He is Here!

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1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine." 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 "In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' (Acts 2:1-21 NRSV)

Our God is a God of surprises! Jesus knew that and mentioned it quite a bit. "No one knows the day. nor the hour," "He will come as a thief in the night." Hints and clues that the coming important events in human history are at God's beck and call. It is God Who will determine the when and where; even Jesus admitted He did not know these days or times. Jesus spoke of birth pangs as the beginning of what was to come next. And on that day when the disciples were gathered together with people from around the world; the main reason they were together was to celebrate the receiving of the firstfruits of the grain and oil of the land; and it was for that reason that Jews from the known world gathered in Jerusalem. And it was at that very time that God sends what Jesus had promised, the coming of the Holy Spirit. This is the third person of the Trinity, and He makes His appearace as a gift of fire. Luke writes that "Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability." All who heard these were amazed that these perceived simple folk from Galilee were speaking in their language and speaking to the great deeds of God's power in ways they were understanding. The truly genuine marveled at such an arrival, while the skeptcis mocked this and said the disciples were drunk on new wine. It was this comment that drove Peter to proclaim the first Christian sermon to the Jews. Peter says it's not wine these men are filled with rather with the power of God to share what the prophet Joel had predicted that sons and daughters would prophesy, and young men would have visions, and old men would share dreams from God. Even nature would get involved in the movement of God's power in this mighty and unexplainable way, finishing with "The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

This was a worldwide impactful event that started in that one corner of the world. The God of all people spoke through these simple, humble men, in their language, the mighty deeds of His power to call them back to Himself. Not only is our God a God of surprises, our God is a God who never stops working and impressing creation with what He can do. From celebrating a good harvest, the people are called to be the harvest that God has sown and now wants to bring back into His realm. Every corner of the world matters to God and all people are invited back in; and the theme of salvation is at the core of this message, with a promise that no one should be excluded only those who choose to be left out.

What Jesus promised arrived in this mighty way and the Christian Church was born on that day, in that place, with a promise that it would move beyond Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. And that dear friends is Good News!

PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit, again and again into us, to make us truly those who want to conquer the world with love and compassion; with a message of life, a life lived best without sin and God's promise is that all who call unto Him will be made whole and free from their sin; help us in the sharing of this word to all people; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Use whatever means necessary to share the Good News! And use words if necessary!

Receive my blessing of joy, peace, and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

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8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14: 8-17, 25-27 New International Version Bible)

A most blessed and marvelous of Mondays to you, dear Friend, is my prayer for you. May our hearts continue to heal from the deep wounds of the slaughter of innocents, the ripping apart of famllies forever, and unepected deaths that have visited us; in Christ Jesus be healed, strengthened, and comforted. Pray that God would touch the hearts of the evil and sway them away from desired actions into more helpful thinking. Pray for yourselves. Pray for one another.

Remember the day when you could buy things in person at stores? You see kids, before the days of Amazon, moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas, would drive to places called stores and buy things. Well, one of the early mistakes I made as a dad buying for Christmas was failing to read on the box of the gift to see if that gift needed batteries. There is nothing more frustrating and agonizing for a toddler than to realize that the gift they have been dropping hints about since summer vacation will not work without batteries! And, in those days, kids, most, if not all, stores, were closed on Christmas Day and to buy needed batteries would not be until the 26th of December. Again, tell that to a crying child!

Jesus knew that His disciples could be compared to those things that need a battery to run, and He meant the coming and empowering of the Holy Spirit, Who would made complete their strength for their mission. And God knew the sending of the Holy Spirit was the logical next step. The disciples lacked for so much, showing that God uses the imperfect, who when they surrender themselves to Him, God can change and equip them. Please notice their request at the beginning of the passage; like us, never sure, sometimes doubting; "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus' response is like saying, if you kept your eyes and hearts open, you would see me all the time!" And it's true, the distractions of life many times keep us from truly seeing God at work in ours. So God sends His Spirit, Who serves as an Advocate (Speaks on our behalf), He will allow us to "do even greater things," than what the Disciples were doing. He allows us to speak truth, He will teach us all things, and, thank God, He will remind us of everything the Lord has shared; the Advocate will also bring peace. And the crowning part? With the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, our hearts should not be troubled.

PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit, into our lives. Renew us. Recharge us. Grant to us the fullness of life as promised by Your coming. Make us faithful and fruitful disciples that transform the world. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show your heart's peace with those who seem to lack it.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

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12 "See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 16 "It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." 17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. 20 The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. (Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 New Revised Standard Version Bible)

Many are wishing, hoping, and/or praying the words of this passage after the events of this week, most sadly, the senseless massacre of the innocents in Uvalde, Texas. And just today we found out the husband of one of the teacher killed, also died, as the family noted, "of grief." Sigh. It made me weep. The woman of his dreams, and with whom he was blessed with four children, could not bear to spend whatever years he had left, without her. Yes, it may have been a heart attack, but one can understand that life is hard to live with a broken heart. Some medical experts believed that Jesus having bled both water and blood from His right side, was due to His heart being broken by our sins. How I wish I could say that our disposition towards sinning had diminished since that day Jesus died for us, but still we live on as sinful people.

The Lord promises that He is coming soon, and when He does, He will arrive with that which we are entitlted to given how we have lived before His eyes; for our work will determine what we will receive; an eternal home in His presence, or an eternity separated from Him. Jesus is the the One Who has always been, and Who always will be. He is called the Alpha and Omega, because in Him we have our beginning and our end. In Him, we have access to the cleansing blood where we can have our being washed and cleaned; the symbolism in this passage is that the robes are really who we are, and in Him we can be made clean; and our purity, thanks to Jesus, will allow us access to the tree of life and entry into the eternal city by the gates. Jesus has made these news public and broadcast to all people through His church, with the invitation from Him that says, "Come." And all who hear His voice, should recognize it and accept it, and also we should say to those who do not yet know, "Come." And all who are thirsty should come, and all who wish to take the water of life as a gitf, come as well. And as this is being said, "Surely I am coming soon." Those who heard it said, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" As should we as well. May our hearts, our lives, our homes, our families, all join in and say, "Yes, come, Lord Jesus! " And then the Bible closes with a blessing, "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen."

Not the Bible ever ends, in fact, the Bible is a living book, a book that will never die; and it holds the living hope and promises that sustain and nurture us. It is, to quote the old preachers, "God's love letter to us," a "road map" for life that guides and blessed, corrects, and straightens our paths before the Lord for those who listen and obey. It is the only book I know that can serve as the loving embrace of the Father Who longs to hold those who hurt, mourn, and weep.

Dear one, please know that if you hurt or weep and need a listening ear, please feel free to reach out to me, or your pastor, or a dear friend. We journey through life together and together we can see it through in a better, if not easier way.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as we pray, hold us tight in Your loving embrace. Our hearts are heavy from the sadness and grief of this tragic week. We cannot make sense of any of it, but we know we need only know one thing; You are with us. So, bless us and comfort us, and share Your comfort with those families, schools, governments, etc., who need Your presence. We pray that You be glorified; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be the arms who can hold others in need today.

Receive my blessing of hope and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

PRAYER UPDATE: Dear friends, this has been a difficult week for so many. I regret sharing the news that Baby Hudson, who fought so valiently for so long died today, Thursday, as well. I am thankful that his grandmother was able to see him and touch him when praying. May God comfort her and all the family. Also, The Rev. Michael Dobbs, pastor in Mathis and Alice, TX, will be undergoing surgery today, Friday in San Antonio. This will be an overnight procedure and we pray for a success in the surgery and a speedy recovery. Prayers for his wife, Olga, and their children. Our hope continues to be in the Lord. We continue to trust in the Lord!

First European Christian Convert!

Photo by Eradio Valverde from painting of Lydia in Philippi, Greece, 09/2019

Hear the podcast: https://bit.ly/3wTtYvh

9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. 11 We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. 13 On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14 A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us. (Acts 16: 9-15 NRSV)

Our dreams make for some of the most interesting and at times, the most frightening features in our mind's theatre. Our dreams are an extension of who we are, what we were, what we fear, what we love, who we love, what we hope, what we saw that made us excited that day, etc. I remember standing outside in our back yard against the fence to our next-door neighbor's house. We lived on the corner house and our neighbor was older than me. I don't remember the conversation but I do remember her asking me what I dreamed. I told her I didn't know what dreams were. I don't remember how old I was, but as she explained it, she said, "You know like falling off a mountain cliff." So, guess what I dreamed that night? Yes, falling off a mountain cliff! Yet, like we see in this passage, sometimes God uses dreams to prepare us for an event or a task that God wants us to address.

Paul had a vision during the night and in this dream stood a man from Macedonia asking him to come to Macedonia and help them. Paul did not question the vision and prepares immediately to make the trip to Macedonia, filled with the conviction that God called him and his party to share the gospel with them in Macedonia. And as sometimes happens, the biblical way from Point A to Point B isn't always straight! Paul and company set said from Troas to Samothrace, then to Neapolis, then to Philippi, which was the leading city of Macedonia and a colony of Rome. Paul is now in Europe taking the Good News of Jesus to whomever would hear and receive it. It was Paul's custom to go first to those with whom he shared an affliation, and those were the Jews. It would be in the synagogues that he would share the saving grace of Jesus. Some would politely hear him out; others would get riled up, and some would convert. So, on the Sabbath, he went beyond the gates to the river where he and Silas believed there might be a place of prayer. What they found were women gathered there and they began to speak to them. Of the women there, one stood out as a successful businesswoman and faithful worshiper of God, who listened, believed and presented herself and her household for baptism. And such was her gratitude to Paul that she urged him and his party to stay at her home and further share with them what Paul knew about Jesus and His message. We gather she was successful because as the passage closes, it simply says, "And she prevailed upon us."

The photo above was taken in the church started by Lydia in Greece. Close to the church is the river where she believed and where Paul baptized her. The impact of her conversion is revered even today. Her yes to Jesus was the first made on European soil. Because of her willingness to trust Jesus, millions have come to faith as a result. In that region Lydia is a saint in her Greek Orthodox Church, second in popularity only to Paul, who is revered for all the work he did among the Greek people. We could feel the sacredness of the area and we were touched to be among the places where this obedient man of God shared in a way that he reached a new believer, a woman of God who continued the work of making disciples among those in her city and region. The words boldness, faith, trust, confidence, openness, wonder, all come to mind when I think of these two Christian giants; Paul and Lydia. It can be said of Paul that he went, in the name and for the cause of Jesus, where no one had ventured before. It can be said of Lydia that her willingness to listen and accept, allowed her to become the person she was. What words come to mind when you think about your faith and Christian walk?

PRAYER: Loving God, we confess we do not do enough and we have several good excuses; but we know You are the source of all good things and we pray that you would empower us to be the people who tell others about You. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be bold today in sharing Jesus!

Receive my blessings of joy and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

The New Land

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10 And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him;4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 New Revised Standard Version Bible)

A blessed and joyous Tuesday to you, dear Friend, is my prayer for you. May we continue to pray for those in need: The Rev. Dr. Roberto Gomez continues to slowly improve but needs our prayers for this forward progress to continue. Mr. & Mrs. Eloy and Carmen Rodriguez, both have Covid, and Carmen's Mom, Ms. Elisa Gaytan, continues to be in severe pain in rehabilitation therapy in Edinburg, May God bless them with healing and comfort, and may God be with those who also need our prayers. Pray for one another, and share your needs with the Lord. Pray for peace in the world and in the hearts of those who do not yet know God's peace.

The Apostle John continues his beautiful narratives of the glorious vision of what will be. He was granted access to see how the glorious eternal home will be. There will still be mountains, but no more sea. Which settles the age-old question many ask; are you a mountains person or ocean person? Well, for the time being... Please note in the new Jerusalem there will be no temple, for the temple is the "Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." There will be no need for the sun or moon, for the brilliance of God will be our light. All the nations there will illumined by the light of God. Even the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. These are those who throughout history have ruled justly and compassionately; who served God first and put self last. The city gates of Jerusalem will always be open, and there will be no night. There will not be anything unclean allowed in this new place, nor will people who have lived lives that practiced the unholy and untrue; only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

The first verse of chapter 22 starts descriptions of what many associate with Heaven; The river of crystal, from where the waters of life flow, and this river runs down the middle of the street of the city, and in keeping with the references in Psalms and Jeremiah, along this mighty river are planted trees whose roots are deep in that living water; and these trees are the Tree of Life, which has twelve kinds of fruit which it bears monthly, and its leaves are used for the healing of the nations. John is reminded again that nothing accursed can be found there. Here is found the throne of God and of the Lamb, and His servants will be worshiping Him. We will see God's face and God's name willl be on our foreheads (Contrast with those who will have the mark of the beast on theirs). And again, a reminder that the true light of God will replace those that have provided light here on the earth. And it closes with the promise that God will reign forever and ever. Amen.

Friends, we are still in the season of Easter, so these are encouraging messages from God for us to stay. the course and run the race. Our faith and our expressions of faith in Jesus will bless our walk and will help us see whether we end up with God or separated from Him. Ours is to live in such a way that we invite others to come and live like us, for we seek to live like He who loved us and died for us.

PRAYER: Loving Father, guide our faith to bring others and to reassure us of our faith and commitment to serve You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Live like a citizen of Heaven committed to Christ.

Receive my blessings of love and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

The World Needs Love

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23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. (John 14:23-29 New International Version Bible)

This is one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible. It reveals a lot. It's also a very personal chapter because Jesus bares His heart with the Twelve. They had just witnessed a resurrection of a four-day old dead man. And they also saw Jesus anointed by the sister of the dead man for His own death. And Jesus, as the 13th chapter closes, reveals that He, too, is about to die. The first part of this chapter has some incredible claims and promises shared by the Lord to us and this closing part of the chapter deals with our response. We are told, in the first verse of this chapter, to love Him and to obey Him. And we are told that those who love and obey, are loved by the Father and God will come to live with and in us. Those who do not love, will not be obedient to His teachings. And Jesus clarifies that these words are not His, but His Father's. And while Jesus shared some7 things with them, He reveals that there is a coming of an Advocate, Who is the Holy Spirit, with a mission and a purpose. His job will be to teach us all things and to remind us "Of everything I have said to you." He then offers His peace with this clarification, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives." This is important to know. The world can only offer a certain peace; Jesus' peace is from God and that peace far exceeds our complete understanding. And here again, Jesus says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled," as He started this chapter, "and do not be afraid." Jesus promised to always be with them after His departure, and knowing that He returns to the Father should be gratifying to them. And this, He adds, was to fully prepare the Disciples before the actual event, so that they would more fully believe.

At this writing, on a Saturday afternoon, the news of more than ten people dead in what is being called a racially-motivated mass shooting at a grocery store, we get smacked in the face that we all need love. We need to show love more, and we need to be open to receiving love more. We have to step beyond whatever realm got us to think others are different and less than us and we feel the best thing is to rid the world of them! Friends, if the hope of the world is the Church, and we are the Church, it is on us to love others even those who do not love us back. I thank God for the example of my father who had the uncanny ability to work alongside those who did not hide their dislike of him because of his race, and as time went on became his best friends. I've shared the story of "Jim," who was one of those. They lived close by so they started to carpool to work just to save money, but each mile was a new mile of deeper understanding and ultimately acceptance. No one who knew them would have dreamed that the day woud come that Jim and his family would come and have supper at our house. And as the friendship grew so did the trust to share in the good and the bad. All it took was the effort to get to know the other. Love leads us to obedience and obedience leads us to the fullness of life, which leads us to eterna life.

You ready? Let's go! Let's go be the people of love that God called us to be!

PRAYER: Loving God, I thank you for this dear listener and reader. I pray rich and wonderful blessings upon their lives so that as we hear this word and we become a part of that which defines us and helps us be those who defy the odds and become those who love all people. Love us and guide us we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show love to that one who you found hard to love before!

Receive my blessings of love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

The Only Name Worth Praising!

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1 Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven, praise him from the mountaintops; 2 Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you his warriors, 3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you morning stars; 4 Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly rain clouds; 5 Praise, oh let them praise the name of God - he spoke the word, and there they were! 6 He set them in place from all time to eternity; He gave his orders, and that's it! 7 Praise God from earth, you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps; 8 Fire and hail, snow and ice, hurricanes obeying his orders; 9 Mountains and all hills, apple orchards and cedar forests; 10 Wild beasts and herds of cattle, snakes, and birds in flight; 11 Earth's kings and all races, leaders and important people, 12 Robust men and women in their prime, and yes, graybeards and little children. 13 Let them praise the name of God - it's the only Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky; 14 he's built a monument - his very own people! Praise from all who love God! Israel's children, intimate friends of God. Hallelujah! (Psalm 148 The Message Bible)

A Blessed and Tremendous Thursday to you, Friend! I pray you have chosen to make this your best day ever, and that no one nor anything will deter you from doing the will of God for your life. We always have a choice to select an attitude for the day, so choose the positive, life-affirming one that blesses you and others. Let us continue to praise God with all our being and let our praise continue to bless others as we pray for the needs and hurts around us. Pray for one another; pray for peace in the world, and for your needs.

I don't know how to explain it, but you've probably seen it. There are some babies born with a natural joy that leads them to laugh, giggle, jump, and dance. And some more so in church settings. They're a delight to watch. And I know we're all made differently, but some of us can and do discover the desire to find how to truly praise and enjoy God. Some people have to be coerced to praise God; others find it a second nature to praise God's name. And this psalm shows us the truth that creation finds it a first nature to praise God. The psalmist saw things and wrote about them. He had seen nature in full praise mode towards God. He recapped the Creation story by making it a part of the psalm and praise. The order of Creation, the creation of the seen and unseen, the meek and the monsters, all part of God's plan and all worthy of God's praise. Everything created is under God's control and direction, even the kings of the earth and all peoples, under God's control. All, regardless of age or body condition, should join in the praise of God. God's name is the only name worth praising. God's radiance exceeds through all the earth, and God's main monument is us, those created by Him for Himself and we should praise God.

Dear one, may praise become a daily expression of our gratitude to God for all we have and all that we are. Praise can be expression and extension of what is in our hearts. The more people we get to join us in praise the better harmony we will see among all people.

PRAYER: Loving God, may my heart learn to praise You daily and sincerely. May it be what unites us and promotes true harmony among all people. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show some praise among those you love.

Receive my blessings of hope and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

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Repentance Leads to Life

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1 Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, 3 saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I replied, "By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, "Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life." (Acts 11:1-18 New Revised Standard Version)

Happy and blessed Wednesday to you and yours, Friend. May this day be a day of new beginnings and opportunities to serve the Lord in faithful and fruitful ways. May we endeavor to share our faith in ways that bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ so they may have it for themselves. May we continue to pray for one another. Let us pray for those who have asked prayers from us. Pray for the world and its needs. Last minute notice: The Rev. William Del Valle, a pastor from our conference who had been on medical leave, died today, Tuesday, 05/10/2022. Please pray for his wife, The Rev. Maribel Vásquez, and family.

We join a conference in progress. Thank God it was not a Zoom conference; this was a in-person pre-pandemic conference. There was a conflict though, already in progress. The big question was, can one be a Christian without first becoming a Jew? This was a hop topic because those who said no to this question believed strongly that the men who wanted to be Christians must first present themselves for cicumcision before becoming a Christian. No where in Jesus' teaching did He stress that, but some who were Jews who became Christians believed that was the right track to discipleship. And most of these folks also held that Christianity was only for Jews and that no Gentiles could become Christians. So, as Peter enters this conference, the criticism begins, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" The uncircumcised men were considered unclean and thus not worthy to eat with, for that would make the Jews unclean. Please remember that Peter is fresh home from his experience with Cornelius in which God revealed to him that it was okay to eat with Gentiles and all uncircumcised men. As Peter gives his report the hearts and minds of those opposed; they were convinced by Peter's words that it was the work of the Holy Spirit. I love the 18th verse, "When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, 'Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.''"

The reality is that since that decision the Gentiles has far outnumbered the number of Jews who have become Christians. And the key is that which we heard in the ministry of John the Baptist and later in Jesus' sermons, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand." The Bible said the crowds came for that message struck a chord with all who knew they were sinful and needed to repent and receive baptism as that which washed away the sins. And, they also answered that this lead to life, as Jesus promised in John 10:10, "I have come so that they may have life, and have it in abundance." And these are still in effect. Any sin that we try to carry around on our own serves no good purpose; quite the contrary, it is like being diagnosed with cancer and then decide not to have that cancer removed. Sin, like cancer, will lead to death, the the sin death being an eternal death. The truth is that we ask the Lord Jesus to remove our sin and help us live a sin-free life. It's simple. Through prayer we ask the Lord to forgive our sin, we get our sins taken away, and we receive the fullness of life.

PRAYER: Loving God, I repent of my sins. I want to follow You and only You. I ask Your forgiveness for my sinfulness. Help me receive a new perspective and the fullness of life. I love You and thank You for all you have offered me. I want to glorify You and honor by my life from this point forward; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Show others the way to the fullness of life.

Receive my blessings of life and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Hope For the Future: All Things New!

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1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:1-6a)

A very blessed and tremendous Tuesday for you, dear Friend, is my prayer for you. Let us continue to pray for one another, for those who have shared needs with us, and for the needs of the world. The Rev. Roberto Gomez is slowly improving daily, and so, thanks be to God for that. Let us continue to lift him up. Also, while on vacation I received a text from a dear friend who let me know that he and his wife lost their third daughter. David and Irene Sonnen, like us, had four daughters, and his third daughter, Natalie, died under mysterious circumstances. Let us pray for their comfort and peace. Her funeral will be Saturday, May 21, 2022 in San Antonio. She was 31 years old. I also had the pleasure of speaking with The Rev. Harlene Sadler, retired pastor, formerly of Smiley, TX, now living in Cleveland, TX. She is the one who taught me "Why do we pray? Because God answers prayer!" And indeed it is so. She has a very active prayer ministry. Let us pray for her and this important ministry.

I confess I am a big Disney World nut. I blame my mother and father for this addiction. We were huge Walt Disney followers and we faithfully watched his Sunday night programs, included The World of Color, on our oval-shaped black and white TV. Somehow, my Mom got the idea that to save money for a vacation to Florida to visit Walt Disney World in 1972 would be a great idea. And a completely unexpected surprise for the five of us kids. Dad simply told us, "Pack your suitcases," and off we went, headed east on Interstate 10. To feed this addiction and to keep myself updated on the latest and greatest additions to the park, I watch a lot of YouTube videos. This weekend was the preview for season pass holders of the newest ride, Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot Center. The videos, of course, do not do justice to the actual experience of being there, but close enough. It does build up within, an eagerness to go back one day, Lord willing, to experience the ride and the other attractions that this very expensive theme park offers.

Today's passage is a preview of better things to come. It is the revelation shared with the Apostle John by Jesus so he could write down and share a YouTube preview of what is to come and be, for all eternity. Though this passage is relatively short, it is very powerful one. John saw what is. Yes, it is to come. But, by faith, we know it is to come for us. Let us look at this preview with eyes of faith. The most obvious is that there is a new heaven and a new earth coming. And please note that heaven refers to the sky. The old sky and earth will pass away, and with it the sea will disappear. Here I must pause and mention that this is theological profound. The Old Testament speaks of God taking our iniquities (sins) and throwing them into the sea as found in Micah 7:19. I pity the sea life that has had to live among our sins! But this passage shows how awesome is God's forgiveness; when thrown in the sea they are forgotten by God, and when the sea is no more, they are gone. For ever.

The shift is then directed to the holy city of Jerusalem; a new Jerusalem will discend from Heaven from God, and it will be dressed as a bride ready for her wedding. At this a loud voice from the throne will say, "See, the home of God is among mortals (men and women). God will dwell with us, and we will be His peoples, and God will be among us as our God. And hear what God will do; God will wipe away every tear from our eyes; and the main cause of tears, death, will be no more. With death, mourning, crying, and pain will be gone forever, too. These are the first things and their days are numbered. And the voice from the thone will continue with this, "See, I am making all things news." That means all things. The first things are gone, and those left are made new. And with another declaration of this being true, He says, "It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life." The preview is awesome and our desire should be to be there. There is a megachurch in Corpus Christi, Texas, whose mission statement reads simply, "To get people into Heaven." Their sole purpose for existing is to have ministries and programs designed to win people's souls for Jesus so when they die, they know where they will spend eternity. And they take it very seriously. The only service I attended there in person, I was handed a sealed white LifeSaver candy with instructions not to open it until told. There were actual life rafts on the stage, eleven of them representing the campuses they had at the time. And, the ushers wore lifevests as did the pastor. I was told the LifeSaver was not for today but next Sunday, IF I brought a first time guest with me. Then, I could enjoy the crunching sound of those others in attendance who had brought back first time visitors. This is as serious as it gets.

PRAYER: Loving God, get me serious about Heaven, so that I can win others to join me in that trip that will get us to our eternal home. Let me also be serious about helping those here on earth who live in hell that I can better their conditions and yet still build up their hope for a better tomorrow; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share a glmpse of Heaven in what you say, think and do.

Receive my blessings for joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

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Love One Another. Yes, every person you meet!

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31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, "Where I am going, you cannot come.' 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:31-35 New International Version)

Judas has left the building. Yes, he is the "he" that "had gone out." But this passage is not about Judas, it is about you and me. The establishment of Communion had just happened, and this is the commandment that added the word Maundy to the Thursday on which it was celebrated. The glorification to which Jesus refers is the revealing to the Twelve then later to us that great event of knowing that Holy Communion has a three-prong focus; to celebrate the remembrance of Christ giving of His body and blood, the celebration of the moment of receiving His body and blood now, and the looking forward to the coming celebration of that same feast but in Heaven in the presence of all saints who have died in the Lord. Christ shares instructions about what we do in the meantime, which is to tell someone about what He continues to do for us. And with it comes the commandment that we are to love one another. It is one of those you WILL do statements, not one that allows liberty not to, such as you may love one another, or you may love one another if you want to. This is a definite commandment, which reads, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another." I remember the days of my having been a delegate to many a church conference, our annual conference, our jurisdictional conference, and even general conference, where I sat in committees where countless discussions and arguments centered around the language of The Book of Discipline, and the meaning of words such as will, shall, and may. No argument allowed here, dear friends, we are to love one another, and in the same manner that Christ Jesus has loved us, and in such ways that others will know that we are disciples of Jesus because we love just like Jesus.

I did a wonderful internship with an incredible pastor. Many of my mannerisms and practices in the years when I was a minister were impacted and shaped by The Rev. José Galindo, and for many years I would hear from his contemporaries that they could tell I had studied under Rev. Galindo. I was proud to hear that, for I strived to be as effective, as loving, and as faithful to the Lord as I believe he had been in his ministry. In the same way, I want people to mistake me, and to mistake you, for having been in the presence of Jesus; and that they may see the love in you as the same love they've felt from Jesus. What could go wrong with that?

Ours is to love every. single. person. on. earth. No exceptions, no allowances or conditions by which we can excuse ourselves from being "Little Jesus's," for our name is Christians with the same intentions by which the people of Antioch came up with the word. (Acts 11:26: "and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians.")

PRAYER: Loving God, blessed is Thy name on all the earth and may we add a blessing by the love we show to all people. Lord, we confess we sometimes find it hard to love some people; forgive us for that and grant us new courage and boldness to love others; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Love everybody today in the Lord!

