David, the King with God's Heart

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Hmm, is that a different voice narrating today? https://bit.ly/3Af9VIf

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, "Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, 'You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.' " 3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. 9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. 10 So David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him. (2 Kings 5:1-5, 9-10 New King James Version of the Bible)

Happy Wednesday, ConCafe Family! May this find you renewing daily in your faith and in your walk with the Lord, dear Friend, is my prayer.

Let's talk politics. Yes sir or yes, ma'am, who today would not welcome such an introduction at breakfast? Did I say it was 2021 politics? Nope. I won't go there today. Or tomorrow. But let's talk politics back in David's day, This would have been between the years 1035-970 BC. Now, I won't say politics then were any better than they are now; we're talking Saul hating David, and David humbly running for his life. And during those times unrest was common, and tribes outside the 12 of Judah and Israel, could come and attack at any moment and here the tribes of Israel come to David at Hebron and make a declaration to David; "You are related to us. You really were ruling over Israel when Saul should have been; and God said you should be the shepherd over Israel and the ruler of Israel; so whatcha say you become our king? And David agreed. The people at Hebron then anointed David king of Israel; thus uniting the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Now, my interpretation of the Star of David is that the two triangles, to me, represent the Northern and Southern Kingdoms coming together and forming that star (see today's picture), for that is what happened in this passage. David united the two and from Jerusalem ruled over them, making them a world power in those days in all senses of the word. Under David, spiritually and religiously, they enjoyed great strides; beginning the foundation needed for a house for God which would become the temple, that David's son, Solomon, would build. Politically, they were a major world power, and closely tied to that, militarily they were a force to be reckoned with; and in commerce, giants that controlled much of that part of the world. The last verse of this passage sums that up; "So David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him."

Interesting. Compare the reception of the home boy by his people at Hebron, to Jesus' reception from the gospel reading for this week. Remember one of them, hint: It wasn't David! said, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown." The reception for Jesus was ice cold and the people basically turned their backs on Him, thus limiting what they could and would receive from Him because of their lack of faith. The people of Israel at Hebron celebrate David and desire him to lead them and anoint him as their new king. The people of Jesus' hometown remind us of the crowds in Jerusalem on Thursday night and Friday of Holy Week. Not to mention they were truly "thorns in the flesh! God was with both of these servants; yet God's Son would suffer pain and agony and ultimately death because of their hard hearts. Israel and Judah would go on to achieve great earthly things during David's and Solomon's reigns; but compare Israel with Jesus. Jesus would go on to save the world from their sins (A much better accomplishment but people still to this day have not yet seen Jesus for Who He truly is and what He can truly do). I urge us not to be in that camp! God already has a bunch more thorns than He truly needs or wants!

Simply defined, politics are the interactions between two or more people in a setting that allows one or a majority of those gathered together to make decisions. Take for instance, three coworkers going to lunch. Where they end up eating will have been the result of politics. One prefers a place, the other dislikes that place; some discussion and then an agreement or compromise, I.e. "we'll eat there this time; next time we'll go to your place." Jesus said He would be present where two or more gathered in His name, meaning if He were invited and listened to; and the same holds true even today. If we don't invite the Lord to be with and among us, there is no telling what will be the result of our time together. Other factors that could easily fracture or divide the group need to be taken into account and dealt with, or the next meal will see two different groups going to two different places to eat. The unification at Hebron was the result of having God present and involved; the lack of miracles at Jesus' hometown was the result of people not caring that God's Son was there among them. The same happens in our lives; if we pray and invite God to come with us, great things happen. If we decide to go it on our own, well, anything can happen; our openness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit can lead us to wonderful blessings and gains for God's kingdom. It's our choice!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, speak to our souls and remind us of Your great love and peace. Bring unity to where we find ourselves fighting and bickering about things that ultimately don't matter. Bring to us Your peace and wisdom to better serve You and bless You; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be the unifier in your group; invite Jesus to be there!

Receive my blessings of peace and joy,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Thorn in the Flesh

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Sometimes there's more to listening than reading: https://bit.ly/3jofRbT

2 I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. 3 And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. 5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6 But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7 even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:2-10 NRSV)

A blessed Tuesday be yours, dear ConCafe Family! And may the joys of following and serving God bless your life and purpose, dear Reader, that's my prayer for you. I share good news about Mr. Eloy Rodriguez, who successfully underwent a hip replacement surgery on Monday. At 6:00 pm he was out of surgery and the doctors were pleased with the outcome. Please pray for his recovery and also for Carmen, as she tends to him. Thank you for taking time to pray for our brother! I also ask prayers for the pastor of my brother's church in Florida; his pastor and the pastor's wife both have contracted Covid-19, and both were vaccinated. Pray for their healing, and please heed the warning that the virus is still out there, and the variants of this disease can still infect the vaccinated. The pastor is Rev. Kevin Griffin. Please pray for your needs, for those of your neighbor, and for the needs of those close, and far, to you!

Heaven will hold a lot of answers, as Paul himself said, "For now we see in a mirror dimlly, but then face-to-face. Now I know in part; but then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood." (1 Cor 13:8) But, for now, the list we may have of things of which we hope to fully understand, grows. Among them, this passage! Paul writes of marvelous things, but the sort we cannot fully understand. Let's begin with "I know a person in Christ," many scholars have wondered just who he may have been referring to; and some scholars believe he is referring indeed to himself. And, he also says that this person "was caught up to the third heaven." Are there levels to heaven? Again, differing views about that too; with the most common agreement is that it is a reference only to the bliss that this man felt at being caught up in a supernatural experience where he "heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat;" meaning the sacredness of these things are just too holy to even be spoken. And this loftiness, while it has blessed him, also reminded him of his own weaknesses and realities. The loftiness of this experience also reminded him that he suffered a "thorn in the flesh" as a way to keep him grounded, and he blames Satan for using this as a way to torture him. The debates through the ages among scholars and theologians rage on as to what this thorn in the flesh really was. One say, it was a speech impediment which kept him from being a truly awesome orator. Other say it was a physical alilment that plagued his life. with epilepsy being the most suspected. Some references in the scripture indicate he had some facial motor challenges. And some even believe it was the constant challenge from his fellow Jews that served as his thorn in the flesh. Interesting to note, that this personally-selected servant of God, prayed three times to the Lord asking that he be freed of this thorn, but God answered, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." This says that everyone suffers, even the faithful, and even those they be faithful they can pray and still not get what they want but as God said, it is not because God is not with them, but that His grace is sufficient for us to see our way through whatever it may be that is our "thorn in the flesh." And it is not a sign of weakness, for God's power will still be dwelling in us. And as Paul declared, so can we, "Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." That is faith.

