What Are We?

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Listen to the devotional here: https://bit.ly/31apSmx

1 God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name. 2 Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs That drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble. 3 I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. 4 Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? 5 Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden's dawn light. 6 You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, repeated to us your Genesis-charge, 7 Made us lords of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, 8 Birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps. 9 God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world. (Psalm 8 The Message Bible)

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth! Thou whose glory above the heavens is chanted 2 by the mouth of babes and infants, thou hast founded a bulwark because of thy foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established; 4 what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him? 5 Yet thou hast made him little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor. 6 Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea. 9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth! 8 Birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps. 9 God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world. (Psalm 8 Revised Standard Version Bible)

Happy Thursday, dear ConCafe Family! May the last Thursday of 2021 bring you renewed hope and joy for life, and for the arrival of a New Year, dear Friend. Let us continue to pray for those who are in need, and let us renew our commitment to serve the Lord by serving those who are in need. Pray for one another. Pray for your own needs.

The older I get the more I reflect on myself and the world in which I live. Each day brings me renewed faith in God and a longing to better serve Him. And as I ponder things I speculate on the why behind some of the things that don't please God and that qualify as sin. And I'm more and more convinced that a root cause of sin is immaturity. I said "a," as there are more root causes, but as we read this passage, let;s see where immaturity plays in this. By immaturity, I speak of our making decisions based on our own needs, wants, and desires. all without regard to thinking about anyone else, last of all, God. It is the exact opposite of what the psalmist wrote in this beautfiul psalm. An example would be to take every name and reference to God and replace it with our name and you will see what I am talking about. Imagine, "O Me, Sweet me, how precious and awesome is my name in all my earth..." You get the picture quickly. This is all about God and not about us; it is our self-centeredness that gets us into trouble and into sin. We are invited by God to get to this point of surrender and converstion into a right relationship with Him.

King David was, like you and me, not perfect. He was, after all, "a man after God's own heart." Yet, it was in a moment of temptation that he surrendered into the desire of wanting the woman he saw bathing on her rooftop. That encounter led to her pregnancy and that drove him further into sin, but asking the hustband of the woman to return home and tries to lure him into being with his wife so that he would believe the child was his. Uriah, the husband, was a good and faithful soldier, and would not allow the comforts of home to stand between his loyalty to the king and to his fellow soliders. It was then that the king orders the death of Uriah, to free Bathseba into becoming the kings' wife. A visit from God's prophet, Nathan, allowed David to see the error of his ways leading David to write Psalm 51, a psalm of repentance. Here are some verses from this psalm: "2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment. "

As we draw to the point of closing out this year, it lends itself to an honest and thorough reflection of just who we have been, and what we have done. We do not have to confess to anyone our sin, except to God; as it is only God Who can forgive us and restore us. May this psalm in which we see the heart of one who truly loves and wants to be in right with God, guide us to the right relationship with our Lord. May we be led to see others in their praising of God, such as "nursing infants (who) gurgle choruses about (God); and toddlers shouting the songs that even defeats offensive talk against God, and gaining a new perspective on creation and all the beauty of the earth. And lt leads to an honest re-evaluation of ourselves and our relationship with God. And that would lead to new forms of praise and worship of our God. God has given humanity a special place in His creation, but it is a place of great responsibility and privilege. It is meant for us to be stewards of creation, caring for each other, and caring for those creatures over which we have dominion. When we come through with our doing what God has asked, we indeed then give God's name majesty in all the earth. Make God's name echo around the world with your faithfulness!

PRAYER: Loving God, as we pray, we lift Your name on high. May we do more to that praise by doing what You have asked of us. May we care for one another; love one another, and care for those creatures over which we have dominion in ways that bring You more praise. Forgive for those times when we have strayed from Your path and sought to glorify our immaturities. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a good steward of love and care for others.

Receive my blessing of wellbeing and joy,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

paypal.me/eradiovalverde

Turn, Turn, Turn!

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Listen to the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3sEmGL4

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 What gain have the workers from their toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. 11 He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; 13 moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 New Revised Standard Version Bible)

Happy last Wednesday of the year, ConCafe Family! And may this be a great day of blessings and joy, Friend, as you journey towards the start of a New Year, and quite possibly, a NEW YOU! Thank you for your prayers for Eli; he's well! And may that be true also of those who have asked prayers of us. Pray for one another. Please pray for Mr. Enrique Ramirez, the husband of The Rev. Noehmi Ramirez, pastor of La Santissima Trinidad UMC, Seguin. Enrique had open-heart surgery with four by-passes on December 7th. He's home and recovering there. Pray for his well-being and recovery. Prayers for Mr. Michael Ramirez, of San Antonio, who underwent surgery and lost his right foot. Prayers for his time in rehabilitation. Michael is the son of the late Rev. Fortunato Ramirez of the Rio Grande Conference. Michael and his family are long time family friends of ours.

In 1959, folk singer Pete Seeger took the first eight verses of this passage and made the song, Turn, Turn, Turn. The Limelighters also took a shot of this song, but it wasn't until 1965 that the song became a number one hit on the Billboard charts on December 4, 1965 thanks to The Byrds' version of the song. It's still one of my favorite songs. If you've never heard it, I will place a link to a YouTube version you can hear, below.

The text is credited to King Solomon, known also as The Preacher of Song of Solomon, and this passage. Given his position and wealth, he certainly had the time to sit and ponder and compose all that is credited to him. The words are simple, but profound. They show one who has had time to reflect on life and the purpose behind life. What do you get out of this passage? How can it better your perspective towards life? Towards God?

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Besides the four seasons that most parts of the world enjoy, there are seasons for other things that come during our lives. And to this, the writer says, these are "under heaven," meaning the jurisdiction of God. And what are these seasons? And how do we prepare for them?

There is birth. This is usually a beautiful "season," and one in which usually nine months, on average, in which to plan. I will never forget the birth of each of our four. The first saw me wait in the movie set that could have been the McAllen Medical Hospital in downtown McAllen. The room had well worn carpet and I added to it. The path was made by worred dads. After twenty-two hours of delivery pains, our doctor ordered an X-ray and deteremined a C-section would be best. By the time I got to the father's waiting room I was more than ready to see my baby. The doctor promised that it would not take that long for the baby to be delivered. Once I heard the cries of a baby, I knew it was my baby. There was a tiny elevator from the floor above where deliveries were made, and once the door opened, out comes the pediatrician with a mobile bassinet with our baby in it. "Hey, Dad!" the doctor said, "Here's your baby!" Our little one was crying her head off, so I thanked God for her healthy lungs, and I began to talk to her. Once she heard my voice she stopped crying and opened her eyes as if to say, "I know that voice!" I was in heaven! God had blessed us with our first baby, a baby girl, who I was going to name after her mother, Nellie Maria. (By wife's name is Maria Nellie, thanks to the baptizing priest who informed my in-laws that Nellie was not a "Christian name." So, I told my wife that if we had a baby girl, she would be named Nellie Maria, with Maria being her two grandmothers' name). Once Nellie was out of the surgery room, she was wheeled by me. "She's pink! She's beautfiul! And she looks like me!" was all I could think to tell my beautfiul wife. I could tell Nellie was happy but in pain. God had blessed us.

Then there's the season of death. We talked about it yesterday in the Revelation passage. No one can truly ever adequately prepare for death other than having the right relationship with God, trusting that everything we believed will see us through. I was never sheltered from funerals. I attended more Rosarys, wakes, funerals, burials, as a chid than I knew what to do with. I never got accustomed to hearing the crying and wailing, but soon enough came to know the why behind it.

There are seasons to plant, and to harvest what is planted. There are seasons to kill, a reality for kings whose nations were attacked or threatened with war, or for hunters who had to kill to eat, to live. And there is a healing season, in which we rest and allow healing to come and recovery do its work.

There is a season to take down that which has served its purpose and to make room for the new; and right along with it, a time to build up what was taken down.

There are season that bring reasons to cry, as there are season in which we laugh. There are mourning seasons as there are season in which we dance. There are seasons when throwing rocks is perceived as necessary, which was all the time for young boys in South Texas; and season come where we need to gather up stones. There are season in which we hug; and there are seasons when we refrain from doing that; you know, because of social distancing and pandemics. There are seasons when we seek that which we need; and a season in which we do lose. Seasons where we know to keep things, and a time for us to throw away things (these I need to visit and re-visit again and again!). There are seasons when we have to tear things, and seasons when we have to sew. There are seasons when we keep quiet and times when we don't. There are seasons when we love, and seasons when we hate. There are seasons when we go to war, and seasons when we need peace.

God has made all things suitable for their time, declares the preacher (author). And he adds God has placed in us a sense of past and future in our minds and still, we sometimes cannot figure out how God is indeed working in and through us. The writer then discusses what he believes God expects; He believes it is best for us to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we live; for he believes it is God's pleasure for us to eat and drink and take pleasure in our of the work we do. The key, of course, is to remember Who is in charge; what He has provided, and how He will guide us with each season in our lives, come when they do. Our prayers, worship times, Bible study and reflection, all aid us in keeping our eyes on Jesus.

PRAYER: Loving Father, in Your hands are all the seasons of our lives. You know exactly where this dear reader finds themselves right now, so guide and bless them. And help us all, draw closer to You, closer to each other, and to fully be in touch with ourselves; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Find out the season someone close to you might be going through, and help them!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Song, Turn, Turn, Turn: https://bit.ly/3HcYYJS

How to Live and Give

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Listen to the podcast here, and please forgive the "sounds" of Christmas still strong in the Valverde household! ;). https://bit.ly/3JjN42K

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46 New International Version Bible)

Happy Monday dear ConCafe Family and may the continued blessings of this Christmas be with you, dear Reader. This coming Sunday is the second Sunday of Christmas, but today we will be looking at passages related to Christmas and New Year planning. May this bring blessings for our lives is my prayer.

I pray you received gifts that blessed your life. More importantly, I pray you gave gifts that blessed your life because you gave. The best gift I ever received as a child was the James Bond attache case. It was plastic and had an assortment of keen spyware that I enjoyed using. Actually, I was pretending I was a spy and that the plastic equipment really worked. It seemed I always had an extra roll of caps, the explosive red tape with black dots of gunpowder that was the ammo for cap guns, which in this case was used on the lock of the note pad. Any unauthorized user would get scared wtih the loud pop of that cap if they opened it wihout knowing how. The best gift I ever received as an adult was on a Christmas Eve many years ago. I was an intern minister and that night I served as the narrator for the pagaent and when it was over I was driving home to Houston. I helped clear up and clean up, and had to say goodbye to the young woman I was dating. She had been at the service so she could say goodbye to me. We said our goodbyes and as I'm rolling the window down to say and hear goodbyes, my lady is crying. Suffice it to say no girl had ever cried for me before. And it was an amazing display of love that I came to cherish and love. Christmas lends itself to either be greedy and demand a great many things, or, it can be a time to give like never before and bless others.

Jesus shares this teaching as both a revelation of what is to come, and a discovery of how things are in so many hearts in each country. Jesus teaches that a judgment is coming when all things end here on the earth. Jesus says that all the nations of the world will stand before Him and a great separation will take place. Using the most common illustration of His day on earth, this separation will be just like shepherds did on a daily basis; sheep and goats. The sheep will go on His right, and the goats on His left. Those on the right, the sheep, "Will be blessed" by the Father, and will inherit the kingdom prepared for them since the creation of the world. And their place was earned by their thoughtfulness and generosity. Hear Jesus tell us why; "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Wow. It was those who thought enough of the needs of others, who did something about it, who will inherit the kingdom of God. Of course, on that day, the righteous may ask, "Lord, when was it that we saw You hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?" The King will say, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the lease of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me."

The ones of the left did not fare as well as those on the right. And it will be because of their self-centeredness and selfishness, dare we say the lack of thoughtfulness, that will doom their eternity. I'm sure the excuses will be plentiful, as will the tears once the realization sinks in that a life lived for self provides no life for others, and measures taken to insure one's own wellbeing, and at the cost of other's, results in denying others, and they will be the ones, at the end, denied entry into God's kingdom.