Receive my blessings of joy and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

The Lord is My Shepherd

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The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for HIs name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anoinest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23 King James Bible) The Lord is My Shepherd See this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Wv1z0gp7C9Q

A Shepherd Dies, Raised Up By Her Shepherd

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36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner. (Acts 9:36-43 NRSV)

This is a story about a shepherd who was a woman. Shepherd in the sense of loving and caring for others to the point she dedicated her life to them. The woman was named Tabitha, and also known as Dorcas which was her Greek name. She lived in a city that is one of the world's oldest cities. It sits high atop a mountain overlooking the Mediterrean sea. Joppa was the port where the timber for the temple arrived as ordered by Solomon through Lebanon. Joppa was also the city where Jonah fled when God had told him to head to Nineveh. It was an international city, where visitors from all over the world came for various reasons, most for trade and commerce. And like most cities of that size, there were people in need. This woman, as shepherd, did much to meet the needs of these under her care. Most of these were widows. The day came when she fell ill and died. As was the custom, her disciples washed her and placed her upstairs in a second story room. The disciples, or believers, in Jesus heard that Peter was in the area and so they requested his presence quickly. Peter arrives as requested and he was taken upstairs where Tabitha lay. It was quite the scene where the widows who loved her and appreciated her were wailing and weeping and throwing on her, as tributes, the tunics she had made for them. Peter asks that they step outside. Once it was quiet, Peter knelt down and prayed. After the prayer he turns to the body and called her by name, "Tabitha, get up." She opens her eyes and saw Peter, and sat up. Peter helped her up by the hand and helped her up. It was then that Peter called all who were mourning to come and celebrate the miracle that God provided. This event led many in the area to come to faith in Jesus. And Peter stayed longer in that town with a man named Simon who worked as a tanner.

Peter was, through his ministry, the shepherd over Tabby. And it is very fitting, that when a shepherd needs help, he or she has a shepherd over them; and all of us have over us in our times of need, The Good Shepherd, who never lets us down. because His love never ends nor does His care for us. This passage stresses the importance of prayer, for here, the chief disciple among the Twelve, had learned the lessons well about how to pray, when to pray, and the power behind praying. In the same way Peter responded with care, God does when we pray and ask God to bless us. We should know we pray all the time, in the bad times, and especially in the good times. We worship God when we pray, so our prayers should be modeled as times of praise and honor to God. Prayer is also a time to listen to God. God answers all prayers, but all according to HIs plan and will. Yet, onward we march, praying, listening, doing, helping, and serving. May the example of Tabitha's life and Peter's prayer life, bless you into action!

PRAYER: Loving Father, guide us to grow and bless. We thank You for the lives of these heroes of the Bible and the way they served You and Yours with love and blessings. May we spring into action doing the same. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Make a "tunic" of love for someone; weaving your love around their needs in ways that adorn their lives with beauty.

Receive my blessings of peace and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

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Salvation is The Word

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9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:9-17 NRSV)

The Baptists ran a long campaign some years ago, probably early 70s with bumper stickers that said, "I Found It!" The hope was that people would ask the car's owner, "What is this about, or what is It?" The driver, being a good and well-trained church member; after all, they had Training Union in their churches every Sunday afternoon, could answer a concise reply that said I have found life in abundance because I am saved. You see kids, in those days, saying the word saved was not a bad thing and very few people would die of embarrassment if they heard someone say that word to them. I was in seminary at the time this was big and one professor made a big deal (mocking the campaign) by sayiing, "I'm going to make my own bumpersticker that says, "I don't know what it is!" And indeed, so many years later, it is evident we, the Church, may not know what "it" is. Very few preachers preach it and usually mock those who do as being short-sighted or old-fashioned. I invite you to just think back a few years to the word it and what it may have been referring to in those days. Recently, it was the code word for Corona Virius. Some years ago it referred to something completely different.

Fast forward to whenever this passage comes true for you and me. I pray we will be in that great multitude that John was not able to count because there were so many people from every nation, from every corner of the world, from all tribes and peoples, and langauges, who stood before the thone of Jesus. The dress code for the day will be white robes. All will be holding palm branches. And, if you're like me, Palm Sunday palm branches make me teary-eyes, but since in Heaven there are no tears, I will be able to hold one and shout, along with you and the others, "Salvation belongs to our God Who is seate on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Wow! Just thinking about that makes me feel great! For it was that word, more better said, that action, of salvation that got us there. I think often of my dear friend, Eva Boscamp. She was a great blessing to me in the short time I knew her, and her joy was knowing the Lord Jesus as her personal savior. And when the time came for her to leave her earthly body behind, I had no doubt as to where she was headed, and so was she. She was not sad, but joyful and excited. I bet she is already fitted for her white robe and she is rehearsing the songs that we will all sing in praise of our Father, our Lord and Savior, and to the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

All of our ordeals will come to an end sooner rather than later. Yes, it sometimes seems too long, like I-10 after Kerrville when one is headed to El Paso! But you do arrive. And how we face each ordeal will determine where we end up on this important day in Heaven. If we face our challenges, struggles, setbacks, illnesses, losses, etc, with full trusting faith in God, we will be singing alongside Eva and so many others who have gone on before us. And we will know what it is to stand in a place where there is no more hunger, no more thirst, no more Texas, I mean, scorching heat; because the Lamb, Jesus our Lord, will be at the center of the throne as our Shepherd and He will guide us to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Joy and happiness will triumph over all other things.

PRAYER: Loving God, in Your strong name we pray thanking You for salvation. May we not shy away from sharing news of our salvation with others, for through it we have found the fullness of life. Abundant life is now ours thanks to You. May the joy of salvation bless me in such marvelous ways that I cant' help but bless others. Lord, bless those for whom we have been praying. Our faith does not waver, but strenghten our weak areas, for we pray in faith, in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share the joy of salvation with someone today!

Rejoice and receive my blessings of peace and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Knowing the Master's Voice

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22 They were celebrating Hanukkah just then in Jerusalem. It was winter. 23 Jesus was strolling in the Temple across Solomon's Porch. 24 The Jews, circling him, said, "How long are you going to keep us guessing? If you're the Messiah, tell us straight out." 25 Jesus answered, "I told you, but you don't believe. Everything I have done has been authorized by my Father, actions that speak louder than words. 26 You don't believe because you're not my sheep. 27 My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. 29 The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. 30 I and the Father are one heart and mind." (John 10:22-30 New International Version Bible)

A blessed and marvelous Monday to you, dear Friend! May the joy and peace of the Lord bless you and keep you, and may you not hold back on sharing, giving, loving, and helping all who come to you in need. A great praise report from Mrs. Donna Hisey regarding the twins: "Good Sunday afternoon, the babies are doing well and able to now be held by parents and grandparents. Boe has gained and is a whopping 2#13oz and Creek is maintaining at 3#. The dad has been granted an indefinite leave right now from his national guard duties so he will get to stay home. What a blessing and relief for my niece." Also, we ask for continued prayers for Mr. Barry Boothe, "who is still in the hospital and still has chest tube in, draining fluids, hopefully first part of next week they will know what r the results of fluid. Hopefully and 🙏🙏 they figure issues out." So, our continued prayers for Barry and his family. This latest update on The Rev. Roberto Gomez: "CT Scan of lungs showed inflammation due to pneumonia, but has no damaged lung tissue or anything else. Continue prayers for Roberto and Juanita." Also, prayers for The Rev. Dr. David Maldonado, originally from Seguin, and former president of Iliff School of Theology in Denver, and a retired UM pastor; his wife Charlotte, herself a daughter of a UM pastor, passed away this weekend. Prayers of comfort and peace for David and his family. On Saturday, Ms. Judi Oestreich shared: "After dbl heart cath recovery I know my bypasses and valve are OK. I just have a very weak heart. I pray it will be strong enough to do your will. And today we bring Kenneth home after 8 months. Tests are lined up and we pray he gets the options for his future that is in his heart. Thank you Lord!" May we pray that Kenneth and Judi enjoy God's peace and blessing of health and wholeness now and in the days and years ahead. And prayers for Nellie and myself as we're taking a week's vacation and so ConCafe may be sporatic this week.

Today's passage confirms again Who Jesus is. As this special season was being celebrated, Hanukkah, Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem is confronted by "The Jews," who ask, "How long are you going to keep us guessing? If you're the Messiah, tell us straight out." Gosh, they were feeling frustration, on top of the resentment and murderous anger; must be rough being a part of the religious leadership of the Jews? "If You're the Messiah, tell us straight out." Testy fellas aren't they? Then calmly Jesus says, "I told you, but you don't believe. Everything I have done has been authorized by my Father, actions that speak louder than words. You don't believe because you're not my sheep." Ouch. Truth hurts. Would it be rude to ask whose "goats" they are? They knew a voice, but it wasn't Jesus'. I suspect it was the very loud voice of tradition and routine. You may have heard that voice from time to time, or defnitely seen the works of those who are only tuned in to that voice. Jesus continued, "My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand." Hmm, again a question, what sort of life were these leaders offering to those who bothered to listen to them? I'm willing to guess it wasn't a real life after all, and a temporary one at that. Jesus affirms that God the Father is stronger and greater than the Destroyer and the Thief. And there is no one, no power, no force greater than God; and that you can take that to the bank.

With Easter so fresh in our hearts and minds, we can use this time to re-affirm that we belong to Jesus, Who has, through His death and resurrection, given us real and eternal life and that we are safe and secure in God's embrace not just now but through all eternity. Friends, it takes the Lord's strength to help us steer clear of the other voices that may come and try to lead us astray. The Lord's voice is sweet, loud, and clear; and it will always lead us to life.

PRAYER: Loving God, bless this dear reader to come to know Your voice like never before. May the other tempting voices that call to them not be neither tempting nor strong; bring the fullness of life to them like never before. May the needs shared above bring honor and glory to Your name; this we pray in faith in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show today that the voice of Jesus is blessing you!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.