You and I have known, thank God, people just like that; and many of us strive to be that person, amen? These were humble, sincere, though giants of faith, who even facing dire challenges, still smiled, prayed, worshipped and thanked God for everything. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in them made life even positive and worth living while many others would have said quite the opposite. The only difference between them and many of us, is their walk with Jesus. They have learned the battles, the insults, the setacks, all attacks from the enemy, they're nothing compared to the power and victory that is theirs from the power and presence of our Lord in their lives. Paul himself wrote that these present sufferings are nothing compared to the coming glory which will be revealed to us." Some of these were in nursing homes, in simple homes, some in severe poverty, but all blessed and joyous in their faith and life. All had fufilled a dream shared with them by God for their lives, and by so doing blessed me, and many have blessed you. And speaking of dreams, I read a quote from Mark Wahlberg who said "God never give you a dream that matches your budget. He's not checking your bank account, he's checking your faith." May we have the faith to match the dream, and live and work as guided by Him to fulfill that dream; and share it with others.

PRAYERS: Awesome God, bless this dear reader in her/his life and all that they may be facing; grant to them a stronger faith and a willing spirit to go forward towards that which You have placed as the plan and purpose for their lives. May You be glorified as they seek to live out Your dream for them; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Help someone dream a dream of faith today!

Receive my blessings of joy and strength,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

http://teespring.com/go-and-be

Jesus at Home

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Listen to the devotional by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2SwfoJL

1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (Mark 6:1-13 NIV)

Happy Monday, ConCafe Family! With it we pray God shower you, dear Friend, with blessings undeserved and unexpected! Please keep Mr. Eloy Rodriguez as he undergoes hip replacement surgery in the Valley. He goes in at 12 noon and exact time of surgery is not known. Please pray for his lovely wife, Carmen, as well. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.

Home. It can, and should be, a faith-staging area where the basics of our faith is imparted to our children; prayer, worship, study, caring, love, compassion, hospitality. It is also where we are molded, shaped, and formed for life; whether we will be contributing members of society, or those who simply seek to receive. It can also be a place where famiiarity may breed contempt, or jealousy. Siblings can be treasures, helpers, supporters, and companions; or the exact opposite of each. One can look forward to coming home or will look for excuses not to. I was always told by my parents when I left for college that I could always come home. And I did, every other weekend, when I wasn't working in the school's cafeteria, I would catch a ride with someone from Houston and there like Gulfgate Mall, my parents would be waiting for me, and I'd spend the weekend and on Sunday ride back with the same friend to college. I was shocked when a classmate asked why I went home so often. The question shocked me and then said that when they called, they were told not to come home until Thanksgiving. What we read in today's passage is Jesus returning home with His disciples and on the Sabbath He was able to teach in the hometown synagogue. The Message version says, "He was a hit." The people listening to him were amazed at His ability to convey the precepts behind the Law and Torah. "Where did this man get these things?" They also asked, "What's the wisdom that has been given Him? What are these remarkable miracles He is performing?" And then the inevitable, "Isn't this the carpenter? The son of Mary and the brother to James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren't His sisters here with us?" And that's when the hometown things kicked in; namely suspicion and jealousy. Aren't you from this familly? Weren't you of this type of work, a laborer, a carpenter? And you're the brother to, and your sisters are; And yet, you dare stand in that pulpit and preach the word of God? (Or in the Jewish sense, stand while reading from the scroll, and then sit in the Moses seat while preaching). This prompts Jesus to say that "A prophet is not without honor except in His own town, among His relatives and in His own home." For many, those are true words. What the words reveal was the reality of their spiritual weakness. They were not receptive to Jesus' presence, so they would not be receptive to His message. The fact He could not do any miracles there was not that He was without spiritual power; He knew they would serve no true purpose other than perhaps amaze or dazzle a few; it did not prevent Him from helping those who were in need of healing. And to make matters worse in the faith department, Jesus became aware of the lack of faith in that area.

The discovery of a faith shortage drives Jesus to visit each village and preach there, and to commission the Twelve to go and do major ministry. Jesus gave them authority to drive out evil spirits, and the main theme of His ministry, to call people to repent. His instructions stresses the urgency to do this; they were travel lightly, but with faith. They were to take no bread, no bag with which to carry anything, nor to take money; this was a faith mission in which they were to trust God and know that God would provide. The sandals they were wearing would be sufficient, and no extra shirt would be necessary. They were to stay in homes where they were welcome; and if any town did not welcome them, they were to leave and to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them. The mission was a success; the Twelve preached the kingdom of God, called people to repentance, they drove out demons, and healed many people with anointing of oil and prayer.

I've often wondered what sort of home life the Twelve had before they were called into ministry with Jesus. I highly doubt that they even dreamed they would be where they found themselves; common down-to-earth people doing supernatural things in the name of the living God, working alongside the Son of God. And if we could take a survey of fhose who seek to serve God now, we might find simillar situations. In my case, I wanted very much to follow in my father's footsteps, hoping to become a milkman with a milk route. The reality was the creamery closed and my father no longer worked there and for a time, anywhere; but his move to Houston I believed opened many doors that would not have otherwise opened for me and for my family; but I never would have dreamed I would stand in front of people, on behalf of God, and speak God's word to people. But God is an awesome God, with awesome power to change, transform and re-make us to do precisely what He would have us do. Think hard about your call, and your walk with God. Your baptism was that which prepared you to follow and imitate Christ, and you defintely have a plan and purpose which to complete on earth; where do you find yourself on that path?

PRAYER: Loving Father, we thank You for Your having done all You have for us. Remind us of that call to purpose You have placed in our lives, along with love, compassion, and drive, so that we may move close to honor and glorify You. Help us in our weakness or doubt to allow You to remake, remold, and deploy us to the places where we can faithfully serve You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Seek your purpose and fulfill it!

Receive my blessings of peace and purpose,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

PS It's been some time since ConCafe has offered a t-shirt; the new one is black with white lettering that says GO AND BE, as a response to the challenge found in the gospels that say, "COME AND SEE." What better response than for us to GO AND BE? The back side says, "You shall be my witnesses in all the earth," from Acts 1:8. To view and order this click here: http://teespring.com/go-and-be. Your purchases bless the ministry of ConCafe both as a worldwide podcast and an email devotional.

Friday Faith Feeding

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Dear Friend,

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is to make time to pray for them and their needs. If we listen closely, we will know just what we should pray for! Make someone happy by showing the care you have in praying for them! Blessings, Pastor Eradio

Say a Prayer

I was taking my usual morning walk when a garbage truck pulled up beside me. I thought the driver was going to ask for directions. Instead, he showed me a picture of a cute little five-year-old boy. "This is my grandson, Jeremiah," he said. "He's on a life-support system at a Phoenix hospital." Thinking he would next ask for a contribution to his hospital bills, I reached for my wallet. But he wanted something more than money. He said, "I'm asking everybody I can to say a prayer for him. Would you say one for him, please?" I did. And my problems didn't seem like much that day.

By Bob Westenberg

Pennies......'In God We Trust'

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story.. Gives you something to think about. Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend.. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.

He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts.

Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this? 'Look at it.' He said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words ' United States of America '..

No, not that; read further.'

'One cent?'

'No, keep reading.' 'In God we Trust?' 'Yes!'

'And?'

'And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him.

For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me , God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change.

I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful!

And, God is patient...

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:

1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given That's the whole gospel message simply stated

"Religious Holidays"

An atheist complained to a friend, "Christians have their special holidays, such as Christmas and Easter; and Jews celebrate their holidays, such as Passover and Yom Kippur; Muslims have their holidays. EVERY religion has its holidays. But we atheists," he said, "have no recognized national holidays. It's an unfair discrimination." His friend replied, "Well... Why don't you celebrate April first?"

~~author Unknown~~

Wait on the Lord!

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Listen to the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3zSswcW

1 A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to thee, O LORD! 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! 3 If thou, O LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plenteous redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. (Psalm 130 RSV) 1 Help, God - the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help! 2 Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy. 3 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? 4 As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped. 5 I pray to God - my life a prayer - and wait for what he'll say and do. 6 My life's on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning. 7 O Israel, wait and watch for God - with God's arrival comes love, with God's arrival comes generous redemption. 8 No doubt about it - he'll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin. (Psalm 130 The Message)

I love to swim in places where I can touch the bottom. That way if i get tired, I just stand up! And at the time of this writing, my sister-in-law Blanca and her family just visited a state park called Bottomless Lake State Park. And she sent pictures of them standing in the beach part of the lake. And since Nellie shares the same attitude about swimming we shared our fear for our family members being where they were.

In life, we sometimes hit rock bottom, or worse, the bottom falls out and we do all we can just to stay afloat. The psalmist had just had one of those days, but he knew just what to do, as should we. He turned to God and asked for mercy, well aware that God does not keep records of our wrongdoings. That's great news for any who know how we stand before the Lord. We need to be honest and admit we stand before God with our own record of wrongdoings; but God forgets when He forgives; it's us who do a way better job of remembering and judging ourselves. The key is to wait, that is, to be patient with the Lord while being patient also with ourselves. If forgiveness can be God's habit, why can't it be ours as well? And the best way to have this peace and patience comes from a regular prayer life; a truly conversational form of worship, talking and listening to God, just as He talks and listens to us. And such a life can be an example and a model for others. God welcomes and forgives all who approach Him; and God depends on us to guide people to Him and His grace and love.

PRAYER: Loving God, when we sink to the lowest, we know there is still many more levels below where we find ourselves; guide us upward and then onward. Thank You for the words of David who knew Your love and forgivness; we seek to grow to the point where we become easier on ourselves as we seek Your guidance away from evil and all temptation. This we pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Blessings of calm and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

paypal.me/EradioValverde

Lament for the Fallen

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Hear the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3gVqiB4

1 Shortly after Saul died, David returned to Ziklag from his rout of the Amalekites. 17 Then David sang this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and gave orders that everyone in Judah learn it by heart. Yes, it's even inscribed in The Book of Jashar. 19 Oh, oh, Gazelles of Israel, struck down on your hills, the mighty warriors - fallen, fallen! 20 Don't announce it in the city of Gath, don't post the news in the streets of Ashkelon. Don't give those coarse Philistine girls one more excuse for a drunken party! 21 No more dew or rain for you, hills of Gilboa, and not a drop from springs and wells, For there the warriors' shields were dragged through the mud, Saul's shield left there to rot. 22 Jonathan's bow was bold - the bigger they were the harder they fell. Saul's sword was fearless - once out of the scabbard, nothing could stop it. 23 Saul and Jonathan - beloved, beautiful! Together in life, together in death. Swifter than plummeting eagles, stronger than proud lions. 24 Women of Israel, weep for Saul. He dressed you in finest cottons and silks, spared no expense in making you elegant. 25 The mighty warriors - fallen, fallen in the middle of the fight! Jonathan - struck down on your hills! 26 O my dear brother Jonathan, I'm crushed by your death. Your friendship was a miracle-wonder, love far exceeding anything I've known - or ever hope to know. 27 The mighty warriors - fallen, fallen. And the arms of war broken to bits. (2 Samuel 1:1, 1:17-27 The Message Bible)

A Blessed Wednesday be wonderful to you all, ConCafe Family. And may you, dear Friend, be a wonderful blessing to God in all you do today. Please continue to hold others in prayer as has been asked of us; pray for your needs, and the needs of others in this devotional family.

If death has ever visited you, you know it comes usually loaded with bad; the memories of a lost loved one, the absence of a dear one at your table or in your family; a co-worker who brightened your work life now gone; and the list goes on and on. For some, death comes as a welcome guest, and sometimes not soon enough; a cancer patient whose last days were wracked with pain, a patient whose once beautiful mind taken away by dementia now free to be in God's presence. And, with those memories, we usually tend to erase the bad and celebrate, while we mourn, the positive memories. Case in point; David was the target of Saul's anger and wrath, the wanted victim of several manhunts in which the sole object was to kill him, so that Saul's kingdom could continue and Jonathan, his son, be his successor. Yet, David remembers only the good attributes of Saul to stay in his mind, and he sings praises with those fresh in his mind. We sometimes have attended those funerals where, the old story goes, the accolades and tributes are so strong toward the deceased the widow asks the young son to check again to make sure it was Daddy that was in the coffin.

King Saul was a public figure, and like most public figures there were those who loved him and those who could not stand him. Yet, in the time of death it becomes a time for public mourning in a positive way that sometimes helps unites the nation. David has ordered the nation to learn a song that mourns both Saul and Jonathan. The song has specific memories and commands; places where it shall not be sung, even ordering nature to withhold rain and dew from the hills of Gilboa; even springs and well should dry up as a form of mourning. Those with Jewish heritage in our backgrounds know how seriously our times of mourning are for following. I've shared how with the death of my maternal grandfather we refrained from listening to music and viewing the television for 30 days; our mirrors were covered up, and the women wore black. It made an already rough time become even rougher. David asks for women to weep for their king, reminding them of the good Saul had brought to them, and the better known refrain from other versions of the Bible, "How the mighty have fallen." Then David turns his attention to his beloved friend, Jonathan, whom he called brother, and miracle-worker because of his friendship with "love far exceeding anything I've known - or ever hope to know." Again, "How the mighty have fallen." And, with these deaths, David hopes, so have the weapons of war died a death too.

King David's saga was an interesting one. Anointed as king at a young age, defeated a giant, married into royalty, received the throne upon the death of his father-in-law and brother-in law, writer, poet, songwriter, and man of God, for the major part of his life, knew the good and the bad of life and love. His own son rose up against him in later years to challenge his throne; one of his daughters violated by another son, and his own failings as king, taking the wife of another man, then setting up the murder of that husband, and losing the child conceived in that illicit affair. I can say that David is still revered in the nation of Israel for all he did that blessed the country, and research on his life will never end. The fact that he was one of the fathers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ also factors in greatly in this life. Another example of no perfect person has ever existed, just Jesus. Yet, God used this man, and continues to, as people turn to the Psalms for inspiration, hope, deeper faith, etc. Just like you and me, he faced so many things as I tried to list above, but still he held on to his faith and to his God, as should we.

PRAYER: Loving God, You know better than we, all about the human condition. What we have read and shared during this devotional has been about the grief, pain, and hurt that death brings; no one is immune, not even kings or queens. What is precious is faith and how we can find in You the One to cling to and depend. David knew You and knew just how to call and cry to You. May we learn those things too. Bless us where we are, and lead us to where you would like for us to be. Be with those here and everywhere who mourn; and shower them with comfort. Lead us to where we can share Your love; we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a source of comfort to someone today.

Receive my blessings of comfort and joy,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Excel in All Things

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Hear the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3gUkiIG

7 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. 8 I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. 9 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. 10 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— 11 now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. 13 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 14 your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. 15 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 8:7-16 NRSV)

Happy Tuesday! May this second day of the work week be a blessing rich in God's grace to you, dear Friend, and all of the ConCafe Family, is my prayer. Please keep a relative of mine in your prayers, Ms. Cami Chapa, who is in need of two surgeries in Dallas, TX. Cami lives in San Marcos, TX, and lost both her parents when she was a young adult. Please continue to pray for one another, and for yourselves.

Whether you know it or not, we grade churches. How? First, if we visit a church, within minutes, if not seconds, we have decided whether we will re-visit that church or not. And if we have been "regulars" of that church, we leave each Sunday with at least something we loved about the service, and something that did not quite meet our expectations. Sometimes, we get petty and if a certain someone doesn't greet us, or we don't sing at least one of our favorite songs/hymns, we get irritated and we ponder what our next option should be regarding our worship at that church or not. Here, we have just read that Paul, who was a strict critic of almost all things, has rated this church as "excel(ling) in everything -- in faiith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you." Quite a list! We could say, an A in Faith, an A in speech (interaction with one another), an A in knowledge (knowing the Scriptures and all things Christians); An A in eagerness, make that utmost eagerness (Not a bad thing in any church; a willingness to embrace responsbility and duty, and then doing them!); and an A in love. Yet, Paul knew there was another area in which this particular church could excel; that of being generous in their giving. Churches require the generousness of its members to continue their ministries. Yes, we know of abuses by so-called "evangelists" of the television type, who buy jets, mansions, ranches, etc., and lavish lifestyles and give the Church a blackeye. Of course, there were other so-called evangelists that came along that made church councils to appear to make decisions on statements of faith such as The Apostle's Creed, and other creeds to define othrodoxy. Not quite the same thing, but it opened a door.

Paul was aware of the great financial need of the mother church in Jerusalem. As we can imagine, it was very difficult for a Christian church to be thriving in Jerusalem, the headquarters of the Jewish faith. The persecution against Jesus did not die down with His death; and the Jews frowned on anyone going to church at a Christian establishment. And whatever else was impacting the church, a lack of funds was crippling them and Paul was aware of it and had decided to start a fundraising campaign to help them. This letter was part of that effort. and Paul wants this church in Corinth, who excels in all things, to now excel in generous giving.

Paul finds the logical place to start, the life of Christ, the perfect example of giving; as in "For God so loved the World, God gave..." Paul then shares how Jesus left all the celestial riches in Heaven for the sake of the world, coming to live among, and as, the poor. For though in poverty, Christ wanted all people to be rich in the things that really count. And Paul wants the Corinthians Church to complete the work they had started a year earlier, and bless the Jerusalem Church.

Paul also addresses the concern that some givers have, that of not having enough or the gift being large enough; Paul says it all balances out. There's a church in Texas where one family supported it for most of its life with their gifts. It wasn't until the late 80s that they realized that the money in the family account meant to support the church was depeleting fast, and for the first time in their history had to have a stewardship campaign to raise the needed money for the church. Life-long members had to learn how to give because they were never taught!

Teaching giving is a process that should start early in life. Parents have the challenge of changing the "MINE!" mindset of most infants to one of "Here, I can share." I've shared the story of a former bishop of ours, who shared how one Sunday he preached a sermon on tithing, that of giving ten percent of one's income to the Lord, and how that afternoon, he got a call from one the church's treasurer who said, "Pastor, I know you were probably about to take your Sunday nap, but I wanted you to know that someone in today's worship service left a check for $36,000." The bishop asked if the giver had left a phone number, and he had. He called the number and the young man who answered said, "I never in my life had heard about tithing, and it made me want to give 10% of a bonus I got in my job. I just moved here and this Friday I got this unexpected bonus of $360,000, so your sermon moved me to give to God what is God's! And don't worry I'm getting four more this year, and I'm going to start tithing on my regular check." What a story! What a blessing. The beauty was Paul or the bishop, did not have to explain the balance of things; this man knew in his heart that it was right to give unto God, what was God's and he felt blessed; and gave from his heart that which was truly not his, but God's. And this is what Paul wanted to teach to those in Corinth, Ephesus and all the other churches with which he had had dealings.

"Is this all? I get to keep the other part?" This is what I asked of my Mom when she taught me how to tithe with the very first job I had making $1.50 a day. Fifteen cents seemed like nothing and me keeping the other $1.35 for myself. Giving is an expression of grace, God's grace; and when we give with our hearts, we are immediately blessed and God is blessed and glorified. Giving is what gives us and our churches and ministries life.

PRAYER: Loving Father, we praise and thank You for all You have given for us and to us. You loved us enough to give Jesus and so we should love You enough to give You what is truly Yours. Receive my thankfulness and love; and help me make a difference in all that I do; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Give someone something unexpected today is my prayer today.

Receive my blessings of love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

If you would like to support Ms. Chapa's medical needs, she shared this link with me and I share it with you: https://gofund.me/123a3703

Healer of the Desperate

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Listen to the devotional here: https://bit.ly/35E4pAT

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl), I say to you, get up!” 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:21-43 NIV)

Happy and Blessed Monday to you, ConCafe Family! And a blessing bigger than your wildest dreams visit you, dear Reader, and your ministry in service to Our Lord, Jesus Christ! Please continue to pray for the needs shared with you, and to which you said you would pray; pray for one another, and pray for yourselves.

Women in Jesus' day did not enjoy a high standing in society. As others have said, they were a little above property, and maybe on the same level as cattle and livestock in the view of men. We have heard that widows with no children had no support groups, other than friends, and the options to them were limited, if they had any at all. Medical attention for anyone was scarce and luxuries we enjoy were nonexistant. Any small illness could and did lead to death for many. So, in this climate comes Jesus, the Son of God, whose supernatural powers brought healing and wholeness to those who desperately needed it. And here come two such cases to Him now. Stop for a moment and imagine this scenario. Jesus' enemies came from the temple and the synagogues; their network allowed for them to share their distrust and dislike for a man who appeared ready to topple their enterprise of controling the church business in which they were well set. So, to have the chief officer or main leader, whose name is Jairus, come to Jesus with an urgent request makes for an interesting encounter with Him. Jairus falls at Jesus' feet. For a Jew to do that was to show his complete surrender to Jesus. No one in the group who hated Jesus would dare do such a humiliating thing, to fall at the feet of one's enemy. And Jairus pleads earnestly with Jesus for the healing and life of his daughter. And he also makes a demand no other leader would have dared ask, "Please come and put Your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." I do suppose, as a father of daughters, that perhaps other Jewish leaders might have surrendered their pride and possibly their position, to request healing for their daughter. Regardless, Our Lord does go with him to see the condition of Jairus' daughter. And behind Him goes a large crowd, as was becoming the usual response of cities and towns to Jesus' presence. In that crowd was a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years. This had been a severe strain on her on multiple levels; financially, emotional, physically, and possibly spiiritually, but, it may have been her spirit that called for her to seek and find Jesus. Verse 26 says, "She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse." And something told her that perhaps, "If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed." This tells us that her need was so great that her belief was that Jesus was so holy, that all she had to do was to touch his garments and she would be healed. Thinking logically, if we approach someone who is sick with what is a contagious disease, we avoid every part of that person, including and maybe especially, their clothing. This pandemic may have taught us that in many ways. The anti-bacterial industry has made many fortunes in selling ther products. Remember when store shelves had NO anti-baterial products at all? Remember many who thought they could make their own anti-bacterial formulas? Fear of contracting Covid through touch made us be extra careful. Imagine leoprosy in Jesus' day? But imagine holiness! The woman believed Jesus was so holy and pure that a mere touch of His clothing would heal her! She was willing to risk anything at this point in her life, and so as He passed, she touched Him, and she was healed! Can you imagine the feeling of that woman at that moment? The blood flow stopped and new energy entered her body and she was indeed a new person! Yet, Jesus felt the touch and immediately asks, "Who touched my clothes?" The disciples ask, almost with shock, "Lord, you saw the people crowding against You, and you still ask, "Who touched me?" Jesus doesn't even hear them because He kept looking around to see who had touched Him. It was the woman who knew that she was healed, came to Jesus, and fell to His feet and trembling with fear, confessed it had been her who touched Him. Lovingly, Jesus tells her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." A miracle. A victory in the life of this woman.

Now comes a crowd from Jairus' home with the sad news; "Your daughter is dead, why bother the teacher anymore?" Jesus responds to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe." And from that point on, Jesus allows only Peter, James, and John to follow Him to the synagogue ruler's home. When they arrive, there is a commotion, people crying and showing their grief. Jesus tells them that the child was not dead but asleep. This made the crowd laugh. Jesus asks them all to leave and taking the father, mother and the three disciples with Him to the room where the little girl lay, Jesus takes her by the hand and says, "Talitha koum!, meaning, "little girl", then "I say to you, get up!" At once the little girl got up and began to walk around; and the crowd was "completely astonished." Jesus gave strict orders to tell no one about this and ordered the family to give him something to eat.

Jesus is the healer of the desperate even today. God's Kingdom has always been about wholeness and healing, but we need to understand that healing comes in all forms, even through death, the ultimate healer. We cannot begin to explain how some people receive a miracle, and others do not; but we celebrate the known, that God is always with us, to hold us here, and to welcome us there. Whatever it is that needs healing, turn it over to the Lord and await His plan for you. If you need prayer or someone to listen to you, please call or email me. I don't have all the answers but together we can see what the solution God may be sharing with us truly is. Jairus did not give up, even when mourners from his home came to tell him not to bother the Teacher any longer. The woman with the need for healing had not given up even after 12 years of having her savings depleted and prolonged suffering at the hands of doctors. We should not give up either!

PRAYER: Loving Father, bless this dear reader with the answer to his/her prayers. Grant us all peace and the assurance that we are not now, nor ever, alone. Be glorified in us, dear Lord, for we pray in Thy name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a listener to someone in need today.

Receive my blessings for peace and wholeness,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Giant Versus Child of Faith

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Hear the expanded story here: https://bit.ly/3iQl0cN

1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh, 4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had greaves of bronze upon his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 And David rose early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took the provisions, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the encampment as the host was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 23 As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. 32 And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth." 34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth; and if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and killed him. 36 Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!" 38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a helmet of bronze on his head, and clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword over his armor, and he tried in vain to go, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these; for I am not used to them." And David put them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in his shepherd's bag or wallet; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, ruddy and comely in appearance. 43 And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and he will give you into our hand." 48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.(1 Samuel 17, Selected Verses)

Welcome Wednesday to your life, ConCafe Family, and may you, deabe filled with joy and love to share freely with all people to bring God honor and glory is my prayer for you. May our petitions to the Lord bring healing and peace for those whom we lift up. May we pray for one another, and for each other.And walk with God and share with Him your cares and needs.

This is the story everybody, regardless of age, should know. It is an epic battle unmatched to anything out there. It is, like most battles in the Bible, a battle between what God can do, versus what the enemies of God want to do against Him. It is a tale of an underdog versus a sure-fire winner in a winner-take-all showdown. It has all the elements of intrigue, and quite a prize offered to the winner of the challenge. At the very core is the battle of good versus evil. The people of Philistines versus the people of Israel. With that, the gods of the Philistines, versus the one, true living God. It was, like almost all battles, a battle for territory and power. As I said, winner take all. The Philistines represented everything God has warned His people against; to lose to them would be a terrible loss and a national embarrassment. These battles seemed to happen every spring. If it wasn't the Philistines, it was another group; all wanting to challenge the winnings of the Israelite people. Most of the groups in the area had lost ancestral lands to the Jews, and it was an annual battle to try to regain them at any cost. This year finds the challengers bringing an unexpected oddity,a giant. The actual height of this tall man ranges from 6'9" to 10 feet. He just might have been the tallest man to ever live. And not only was he tall, he was big. He had been trained since a child to be a warrior. The entire program of the Philistine Army focused on his being the most imposing figure in any battle. Goliath was trained in how to defend himself and how to kill others with a sword. His sword was specially made for him. His helmet and body armor was also made to order for a giant of his stature. The thought of the king and the generals was that just the sight and sound of this giant would frighten any enemy army to the point of surrender. The sight of his large man sure had the Jewish Army scared. No one dared accept the challenge of the giant to go one on one with him. As predicted, the challenge was simple; find a man to defeat me, and we will become your slaves; but if I prevail, and kill him, then you will be our slaves, and serve us. And then he added other insults and mockeries, all of which served to make the man and the threat more scary.

We do not know exactly how long this daily shouting match took place, but on this particular day, the child king-to-be is sent by his father to check on his brothers, and to share with them a care package from home with them. The boy is just aware of the brothers being in battle and knew that he might just be able to watch some of the fighting, but more imporatntly share with them some good food from home and time to ask about the battle. It was as he arrives that he hears the booming voice of the giant.

Now, let us look at the underdog. If this battle were happening in a ring, the booming voice of the announcer would have said, after "Let's get ready to rumble!" something along the lines of, "In this corner, the green corner, we have the challenger, fresh from the pastures and fields of Judah, a shepherd by training, with an undefeated record against all previous foes; lions, bears, and wolves; anointed as future king of Israel; trained as a servant of faith, obedient until the end, with an unwavering faith in Yahweh, the One True God of the Universe, the Pride of Bethlehem: David bar Jesse!

Did I mention King Saul offered a major prize for anyone who won against the Giant? This is the part my grandsons love to hear! Saul said that anyone who could defeat the giant would get 1) His daughter, Michal, as his wife. Not bad! Son-in-law to the king becomes his rank! 2) A huge cash prize (The actual amount is not known, but it was a king's ransom!) 3) No income tax for life! I don't know which prize sounds better to you, but number three would have meant some extra cash for our household for many years!

The battle was not much of a battle. David is asked, by King Saul, to wear his armor. David tries to put it on, but given his age and size, chooses not to wear it. And when he does come out onto the battlefield, Goliath is offended. "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the giant adds some choice curse words, cursing David by his gods. And Goliath adds this promise, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." David responds, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hand." Those were the last words the giant heard on this earth. Within seconds, David, who armed himself with a sling and five stones; put his hand in his bag and with one stone placed in ihs sling,slung it, struck the giant on his forehead and the stone sank into his forehead and he fell dead on his face to the ground. BAM!

The battle belonged to God. David belonged to God, and that little boy's faith in God allowed him to defeat the biggest champ Israel had ever faced. True to his word, the boy rushed and using Goliath's own sword, cut off his head while the entire army of the Philistines fled for their lives.

This was a fight fought with faith. The one, the unexpected, the little one, won. His faith was bigger than the giant and his strength came from God. His size never mattered in his own mind, nor did his ability. His confidence came from the Lord and an obstacle as big as the giant he defeated did not faze him one bit. God had seen all of this in this boy since he made his appearance in his mother's womb. As he lived his early life as an apprentice shepherd, then master shepherd, then as the anointed future king of Israel; God knew his strenghts and abilities, and knew he could trust him in any situation and any battle.

What is the biggest storm that has come into your life? Is your faith strong enough to find a cushion on which to sleep even as the wind blows and the waves crash? Have you found yourself taking it day to day in life finding that not everyone is on your side, and that some even oppose you? Can you still find righteousness in you to control your actions for the good? And does facing giants make you uneasy even today? Do you have a helmet big enough in which to hide? Or a sword sharp enough with which to challenge back the giant's taunts? Well, the truth is, the fight is not yours. The fight belongs to God. As God sends us forth to do His will, He comes with us and fights the battles for us. It is never easy, but with faith it becomes easier for us to trust and obey. We need to ever be the example of righteousness and good in the world. Paul's life was and is, a very good example of how to walk ever forward in obedience for the greater good, that of sharing the gospel with the whole world, knowing that at least half the world may oppose our efforts, yet onward we march. Our involvement with the world mirrors our God, who is a God of involvement and care even in the midst of a world that each day seems to share and care less and less. Because we know that God owns the world and one day, in His time, all will be made right.

PRAYER: Loving God, until that day, make us faithful and true. Strengthen us during our tmes of weakness. Grant us faith when we are down. And during those times we find that peace is hard to find, shine the light of hope brightly on us, and may we not fear sharing it with others. May we fear nothing and may we await the final victory over evil; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Live a life that blesses others with your faith.

Receive my blessings of hope and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Beat Down, But Built Up!

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1 As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3 We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7 truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. 12 There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. 13 In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also. (2 Corinthians 6:10-13 NRSV)

Be blessed, dear ConCafe Family on this tremendous Tuesday, is my prayer! I ask God to enlsit you fulltime in His service today in every opportunity and challenge that may come your way! Lift Him high and He will lift you up! And, speaking of lifting up, please continue to lift up the prayer requests shared with you by your church, by your soul, by the nudging of God's Holy Spirit, and by things you may see as needing your prayers! God will be glorified! Pray for the older members of this devotional family! (God knows who they (we) are! Pray for yourselves too!

Who here reading this is old enough to remember Maynard G. Kerbs? Google it, kids! Some of your younger whippersnappers may remember him as Gilliigan; but on Dobie Gillis, the TV show, he, Bob Denver, was Maynard G. Krebs. He was best friend to Dobie. And the key line was whenever somone mentioned the word work, he would almost faint as he repeated it in question mode, "Work?" *Click below to see a YouTube video on one scene of his reacttion* Well, that word, work, is a key word in this entire passage, for Paul as he writes reminds his readers, and us, that we should be working together with Jesus, and as workers we be humble and appreciative of God's grace that saved us and allowed us to be co-laborers with Him in all things. For it was at time of history, and includes us even today, God found it to be the acceptable time to respond to the human need with the gift of salvation. And Paul knew all about salvation and how important it was for him and how it is for us.

Now, some of you think the Baptists own the trademark and copyrights to the word salvation, for it is a word seldom, if ever, sadly, used in some of our churches; but no, it is a universal word and it refers to the perfect relationship God desires with us. Think back to the relationship God enjoyed with Adam and Eve in Eden and that is salvation. A walking, talking and sharing relationship with God, with God listening and speaking, and humans speaking and listening to God. Friends, that was the real paradise, not the lush vegetation that we have imagined in our thinking; add to it waterfalls, flowers, flying colorful birds, etc., and you have a limited view of paradise. My childhood friend and I would think aloud such theological things and concluded Eden had to be in Hawaii. I pray that one day he has the chance to go explore it, as I do not have the real desire to travel that far for a beach!

Paul says the way to salvation is wide open, and his ministry, as should ours, offers that open way to all people, without obstacles. By obstacles, Paul is referring to long-held traditions that were considered as prequisties but no longer qualify because they are truly obstacles; and Christ does not require those. And this, Paul continues, in spite of the obstacles and challenges they found on their journey as co-workers with Christ; afflictions, hardships, calamaties, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights (were they watching me?), and hunger; for Paul found strength and relief in these things; "purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love , truthful speech, and the power of God." And the great "weapon" of righteousness for both the right hand and the left. And when confronted by dishonor, he used honor; If ill repute was mentioned, he would offer good repute. Yet, in sptie of being treated as imposters, they knew what they offered and what they were true. Considered as "unknown," they were really, "well known." Believed to be dying, and yet, they were alive; punished yes, but still alive and not dead; Sorrowful yes, but still rejoicing; poor, yes, but working to make all rich; believed to have nothing, yet possessing all things. This was the gift of Christian perception even in the face of human resistance and perceived reality for others, especially the nonbelievers and scoffers of the faith. And Paul offered all this to the people of Corinth, along with his love. And he stressed there were no restrictions to his heart; all he asked was for them to offer their hearts 'wide open," and to offer those hearts with childlike wonder and obedience.

Wow. What a powerful and timeless message. It is offered to people of all stations and statuses; for rich and poor, for hungry and full, for lost and found, for those seeking and those content with what they already knew; God's message can find you anywhere, anytime, and all we have to do is say yes to receive it and be blessed. Yes, believers still may get beat down, but like Paul, will also be built up, and we believer stronger and better than before. So, whatever this season of life has you experiencing, know that you are not now, or ever, alone; the Lord is with you, and you will survive!

PRAYER: Awesome Father, bless this dear reader and her/his desires of the heart. May we seek Your face in all things, even the suffering, and should we experience some beating down, lift us up and build us stronger; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Help someone whom you know is down; lift them up in prayer and faith!

Receive my blessing of peace and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Click here to see Maynard react to workl: https://youtu.be/pqzpQPDSr2s

Squall Slumber

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Listen here to our devotional for today: https://bit.ly/3gkWGxI

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:35-41 NIV)

Happy and Blessed Monday! May you, dear Friend. be filled wtih the Holy Spirit, obedient and faithful in going forth to serve our Lord! May our prayers continue to be about doing the will of God and reaching all we can for the good of God's kingdom. We pray God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Please pray for a nephew of ours, Mr. Julian Ruiz, as he battles a brain tumor. He is in the hosptial in McAllen and may be his final days. Pray for God's will to be done; pray also for his family. Pray for one another; pray for yourselves.

This is a well-known story of one of Jesus' miracles. He and the Twelve are crossing the Sea of Galilee when a storm whips out and causes huge waves and fear among the disciples. Having crossed the sea three years ago, Nellie and I vividly recall the vastness of the lake and the lecture by Dr. Jack Beck about how rapidly these storms appear on this water. The way it sits between mountains and the other geographical features of the area, they all work together fo make possible these storms. The geograhy is beautfiul and we could imagine, as we crossed peacefully on this water, how it must have been to be in a storm. The waves were big enough to go into the boat, even to the point of swamping the boat and making the disciples believe they were going to die. They panic and cry out to Jesus. Where was Jesus? He was sound asleep on a cushion. Jesus knew no fear, for He was a man of faith. We could even say He was faith. But the cries of the disciples awakened Him and he got up and rebuked the wind to calm down, and it did. His, "Quiet! Be still!" was all the wind needed to hear.

Though they were the ones who asked for the help, they were even more amazed than I believe they were afraid. But to be fair, they were both amazed and afraid. Verse 39 says, "The wind died down and it was completly calm." Jesus has to ask the question, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

The disciples continued with their questions as well; "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!" Their question continues to be asked even today, Who is Jesus? And quite possibly, the second part is still as important; How does He do what He does? or What can Jesus do for me? And it's part of who you and I are, in helping them answer that question. And more so today, as we hear more and more people asking why the Church seems to be dying. The answer is manifold, and all of those answers have to do with how believers handle their lives in representing Jesus. If we live a life that says, in many ways, I believe in Jesus, it makes it easier for others to come to faith too. The most obvious way is to live a life that demonstrates love for all people. No more condemnation talk, no more labeling, no more dividing up into this group or that; just living a life that cares for and includes all people. That would be the start of a revival. And in a real way it would be an awakening up the sleeping giant during the squall that has been brewing up for many years. The ony One who will emerge from this in a real way is Jesus as we finally place Him where He belongs; in our hearts, our daily lives, our families, our communities, and in all the world.

And it's not ony the Church who needs to awaken, it is the individuals who make up the church; all of us have to make Jesus Lord of our lives and share Him and His love and what He has done for us. That will bring them to the Lord. So, our starting point is to hear Jesus ask, "Why are we so afraid? Is it something that we fear that is keeping us from faithfulness? Turn it over to Jesus; He will remove it from us. The truth is our walk with Jesus may take us into boats, ships, planes, buses, cars, trains; and we cannot fear keep us from enjoying the journey! Your life will never be the same!

PRAYER: Awesome God, come into our lives in a new and wonderful way that acknowledges Your presence with us and our journey together. May You take fear away from us and replace it with faith and awe, so that this journey may bring You honor and glory, new life to new believers, and a reawakening of Your Church; in Thy name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Love everyone today in a way that brings blessings to God!

Receive my blessings of love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

A Prayer of Victory!

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1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion; 3 May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah 4 May He grant you according to your heart's desire, And fulfill all your purpose. 5 We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. 9 Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call. (Psalm 20 New King James Version) 1 God answer you on the day you crash, The name God-of-Jacob put you out of harm's reach, 2 Send reinforcements from Holy Hill, Dispatch from Zion fresh supplies, 3 Exclaim over your offerings, Celebrate your sacrifices, 4 Give you what your heart desires, Accomplish your plans. 5 When you win, we plan to raise the roof and lead the parade with our banners. May all your wishes come true! 6 That clinches it - help's coming, an answer's on the way, everything's going to work out. 7 See those people polishing their chariots, and those others grooming their horses? But we're making garlands for God our God. 8 The chariots will rust, those horses pull up lame - and we'll be on our feet, standing tall. 9 Make the king a winner, God; the day we call, give us your answer. (Psalm 20 The Message Bible)

Happy Thursday to you dear ConCafe Family; and may blessings abound in your life for joy and service, dear Friend. That's my prayer and I'm sticking to it! Friends, I ask prayer for Nellie and myself. Most of you know that for the last nine months we have been spending our weeks here in Houston; Nellie spending Monday through Friday, and me days when I could given my erratic schedule with my insurance business. We have been grandparenting our youngest grandchild, Eli Ryan Muñoz and tomorrow is our last day. We are so sad that we can't begin to explain how we will be able to be away from this bundle of pure joy. We have seen the marvels of God's creation in his every development and to hear him struggle out words, like Mama and Dada, Liam, which he has made more an EEE-am, and Monday Nellie coaxed a grandpa out of him; makes our hearts melt. Yes, I have tried to get him to say grandma, but have not yet had success. We have enjoyed his "freedom" come first by what we called a sniper crawl, now a full crawl and his attempts to stand up against the sofa are just wonderful blessings to us. We fear the distance of being apart from him and we will miss him terribly; but are grateful to have had this very special opportunity with him. Pray for our transition and safe trip home. I am fearful to put the pencil to how many miles we have traveled during these nine months. Each one way trip is 157.8 miles, and we have made the trip at lease four times a week, sometimes more when I dropped Nellie off, went home, worked, then returned early on a Wednesday or Thursday and then home on Friday. I only know that my trusty Toyota Tacoma has politely asked for new tires. And we shall once we get back into our routine, whatever that may be! We know many of you are praying and will continue to pray, so thank you, thank you, thank you!! I also ask prayers as I write these devotionals; last night I wrote a sentence that did not make sense, and a dear friend and reader asked me about it, and I was glad to correct it. Here is the correction: " from being the enemy, the followers of Jesus Christ became his friends and coworkers." Preparing ConCafe away from home means a smaller computer screen and recording equipment not up to par with the home office. But thank you for your patience!

As we draw closer to the date, I will remind you, but on July 18th I am preaching at St. Luke's of Corpus Chrisit, and I will be officiating at Eli's baptism, so pray that the Lord can still use this worn out old preacher! It has been over a year since I have taken a pulpit to preach; not that the offers have not come; I am thankful for dear friends who have understood but still ask, and so on the following Sunday after the 18th (07/25/2021)I will be preaching in our home church of FUMC-Gonzales; again prayers for the words and grace with which to be a vessel of God's grace.

This psalm was a favorite of my grandfather, Carlos Valverde, Jr. He came to faith late in his life and just threw himself wholeheartedly into serving Christ however he could. He mowed the yard of his church in Alice; ran errands for the preacher there, and prayed loudly every night for all the needs that had been shared with him. Early in my career he took me aside and told me how proud he was of me, and that one day I would be a district superintendent. I would smile and reply that I had been called to preach and while I was still able to do that I was being faithful to my calling. He died before seeing me become a DS of the Corpus Christi, later Coastal Bend District, the latter would iniclude Alice, TX. But this was the psalm with which he would pray and he loved to share verse 7, en español (Estos confían en carros, y aquéllos en caballos; mas nosotros del nombre del SEÑOR nuestro Dios tendremos memoria.). The word carros also means automobiles and that made me chuckle because he had a fondness for them. He owned some interesting cars, including an El Camino and some others. But I knew that God meant more to him than any of the cars he ever owned.

The psalmist is celebrating faith from how he has known it. He had a lifetime blessed by special deliverances from the Lord during some very rough times in his life. After being anointed king, he went up against Goliath; won the triple crown prize of a large sum of money, King Saul's daughter, and no income tax the rest of his life; but still was pursued by his fiather-in-law who wanted him dead so that Jonathan could take over as king; not to mention countless battles with kings once he was in office; each time God pulled him through. And as a result of that faith, David became a very giving king; knowing that gratitude was very much a part of worship, and that many times means showing kindness and help to others in God's name. I saw a short video on social media about a man sharing how his little son asked why he helped so many people. He was shooting this video after helping jump start a stranger's car. The dad replied, "Because I owe so much. To God. I'm thankful for.... and he named so many things, including "Mom being cancer-free, for you, your sister," And he also said, "And when I'm gone, I'll still be with you and through you helping you pay back to God the debts you owe Him for so many special and wonderful things He has done." That may remind you of your Dad or Mom and some of what you may have seen in them; and if you're not yet showing that to your little ones, you will soon start.

This modern version just shouts what needs to be heard; "May all your wishes come true! That clinches it - help's coming, an answer's on the way, everything is going to work out." (v. 6). And the winner in all of this is God, for He is the King and everytime we need Him, He answers!

PRAYER: Awesome God, thank you for all You have shared and provided, especially during times of need. You deserve our prasie and gratitude. Let us begin to pay back with love and help to others, even and especially those we do not know! In Christ Jesus we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Do unto others...

Receive my blessings for victory and peace in your life!

Pastor Eradio Valverde

God Makes All Things New!

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Listen to the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3pAkr8a

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:6-17 NIV)

A blessed and special Wednesday to you, ConCafe Famiy and may this day be yours to enjoy and explore and explain the wonders of God's love, Friend is my prayer for you! May we continue to pray for the needs shared with us; pray for one another, and pray for your needs. Lift them in faith, expecting that God will answer all according to His will for you.

Paul speaks of faith causing confidence, and that is important to please Jesus. Paul's desire was to be in the presence of Jesus again, and as soon as he could; yet he also knew that he had a mission to fulfill and it was that of sharing Jesus with the whole world, especially even among Caesar and other rulers, and as many people as he could. And Paul stresses that a key component of faith is to know that we live our lives by faith and not by sight. In other words, we, being supernatural people, know there is a spiritual realm invisible to the human eye and it is in that realm where our power lay; knowing that one day we would be called before the presence of the Lord and be judged for all we did down here while we were at home in the body and away from Jesus. And since we, as belivers know what pleases God, that is a huge part of our message to others, especially the unknowing. God already knows how and who we are; and our conscience also lets us know that as well. Paul seeks those who know him and the believers he has brought into the kingdom serve as role models to others, and the goal of others is to model their lives after true believers. Yes, Paul says, some will think " are 'out of our mind,'" but that is all for the honor of God. If, on the other hand, we are "in our right mind," then it is for humans. The love of Christ compels us to share the news that since one died for all, therefore all should die for others as well. Christ died for everyone, and therefore, we should live our lives not for ourselves, but for Him who died for all, and was raised from the dead. Therefore, our point of view should not be a worldly one, especially when it comes to others. And especially when it comes to how we see Jesus. And this passage ends in a marvelous way, verse 17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" Amen!

When it comes to most of us, we prefer the new versus the old in some things. And your tastes may vary, so I won't try to compare any one thing because at least one person will say, "No, when it comes to such and such, I prefer the old." But when it comes to a spiritual life and the way we treat our souls, only the new will do. A new life, a new soul gives us the point of view that Paul has been describing; how we see all things, especially others and most especailly Jesus. When Paul had his life-altering encounter with Jesus, Jesus went from hated enemy to beloved Savior. Where once Jesus served to stir Paul to anger and action against Him and His followers, that encounter on the Damascus Road and the time he spent in prayer and fasting, changed his point of view towards all things. The enemy became the fellow followers of Jesus. The religious leaders that Paul once tried to please became the ones he tried to convert. The religious traditions and practices he once so firmly held on to, became the things he now understood to hold little to no meaning; the things that mattered more than traditions, rituals, and practices were Jesus' love and grace; His offer of a forgiveness that wiped away sin was now key to his message and ministry. Where once he was compelled to stay within the known regions of Judaism, Paul now felt the urge to preach in every part of the world, so that the world might come to faith in Jesus Christ. You talk about faith causing confidence, just look at all that Paul was able to do because of his faith in the living Christ.

Friend, your future is rooted in faith and the things yet to be done by you in whatever you have been called to do by Jesus. No limitations or obstacles can be stronger than the Holy Spirit of Jesus alive and at work in you. You have, thanks to Our Lord, the power to change the world, one soul at a time, and save those souls for the kingdom that is yet to come.

PRAYER: Loving Father, speak to our souls and make them new. Speak to our antiquated points of view and make the fresh and new, and guide us to new life in Christ Jesus. Help us right now take the first step to the transformation of the world through faith; in Christ Jesus we pray; amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show someone how you are brand new in the Lord today!

Receive my blessings of joy and power, in Jesus Christ,

Pastor Eradio Valverde