How can God be so harsh? will be a question that many have asked. Equally, we can ask, how can we be so harsh and self-centered when we know we can and should share life with others? I've shared how when as a DS at a meeting where I would meet with the S/PPRC members about their new pastor, I would bring five loaves of white bread, and five of wheat. I would say that their first order of business should be to seek ways to feed the many levels of hunger in their communities, starting with the physical hunger. At the very first meeting where I introduced that, one woman immediately got angry and declared that there was no hunger in their community. "They all get food stamps! There's no hunger here!" And some more of her ranting. When she stopped, a kind gentleman asked, "Can I have two loaves? I know two families that do not have any bread to eat." I saw there seated before me, a lamb and a goat. Sigh. You probably know a lot of lambs and goats. And our job is to get goats to change over their hearts into being lambs. It will make the difference between a life cursed or a life blessed.

I have been blessed in that I was born into a family where we sought God, my father worked hard, as did my mother inside the home, and we sought to better ourselves with an education. We never lacked for anything, and that was a blessing to us. We had food at all meals with that one exception where our Friday meal was delayed because my father worked overtime. At dinner time, our neighbor was somehow aware of our lack of food and came upstairs to our apartment and shared with us her last can of Spaghetti-O's. With extra water we all had a bowl of that for our supper, then Dad came home, and we went shopping at the Kroger a little later than normal. And I thank God we have never lacked for drinking water. Yes, we lived in Corpus Christi, where three times in the seven years there, the city placed boil orderss to make sure the water was clean and safe. And through all the list we have been blessed by God and we thank Him for those blessings. A priest who served in Mexico shared how one of his parishioners lived in a hovel barely adequate for human occupancy, but his heart allowed his voice to say, "Father, aren't I blessed? I am living like a king because God has provided this palace for me!" The priest shared how indeed this man's attitude and gratitude has already blessed many. Have we? The tougher question is how have we shared with those in need? Are we living as sheep or as a goat?

PRAYER: Loving Father, as we wind down the Christmas season and rapidily approach the New Year, may we realize what it is we are to do for others to bless them and share with them new life. Help us overcome our greed or fear or whatever is motivating our guarded behavior. Those who have been blessed much should share much, and with a great attitude; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Seek to bless someone with love like Jesus asked; for in so doing, we may have already blessed Him Himself.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Jesus is the Word!

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Hear the podcast here: https://bit.ly/3EhbA0P

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known. (John 1:1-18 NRSV)

A most wonderful Wednesday be yours dear ConCafe family! I trust that you, dear Friend, are ready for Christmas and all that is bringing to you. I ask for prayers for Emmit Currie, who underwent knee surgery on Monday; may he recover well as he may face yet another one soon. Prayers also for my wife, Nellie, who see an orthopedic doctor later today. The MRI reveals a fracture in her femure and other things that we know our doctor will address. Pray also for one another, for your own needs, for the Church, for the world, and other needs you may be facing.

Most Saturdays when I was between 6 and 7 years old, would find me in the cool confines of the Texas movie theater in Kingsville, Texas. It was one of about three or four movie houses we had in that small south Texas town. The other indoor theatre was one for showing Mexican movies, and it was an interesting shaped moviehouse, for it resembled a tent and it was named La Carpa. I don't recall ever going there except to drop off my mother when she would have a movie night with her sisters on rare occasions. The other theater was a drive-in theater with two live chimpanzees in a cage near the neat playground under the screen. Nothing beat the Texas though. The neat thing was I could get in for nothing if Mrs. Randall was on duty at the box office. She was my grandmother's boss and so i would get in free. If she was not working, then a whole dime (ten cents) would get me in. We never knew the times of the movies and whenever we got there we would go in see the movie and we would remember the part where we had come in, and usually some would whisper quite loudly, "This is where we came in!" and would make their way out of the theater. Others would make it very loud and dramatic and noisly leave the theater. If the movie was good, we would stay and see it again; there was no pressure on anyone leaving the theaters; ten cents was the passport fror as much air conditioned comfort as one needed.

Now, I'm very particular about watching a movie, a television show, or any other show from the very beginning. There's something about missing the very first of a movie or show that may make the rest of the movie difficult or unpleasant to watch. This passage takes us all to the very beginning of everything. When nothing existed in the world, God created all things, and present with Him was His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. John tries to share that drama with us with these simple words, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people." Whoa.

Jesus is the Word. In Spanish, it is more clearly defined, Jesus is the Verb. Quite a difference between a word and a verb. John uses "word" to indicate all that God did in and through Jesus. Jesus came as the Son of "I am," the active, eternal, involved God. Jesus came not as a declaration but as a conversation; not a one-word says it all, but a caring, listening, sharing, responding dialogue with the living God. And Jesus is God. He is the Second Person of the Trinity. Every aspect of His life and being speaks of the love and concern of God both then and now, and for all time.

In a couple of days you may be in a dark church with a candle in your hands. The pastor(s) will light a candle from the Christ candle, and then the pastor will then light other candles until someone will come and share their light with you. As you see that light, hear again the words from this passage, "In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." Those are the most powerful words your mind can share with you at that precise moment; you are hearing that in Jesus, that precious baby, whose birth we are celebrating. true life can be found, and that is a life free from sin, from guilt, and burdens and weights; for He can remove all of those from you, and that very life is light (think candle and how it does indeed pierce the darkness) can be the way you share Him with others. This is the beginnning of the Christmas journey, where you can say, "This is where He came in," and then use that as a rallying cry to you to do what you can and what you need to do to fulfill the awesomeness of God in your life. The passage speaks of the "power" given to those who received Jesus as Savior can become "children of God." And from Him we have received grace upon grace; from Christ has come grace and truth, and we have to make Him known.

As we were asked yesterday, how can God make Himself known? It won't be through God's finger writing in the sky, "I am real," it will be through our words, our lives, and our actions that will allow people to see God. And, for many that will be the best Christmas gift they have ever received.

PRAYER: Loving God; in Jesus You have revealed to those in darkness the light that can take away the sins and hurts of the world. It matters not what we have done, You stand ready to forgive all things, and to love all people. Equip us to be reflectors of the light and love of Jesus, so that we can give all who seek, the best Christmas present they could ever want; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show someone the blessings of light and love in real ways.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr. THERE WILL BE NO CONCAFE's UNTIL NEXT MONDAY!

Jesus is Our Last Word!

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Hear the podcast here: https://bit.ly/3mox3yJ

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father” ? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.” 8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” 10 He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” (Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 NRSV)

"If only God would write in the sky, 'I am real!' then I would believe!" You have either said that or heard that said by someone else. Others have had similiar demands of wanting proof that God is real. Yet, as we read this passage, the author says, "God spoke to our ancestors," and "He has spoken to us." How? In the past through prophets, and in these last days, by His Son. Jesus has spoken to us, claims the writer. And we know Jesus to be "the heir of all things," and, "Through (Jesus) also He made the universe." Yet, still so many doubt and question and deny that God is real, and that Jesus is God's Son.

Jesus did what He did so that we humans could be purified of our sins. He fulfilled God's purpose and all the prophecies we have in the Bible pointing towards what God would do through the Messiah, in this case, the Son of God. And the writer then takes us to the supernatural realm, where the mysterious element of Jesus is further explained in heavenly terms. Jesus sits at the right hand of God. Jesus is superior to the angels. Jesus is the Son of God. God commanded all the angels to worship Him. Jesus was present at, and involved in, the creation of all there is, and that the heavens and the earth are the work of His hands, which will perish, yet Jesus will remain; though all else may change, Jesus wuld remain the same and He would know no end.

This passage is no longer an Advent journey; this is our Christmas journey. These are the Biblical texts that affirm the birth and arrival of Jesus. The Advent journey brought us to this door called Jesus' birth (Christmasj and now that door is open. So many just get to the door, peek a bit in, and then walk right back away from it. Those who know and trust Jesus, know that this is what feeds our souls, strengthens our faith, and fuels our purpose in serving God and what God has asked of us. It is not only an affirmation of faith, but an affirmation of life in abundance. Our God loves us and did all that He did on Christmas, for us to have life and life in abundance.

One thing I firmly and faithfully believe; that in all things Christ has the last word. And He is God's last word for us. During His lifetime, Jesus taught us a new way in which to live. He turned everything upside down; the first shall be last; and the last shall be first; love your enemies and pray for them as well. If you have two coats, give one to the one who needs one because s/he does not have one. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you; show mercy if you want mercy; and friends, the list is long because His love is long, everlasting, in fact. Jesus showed us the better way to live. As He also said right before His death, He said He was not of this world but of another kingdom; the Kingdom of Heaven; yet, many live as if their nation or region or area is better and above all others; and it is not - God's Kingdom is the only eternal kingdom I know, and in that kingdom, love, mercy, compassion, respect and honor are the only currencies allowed. The poor will say they are rich; the hungry will eat to their fill; and the thristy will have their thirsts quenched once and for all. Jesus also showed that He is always with us, no matter what we face; and as we pray, we ask that His will be done, and that, dear friends, assures us that indeed, Jesus had has the last word.

PRAYER: Loving Father, help us to reacquaint ourselves with Jesus, for He is the Open Door of Christmas. May we walk into the newness of the better life, leaving behind that open door the labels, hangups, resentments, hatred, and ignorance that for too long has defined us, and worse, helped us define others. Grand us not only the mind, but also the eyes and hearts of Jesus to bless the world with true Christmas love; for it is in His Name, Jesus, Lord at His birth, Lord of us, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Seek to live a new way today that confounds those who have known us as different!

Receive my blessings of hope, peace, and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The Night of All Nights!

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1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:1-20 New International Version of The Bible)

A wondrous Monday to each of you, ConCafe Family! May you, Friend,remember that the night we are talking about was just for you! All of the events from the manger to the tomb were with you in mind! May that bless you and keep you. Please continue to pray for one another, for needs shared and needs hidden; pray for yourselves as well.

This is the story most of us have heard since our days of Sunday school, children's sermons, our parents' Bible readings, or Grandma and Grandpa's stories; but every time someone new hears this story and the reason behind it, the ancient story becomes new, again. We cannot question its relevance even today; a loving God acted in a very un-Hollywood way. A peasant couple, filled with faith, and led by the Holy Spirit, became parents for the very first time. Though they were very young in age, they were wise beyond their years. Their lives would never be the same. Given the traditions of the culture, theirs was perhaps an arranged marriage; yet given what we know of their character and faith, they were deeply committed to each other and to the shared mission and I personally believe they were in love. Their first love was to God, and they came to a point where they fell in love with each other. One thing is certain, that night, they both fell immediately in love with the baby Mary delivered. For that moment when they laid their eyes on that newborn, all was right with the world. They could just as easily been in the master bedroom of Caesar's palace in Rome, or in the borrowed stable of a kind Bethlehamian, and using the feed trough as His cradle. And to add a powerful accent to the impact this birth would be having on the world, an angel appears to shepherds in the field nearby to the stable. With the angel came the glory of the Lord, which meant the brilliance of Heaven shone on them, bringing fear to them, and the angel said, "Do not be afraid. I bring good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you" You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

In the town named "house of bread," and famed for the king Israel loved, the world's savior was born; this was good news and great joy for the entire world. As these hard-working shepherds, muddied with the ground on which they worked, those to whom "It's dirty work but someone has to do it" could find no better fit; they were chosen by God to be the messengers of God's message to those who would hear. Still shaking from this unexpected and unbelievable experience, a choir of angels appears and sings to them the praises of God; "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests." Once their concert ended they resolved to go to Bethlehem and see for themselves about that which had happened, and declaring themselves believers by calling God, "Lord," they hurried and found the baby and His parents as they had been told, and begin to share the word about this baby.

The night of all nights! There has never been, nor ever will be, another night like this. The late Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, founder of GuidePosts, author of the best-seller "The Power of Positive Thinking," and pastor of Marble Collegaite Church in New York City, stood at a traffic light waiting to cross the busy streets of NYC, saw all the shoppers and thought, "All of this because of the birth of a baby two thousand years ago." The impact of the birth continues to astound and marvel many, and more importantly, the number who have surrendered their sins to Jesus and found new life in abundance, owe their eternities to Jesus. That the birth of this baby in that remote corner of the earth could lead to one of the largest religions in the world is still mind-blowing. That, dear friends, was the greatest gift the world ever received.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for Christmas. Thank You for doing just what the world needed, what I needed. Make me worthy of serving You and those You love; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Show someone the hope that is yours because of what God did.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Mary's Song

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46 And Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news; 47 I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. 48 God took one good look at me, and look what happened - I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, 49 the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. 50 His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. 51 He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. 52 He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. 53 The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. 54 He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. 55 It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now. (Luke 1:46b-55 The Message Bible)

46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." (Luke 1:46b-55 New Revised Standard Version Bible)

Happy Thursday, ConCafe Family! Our Advent journey is drawing to the glorious conclusion of our dear Savior's birth, and we pray that be the start of a new journey of faith and fruitfulness, Friend. Are you ready? I pray you are! There are so many who need to know about God's love, which is where Advent is leading us. Prayers for a young couple where the wife may have to have her pregnancy terminated because the doctors fear the mother's life is in danger. God knows who the couple is. Prayers for their comfort and strength, both mother and father, and their parents and family members.

We have been blessed during this Advent year with what can be called true Christmas songs, and this is the latest of the three. This is also called The Magnificat or the Song of Mary. I've included, last yesterday, two versions of the same passage; the newer, more modern one from The Message, and one of the classics, New Revised Standard Version. Notice the use of "magnifies the Lord," and compare it to "bursting with God-news." Which do you understand better? They do mean the same thing, but one can relate to Mary saying she's bursting with God-news. She is the most blessed woman on earth and what she did for God will never be forgotten. It was our privilege to visit the last home of Mary in Turkey. It is where Mary lived her last years on earth. It was an emoitonal experience to be in the home of the woman who gave birth to Jesus. Please remember she belongs to the entire Church for what she did and who she was. Her faith and walk with God rewarded her with the awesome role and responsbility of being the mother of our Savior. Yet, God equipped her with the strength and the vision of what would be the impact of this birth on the earth; "His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before Him; He bared His arm and showed His strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts." Tyrants would be knocked off their high horses and victims would be pulled out of the mud. The poor would be invited to sit at a banquet, while the "callous rich" would be left out in the cold;; and God's chosen child, Israel, would be embraced by God. And the best news, God's mercies will be piled high for all people; the same ones He promised since His days with Abraham and all through the centuries up to right now. The love at Christmas is for all people. It's free, but it is not cheap. It cost Jesus His life, but He willingly gave it for you and me. LIfe is difficult, but it is so much better lived with the knowledge that Christ is traveling with us.

The reality was a young girl, no more than 14 or 15 years of age, as some scholars believe, a girl not from any financial means, but pure and devout, and committed to God, received this invitation and she accepted, in faith, to venture forth into a future fraught with danger, and largely unknown. To be told she would be pregnant before her actual marriage meant she could lose her life according to the religious law. Add to that her having to explain to the important people in her life that she is pregnant, and pregnant with the Son of God. And we can continue to paint a negative picture of this young lady, but to hear her song, we are hearing faith in action; that is true faith, friends; to look beyond the pain and struggle of the moment with the assurance of that which can come in a way that the writer of Hebrews wrote, "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." What song could you sing in your present situation?

PRAYER: Loving Father, as we journey with You, hold us closer, never let us go. Embrace us wiht strength and fill our spirits with joy, and our hearts with love. Then allow us to move forward and share in the same way with those in need; in Christ Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share joy with those feeling blue.

Receive my blessing os joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Even Runts of the Litter Produce Winners!

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2 But you, Bethlehem, David's country, the runt of the litter - From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel. He'll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished. 3 Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes until the birth pangs are over and the child is born, And the scattered brothers come back home to the family of Israel. 4 He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by God's strength, centered in the majesty of God-Revealed. And the people will have a good and safe home, for the whole world will hold him in respect - Peacemaker of the world! 5 And if some bullying Assyrian shows up, invades and violates our land, don't worry. We'll put him in his place, send him packing, and watch his every move. (Micah 5:2-5a The Message)

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And he will be our peace (New International Version Bible)

Happy Wednesday, ConCafe Family! I pray the rich blessings of God bless you, dear Reader, with your task before the Lord. Serve faithfully, humbly, and gratefully. Good news is that Rev. Virgilio Vasquez Garza is now home and will be allowed to recover there. Please continue to pray for him. Prayers for Nellie as we await a date for an MRI to see what is going on with her knee. I'll keep you posted. And prayers for one another; prayers for your own needs as well.

Where are you from? Are you proud of your home town? Or, do you shy away from acknowledging your town as the place of your birth? Growing up we lived close to Robstown, and I remember a big sign they had outside their city limits that said, "Robstown, Home of Gene Upshaw." Gene was a star for the NFL Oakland Raiders for many years as well as other teams. Gene was also a star at Texas A&I of Kingsville. And right outside of Bethlehem, you will not find a sign that says, "Bethleham, Home of Jesus Christ, Savior of the World." What you will find are miles of barbed wire, guard towers with machine-gun armed guards and a strict border crossing. The birthplace of the Prince of Peace needs these measures to protect the peace of Palestine on its side, and Israel on their side.

Bethelehem, which litterly means "house of bread," was not known in a postive light; this modern translation of it being a runt of the litter was not far off from the way it was seen by other cities and towns of Israel. And isn't it just like God to chose the unexpected, the last selected, the least expected, etc to do the most expected? Out of it would come the greatest leader and servant the world has ever seen. This prophecy revealed the truth about the man; He was sincere, genuine, and there was nothing false about Him. His lineage was indeed as foretold, "ancient and distinguished." Until His arrival, Israel would not be where it needed or wanted to be; it wouldn't be until Mary delivered Him and then the exiled siblings of Israel would return home. Once He arrived, Jesus would fulfill His role as the shepherd king from God for the nation of Israel. And though we know now that His rule and kingdom were more spiritual; the benefits would be physical as the nation would learn about protection and safety; with the world holding Him in respect; for He truly is the Prince of Peace for those who long for inner peace that only can come from God. The enemies of God would learn the hard way where they belong.

Advent is all about peace, the peace that passes all understanding; a peace that most of the world does not comprehend because it does not seek it. And thus the reason we journey on this path to be remember the purpose of Jesus' first coming to the earth. And we benefit more if we set out to know Jesus more, and to know Jesus better. Jesus is the Prince of Peace for a world that seeks peace but has a funny way of showing it. Dr. Tony Campolo years ago wrote a book called, "Who Switched The Price Tags" about how we have willingly moved the true cost of things to please ourselves. The book is based on some pranksters that broke into a department store and switched the price tags on pretty much everthing. The next morning shoppers were delighted to find that costly items were now cheaper, and the cheaper items were now costlier. And Campolo then uses that to describe how we trade quality time with our children for time with distractions that serve little to no real purpose in our lives. And when it comes to time with Jesus, we seem too eager to change that for other things that do not compare. Why? Advent says change the price tag to see what truly really matters and the cost for what truly matters cost someone His life, so that we could save ours.

PRAYER: Loving God, open our hearts and minds to the full realization of what truly matters and counts for Your glory and Your Kingdom. We seek to build the community of those who seek to serve and save. Teach us to know the real cost of things that matter; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Seek to bless someone with a life that shows what really matters and blesses you.

Receive my blessings of joy and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Mothers (& Fathers) Know

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39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:39-55 New International Version of The Bible)

A blessed Monday to you all, ConCafe Family! And may the Advent journey today bring you closer to the joy and love of Christmas! Pray for one another; share your needs with the Lord in faith today. LATE NOTICE: Thank you all who prayed for The Rev. Virgilio Vasquez Garza who underwent successful surgery this morning in San Antonio. We praise God and we pray for his quick recovery. Also, please keep Baby Hudson in your prayers, as he is battling pneumonia for the third time in his short life. May God free him from this enemy and grant him health and wellbeing; may the Lord's peace and joy be with his parents and grandparents in a wonderful way. We pray because God answers prayers!

A businesswoman due to board an airplane later in the day, discovered that her one power suit was in desperate need of being cleaned and pressed. At the hour she discovered the need, there was no ready solution available until she remembered that across town was a dry cleaning place called One Hour Cleaners. She threw the suit into the back seat of her car and rushed across town and rushed into the shop. "I'm desperate and I need to have this suit back in an hour, or I'm sunk!" She rapidly fiflled out the card and awaited the clerk's response. "Okay, this suit will be ready on Thursday after 4 pm." The woman was flabbergasted and shouted, "Thursday? I need them today in one hour." The clerk simply said, "No, Thursday is the soonest I can get this suit back to you." "Your sign says 1 Hour Cleaners!" "That's just our name."

There are so many names we may use as labels or titles, but the truth may show that we only like using the name and not live up to the responsibility or role to which they belong. For our devotional, I want us to look at the name of Mother. There are great mothers, who live up to the title in exemplary behavior and make proud those who call them mother. There are others who like to use the title but show no motherly responsibiity or behavior that shows them to truly be as the name says, mother. We will look at two mothers as shared by this passage. The first one named is Mary, espoused to Joseph, pregnant with child who is the Son of God. She is, as most scholars believe, in her teens. She is a young woman of faith, chosen by God as the only one worthy to bear this anointed Son. And she is related to the second mother, Elizabeth, an older woman, also known for her faith and devotion and service to God. We already know that Mary is carrying Jesus, and Elizabeth is carrying John. Both are spiritual women, connected to God, who talk to and listen to God. Already we have examples of what great mothers should possess and utilize. We know that great mothers are those women who never stop worrying, caring, worrying, and watching out for their children; more reasons to be spiritual mothers, and fathers, to receive the strength and peace that only God can provide to them.

When Mary reaches Elizabeth something marvelous happens; the baby in Elizabeth's womb hears Mary's voice and leaps for joy within her, and she tells Mary so. Her exclamation is poetic, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" This mother knew of the sacredness and specialness of the baby Mary was carrying. Elizabeth continues, "But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Already, Elizabeth knows that this baby insdie of Mary will be her Lord; a revelation of the Holy Spirit; for she already knows of her baby's sacredness and mission. but it is verified by the Holy Spirit Who has filled Elizabeth; and she praises Mary, "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!"

Advent is a journey of personal faith; and it requires our intentional examination of ourselves, our abilities, our talents, and our faithfulness to God. No one is perfect, but those who are faithful about their journey will seek to better themselves and their relationship with God and with those in their lives. The two mothers in this story set an example of spiritual preparations we can make this truly a journey where we receive the full blessings of He who was born to save us from ourselves and our sins. Advent can mean all parents can become better, more caring, more attentive parents for their children. And all who seek to better themselves can find in God and this journey He has provided for us, new strength, new wisdom, new abilities, and talents to become a better whatever title/label/name you carry. And, we can start with our name as Christians. If we hve professed to be Christians, let us live as such; loving all, serving all, and trying to win the world for Jesus.

PRAYER: Loving Father, bless us on our journeys. Whatever name we have received during our lives, let us live faithful lives that glorify You. Bless us in our journey and our walk with You. May we bless all; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show someone that you live the name you have received.

Receive my blessings of love and joy,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

I Will Not Be Afraid!

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2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations, proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 "Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. 6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 12:2-6 Revised Standard Version Bible)

Happy Thursday, ConCafe Family! May the Advent journey lift you higher to the reality of God's Glory in your midst, dear Reader, is my prayer. Please pray for one another; pray for yourselves.

What things make you afraid? When our daughters were young I told them stories that I made up. One particular series was about some church mice to whom I gave names. They were a hit with our daughters. So, Saturday night I thought the youngest granddaughter of our firstborn would love the story. So, with her framed in the bed with grandma on one side, and me on the other, I started the story. And to make it funny, I thought it would be cute to make the scurrying noises of the mice through the walls of the church, and i used the material of my t-shirt to help with the noise. Nope. "I don't want to hear this story," my baby says. She was afraid of the possibility of mice being in our hotel room. I didn't have the heart to tell her of my fear of possums in the shower in small RVs.

Fear can cripple. Fear can prove to be a big obstacle to doing things. Fear comes in all shapes and sizes, and almost everyone has a level where fear can take them. Jesus came to defeat fear. Jesus came to set the captives free, as Isaiah shared; and many of those captives are still living in fear and incapable of doing things expected of them. What scares you? Does fear keep you from doing something you should be doing? I believe this passage may help you in some way confront your fears and win over them because of Jesus. Think to the times and the realites of those times, to hear, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation." To a people paralyzed by fear, to hear the prophecy that God was in control, and that in God we too, can find the power to overcome our fears.

What is the opposite of fear? Confidence or joy? The prophet said,"With joy you will draw water frm the wells of salvation." There is no better water which to drink, nor a deeper well from which to draw, than the wells of salvation. That will lead to a thankfulness towards God, and the certainty of faith with which to call on the Lord's name and to make known God's deeds among the nations. These are Advent declarations of the belief that the coming Messiah will be able to do all these things on that day of His arrival. Advent should be the preparation all who lack God should involve themselves in to make deeper the meaning of Christmas and gives us hope for Christ's second return.

The vast emptiness of despair and darkness gets shattered with the coming anointed one of God. Our response should be loud and wonderful worship with the singing of praises of God for God's glorous acts; our shouting should be of joy so that all would know that in our midst has come the "Holy One of Israel," who is Christ the Lord.

PRAYER: Loving Father, even now there are some who are in fear; may Your promises break the chains and fling open the doors of our being captive and freed to follow God's direction towards the fullness of life.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show someone the love that brings them hope and freedom from fear.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr. with a special invitation"

MARIACHI CHRISTMAS SERVICE, Sunday, Dec. 12th at 9 am. I will be helping with the liturgy and it will be live-streamed on YouTube on the Good Shepherd UMC of Houston. Under YouTube find Good Shepherd Church Cypress and you can watch the service there. On FaceBook you also can watch at https://www.facebook.com/GoodShepherdCypress. The theme is Las Posadas, the walk of Joseph and Mary and the trouble they had on that journey finding shelter. The music will be in the Mariachi tradition. Please join us if you can!

A Time for Family Gathering!

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14 So sing, Daughter Zion! Raise the rafters, Israel! Daughter Jerusalem, be happy! celebrate! 15 God has reversed his judgments against you and sent your enemies off chasing their tails. From now on, God is Israel's king, in charge at the center. There's nothing to fear from evil ever again! God Is Present Among You 16 Jerusalem will be told: "Don't be afraid. Dear Zion, don't despair. 17 Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. 18 "The accumulated sorrows of your exile will dissipate. I, your God, will get rid of them for you. You've carried those burdens long enough. 19 At the same time, I'll get rid of all those who've made your life miserable. I'll heal the maimed; I'll bring home the homeless. In the very countries where they were hated they will be venerated. 20 On Judgment Day I'll bring you back home - a great family gathering! You'll be famous and honored all over the world. You'll see it with your own eyes - all those painful partings turned into reunions!" God's Promise. (Zephaniah 3:14-20 The Message Bible)

A blessed and joyous Wednesday ConCafe Family! May the Advent joys prepare you, dear Friend, for Christmas blessings and love! Again, we pray for those in need; those who need healing, food, shelter, housing, be our prayer to the Lord. Pray for one another; pray for yourselves.

Many of us, thank God, have never been exiled. Well, forcibly that it; some of us at one time or another have been in other parts of the country that may as well been in another country if not continent. Some of you may have served in the military and spent time training in another state, then deployed to another country. I always remember the young man from Bishop, Texas, who joined the US Navy with hopes of seeing the world and war, during WWII, and found that the Navy sent him six miles south to Kingsville, where he was trained and then stationed. So much for seeing the world! But one can only imagine the pain of being separated from family and home due to war, conflict, or other unwanted actions against you. Such was the history of Israel. Enemy armies would invade, conquer and haul off captives to become their servants and other things. The experiences became part of the national memory and all identified wtih the emotions associated with exile. On another level the experiences of daily life, such as illness, poverty, hunger, fear, and death, all added to the feelings of despair and hopelessness to which God respnded with the Advent of the Christ Child.

The prophet Zephaniah shares God's promises in this prophecy; Your enemies will be defeated, and God will once again rule Israel. Your fear of evil need leave, for God is here. I had a dear church member in Misison when facing open-heart surgery told me as I concluded my prayer with him; "There's no need to fear! God is here!" Amen!

The prophecy mentions a "Strong Warrior" coming to be among them, whose purpose would be to save the people. His will be a calming presence, a loving presence, and bring rejoicing in songs of praise. And the prophet has God saying, "The accumulated sorrows of your exile will dissipate. I, your God, will get rid of them for you. You've carried those burdens long enough." And, God continues, "At the same time, I'll get rid of all those who've made your life miserable. I'll heal the maimed; I'll bring home the homeless. In the very countries where they were hated they will be venerated." And the greatest promise of all, "On Judgment Day I'll bring you back home - a great family gathering!" This weekend, a dear friend and brother in Christ and ministry, The Rev. David Grout flew down from Northern Kentucky to be with the Gaytan family. David's grandfather, who years ago, was the president of Lydia Patterson Institute, took Rev. Francisco Gaytan in, introduced him to his wife, Elisa, and wanted to adopt Pancho as his own; but Pancho's dad opposed the adoption, but adoption in love took place, and Pancho was very much David and his siblings' uncle. Tio Pancho was mourned by all of the family. But on his flight down from Dallas here there were four or five families in the tiny jet on their way for a family gathering. At first, David was elated to see the joy and love on their faces, and rejoiced in their conversation. But the conversations grew louder and louder, and soon he couldn't even hear the jet engines from the roar of the families in their joy; and could not take a nap as he needed. David also rejoiced in his image of Pancho's reunion in Heaven with Poppa and Momma Grout, his "brothers," Paul and Ted, and their wives; all gathered, as God promised, for a "great family gathering!"

The closing verses proclaim, "You'll be famous and honored all over the world. You'll see it with your own eyes - all those painful partings turned into reunions!' God's Promise!" Amen! May we live and die in walking in the way of the Lord.

PRAYER: Father, we long for family reunions, both now and in the world to come. Grant us hearts for loving and serving everyone, epecially those no one else wants or sees; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Where can you start a family reunion among those you do not yet know? Get started!

Receive my blessings of love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Fit and Pleasing Before the Lord!

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Hear the devotional here: https://bit.ly/31g3WpH

1 "Look! I'm sending my messenger on ahead to clear the way for me. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you've been looking for will enter his Temple - yes, the Messenger of the Covenant, the one you've been waiting for. Look! He's on his way!" A Message from the mouth of God-of-the-Angel-Armies. 2 But who will be able to stand up to that coming? Who can survive his appearance? He'll be like white-hot fire from the smelter's furnace. He'll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry. 3 He'll take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He'll scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they're fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness. 4 Then, and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago. (Malachi 3:1-4 The Message Bible)

A gracious and blessed Thursday dear ConCafe Family. May the joy of the Lord bless your day in wondrous ways, Friend. Dear friends, I ask for prayers for Mr. Rob Rocha of Duncanville, TX, who is in the hosptial with some serious medical issues. Pray for Rob's comfort and peace; pray also for his wife, Pauline and his children and grandchildren. Please pray for each other, lift up your needs before the Lord in full faith that He will answer you.

Any big event or project is best carried out when planned properly. Very few things, if any, just fall into place on their own. Those of us old enough to remember Billy Graham and his crusades know that Billy preached in almost every major city in the world. These meetings did not just happen with Billy announcing that in two weeks he would be in Sydney, Australia. It took years of planning and preparations that involved as many of the churches in the city that wanted to participate, not to mention the financial commitment that each church and different sections of the community would share to help underwrite the arrival of such a major preacher. Prayer meetings would be held, trainings for volunteer ushers, prayer partners, follow-up contact people and an endless list of other obligations that had to be arranged, all for the sake of bringing a wonderful preacher to a city in hopes of bringing change, revival, and conversions to an area that desperately needed such. And for all the money that was collected for such an evangelistic crusade, Billy was famous for only receiving $25,000 yearly salary for many years. I dare not compare that to what televangelists collect and amass.

An undertaking to receive the Son of God is beyond comprehension. So many things and obstacles were in place, and had been for years, to oppose the work of God. Think of the doubt, the anger, the hatred, resentment, and so many other things that woulld stand opposite the good that God could bring. The shadow of Satan has closely followed the blazing light of God from the beginning of time. Though we know Satan to be a defeated enemy, he nonetheless, believes he can rewrite the ending he knows is coming. The delight of decades were his, when prophets and other servants of God suffered torture, torment, and even death; and he would fight tooth and nail to oppose anything or anyone who would dare bring about anything different.

It is in the closing book of the Old Testament that we find the words of this passage, from God, to God's people. God is sending a messenger with the purpose of clearing the way for God, and God's Son. It would seem like it was "Suddenly, out of the blue," that "The Leader" would "enter HIs temple, bringing with Him the Message of the Covenant, for which the people had been wanting and wishing for, and the word was that "He's on His way!" His very appearance would be more than the people could humanly stand to view; His very appearance would be a glimpse into Glory, which is holiness and purity. His responsibility would be to serve as a refiner of silver, and a cleanser of dirty clohes; and his task would be to clean those who should have been clean to begin with; making them "fit for God," and fit for doing what they should have been doing out of rightesouness instead of power and prestige. It would be once those religious leaders were clean that both Judah and Jerusalem, would "be fit and pleasing to God, as they were in the years long ago."

As we continue our Advent journey, may we be open and honest with ourselves about where we stand, and where we should stand, and may our preparations guide us to faithfulness and fruitfulness.

PRAYER: Loving God, bless us with Your joy and peace; may our journey through Advent bring us Christmas hope and joy; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show someone the joy of Advent peace today.

Receive my blessings of joy and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

The Call of John the Baptist

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Listen to the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3Db2OAT

68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 78 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:68-79 New Revised Standard Version)

A most joyous of days in which to be grateful for life and the fullness thereof; all gifts from the Most High, even to us at times, at the Most Low of all points in our lives. And, dear Friend, may this December be the best ever for you and all you face! This is the last month of this year, and we have 31 days in which to make it even better than you feel it might be! God is on our side; let's be on God's side as we seek His will for our lives. Let me thank all of you for your prayers for my better half; Nellie is feeling much better since our doctor injected her knee with a steroid and she should be up and around soon! That's great news to me, and I rejoice in the fact she may just be on the road with me to the Valley this weekend for the funeral of our beloved brother, mentor, and friend, The Rev. Francisco Gaytan. Please pray for the Lord to bless this old man with what He would have me share.

We come to The Song of Zechariah which is this passage. It's a biblical theme for those inspired and blessed in unexpected ways to write a song or psalm that expresses what they are feeling as a response of, in this case, news revealed of an important coming event, such as the coming birth of a child. They all begin by giving credit and praise to where it is due, and that is to God. Zechariah speaks of God's action to being the redemption God was sharing with His people through the coming mighty Savior, and from the lineage of their greatest king, David. The hope is based on the security that all people long for. I don't know about you, but there have been times when I have felt completely helpful, or alone, or completely vulnerable. And safety was what I longed for, as perhaps you desired as well. Nothing blesses us more than the warmth and security of our own home. I once ran out of gas eleven miles from Fort Stockton on Interstate 10 after midnight on a cold night. Thankfully it was in the height of CB radios and I soon had a ride from a couple relocating to Austin from California. They owned a two-person convertible and so he drove his wife to a cafe in Ft Stockton, returned for me; he arranged for a gas station to lend me a ten gallon gas can and even for the worker in the gas station to radio for another CBer headed West, to give me a ride. My moment of despair was only that, a moment. Can you imagine a history of despair? Into that history comes hope of a coming event of liberation and freedom. A future free from enemies and fear; instead filled with holiness and righteousness, and all in the presence of God. This was all because of the coming birth of this child, whose main responsibility would be to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. His would be the job to share the knowledge of salvation to God's people for the forgiveness of their sins. And the message would also share that God's tender mercy, the bright light of dawn would shine upon those who for too long lived in darkeness; and to those on whom the shadow of death had stayed for so long, theirs would be the guidance needed to be guided into the way of peace that only God could give.

This is good news. This is the ray of hope that all long to see especially when they believe the end has already come and it was not the ending they expected or wanted; theirs is the right now of hope with the promise of a bright tomorrow thrown in for good measure. This is the purpose of Advent. May our preparations lead to reparations that we need deep down in our spirits. May we tell the old sins in our lives their eviction notice has been served and now they are on the road to their death, on the cross. And the death we merited and expected, has given way to new life and life in abundance. May these news speak to your heart about what you truly need to better enjoy your life and your situation. God is in control and has worked all this for you and your life.

PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, and make us know the way to You is an easy path, lit with the light of Your love. All obstacles have been removed and made smooth; may we take those opportunities to betteer ourselves; we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Seek to bring God's peace to all people.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde