!"

I pray we know to walk towards life with joy and gratitude in our hearts trusting that every step draws us nearer to the One who brings us abundant life and away from the things that take away life.

PRAYER: Loving God, we know that all things come from You and we should never forget that. Grant to us an attitude of gratitude as we receive and as we give. Bless us with the fullness of life and love, so that we can share it with others. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Speak a kind word of hope to someone today.

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

paypal.me/eradiovalverde

Putting our Faith to Work!

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1 By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our harps. 3 For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" 4 How could we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither! 6 Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy. 7 Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem's fall, how they said, "Tear it down! Tear it down! Down to its foundations!" 8 O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! 9 Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock! (Psalm 137 NRSV)

Just yesterday we shared how not all of the verses in the Bible are of the uplifting kind. And this one is quite a sad one. It is a song of lament from those at the height of their misery. They chose to stray from the Lord and now they're prisoners of war in a foreign land and on this day they are remembering their old home. Instead of being by the Jordan River, they are by the rivers of Babylon, and as they remember their home they are weeping and singing lamentations of what once was. Their captors ask them to sing their songs from back home (Zion), and their response was, of course, "We can't sing the Lord's song in a foreign country." They also begin to verbally swear what they would do if they ever forget their homeland. And then, prayers asking for retaliation against their captors, including the last verses which are painful to even share; "Happy shall they (their captors' conquerors) be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock." Ouch.

Here's the way I understand this. An active faith, one that seeks to serve God and be in relationship with Him is a faith that rarely leads us away from God. All of the texts for this week speak of that faith that blesses. A faith that does not bless is a faith that harms the person with that weak or absent faith. Our desire is to use our faith right now, and right where we are. I also understand that we might not ever find ourselves in enemy territory and I pray that is true for us and our children, but we may find ourselves in an ICU or NeoNatal ICU or a cancer ward, with the sickness being a formidable enemy that seeks to destroy and kill us in its own way. Our cries may be for the radiation or the chemo to be that which will smash the cancer's, or heart disease's babies against the rocks; and we will be able to understand the fight as being real. And our faith calls on the God Who heals, who can destroy and remove the unseen enemies of illness and even despair. And our faith never gives up.

PRAYER: Loving God, bring whatever this dear reader is needing right now. I pray that grace and compassion would shower his or her soul with grace, while healing balms and peace strengthen them and their loved ones who are facing illness or times in the hospital. We want to glorify You in all that we say, think, and do, and we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a bearer of Good News today.

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

This Verse Doesn't Uplift!

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1 Oh, oh, oh . . . How empty the city, once teeming with people. A widow, this city, once in the front rank of nations, once queen of the ball, she's now a drudge in the kitchen. 2 She cries herself to sleep each night, tears soaking her pillow. No one's left among her lovers to sit and hold her hand. Her friends have all dumped her. 3 After years of pain and hard labor, Judah has gone into exile. She camps out among the nations, never feels at home. Hunted by all, she's stuck between a rock and a hard place. 4 Zion's roads weep, empty of pilgrims headed to the feasts. All her city gates are deserted, her priests in despair. Her virgins are sad. How bitter her fate. 5 Her enemies have become her masters. Her foes are living it up because God laid her low, punishing her repeated rebellions. Her children, prisoners of the enemy, trudge into exile. 6 All beauty has drained from Daughter Zion's face. Her princes are like deer famished for food, chased to exhaustion by hunters. (Lamentations 1:1-6 The Message Bible)

May the start of this wonderful Wednesday begin in your spirit and spread to all corners of your life! Any day started in Christ Jesus and through His holy word brings a spark of life to one who seeks it! May you personally be blessed, dear Friend!

It was on Sunday morning as we dressed for church that my wife remembered a particular Sunday years ago, when a student worker at our church saw the text for that morning, read it, and told Nellie, "This verse doesn't uplift! I come to church to be uplifted!" Nellie smiled and said that not all verses in the Bible nor sermons preached in most churches were meant to be uplifting. As we talked about it I said there were some preachers and church members that would, if they could, like Thomas Jefferson, edit the Bible according to their likes and dislikes. I repeat to you, dear reader, the Bible is an honest book about honest and dishonest people, and every single one of the persons in the Bible is human and as such, imperfect. The message in the Bible is also an honest love message from God that can lift as well as set straight each heart. This entire book of Lamentations has been the subject of much discussion and many have asked, why is it even in here? Again, honesty requires telling; and this is about the unfaithful people of God. Judah and Israel as nations found it easy to wander off the path and away from God. Like children whose parents leave the door open will walk out and towards whatever is attractive. It's as if the music from the ice cream truck on that particular day is especially loud and Momma left her purse within the child's reach. Money in hand, music in the ears, and the door wide open is a formula for failure. And the people of God easily found it to stray.

So do we. Yet, this passage does not close the Bible. This is found early in the story, and further reading of the pages that follow it will tell the glorious story of God's love and God's open door policy for His children. Please re-read the story of the Prodigal Son and insert your name or the name of Judah or Israel in it; better yet, the name of Eradio Valverde, and your have an honest biblical story. The story ends way better than it started. As will our lives. God is still busy writing out your story, and every drop of ink is really the blood of Jesus mapping out our lives in the way that God would love to see it go. If we are unhappy we are seeing too much red ink on a certain page, remember the story is not yet over! God is still writing. Hint: Peace, patience, and God's pace make for a better story.

PRAYER: Loving God, as You continue to write out our story, grant us Your peace. Guide us away from panic and onto the pages where you have shared patience. As as Your patience blesses us, grant to us the strength to walk forward in Your pace. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Help someone realize their story is not even halfway done today!

Blessings of love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

paypal.me/eradiovalverde

Rekindle the Flame!

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1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, 12 and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. 13 Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.(2 Timothy 1:1-14 NRSV)

May this find you enjoying a tremendous Tuesday, dear Friend! May you and yours be enjoying God's rich and wonderful blessings today is my prayer.

I love having fireplaces in the homes in which I live. We haven't had many but the ones which had them were special. We couldn't wait for the first cold spell to hit our area so that we could start a nice fire to keep us warm and entertained. There are many purposes to fire besides warmth and entertainment. And there are other uses of the word fire, one of which applies to the spiritual realm. The symbol of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was the falling of flames upon all the disciples. We also say or hear, "he's on fire for the Lord!" And that is what Paul is referring to here. The letter is addressed to Timothy, whom Paul saw as his son in faith and ministry. Their friendship and love was genuine and Timothy cried at Paul's last departure from his visit. Timothy is the son and grandson of early Christian believers; and.a product of their faith. Paul gently and lovingly encourages him to "rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands." The question becomes how do we rekindle our faith or gift? It begins with our praying more, worshiping more, studying and reading the Bible more, interacting with Christian friends; asking God to fan the flames again in our spirits. Sunday, I had the privilege of preaching at First Presbyterian. I preached on last Monday's gospel text on the Rich Man and Lazarus, and I stressed the reality of the separation that occurs to those who die alienated from God. I offered Christ as the One who can save us and make us right with God. After the service, a gentleman with a walker, perhaps the oldest gentleman in worship, came twice to thank me, both time with tears in his eyes. I believe God allowed me to connect with him on a heart-to-heart level.

Paul stresses power in the seventh verse; "God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and love and of self-discipline." It may have been that Timmy reached a point of shyness or timidity, and was not doing as Paul and his mom and grandmother had taught him. Paul says to Timmy, and to us, "Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purposes and grace." And Paul then reminds Timmy of his own calling and work.

Paul was an awesome mentor in the faith. I have had some awesome mentors in the faith, and I thank God that I married one! This afternoon I was telling Nellie how I sometimes wake up with a song in my head and after devotional time I go and play it. She says, "I love it when God gives me a Bible verse when I wake up." Gulp. I thank the Lord, my wife is a saint and prays for me. I wanted to hear "Rag Doll," and Nellie wanted. a Bible verse for her morning blessing. That kind of conversation blesses me! What about you? Who are your mentors? How can they help you rekindle the flame of your life?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, for the faith we have, we give You thanks. For the ones who have mentored us in faith we are also thankful. That is our prayer, Loving Father, bless us in ways that we can mentor others, and help us make time with our mentors to rekindle the flames. Make our faith stronger! In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a mentor for someone today!

Blessings of love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde