The Genesis of Marriage

Image from ccczion.org

Hear the podcast here: https://bit.ly/3um26hl

18 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." 19 So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken." 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. (Genesis 2:18-24 New Revised Standard Version)

A blessed and joyous Wednesday to you, ConCafe Family. Friend, you could be the key in someone's life to unlock a new way of living; the way of Jesus Christ! God can and will use you! Please continue in prayer for Allison Davis and her stay in the hospital in San Antonio. Also, prayers for the wife of a dear colleague in a matter that she and God know that needs our special prayers. Pray for one another, and pray for your needs.

A comedian was just explaining this very passage in an interesting way on a Youtube video. He said that the rib God removed from the man was the one men used to use to read minds. He also said that God was showing the angels from Heaven what He had just created. "It's called marriage and I've taken two distinctly different creatures with different viewpoints and outlooks, and I'm making them live together for the rest of their lives!" And God laughs.

This is a masterful design by the Master Designer. God creates the crown of creation, the first human and then declares that it would be best if the man should not be alone. And in what some scholars call God's sense of humor, he forms all the animals, birds, and every living creature to serve as those who might keep man company to prevent said loneliness from being an issue for the man. This does become truly humorous when you consider the animals that God presents to the man so that he could name them, and to analyze whether they might be a companion for him. "Man, meet this creature; what will you call it?" Man: Monkey! "Do you like it?" Man: I dunno. He is funny looking. (Man is brand new and has not yet discovered grammar) Well, you get the idea and maybe laughed along with the thought of nothing to match what God had in mind for the man.

When the humor was over, God realized that there was nothing found to be the helper/companion/helpmeet for the man. And God causes a deep sleep to fall upon the man and as the man slept God takes a rib from the man, and closes the flesh. And God takes the rib and from it forms the creature God wanted for the man. The completed creation was the woman and God presents her to the man. The man gets very poetic when he says, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be Woman, for out of Man this one was taken." Interesting that the Hebrew word for man is "ish," and the word for woman is "ishshah." And the poetic leads to the scritpure Jesus quoted in the gospel passage, "Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh." This is the Christian foundation statement for the classic understanding of marriage. A man and a woman marry and the two become one flesh. This is Bible math, one plus one is one. And actually, the reality is the one plus one plus God equals one. A marriage built on God and who lives (abides) in God is one that will survive. The modern marriage ceremony reflects centuries of statements of truth and reallity of what may come into and at people who are married. Read part of the introduction read at most United Methodist weddings:

The covenant of marriage was established by God, who created us male and female for each other. With His presence and power Jesus graced a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and in His sacrificial love gave us the example for the love of husband and wife. Name and Name come to give themselves to one another in this holy covenant.

Re-read that part and what do you see or hear? The credit for the foundation of marriage is set squarely on God. It stresses the creation of male and female "for each other." And it cites Jesus' presence at the famous wedding in the Gospel of John, chapter 2, meaning marriage was important to Jesus otherwise why would He have attended? Why would He perform the first of all his miracles at a wedding if it were not important? And the entire life of our Savior was one of many sacrifices, including the ultimate sacrifice of His dying on the cross. It served as an example of the most wonderful type of love. And in marriage, the bride and groom give themselves to each other in what is called the "holy covenant," meaning it was a sacred contract with God as party of the first part, and the bride and groom as the parties of the second and third part. Jesus knew that a covenant made with God as one of the major parties is not meant to be broken. Can we begin to understand Jesus' anger at the Pharisee's question and their reliance on Moses' decree?

The marriage ceremony also asks:

Name, will you have Name to be your husband/wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him/her, comfort him/her, honor and keep him/her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him/her as long as you both shall live?

and

In the name of God, I, Name, take you, Name, to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.

The above vow covers most of what a normal marriage will encounter during the course of a lifetime. The vow also involves some actions that require action from the couple; "to have," "to hold," "for better, for worse," "for richer, for poorer," "in sickness and in health," "to love and to cherish," and "until we are parted by death." Have and hold implies not only the physical, but the emotional, the romantic, and the spiritual. the others cover the phases that may come to each couple, and the desired end in which only death can "part" a couple. This is very serious stuff, meant to be taken seriously, and obeyed until death does come.

Dear friends, this devotional could be one of the longest I have ever written, but it provides the background needed for our understanding of Jesus' actions and words when He was presented with the question by the Pharisees on the seriousness of marriage.

PRAYER: Loving Father, our Creator and the Creator of marriage, bless this dear reader with whatever is on his/her mind and heart. I pray for the marriages of all who read this; make them stronger, make them positive examples for others. Bless and strengthen all marriages; provide direction to those lost, and we pray an extra blessing on the children of all marriages. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Shine in your situation a light of love and peace!

Receive my blessings of love and joy,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Jesus is Lord Over All!

Image from imagebible.org

Listen to the podcast here: https://bit.ly/3kMfpVb

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3 He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." 7 Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." 8 But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions." 10 And, "In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; 12 like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end." (Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 NRSV)

A blessed and joyous Tuesday, ConCafe Family. May blessings bring you the fullness of life as you share God's love with all today. May we continue to bless God by praying for all who have asked prayer of us, and may we pray for one another, and for ourselves as well. May you, dear Friend, bless God by being the one who blesses people with what they need. Please be in prayer for Mrs. Allison Davis, a staff member of our church, FUMC-Gonzales. She's in the hosptial in San Antonio and is expected to be there until Thursday. Please pray for her healing and recovery. Pray also for her family that God grant them peace and patience.

Have you heard the expression "I was today years old when I found out..." I first saw this on social media and it was someone sharing something they had just learned which was usually something so simple and easy, and in some cases it was a true case of "I was today years old when I found out." The writer of Hebrews could have made a meme or short video with what he has shared in today's passage. He had come to a realization about Jesus that we also should have, and never overlook, and that is the awesomeness of Jesus. This writer made a great realization and he wanted all the world to know that this is true. The writer discovered that through Jesus a more fuller understanding of God has been revealed to those who love God. The author of Hebrews understood it and celebrates it. Jesus is not the Son of God, He is heir of all things, the Creator of all things, the reflection of God's glory and the very imprint of God's image and being. Jesus is superior to the angels, for the writer of Hebrews knows that at no time did God ever say to an angel of what He wanted to honor Jesus with. The complete description that was shared today serves as a foundational basis for all who love Jesus to build on. And for those who are just now discovering Jesus, it's part of the rock-solid foundation on which to build a faith, a faith with which to live our lives.

Yesterday's passage showed the supremacy of Jesus when it came to understanding and interpreting the scriptures and this helps us to better understand how Jesus came to be the true book of all that which we call good news. Everything is under Jesus' control, and He has all the power and authority to do with them whatever is necessary. Our God is a protective and loving God, and Jesus is "the exact imprint of God's very being, and He sustains all things by His powerful word."

Dear one, may this serve to bless and make strong your faith. May it also be yet another instrument of sharing with those who stand in need of knowing Jesus.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You have spoken to us through your Son Jesus and your servant this writer of this epistle. May this bless our walk with You and our walk to invite others to join us; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Simply say to someone today, "Jesus is Lord of all, including you and me!"

Receive my blessings of joy and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Til Death Us Do Part...

Image from agnusday.org

Hear today's devotional narrated here: https://bit.ly/3i9l0U6

2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied. 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. (Mark 10:2-16 NIV)

A blessed and safe Monday to you, ConCafe Family! Open up your soul to receive the joy of the Lord into your life in such genereous portions that you have to share Him with all! May you,dear Reader, shine love in all things. I just learned that yet another first cousin has died. I don't know the reason or cause, but please keep the family of Joe Jimenez in your prayers. In less than 9 months, my aunt, her youngest son, and now the oldest son, have died. May God show His comfort and grace to the Jimenez family of Kingsville. Pray for the needs of those who have asked prayers of you; pray for others, and pray for your needs, in faith and hope.

Always with the tricks and traps, the Pharisees seek to trap Jesus on a highly sensitive issue, divorce. Divorce was a delicate subject even during Jesus' day and Jesus' answer could sway their cause in a harmful way, but they would soon learn that there is no tricking Jesus. He replies with a question about their history of divorce; "What did Moses command you?" They could only reply with the historical answer. Moses did not condone divorce, but he was aware of the practice present during his day of the man who no longer wished to be married could take the wife's possessions and place them outside their tent. The woman upon returning to her home would question the intent of such an act. This led to the women asking Moses for a decision, and his decision was to allow the husband to write a certificate of divorce and thus send her away clear that that the husband no longer wanted her and that the marriage was over. The practice was still in effect during Jesus' day and thus what He says, "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law, but at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female le.' And He reminds them of the scripture from Genesis, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh,' so they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." Boom. The law as interpreted by God's Son. Not quite what the Pharisees wanted to hear or even learn. Jesus is stressing the importance and seriousness of marriage; and the reality of how lax the people of that day had taken marriage. And so later, in the privacy of the dwelling in which they were staying, the disciples wanted to know more about what Jesus had said. Jesus answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." This is how serious God intends all who marry are to take their marriage. There are, I need to point out, sometimes serious issues that do cause couples to divorce. You know what those reasons are, and sometimes the only remedy is to split up. I believe God understand those times and reasons. What Jesus is attacking are those who grow tired of their spouse and who believe in getting a new partner, or a younger one, or a more attractive one, and you can probably finish the list, those are the things Jesus is saying that God will not tolerate.

And, as if to further illustrate the seriousness of divorce, Jesus brings the children who were being brought to Him for Him to lay hands on them; even after the disciples wanted to send them away. Jesus is angered and said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Jesus took this opportunity to illustrate that in some circumstances the victims, the ones most seriously hurt, are the children of the marriages that break up. Jesus adds, "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And Jesus takes the children in His arms and places His hands on them and blessed them.

If you are married, or in a serious relationship, what is a key word that blesses you and keeps you moving ever forward and upward in that relationship? For me the word is appreciation; I have such an appreciation to God for helping me find my wife, and an appreciation for my wife for putting up with me all these years. I can never take her or God for granted. Don't get me wrong, the better and higher word is love. I love God and I love Nellie; but hand-in-hand love and appreciation allow me to travel farther and do more than if I just took for granted all the blessings that God has shared with me. And you know, the word might just be one in the vows; cherish. God invites us to go deeper and more spiritual in our relationships, and with His help we can overcome any and all challenges that may come our way. If you're facing challenges, after praying and listening to the Lord, seek help from your pastor or counselor. Seek a solution if there is one to be found. Seek the high road, God's road and as was said in yesterday's sermon, seek to have the mind of Christ in all decisions and matters you face.

PRAYER: God of love, shine upon this dear reader in ways that bless his or her situation. Make real the notion of cherishing the important people in their lives. Make us models of love and understanding, seeking to make real in daily life, the teachings of Jesus our Lord. It is in His mighty name that we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Seek to be a person who models Jesus as Lord and Savior today!

Receive my blessings of grace and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

If It Hadn't Been for God...

Image from dailyverses.net

Listen to the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3Cuzx4m

1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say-- 2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us, 3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; 4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; 5 then over us would have gone the raging waters. 6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! 7 We have escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124 RSV)

A blessed and safe Thursday for you all, ConCafe Family; and may the joy of the Lord be in you, Friend, in ways that bless others through you! Our prayers for the family of Eva Boscamp as she is laid to rest this morning. May God's grace and peace shine brightly on her family, friends, and church family. May our prayers continue for Ms. Gina Zapata and help in her recovering her strength and ability to walk on her own. May peace be yours as you pray for one another and for your own needs.

The psalmist, as is his custom, thanks God for all God has done for Israel, and for each member of that nation. And his list is very impressive as is his gratitude towards God. How is yours?

The theme this week as asked the question as to which side we are on. The reality was that all who love God and seek to serve Him should be on the same side. And while many nations, individuals, and other groups, the truth is that God has always been on the side of Israel. Re-read verses one through 5 again and see the psalmist's attitude; "If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side, let Israel now say--if it has not been the Lord Who was on our side, when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters." The psalmist's complete faith was in God, and truly believed and affirmed that God was on their side.

His was to always bless the Lord, as should be ours as well. Not all things work out in the manner in which we would like, but still God has been with us, has heard our prayers, and has smiled in our direction. Many have been the times we could have been easy prey for the enemy, whose teeth were so ready to swallow us whole; but our escape, like that of Israel was because of God's faithfulness and might. And to all this, he affirms, "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Indeed it is, and so should our faith be!

PRAYER: Awesome Father and Protector; great is Your name on earth, in Heaven above, and even in the depths of those places we cannot see; make great our faith in helping others to see what we have seen, to feel what we have felt, and to be what You have called us to be; in Christ we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be the light of hope in someone's darkness today.

Receive my blessings of hope and joy,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

For Such a Time As This!

Image from lectionarypoems.blogspot.com

Hear today's devotional right here: https://bit.ly/3CufByq

1 So the king and Haman went to dinner with Queen Esther. 2 At this second dinner, while they were drinking wine the king again asked, "Queen Esther, what would you like? Half of my kingdom! Just ask and it's yours." 3 Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor in your eyes, O King, and if it please the king, give me my life, and give my people their lives. 4 "We've been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed - sold to be massacred, eliminated. If we had just been sold off into slavery, I wouldn't even have brought it up; our troubles wouldn't have been worth bothering the king over." 5 King Xerxes exploded, "Who? Where is he? This is monstrous!" 6 "An enemy. An adversary. This evil Haman," said Esther. Haman was terror-stricken before the king and queen. 9 Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, spoke up: "Look over there! There's the gallows that Haman had built for Mordecai, who saved the king's life. It's right next to Haman's house - seventy-five feet high!" The king said, "Hang him on it!" 10 So Haman was hanged on the very gallows that he had built for Mordecai. And the king's hot anger cooled. 20 Mordecai wrote all this down and sent copies to all the Jews in all King Xerxes' provinces, regardless of distance, 21 calling for an annual celebration on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar 22 as the occasion when Jews got relief from their enemies, the month in which their sorrow turned to joy, mourning somersaulted into a holiday for parties and fun and laughter, the sending and receiving of presents and of giving gifts to the poor. ( The Message Bible)

A Joyous Wednesday for you, ConCafe Family; with blessings of hope and joy for those who need a special blessing from God. May you, Friend, be such a light for others; bring joy where there is sadness, comfort where there is pain; and light where there is darkness. And may our prayers be filled with righteousness and grace for those who have shared a need with us. Pray for one another, pray for your needs. I ask a special prayer for me, as I have accepted the honor of officiating the funeral of Mrs. Eva Boscamp, whose life blessed me and many. She will be laid to rest on Thursday; may God share with me the words I need with which to glorify Him and comfort those who hurt. Funeral details may have been shared with others through the church's email. Also prayers for our pastor, The Rev. Dr. Matt Pennington who travels this weekend to attend an important commitment he had with his wife, Brooke. We also should pray for Gina Zapata, for whom we prayed some time ago; her Mom reports that she is unable to walk on her own. Please pray for her healing.

We come to a most fascinating book, the book of Esther. The challenge for scholars is to find the name of God mentioned in its pages. You know, or should know, the basic premise of the story. The story is about the oppression of the Jews by their enemies, in this case from the area of India and Persia. The main character of the story is Esther, for whom the book is named. Esther is a beautiful woman, orphaned and cared for by her uncle, Mordecai, who sees Esther's beauty as a way to gain an "in" with the government that rules over them. When Mordecai sees that the king is holding a beauty contest to select his new wife, he encourages Esther to enter with a reference for this being her moment ("for such a time as this") to shine for the good of the Jews. This passage shows how all is well that ends well. The plot by the evil Haman is foiled and the gallows he had made in hopes of hanging Mordecai, were instead used to hang him.

The passage ends with the celebration that came as a result of this event, which is Purim, a Jewish celebration defined as "a joyous Jewish festival commemorating the survival of the Jews who, in the 5th century bce, were marked for death by their Persian rulers." While the actual name of God may not appear in this book, one can see God's hand in everything. We remember and celebtate that our God is a God of life and this passage is all about life for the righteous. The enemy of righteousness embodied by the human Haman, suffers his death for his role in trying to kill off the entire race of Jews. Note also how the poor are a part of the festival, signifying the importance of God's command to care for the poor, and the outcast, for they themselves once were among those. In keeping with this week's theme of working together as a team; the Jews see and ask for God to be on their side and realized that God is wanting them to work together to save themselves. It also serves to help those of us who wonder, am I still a child of God given what I've done, thought, said, or provoked? The Jews were wondering that, and as I mentioned above, though God was not present in name, God is always present in power, peace, and purpose. We have but to ask, listen, seek; and God will reveal all things to us in a real way.

If you think God has been absent in your life, please look again. If you think your prayers were not answered, think again. If you think that God has completely hidden Himself from your life and struggles, think again. God is right where He needs to be; the question should be, am I were God would have me be?

PRAYER: Loving God, make real to me Your presence and peace, especially during times when I have wandered away from You. Guide me to deeper faithfulness and service; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen,

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! As God makes Himself real in your life, show Him to others!

Receive my blessings of hope and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

The Awesomeness of Prayer!

Image from biblia.com

Hear the devotional read here: https://bit.ly/3hQC554

13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. 19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20 you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:13-20 NRSV)

Happy Tuesday, dear friends. May God's joyous blessings come your way, dear Friend, and may you in turn, share them with all who is in need! I ask for prayers for the family of Mrs. Eva Boscamp, who died yesterday, Monday, 9/20/2021. Eva was an incredible woman of faith, grace, and love. She took Nellie and I under her loving wings of prayer and concern when she met us, and loved to read and comment on my devotionals. She and I spoke often during this pandemic by phone and I will miss her smiling face in worship and her presence in my life. May God's comfort be with all who loved her. Prayers for all who have asked them from us; pray for one another and for your needs as well.

Who taught you how to pray? Was there a person who took time to model a way to pray? I learned from my grandmother Petra, the mother of my Dad. She took time to explain prayer, but I saw it modeled by both of my parents as well. I learned the hard way that not all prayers are answered either by our time or will. I had a beautiful Collie that looked just like Lassie, the famous TV dog of the show by the same name. Her only fault was thinking she could run after and catch all vehicles that drove down our caliche street. One day she lost to a Coca-Cola truck, and lay dying on the dusty street. My "Momo" helped pick up her body and took me to pray. My prayers were not answered as I wanted, but I learned that never deterred her from being a woman of prayer. Her love and lessons blessed me and prayer became a necessary part of life for me. I knew that prayer was that super extra that traveled with me all my life. It was also the extra that I asked of her and my mother, especially when I left home for college.

For the apostle James to write these few, simple, but powerful words, bless me. James also knew the extra that prayer brings to those who pray, especially when suffering. And notice how side by side, the extra is listed. "Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? The should sing songs of praise." Singing, as some music people have taught me, is a way of praying twice. James continued, "Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven." This short lesson shows us there is much involved in praying. It is a matter of using words in conversation with God, which is the foundation, but we can also use singing. Singing in and of itself is a lifting action; if sung with thanksgiving, it lifts our spirits for we are reaching beyond ourselves heavenward to thank God, and thus touching God. And if we are down, with sickness or illness, we can and should involve others. The lesson says to bring the "elders" of the church to come and pray with us. Elders in the ancient understanding were church leaders, strong in faith and those willing to move beyond their comfort zone to touch and anoint with oil with prayers for, notice this, for the salvation of the sick, and trusting that God will be the person who would heal and lift up the sick, AND, anything sinful in the sick would be removed and forgiven. That's what I would call a complete package of righteousness. James' dissertation on prayer continues with the need to confess our sins to one another, and we should pray for each other, and that will bring healing. Notice also that "the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective." James shares the example of the prophet Elijah, who through prayer, controlled the weather through God; and says that nothing blesses us more than to use prayer "to bring back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."

Our prayers should include our petition to God to make us righteous. It should include our desire to be truly God's servants who seek those for whom to pray. A truly righteous person never ceases to pray, always trusting God to make well and lift up those who are in need. And our desire is to help others find Christ and His salvation through our prayers. Our mission is not complete until we do our best to help others find their own salvation. Our mission is all about life and the fullness/abundance that Christ brings to us and those who ask.

PRAYER: Loving God, grant to us righteousness and faith. Increase our love for You and for others. May we seek to be people of prayer that we were called to be! May we glorify You and may we be quick to listen after we pray; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

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

Receive my blessings of love and joy,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Are We On The Same Team?

Image from agnusday.org

Hear the devotional read here: https://bit.ly/39kiG7H

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. 42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “ ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:38-50 New International Version)

Happy Monday, ConCafe Family. We pray that your life, witness, words, actions, reflect the light that so many are in need of seeing, hearing, and/or receiving; and you, dear Reader, may be just the one for the job. As we pray, let us pray for comfort and peace for the family of Lea Ann Brzozowski Wyant, a young wife, mother of two, and daughter, who died this past Friday. Hers is another of the deaths in the First UMC of Gonzales' family in so few days. May God's peace be with all who loved her and who miss her tremendously. Let us pray for the eradication of Covid, the victory over cancer, the spread of kindness among all people, and whatever needs you believe are needed at this point in time.

Should there be jealousy among Christians, Churches, religious movements, etc? The obvious answer is of course, no; but the truth is that there does arise tinges of it when some lines are crossed. In 1998 I made the most difficult decision of leaving my home conference, the Rio Grande Conference, and transfer into the Southwest Texas Conference. In my heart and soul, it was the necessary thing to do for my family, and for the work of the Lord. Most people understood. Some held me to be a traitor. I had a young man who joined my church, who was also from the old conference, In his dealings with his home church, a pastor said to him that I was a traitor. He paused and said, "Pastor Valverde has not preached any sermons on serving Satan, so as far as I can tell, he's still on the same side!" And that was a very good point. I understood the feelings of the one who thought I had truly "changed" sides, but I was still preaching the name of Jesus, inviting all to surrender to Him. And I remember my university days in Georgetown, when I noticed that two UMCs were across the street from each other. And some years later I saw the same thing in Ohio. The reality was that in Georgetown, it was a language issue that had one church across from the other. And the language was Swedish, if I am remembering correctly. In Ohio, these churches were from pre-1968 when the Evangelical United Brethren church merged with The Methodist Church, creating the United Methodist Church. Though the papers were signed in 1968 that year I preached among those churches of Ohio I discovered that The EUB was alive and well in some parts of Ohio. And as 2022 draws near, the question that many are asking, "What will become of The United Methodist Church?"

The disciples, in their travels for Jesus, had seen someone, who was "driving out demons in Your name, and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." Ouch. Aggressive disciples, no? And just this past Friday, on our way home, we were at a McDonald's near a shopping center where, as senior pastor of First UMC of Harlingen some years earlier, I saw a sign for a tiny church that had as its logo, the very familiar UM logo fo the cross and flame. I so wanted to leave a note saying, this logo is a copy-righted trademark of The United Methodist Church and as such, you must have permission to use it, or you must stop and desist. But, I figured I would instead pray for them and let the Lord use them for whatever purpose He had called them. So, I am guilty of having the same feelings as John and the other disciples who might have started this discussion with Jesus.

"Do not stop him," Jesus said, "For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward." Jesus knew the power of teamwork, especially when it came in the form of trying to defeat the common enemy. Satan is our enemy, not the church down the street. Pray for your neighbors who attend different churches, and thank God they belong to Him.

Jesus further says that our self-control as we do ministry is best kept under check. Any action we take to stir them up and away from God is not worth the effort. Jesus illustrates by speaking about our hands and how if our hands cause us to stumble, we should cut them off, as we should of our feet, and eyes. For Jesus believed it was better to enter life maimed than into hell with all our parts. Jesus spends time describing hell and the place it is, mainly separated from God and God's love. And quoting again from HIs Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of salt and of saltiness losing its saltiness. The best use of salt, Jesus say, is amongst us, the believers and enjoying peace with each other.

Life is too short to be spent in conflict and battle. At the end of the day it is best to rejoice in what we have, especially among each other, than to go to sleep in anger or frustration. This month marks yet another sad anniversary of the Alton, Texas bus accident, where almost 30 children lost their lives in a senseless early-morning bus crash with a Dr. Pepper truck. The local funeral director and I were tasked with setting up the temporary morque in a county pavilion. One little girl still had a hair brush in her hair, and later we found out the agony of the mother of one of the girls was that she and her daughter had fought about something, and now her daughter was gone. She would have given anything to have those last moments together and made them different. She cannot, nor can we. It is best to take stock of what truly and eternally matters, and seek peace among ourselves.

PRAYER: Loving Father, so heavy a cloud of sadness and sorrow surrounds our world due to countless deaths and ill-spoken words. Grant us the mind and peace of Jesus to truly enjoy each other, seeking that which unites us and makes us truly siblings in faith instead of that which can eternally divide us. May we truly be peace-makers as Jesus wants. In His name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Seek ways where you can make a difference between war and peace!

Receive my blessings of love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Trust in God

Image from dailyverses.net

Hear the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3lt1Itv

1 God, for your sake, help me! Use your influence to clear me. 2 Listen, God - I'm desperate. Don't be too busy to hear me. 3 Outlaws are out to get me, hit men are trying to kill me. Nothing will stop them; God means nothing to them. 4 Oh, look! God's right here helping! God's on my side, 5 Evil is looping back on my enemies. Don't let up! Finish them off! 6 I'm ready now to worship, so ready. I thank you, God - you're so good. 7 You got me out of every scrape, and I saw my enemies get it. (Psalm 54. The Message Version of the Bible)

Happy Thursday, ConCafe Family; and may God's opportunities make you a brilliant star of hope and peace with those who are in need. May God bring comfort, healing, joy, strength, peace, finances, etc to those who have been praying for those blessings. And may we do our part to bless God with our service and faithfulness.

The psalmist closes out the lectionary lessons for this week, whose theme has been pretty much along the lines of servant leadership. And as we studied a few weeks ago, the most common prayer in the Christian faith is "Help me, God!" And this one adds, "God, for Your sake, help me!" God is in the helping business. 24/7. if it were not so, we would always be in serious trouble.

David knew to trust in God, and his many accounts of his receiving help from God serve to strengthen our faith. We know in Whom to trust. We know our God is the final word in all things and in all situations. And if we need to have our situations resolved and cleared, God can do that. Even when we are desperate for assistance, God can help. And it doesn't matter who our enemy may be, even the chief villain, Satan himself, is a defeated foe. We may not have literal "outlaws" or "hit men" trying to get us, but the ones we do have are real enough and bothersome enough to make some want to quit and give up. And even though we may think God is not doing anything for the moment, the next moment our enemy is defeated. David's message, Don't give up! And when it's over, it's time for worship and our time to say thanks to God.

The account that David gives is that God is good all the time (yes, and all the time, __________!). If God can get David out of every scrape, God can get you and me out, too!

PRAYER: Loving God, grant us the victory over that which troubles us; and for those of us praying, "Help me, God," rush to their side and help them! Bless those who travel, those who can't walk, and those who need a quiet reassurance of Your peace; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be the peace that passeth all understanding in someone's life today.

Receive my blessings of peace and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Gentle Lamb

Image from laura8539.wordpress.com

Hear the devotional read here: https://bit.ly/3tHc1h8

18 The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then thou didst show me their evil deeds. 19 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more." 20 But, O LORD of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I committed my cause. (Jeremiah 11:18-20 Revised Standard Version of the Bible)

May the blessings of God be yours ConCafe Family on this Wednesday. And may your responses to God's leading blind the devil to the point of confusion so that you can bless even more people than ever! We continue our prayers for the needs of our brothers and sisters. We pray for one another, and for our needs.

The job of a prophet is never an easy one, nor a popular one. To answer yes to God's invitation to serve Him as a mouthpiece; that is to speak His truth even to an unreceptive crowd was one of the most difficult jobs on that era. Jeremiah was a faithful prophet. He spoke numerous things about the coming Messiah. No one was ready nor receptive it would seem to a message of needed change. His messages were as well received as guitar strums in the mid-60s in hallowed sanctuaries, or large screens and projectors in the midst of sacred space. Wait, Pastor Eradio, you're gone from preaching to meddling! The prophet is baring his soul, friends. He's speaking truth with pain. When one walks with God, God reveals a lot, including the coming troubles and trials for the faithful. And God revealed to Jeremiah what his contemporaries were up to; a nice surprise party of betrayal. Those who opposed God, opposed Jeremiah and their plans were far from nice; in fact, they were evil, as most opponents of God are capable of. What's sadder is their blindness to their deeds. They have rationalized their views from their own perspective and judged themselves as worthy and honorable. Yet, their desire to kill, steal, and destroy never works against God, nor does it fool Him. Jeremiah wrote that line that would also be prophetic about Jesus; "But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter." The betryal against prophets still hurts but yet, the image of God's Son as the willing Lamb, led to His slaughter, for OUR good blesses us; but the image of a faithful prophet targeted for his slaughter just to shut him up hurts. "Our pastor does not fit the purpose of this congregation; please send us another." Some members of whatever committee votes that actually believe that; the rest smile invisible, but not to God, their evil smile, hoping that a new pastor will not bother them and their real agenda. And still we wonder why the state of the church at this point of our history is in such disarray.

Jeremiah writes what we should hear and know; God knows our hearts and minds. Doesn't this sound like what we have been reading all week? Who among us is the greatest? I want to rule, I want to be in charge; from James' epistle lesson from yesterday. And today's truth that we can act holy, but we must be holy and in love with God, as we imitate Him; that leads to true holiness and servanthood that pleases God and blesses God's people. Oh, and by the way, God's way is life, not death. God's way is to build up, not tear down or break up. God's way is to heal, encourage, repair and mend; Satan's is the opposite.

Friends, true leadership is servanthood. It's not sitting at the head of the table, but wearing the mantle of the servant; one who washes the feet of the invited, or serves the meal to the hungry or see that all are fed and welcomed; and is the last to eat and the last to leave because they have been busy helping and blessing others. And yet, not the most sought after job is it? I heard a Christian comedian speak today on a social media post that what drive him to do what he does is to introduce the why behind his comedy and life. He illustrated that by asking a gentleman in the congregation, who was a renowned choral director, to sing a stanza of Amazing Grace. Using his beautiful baritone voice he sang a superb version of the classic gospel hymn. The comedian then asked him to sing it as if his uncle had just been released from prison and after having been shot in the back and yet surviving that attack. The man then sang a different style version of the hymn that made others seated around him to stand and clap and even made some to cry. The man explains the difference between the two versions. He said the first time the man sang he knew what he was going; the second time he knew the why behind it; and like his comedy, he wants people to know the why so they can walk in purpose. To know God is to know the why behind our purpose and our lives can be those lived and walked in purpose.

Friends, let's realize the truth behind why we believe so that we can bless God and bless others.

PRAYER: Loving Father, we thank You for being our Why. Let us live in a way that blesses You by walking in the purpose You have shared with us for our lives. May we be faithful and fruitful; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Walk in purpose in a blessed way that helps God be glorified.

Receive my blessings of hope, joy, and purpose,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

To see the video of the comedian, please click below:

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRxFVNLD/

You Want to Rule? Rule Yourself Into Servanthood

Image from dailyverses.net

Listen to today's devotional: https://bit.ly/3zbCTHn

13 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. 14 Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. 15 It's the furthest thing from wisdom - it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. 16 Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.17 Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. 18 You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. 1 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. 2 You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. 3 And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way. 7 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. 8 Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. (James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a The Message).

A blessed and peaceful Tuesday be yours, ConCafe Family. May you radiate God's light in all things, dear Reader, is my prayer for you. May God hear our prayers as we pray for one another and for the needs of one another. Pray for our world, for peace, for healing, and for comfort for those who need it.

The disciples walked with Jesus after having been taught by Him, and yet they argued about who among them was the greatest. Jesus had to reintroduce to them the idea of servanthood. And here, James writes about the same theme; serving others before yourself. What a novel concept to "live well, live wisely, live humbly. Waht really counts, James says, is how you live not how you talk. To blind oneself with ambition gains nothing for anyone. We cannot boast our way into wisdom's hall of fame. James says it's simply living like an animal and a demonic one at that. If you're trying to make yourself look better at the expense of others only leads to squabbles and divisions. Seek holiness, God's holiness by living a holy life and start getting along with others. Be a gentle, reasonable person, who is known for mercy and the blessings you give; and be a building part of a community that is known for living right before and with God; and because you treat others with dignity and honor, that community will grow.

As a superintendent I came to know which churches were robust and healthy because of the way they treated each other and their pastor. I also knew the bitter, foul minded organizations that sought only its way instead of God's. One church wanted, no, demanded, to know if a two-week vacation for their pastor needed to include two consecutive Sundays; while the other ignored the conference policy of two-weeks for relatively new pastors and gave their pastor four weeks vacation. And James says, "Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what's not yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your won way." Ouch, and double ouch. Hear more; "So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and He'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field."

Yesterday we spoke of the positive aspects of children and their lives; the reality is that until shown otherwise, selfishness may rule their behavior, and until their behavior shows love, compassion, and understanding, quarrels and fights will rule the day. The call is for what James said to be our call to attention; love God and imitate Him. Childlike wonder mixed with compassion goes further than a selfish inward-turned gimme, gimme, gimme that gets nothing and loses it all.

Where do you think God wants us? How shall we get there?

PRAYER: Loving and patient Father, speak to us Your wisdom and guidance. We truly want to be where You lead. We want to be the robust community of hope and faith, love and understanding; and You are the only one who can get us there. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show more love and peace today to all!

Receive my blessings of joy and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

In Order to Serve

Image from saintdavids.org

Hear the devotional right here: https://bit.ly/3A6AYFt

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:30-37 New International Version)

A blessed Monday be yours, ConCafe, filled with God's calm and peace. And may you, dear Friend, be a servant leader of God in all situations. I begin with some sad news from our church in Gonzales, TX. Mr. Doyle Allen died in his sleep on Saturday night. Mr. Allen was an active member of our church and owned a business in Gonzales. His daughter, Kylie Allen, just graduated from high school and is enrolled at Texas A&M. Please pray for all who loved him and may God's comfort be with them. Our prayers again for our pastor, The Rev. Dr. Matthew Pennington who has yet another funeral to do. This is his seventh in about three weeks. Pray the Lord sustain him with calm, peace, and wisdom. Please pray for his wife, Brooke, Drew, Nate, and Grace; who also suffer stress with what Pastor Matt has to do. He does not complain, but as a pastor I am well aware of the wear and tear on our lives and families. And may God be with you as well! I ask some prayers for this area where we are in our last week of enrollment because Tropical Storm Nicholas is planning on making landfall near us here in Cameron County where the forecast shows we may have some flooding later tonight (Monday, 9/13/2021). If rain does come in huge doses we will make our way to our daughter's home in Misison, TX, where the impace is expected to be minimal if at all. Pray for one another; pray for yourselves. Pray for the homeless who are susceptible to the elements.

Most of us do not want to receive bad news. And almost all of us do not want to hear news of someone dying or close to death. When Pastor Matt advised me of Doyle's death I was in shock. I could not believe that a young man like Doyle could die in his sleep. It was unexpected and shocked me. Imagine being one of the Twelve and hearing Jesus tell you about what was coming to Him. "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise." I don't know about you, but my mind would have wandered into very dangerous territory upon hearing that my Master and Savior would be delivered into the hands of men; let alone what followed that He would be killed... That would have been all I heard.

The psssage confirms my feelings and suspicions. They did not understand what Jesus had said and were afraid to ask Him about it. And what really blows my mind is that instead of asking Jesus about His pending death, they begin to argue as to who among them was the greatest. Okay, human nature, right? These common men, fisherman for the most part, who were now a part of an elite team of men with the Son of God teaching and leading them to who knew where? They saw unexplainable things and heard some of the amazing things of God. So... could it be that far from reality to assume that well, this went to their head?

Jesus knew what they had discussed and so when He had the chance, He sat with them and said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all." Whoa. What? Has Jesus seen the way some of us drive? I confess that I am among those. The old joke was if you took all the cars in the world and lined them in in a single line, there would still be someone from Houston trying to pass them all. The idea of being last in a freeway or a traffic jam gives us away. Jesus was serious. He took a child and sat the child among the disciples and said, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the One who sent me." In other parts of His story, Jesus speaks of being like a child when it comes to the things of God. A child has no time pressure on him/her; they wander and lollygag and squirm and squeal; what catches their attention is what draws their interest and attention. They fear little if they sense the presence of their parent nearby. They don't have an agenda for the day because they do not need one. They are provided for, and whenever the feel like it, they fall asleep. Jesus invites us to put a little childlike wonder and attention into our lives and realize that when we are walking with Him, we are walking with His Father, and as such, we need fear nothing.

PRAYER: Loving Father, hold us when we think we are too special and stressed. Guide us to the places where we sense the things that really matter and do not distract or detract us from what we truly need to be and do. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day iin the Lord. Be childlike in your schedule today but in a Godly way.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

I Love the Lord!

Image from bible.com

Click here to hear the devotional https://bit.ly/38SgmVk

1 I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy. 2 He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him. 12 What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me? 13 I'll lift high the cup of salvation - a toast to God! I'll pray in the name of God; 14 I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it together with his people. 15 When they arrive at the gates of death, God welcomes those who love him. 16 Oh, God, here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service! 17 I'm ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and pray in the name of God. 18 I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it in company with his people, 19 In the place of worship, in God's house, in Jerusalem, God's city. Hallelujah! (Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 The Message Bible)

May this be a special and blessed Thursday for you dear ConCafe Family! And may you, dear Friend, rejoice in He Who loved you first; then share that love with all with whom you can. By showing love you will make the world a better place for all. I have no updates on any of the persons for whom we have been praying; but we trust in God for His mercy and peace. Please pray for one another. Pray for your personal needs and the needs of those around you.

Remember being love-sick? Me neither. NO! I joke! Yes, of course I do, and so do most of you who are truly honest. You met the one you thought was "the one," and all your thoughts and dreams were focused on him or her; and you even found yourself carving initials in trees or desks in school. Or, you wrote her/his initials on the paper where you should have been taking notes. Your close friends understood, once you told them, and they still smiled that wicked smile of "you dog, you!" (or more current expression with which this old man is not familiar!). Have you ever been love-sick for God? Imagine David's heart; he was constantly in love with God and sought him. When he realized the mercy God had shown him, he loved God all the more. As he realized that God heard his prayers, he loved God even more. And having a grateful heart, David asks the question, what more can I do for You, loving God? I can't begin to out-give God! God wins every time! His love is greater than mine; as His generosity and His mercy and grace. I could try getting up earlier and seeing what more I could give or do, and God would be across the finish line, smiling with pride at you for your having even tried. David then remembered the vows he had made to God and vowed again to fulfill them. And, realizing the realit of life, David says that on the other side of this life, God awaits those who love Him, and welcomes them with open arms. And David says a precursor to our Communion prayer, "Free us for joyful obedience: with his "Set me free for your service." And indeed, David's heart and spirit are set for a thanksgiving sacrifice and again, vows to fulfill the vows he has made before the Lord, in the company of like believers and friends, who all seek to praise and serve the Lord in the church, in God's Holy City, wherever they may find themselves; they are ready and willing to serve Him.

So, dear one, show your love for God in ways that please and honor Him, and that serve to bless and strengthen you in your daily walk with Him. Let all this be solid inspiration for God's people, but especially those who would be God's people soon. The harvest is ready, we just have to ask God to send us laborers to work among us to bring all who belong to God, home among the faithful.

PRAYER: Loving Father, may we seek You in all we say, think and do; but especially in areas where we know we are lacking. Help us bring in the harvest to You, loving God; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Write your initials with love on God's heart with a special blessing to honor and please Him.

Receive my blessings of peace, hope, and joy!

Pastor Eradio Valverde

It Is the Lord God Who Helps Us!

Image from africanparadiseworld.com

Listen to the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3ncVGQ8

4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9 It is the Lord God who helps me (Isaiah 50:4-9a NRSV)

A blessed and wonderful Wednesday be yours, ConCafe Family. And may you find in God the help you need to face what you face. Dear Friend, shine brightly the light of Christ in all ways and places. We thank God for His faithfulness. I thank God for the late prayer request I placed in the Facebook posting of ConCafe, asking prayers for our grandson, Eli Ryan Muñoz, who was running high grade fevers. The fevers rose and fell. He finally had a chance to see his doctor on Tuesday afternoon at 5 pm and the doctor found he had a virus common among children. Please continue to pray for him. Please honor God by praying and listening to Him in all things. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.

I write two things in my daily planner always. They serve a deep purpose of reminding me who I am, and what I need to do. The first one is two words. Glorify God. That's a big statement in two words, but it is a strong reminder that everything I do, in writing, speaking, listening, and interacting, I am to say, think, write, speak, hear, and do all things that I can, to make God real and honored and praised. The second is a bit longer. I write, Pray and Listen. It was late in life and ministry that I realized I can be too busy sometimes and my prayers are not what they should be, and worst, my listening to God is not what it should be, but after all, I have shared an expectation with Him, I should at least listen to what God may be saying to me. I strive to be a servant in the employ of God. I am far from perfect, yet I know that God still loves me and gives me new opportunities each and every day in which I can be even better than today.

I do relate to the words of the prophet, Isaiah. He understood his difficult role in God's kingdom. His job was to teach those who were usually not willing to listen. I believe that in some people they carry the gene that dictates the urge to go to, but not listen to, whatever might be holy that might change their lives. And it's a gene that gets passed down until in one generation, in one individual, it suddenly, in some cases, or in others, a slow work of things, a light goes off in the heart or mind, and the person says, "Aha! Now I understand!" And the change happens, and being in holy places in no longer just a thing to do; it becomes a thing to be. And soon, this person might even be like the prophet who feels the need to "sustain the weary with a word." The pattern of this "new" person is to awaken with an eager listening ear to listen to what God may share with them, and in turn, share that word with others.

Isaiah admits that at some point he was not an eager listener, but the day came when God made him no longer rebellious, and began charting his/her course forward in God's direction. In fact, his entire perspective towards life changed; giving back to those who struck him, and even offering his cheeks to those who pulled his beard; and did not try to hide from those who insulted him and spat on him. And he knows the reason why; God was with him. And God being with us is more powerful than anything else. His faith was made strong and he looked forward to the future. He becomes one who fears nothing nor no one; God reigned supreme in his heart and would do all he could to make God more real to all. What caused this man's turnaround? Read the last verse again; "It is the Lord God who helps me." And is God who helps you in your struggles.

PRAYER: Loving Father, we trust You and we truly want to do our part in sharing You. Give us awakened ears and renewed hearts to praise and serve You. Give us the victory in all things, especially that which we face. Our illnesses, our weaknesses, our fears, our doubts; may they pale as our faith increases. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! What will you write in your planner that blesses God and you?

Receive my blessings of hope and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Are You a Tongue Tamer?

Image from gospeldads.com

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

1 Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. 2 And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life. 3 A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. 4 A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. 5 A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything - or destroy it! 6 A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. 7 This is scary: You can tame a tiger, 8 but you can't tame a tongue - it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. 9 With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. 10 Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! 11 A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? 12 Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? (James 3;1-12 The Message Bible)

Happy, tremendous Tuesday, ConCafe Family! And may you, dear Friend, awaken to the splendors of faith all around you today! I am thankful to the Lord to report the surgery on my aunt, Aurora Meza, went well. May we pray that her recovery and healing be swift and complete. May we also remember the family of Gonzales County Sheriff, Robert Ynclan, who died on Sunday from Covid. May God's comfort be with his family. Also, prayers for a dear sister in Christ, Ms. Bonnie Blayney of San Antonio is having surgery on her left femur. May all go well and may her recovery be speedy and as pain-free as possible. Also, prayers for Ms. Lea Ann Wyant, who is in ICU also battling Covid; may God heal her and deliver her from this dreaded disease. LATE REQUEST: Prayers for our grandson, Eli Muñoz, who has a high fever. He arrived in Houston with that fever. Pray for his healing! Thank you for your prayers! May God's blessings and protections be with you and yours.

There are two main themes in this passage, dear ones. The first is the seriousness of being a teacher. In older versions, it clearly says that teachers are held to higher and stricter standards. And this of course applies to any teacher, but those who would undertake the awesomeness of teaching God's word should heed that advice closely. I've shared how our oldest when we had been in a new church for only a few weeks, suddenly developed stomachaches and other maladies and did not want to go to Sunday school any more. When Nellie quizzed her about it, it was revealed that her teacher, who was not a fan of mine, used the hour lesson to criticize my sermons and ministry. I still feel more sadness than anger that a person could honestly take the hour of sacred teaching time and waste it on making someone else look bad. I can find nothing Christian or even sane about that. I remember not wanting my Sunday school classes to end when the teacher was truly gifted and passionate about what s/he was teaching. The other theme, and closely related to this is how the tongue can be easily uncontrollable and used for anything other than building up the Body of Christ. James compares the need to tame it to a bit in a horse's mouth or the rudder on a ship; and how a tongue, when used improperly destroy lives, careers, reputations, etc. We should use our tongues for good, like blessing God our Father, instead of cursing the very men and women God made in His image. For James, and it should be for us as well, unbelievable to think that out of the same mouth can come curses and blessings! In Spanish we used to ask, or be asked, "¿Con esa boca comes?" (You eat with that mouth?), meaning how can you put good food in your mouth when you use it like a potty? Be like the spring that gushes forth pure water all the time! And let our mouths spew forth only life, and life-affirming words.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help us stop the awful practice of using our mouths to spew forth praises and curses. May our lips, mouths, and tongues be instruments of praise and life. May we build up the Body of Christ with words of hope, peace, and joy. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Use you mouth to bless five different people with the most awesome, life-giving thoughts you can share with them today!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Say Jesus is Lord, then Serve Him!

Image from emmanuelalbany.net

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

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:27-38 NIV)

Happy and blessed Monday to you ConCafe Family! And may you, dear Reader, rise to meet all the challenges and opportunities that the Lord shares with you; make His name known today! As we pray, please add the name of my only living aunt, Mrs. Aurora Meza, of Chicago, Illinois. She fell and needs hip surgery. She is my Dad's sister, and the only living family member of that generation. Pray for her healing. Please continue to pray for those who have asked prayers of us, and may we glorify God by our faithfulness. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.

Imagine if we ever stopped saying the name of Jesus. What would the result be? Would the faith die? Would we die? The answer is that, thank God, there is no way that anyone who ever has experienced the transformation that Jesus offers to us, would be quiet about the change and blessings that have come our way because of Him! Yet, critics have always said that we are always one generation away from the elimination of the Christian faith. Some naysayers have delighted in ages past when it seemed that yes, this could be the end of that nonsense of Jesus. Nope. They were wrong. The reality is that we continue to hear that each day another person, somewhere, and in some way, comes to faith in our Lord and Savior. And that is what makes our faith strong. The key question, like the one Jesus poses, still holds true; Who do we say Jesus is, and how do we back up what we believe with our actions? The one I heard when I was in high school: If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict?

Jesus knew His name would be known soon enough both by those who would come to know and follow Him, and those who wanted Him removed from the face of the earth. Soon, there were rumors as to Who Jesus really was. So, He asked the disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" Very similar to what some may ask about your church; "What goes on in that church?" The disciples, who did go in and out among the people of the villages, heard what they shared; "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." The people knew their history and soon enough, they knew the news around them. John the Baptist and his ministry impacted a lot of people, as did eventually his death. Elijah was considered one of the greatest of the prophets and knew of the scriptures talk of his return, so they did not doubt the possibility of something God said might happen, actually happening. And for Jesus to be one of the prophets was a possibility as well. But then, Jesus brings it to a personal level; "But what about you?" Yes, the sort of question of what do you say about your church and its ministry and mission? "Who do you say I am?" It's Peter. My hero, who says, "You are the Messiah." If nothing else, you have to admire the man's faith and boldness. He was, after all, the only human to ever walk on water. And, not to rub it in, Jesus did say that he would have the keys of the kingdom which allowed jokemakers to start all those jokes about Peter being the guy who decides if you get in or not? LIke the one... just kidding. For now.

The question surrounding the next statement that Jesus is credited with having said in many passages; "Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him. Some believe He did want them to talk about what He was doing and used reverse psychology on them; or, Jesus really meant what He said. I tend to agree with the latter. His ministry depended not on reactions but on responses. What we do when we come to faith matters more than what we initially think about Him. Jesus does take this opportunity to share with them what was in store for Him and this angered the man with the keys. "Get behind me, Satan!" Jesus tells him, "You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." The Jesus lays out the reality of discipleship. It begins with our self-denial. This is so difficult for so many. For some it may mean putting aside plans made for personal gain, wealth or fame. This has happened to many, too. It means finally putting God first in our lives and seeking to live a life that honors only Him. Discipleship also means taking full and complete responsibility of the cost that may come with our positive response to the Lord. Taking up our cross means yes, there may come some difficult things in our faith-walk, including some so serious it is implied not explained. The truth, Jesus says, is that whoever wants to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for the sake of God, will find it. What good, Jesus asks, comes from gaining the whole world and losing our soul? And if we are ashamed of Jesus during this shameful and sinful generation, Jesus will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory to gather us His own.

Who do we say Jesus is? There's only one answer; Jesus is either our savior or not. We surrender to Him or we don't. We live as if we believe or as if we don't. I say we decide to say Jesus is OUR Lord and to live like that (in other words, serve Him!)

PRAYER: Loving Father, hear as we pray that we might become truly Your disciples. Forgive us for the times we have chosen us over You; and our will over Yours. May we make Your name real; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Live as a true disciple in ways that others may see Him in you.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

No Matter What, I Will Praise the Lord!

Image from biblia.com

Hear the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3t5sdJ0

1 Hallelujah! O my soul, praise God! 2 All my life long I'll praise God, singing songs to my God as long as I live. 3 Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. 4 Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. 5 Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing! 6 God made sky and soil, sea and all the fish in it. He always does what he says - 7 he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry. God frees prisoners - 8 he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen. 9 protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked. 10 God's in charge - always. Zion's God is God for good! Hallelujah! (Psalm 146 The Message Bible)

A blessed Thursday to you dear ConCafe Family. I thank God for you, Friend, and your life and your servant attitude when it comes to prayer. Last night I received that email about the young mother who caught Covid while in the hospital and has not allowed her to hold her newborn infant Isaiah. Pray for Amara Rodriguez' healing; pray that God answer our prayers and allow this new family has a great start. Also, a reader from Karnes City, TX., has asked "please add Joshua Smolik to your list as he’s been in the hospital going on two weeks." Our prayers for those who have asked for prayer and whose needs are ever in our hearts. Share a prayer for your neighbor, for your worst enemy, and for your needs.

This is the tie that closes the week's scriptures that have shared the same theme of God's role in our creation, and our role in praising Him and doing His will. The psalmist starts with the childhood conviction he made to always praise God. Early in his life, he knew he had a God-given ability to write songs and sing, and so he used them to praise God. And by so doing, he had placed his life in the hands of the only One who is able to guide, bless, and protect; and that is our Heavenly Father.

The other day I heard the late George Carlin speak on motivational books. He basically asked why do we need motivational books. "Isn't the fact you have driven yourself to the bookstore to buy a motivational book be success enough? Use that same determination to complete whatever else you wanted to do!" I had never heard that before and it had me laughing, because have often thought about writing such a book and when I walk through the Self-Help aisle of the bookstore I wonder if we indeed need another book that promises to help others get from here to there; wherever "There" may be. The psalmist asks the same sort of question by saying, "Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life." He has a point about those who say they have answers but live lives of questions not yet answered. And if the question is about salvation life, then only those who know salvation can guide those who want to know more. A big-name Ivy League school made news by hiring an atheist as their campus pastor. This shows the state of the Church, the Campus, and society in general these days. For this same school to have hired a salvation-knowing, Bible-believing pastor would have had editorials and uprising among faculty and students alike, questioning the direction the university was taking by hiring an "out-of-touch" quack. Sigh.

The psalmist continues with stating what he believes is true; "Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing!" Indeed, it is only in God that we can find the hope we need for our.lives and our future. Whatever plans, hopes, and dreams that we have for tomorrow rest better in the hands of He Who knows all things, guides all things, and makes possible all things; our plans will count for nothing if we plan thinking we can do it alone. God is creator. God is the defender of those who are wronged. God is the One who feeds the hungry, and God is the One who can free the prisoners. God gives sight to the blind. God lifts up the the fallen; protects the stranger, and Who takes the side of orphans and widows. God also will take care of the wicked. The psalmist knows that God is always in charge. And God is the eternal God who will never be removed or replaced. Hallelujah. Amen.

My name and life appear in more than one of the list towards the end of the above paragraph, as I'm guessing yours does too. Even though I believe myself to be in the category of one who knows and live "salvation life," I have been wronged. More than once. I have been almost at the point of having nothing to eat. I have been a stranger ignored, yes, even in churches. I have been, multiple times, a prisoner of my own sin. I have been blind to the needs of others. I have fallen, and God has picked me up; yet I have always have known that God is in charge, even in times I tried making my own decisions thinking I knew what was best. God is eternal. Amen.

PRAYER: Loving God, You may chuckle when we make plans and violate our trust in You. Help me to live a life of obedience and trust. Help me be the example that helps others find their way to and in, God. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Be the hope of someone new today.

Receive my blessings of hope and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

In A Perfect World..

Image from biblia.com

Hear the devotional here: https://bit.ly/2V40QlT

4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you." 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water (Isaiah 35:4-7a New Revised Standard Version of The Bible)

A blessed Wednesday be yours, ConCafe Family. And may that which you lack, face, fear, find in God's word your comfort, strength, and peace. Our prayers should be focused on those in need, those who hurt, those who cry, those who tremble with cold, seek shelter from the heat, or food for their stomaches, and water for their thirst. May God hear our prayers and bless those who fit that description. Today, the family of Mr. Tom Lester, Jr., pay their last goodbyes to him as they lay him to rest. May God comfort and bless Tammy and their children; and Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Pam Lester, Sr., who will say goodbye to their son. Prayers for Tom's siblings, his family and friends. May the light of peace and hope shine through the worship service and may resurrection be his, and ours. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves as well.

During the last two nights I have been visited by thoughts of what we would love to see in a perfect world. The more I think on this, the longer the list gets, and the tougher that it seems to live in such an imperfect world. It seems like a wish list, but speaks of the hurt and pain we encounter. With your permission I share this in the hope that you be blessed and strengthened. The list, at least this list, is not finished, nor will it ever be, but we pray that the hope behind this will be stronger with every reading.

In a Perfect World, Grandchildren would not live more than five minutes from grandma and grandpa. In a Perfect World, Ice cream would be a mandatory dessert for any meal eaten after 9 a.m. In a Perfect World, No one would go hungry, either at bedtime, or upon awakening each day. In a Perfect World, No one would ever be thirsty; water would be clean and fresh In a Perfect World, No parent would ever outlive their children. In a Perfect World, No wife would see her husband buried at a young age. In a Perfect World, No husband would see his wife buried at a young age. In a Perfect World, No child would see the burial of their Mom or Dad. In a Perfect World, Brothers would not bid farewell to the body of a sister or brother. In a Perfect World, Sisters would not bid farewell to the body of a brother or sister. In a Perfect World, Tears would not stain our pillows at night. In a Perfect World, Laughter would be required at all gatherings. In a Perfect World, People would not hate others because they looked different from them. In a Perfect World, No door would slam in the face of those seeking shelter or food. In a Perfect World, Love would not be a stranger to so many. In a Perfect World, Churches would not be empty, nor fighting from within.

But this was once a perfect world, set inside a garden paradise, populated by God's chosen two. And because God loved the two, everything was provided, and yet evil found its way in, and the perfect world was no more. Yet, this only put God into action in trying to restore the world back to the way God had wanted; love, peace, harmony, kindness, and civility would be the new norms and signs of God's presence in this fractured world. And though God tried with prophets, judges, kings, and queens; God knew that the perfect world might not be possible here without God doing something extraordinary, and that would involve the sending of His Son, Jesus. The passage for today is part of the massive stage-setting that was necessary to be shared with those who hoped and waited for God. God's message is reflected in the words of the great prophet Isaiah, who speaks to the fearful, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense;" meaning that those who purposefully violated what God expected would receive their just reward. The message of God was positive, "He will come and save you." And signs of this coming would include the blind receiving sight, and the deaf having the ability to hear again. In unexpected areas where water was not normally found, "Waters shall break forth, and streams in the deserts; the perpetually hot desert sand would become pools for refreshing and cooling; and pools from which the thirsty could drink. The passages for this coming Sunday all confirm that. The gospel of Mark shared how Jesus helped the blind, the demon-possessed and the deaf would be restored. The perfect world is coming/

In the coming Perfect World, Hunger, thirst, sadness, loneliness will be no more. In the coming Perfect World, Death and crying will be no more. In the coming Perfect World, Life and love will never end. In the coming Perfect World, God will be among us and we shall want no more.

PRAYER: Loving God of the present and coming world, speak hope to us who struggle now with Your word of peace and joy. Help us be the people who bless others in trying to make this imperfect world even better while we wait for the coming perfect world. This is our hope and our prayer, and we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Be an advance person for the coming perfect world today!

Receive my blessings of hope and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde