A Life Worthy of God

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9 You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn't have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God's Message to you. 10 You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren't freeloaders! 11 You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, 12 holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life. 13 And now we look back on all this and thank God, an artesian well of thanks! When you got the Message of God we preached, you didn't pass it off as just one more human opinion, but you took it to heart as God's true word to you, which it is, God himself at work in you believers! (1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 The Message Bible)

A blessed and happy Tuesday to you, my dear Friend. May this find you well and enjoying God's love and blessings for your life. I pray that God blesses you with an adventure of faith today! Let us pray for one another, especially for those who need our prayers and have asked such from us. Let us pray for peace in the world, peace in our hearts, and peace in the hearts of those who still seek it.

My mentor in ministry, The Rev. Jose Alvirez Galindo, said once that when he went to minister in a new colonia, the people said they wanted someone who lived and care for them and not just preach and live. And that's a key to God's work! And Paul and Silas knew that. And that's what why Paul writes in the opening verses of hard work, long hours, listening and be confidential and discreet among them, and loving them enough to be courteous; always sensitive to their needs and always sharing Jesus with them. They saw their role as one of being like loving parents with children; holding their hands, sharing encouragement and showing and living in ways that is step-by-step manner, showing them how to live well before God (Other versions say, "Living a life worthy of God."). Paul reminds them we were called into this life, His Kingdom, into a "delightful life." Serving as an intern minister under the loving guidance and care of Rev. Galindo strengthened these words of Paul. He lived an authentic, loving way with his wife, his sons, and those entrusted to his care as their pastor; he shared the powerful message of God's grace not only in words, but by his example and attention to them. In the same way, you and I are called to not only share the gospel, but our lives, too.

When we share our lives, we make the message of God's grace real and tangible. It's in our showing kindness, showing patience, our humility, and our love that people see the reality of our faith. We become living testimonies of God's transformative work. Just as Paul and his companions were willing to be vulnerable and transparent, we too should be open and authentic in our relationships, allowing others to see the grace of Christ working in us.

Paul goes on to emphasize the power of God's Word at work in believers. The Word is not just information; it's a dynamic force that transforms hearts and minds. As we read and meditate on Scripture, we invite the Holy Spirit to shape our character, renew our minds, and empower us to live out the gospel in our daily lives.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the example of Paul, Silas, and Timothy in their dedication to sharing the gospel and their lives with others. Help us to live out our faith with the same authenticity and love. May your Word continually work in us, transforming us and enabling us to be a light in the world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: LIve a life worthy of God!

Receive my love and appreciation for your devoted reading, viewing and support of this ministry!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Do As I Say, Not As I Do!

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1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. 8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:1-12 NIV Bible)

I am now more convinced than ever that there existed a secret school for Dads. I said it existed, because no one invited me to attend! But at that school, besides classes on wisdom and patience, there was a class on clever come-backs to wise-acre children. I won't bore you with all of them, but the title of today's devotional was one my Father said to me on numerous occasions. My Dad was stern in his teachings but faithful in his example, but on numerous occasions I might have challenged his wisdom and patience by asking or saying something contrary to what he may have tried to impart. "Do as I say, not as I do!" would be his comeback to me. I have to confess that I did not know what that meant at the time; but with age usually comes wisdom, and to that I was usually invited. And it was my understanding from others at school, their dads said they same thing. Oh, my favorite was "This is going to hurt me more than it is you." LOL.

Today's passage finds Jesus teaching His disciples and the crowd gathered that day that they must be obedient to God and not to the so-called leaders of their faith. Jesus does affirm their authority in the reference to the place on which they taught, the Moses' seat. It wasn't until I was in the ruins of an old synagogue near Jesus' home, that I saw with my own eyes a real Moses' seat (Or replica as the original one was taken to a museum in London). The common ritual followed by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, was to have an attendant bring the scroll which contained the law and their scriptures, and they would unroll the scroll, read the passage for the day, re-roll the scroll and hand it back to the attendant and they would seat in the seat of Moses. The symbolism was that from the man who gave us the law, we sit. We rest on his authority and his relationship with God to have brought us this law and as we teach it, we're doing it from that position of trust and obedience.

Then Jesus shares His warning, Because they sit in Moses' seat, "You must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." They loved to preach, but did not like to practice what it was they preached about. It was all about show and not real living. Jesus describes their attraction to their garments and add-ons, rather than taking the time and effort to live out what these add-ons contained. The phylacteries were small leather boxes containing scriptural passages which were worn on the left hand or on the head as reminders to follow the law. Jesus further says these religious leaders loved the prestige that came with their office, such as sitting in the place of honor at feasts and taking the most important seats in the synagogues, and the greetings of respect in places such as the marketplace, and they loved the title of "Rabbi." Jesus warns that they (and we) are not to call anyone on earth "father" for we have only one Father. Please know that Jesus was not outlawing our calling our Dads, "Father," but instead He was cautioning against our misusing titles and positions of authority in ways that detract from the authority of God and that promotes self-exaltation. Jesus wants us to give all spiritual authority to God, Whose reverence belongs exclusively to Him. Honestly, Jesus says, "The greatest among you will be your servant. In other words, those who learn to humble themselves and their authority under God, will we truly realize our place and purpose.

Friends, ours is to work in a humble manner, obedient to God and following His example and teachings, to bring about the changes that God desires to have among the world and its needs today.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts of humility, acknowledging that our desire for recognition and honor can sometimes lead us astray. Help us, Lord, to embrace the way of servanthood that Jesus exemplified. Teach us to put the needs of others above our own desires for recognition and praise. May our lives reflect the humble heart of Christ, and may we find true greatness in serving others. In His name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Live a life that glorifies God!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The Death of a King

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1 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” 5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:1-12 NIV Bible)

A most joyous of days, may this Wednesday be to you, dear Friend; for you see on this day some many, many years ago, your servant was born in Kingsville, Texas, to Maria del Jesus Jimenez Valverde, and Eradio Valverde, Sr. Both of these fine people are now in the presence of the Lord, and I am thankful to be alive, thanks to them and thanks to God, Who continues to bless and watch me. I pray this finds you well and enjoying God's awesome blesssings surprising you over and over again. May this translate into joyful prayer and praise and reflection. Let us pray for one another, especially for those who have asked prayers of us, and let us pray for those nobody wants or even sees. May they come to know love and acceptance from us. And a wonderful birthday to my birthday partner, my granddaughter, Eliana Beth Garcia! Happy Birthday, Eliana! Grandpa and Grandma love you!!

I will never forget my walking off a plane at Orlando's airport on Sunday afternoon, February 18, 2001. We had survived the first year after Y2K and we were still alive and well. The zombie apocalypse did not occur and I had a meeting to attend in O-Town. The usually busy and joyous airport, think Disney, was strangely quiet. The TVs in every lounge area had people glued to them. Some were hugging one another, others were outright crying. Sadness in Mickey's town? Could it be? I finally asked a stranger what had happened that had everyone there so sad? Then I learned that Dale Earnhardt had died that afternoon not far from the Orlando airport. The Daytona 500 had claimed the life of the current king of NASCAR at the young age of 49, and his subjects were in mourning. Those of us who were not too intimate with that type of racing could not understand such grief, but those of you who are maybe still mourn the senseless death of a legend. Death is never easy and death always hits closer that we expect.

Another king's death is shared in today's passage. For all intents and purposes, Moses was the king of the Israelites as they made their trek from Egypt into the wilderness as their 40 year journey neared an end. I have made reference to Moses being the senior pastor of First Exodus, but he was much more. He was the father of the movement that first shaped the religion we know as Judaism. He was also a father of our faith as he set in motion what faithfulness and fruitfulness looked like when one person says yes to God. Moses had what we can say was an interesting life; born during a time when baby boys did not survive due to poliitcal pressure from the Pharoah, who feared what more male Jews could do to his nation. Moses was blessed with an astute mom who made sure he was born and not instantly killed, and he had an equally smart sister who made the right moves to get Moses adopted into the right family and that this new family hired Moses' momma to be his nurse maid. He was raised in a royal setting and never lacked for anything; his big mistake was killing an oppressive aggressor that was threatening a fellow Jew. Moses chose to leave Egypt to escape legal consequences from Pharoah. Led by God to the right family who took him in as he married Zipporah, he became a shepherd when he encountered the Real Shepherd, God Himself who called him into service. Moses got to the border of the new homeland but was told by God that he would not enter it. Where we pick the story up, Moses is shown the promised land -from Gilead to Dan, all of Nephtali, the territy of Ephraim and Manasseh, all fhe land of Judah, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea, the Negev and the entire region of Jericho and its Valley, and as far as Zoar. "That's the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," God told him, and I promised that I would give it to their descendents, and I have shown it to you, but you will not enter it." And with that, Moses the great leader, was dead and God buried him in a spot that to this day no one knows where it is. Moses was 120 years old when he breathed his last, and yet, the Bible says, he still did not need glasses, had they been around, and Geritol was not needed either, for Moses was still a strong man. Then the mourning began for this king of a still-forming nation.

Right before his death, Moses anointed Joshua as the new leader of Israel. And Joshua was blessed with the spirit of wisdom. But Moses remained among the greatest of the prophets, "whom the Lord knew face-to-face" and Moses was able to do things only because God was with him, and even went up against Pharoah and his officials and saw the liberation promised to this people happen. Moses died a great man in the eyes of all of Israel.

Of all the Moses did, the greatest thing was the relationship with God was what impressed me more. Given all he had to endure as the dirver of a huge station wagon filled with unruly kids, he enjoyed the ear and heart of God with which he was blessed in the good and the bad. The relationship continued for when Jesus had His transfiguration event, as the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, said that Moses and Elijah would come back, which they did when they visited Jesus in the wilderness. What an amazing thing to strive for! It begins with our faith allowing us to say yes to God in whatever God may ask of us, and our being receptive to seeking Him out in the good and the bad; never giving up, and holding steady to what has blessed us in our lives with His gifts of faith, love, and hope.

PRAYER: Loving and awesome God, bless our lives to be obedient and trusting like Moses. Help us to always know You are with us and You will guide us to where You would have us be and do; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blesssed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Say yes to God today!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr. Past devotionals are available here:

God-Pleasers or People-Pleasers?

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1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. (1 Thessalonians2:1-8 NIV Bible)

A gracious and blessed Tuesday be your, dear Reader. I was blessed that on Sunday Nellie and I were able to visit Cami Chapa in her room in the ICU of Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, She is in and out of consciousness, but awoke when I called her by her given name and smiled when she saw me. I asked if she remembered me and she nodded yes. I asked if she remembered Nellie and again, yes. She was not able to speak but she did nod when asked questions, especially when I asked if I could pray for her. Please continue to pray for her and her full recovery. Our brother, Rick Gonzalez is doing well and we continue to pray that God work through his treatments to make him better. We ended our rounds of visitation with a home visit with Nellie's brother, Hector Rosales, who is lively and alert, yet needing to regain use of his fingers and regain mobility. Hector is a talented artist and I told him of a conversation I had with one of our nephews who wants a painted bull head and said he regrets that he did not act fast enough to have his Uncle Hector paint a head he found on a ranch and said that Hector's daughter, Rose, is just as talented as her dad and she could probably do it. Hector quickly said, "I'll do it!" And may it be so! Let us pray for peace in Israel and Gaza; may God bless decision-makers to make decisions of peace and life. Pray for one another, pray for the needs of the world and for those needs you have.

This is the last week of Pastor Appreciation Month and this text is very appropriate to the work our brothers and sister carry on for our good. The Apostle Paul could have written a timeless book of the do's and don'ts of work among believers. Paul experienced it all. He shares a hint of the suffering and outrageous treatment he received in Philippi; yet always under the care of God, he pressed on with the message of the Gospel even in spite of opposition. Paul stresses their motive was not from error or impure thoughts, nor were they trying to trick them. His appeal and authority, he says, springs from their having been approved by God to preach the gospel. This reminded me of another great revelation in a seminary class, and that was my preaching class. I had self-identified preaching as my major weakness that I wanted to address in my internship year. And this class was meant to help me prepare to be a better preacher. The question was by whose authority do we dare step foot into a pulpit to preach? This was another silence-maker among us students. The professor, Dr. Grady Hardin, said, "By their being in church they are granting you permission to share what God has laid on your heart. And that made sense. Our being in seminary was to confirm the earlier authority-granting that God had shared with us in our call into ministry. We should always remember that we step into the pulpit to please God, as Paul wrote, and not the people who gather on Sunday to hear us preach. "God tests our hearts," Paul says, "So we never use flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed - God is our witness. We preach not to gather praises from people, but like young children, we work among the people, with awe and wonder. Our desire is to care for the people as a nursing mother cares for her children, and because of our love for God and for these people, we strive to share not only the gospel but our lives as well.

Here's what we can take with us after spending time with this passage: All ministers should perform ministry with integrity. All of us should serve with integrity whether in our professional, personal, or spiritual endeavors. We should strive to be honest, sincere, and trustworthy in our words and actions. God-centered service; we can only please God and not worry about pleasing people; if we get, or don't get, human recognition or applause that's okay because we seek only to serve and please God.

A pastor and all believers should provide gentle and caring leadership. Paul's example of a nursing mother shows the tenderness and care that leaders and fellow believers should share with all people. Our call to lead should come with compassion and support for others. Our goal should be to share not only the Gospel, but our lives as well. One televangelist was notorious in his living in San Diego, California, while serving a church in Dallas. He would fly in his persona jet, preach, if I can use that word, leave out the back door, board his jet and repeat each Sunday. During the week, his staff cared for the needs of the congregation. Where, dare I ask, was his authentic, supportive and caring relationship with his fellow believers?

A pastor should use the power of encouragement to help bring the Gospel to life. We labor among those who learn from us by our example, especially if we care and love others. The gospel impact on lives depends on our being able to relate to others; we must show how the gospel changed us from where we used to be, to where we are, and to where we believe we are going. And Paul stresses the importance of mentorship and discipleship. We should seek those who can mentor us, or we should offer ourselves as mentors to those who need us as such; through this we can pass on the faith and help nurture spiritual growth.

PRAYER: Loving Father, help us be those who genuinely love You and love Your people in ways that bless Your Kingdom. Help us seek to serve and to seek Your favor as we labor for the good of the Gospel. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen,.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Become a God-pleaser!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The Big One?

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34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”“The son of David,” they replied. 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:34-46 NIV Bible)

As I approached a small church of mine in the country, I parked my car, gathered my stuff and as I was closing the door of the car, I saw that across the street a little girl was staring at me. I got it right away. She and I were the same color, and perhaps she had not seen anyone like us going into that church. I went in and greeted the folks gathered for our charge conference and I asked if anyone knew the name of the little girl across the street. Sadly, no one did and some acted like how would we know her, she's not one of our church members. The church, like many, knew and sought to affirm the "greatest commandment," but did poorly on the "second" commandment.

In their almost daily task of Let's stump Jesus so we can get rid of Him task, the Pharisees, hoping to one up the Sadducees, and so they chose their expert in the law to pose a question to Jesus. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Maybe not a Sunday or Sabbath school question, but one that most Jews should know, and Jesus did and He says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Jesus then adds, "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Wait. What? Yes, Jesus says that love, if we center it on God, we should also center it on others, especially our neighbors. Jesus had already addressed the neighbor question by sharing the Good Samaritan parable, of our neighbor being anyone in need, even if they were of a different tribe or nation or race or religion. At our family reunion this past weekend, being the sole clergy and of a different persuasion of all, I get asked a lot of questions, and Saturday was no exception; how is our baptism different from a Catholic baptism? I answered knowing the real question was could I do a baptism for a family member? I answered my question by saying both churches baptize in the Name of the Triune God, i.e., Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; but to remain faithful and true to the Catholic Church it might be best to get a priest to explain baptism and actually baptize family members, regardless of age or perceived tardiness to do so. I stressed that all baptisms are done by God and just as importantly is our desire to live as faithful and as loving as we can with God and raise our children with the knowledge of God being central to who we are. We can ask, are we loving God the way we should, and our family members in the same way? And, our neighbors like that too? There is no excuse for not loving all people.

The discussion shifts as Jesus now does the questioning. "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?" Good question, and one that learned men of the Pharisees should be able and eager to answer. They knew the correct answer, "The son of David." Okay, Jesus says, but explain this: Why then does David calls the Messiah, 'Lord'? Again, a great question, but Jesus further says, "Explain how it is that David is saying to 'my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' "If then David calls Him, 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" The Bible says this really silenced the Pharisees for good. Jesus had asked an unanswerable question. Jesus is posing the question to those who enjoyed their power and authority and squashes them by asking a question of power and authority. David, long revered as the number one king of Israel, how could he call the coming Messiah, Lord, if the Messiah is his "son." This refers to the Messiah being long-expected heir of David's lineage. Could the great, great, great, great-grandchild be "Lord" to his great-grandfather? The answer we know is yes, but for those who easily felt threatened by so many, it was hard for them to say "Lord" to someone born to them; how dare they be Lord if we are their father? We know that in the grand scheme of things, David would willingly bow down and worship the Son of God and would not balk at that, for great is He who is the Son who came to save the world. David, and me, and you, would line up to worship He Who takes away the sins of the world.

Friends, the line has already started of those who seek to be forgiven by Jesus and who desire to be made right with God through the influence and power of the Lord. Let us surrender all thoughts of authority and power to Him only who can grant that to us. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is your Lord. Amen.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. May these commandments guide our daily actions and inspire us to be agents of love and grace in this world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Line up and gather others to join you in this line!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Fun Fact, thanks to my bride:

When was the first name Eradio first recorded in the United States?

The oldest recorded birth by the Social Security Administration for the name Eradio is Thursday, March 17th, 1910.

The God of Awe & Wonder

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1 God rules. On your toes, everybody! He rules from his angel throne - take notice! 2 God looms majestic in Zion, He towers in splendor over all the big names. 3 Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you! Holy. Yes, holy. 4 Strong King, lover of justice, You laid things out fair and square; You set down the foundations in Jacob, Foundation stones of just and right ways. 5 Honor God, our God; worship his rule! Holy. Yes, holy. 6 Moses and Aaron were his priests, Samuel among those who prayed to him. They prayed to God and he answered them; 7 He spoke from the pillar of cloud. And they did what he said; they kept the law he gave them. 8 And then God, our God, answered them (But you were never soft on their sins). 9 Lift high God, our God; worship at his holy mountain. Holy. Yes, holy is God our God. (Psalm 99 The Message)

A blessed and awesome Thursday to you, dear Friend. I pray wonderful blessings upon you and your needs. May this day prepare us to wonderfully serve the Lord. May we continue to lift up those prayer request shared yesterday evening. Pray for one another.

There's a certain portion of the population that has an awe toward the persona of Chuck Norris. For those of you who are not familiar with Mr. Norris, he is an American actor who notably played the character of Walker, Texas Ranger. He played the role so well a mysterious aura grew around him. It is filled with awe and mystery about what and who Chuck is. There is a library of jokes that add to his strength and awesomeness. I heard one, well, one that I can use in this setting. "Did you know Chuck Norris gargles with peanut butter?" And, "Chuck Norris was once bitten by deadly cobra and after several pain-agonizing days, the cobra died." Okay, one more. "They named a street after Chuck Norris but it didn't work because nobody crosses Chuck Norris."

Nothing compares to the awe and wonder we need to have about God The psalmist knew this and wrote about it over and over. He never tired of it nor should we. David's enthusiasm should ignite in us the childlike desire to enter and be completely involved in the worship and praise of God. As a child, my favorite morning of the entire week was Sunday, with Saturday's cartoon lineup a close second. But I could not wait to get to church to see my friends/brothers/sisters in Sunday school, then to be in worship. I'm blessed in that I grew up in that era of Sunday being a day mostly dedicated to God. Our state had the famous blue laws and every Sunday seemed like Christmas days of recent years; everything was closed and nothing competed with the activities of the church. As a result most churches were full. Yes, times changed as did the desires of our hearts and minds and now Sunday is seen like any other day and with it, God seemed to be drifting away in some people's spirits. This version starts off with the proper declaration that nothing can ever change, "God rules." Indeed He does regardless of our opinions or thoughts; God rules. That should help us set the tone for our participation in worship. "This is all about You, loving God!"

The psalmist also says there is no name that compares to God, even if they are "big names." The "big names" should be leading us in worship by their actions and example. Our praise should glorify the God of love and justice. God, in His infinite wisdom laid everything out in His way to bless us. The foundations laid in Jacob were those of "just and right ways." And our worship should reinforce that in our being. We should be in awe as we enter and as we take part in the elevation of God's name. May we never forget about the holiness of God. We are to be reverent and in awe of God. Our worship should be our natural response to the majesty and righteousness of the One who rules over all of us. When we acknowledge God's sovereignty we are blessed with a deeper understanding of our place in God's divine plan.

So, friends, may this psalm prepare us for our day of worship. May we approach every worship space as God's holy mountain and recognize the awesomeness of God's authority, which should mean we approach God with reverence for God is truly holy, righteous, and majestic. Dear one, take a long moment to reflect on your plans for worship. Pray about what God would have you do as your day of worship approaches. May our hearts, minds, and spirits be ready to lift God's name high and in turn, for God to lift our spirits to help us serve Him in spirit and truth.

PRAYER: Loving God, prepare us to praise You. Forgive us for at times wanting to be You as the center of attention of worship. We truly are not worthy of that, but You invite us to be Yours; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Begin now to prepare for awesome worship.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace. I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The Back Side of God

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12 Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:12-23 NIV Bible)

There is a ride at Disney Parks called the Jungle Cruise. Give them a couple of weeks and it will become the Jingle Cruise. But the ride features animatronic animals as if one were on a real safari cruise and also features corny, but sometimes hilarious, skippers of each boat. One of the classic line is, and read ahead if you're not wanting a spoiler if you're planning on going on a Disney trip in the future; but as you go behind the waterfall, the skipper says you're seeing something rarely seen and that's "the back side of water!" Bada bump. I thought it was funny that Moses wants to see the glory of God and God hides him and allows him to only see His back. And we will get into that in this devotional! Welcome!

There are things that we sometimes need to see or hear over and over again before we truly begin to beli peve or accept. Remember when you first heard from your spouse or significant other the words I love you? Was that not a great thing to hear? Or, if you're a student and you've studied hard for an exam, you take it and you get your exam handed back and you see the word PASSED; wasn't that also an awesome feeling? I remember taking my state health and life insurance and knowing that I needed a 70 to pass. I studied hard, Nellie helped me study (and she knows it way better than me!) and finally to make it real, I set the date for me to drive to San Antonio to take the exam. It was a difficult environment in which strictness is the rule of the day. I could not get up once I sat down and only with the raising of my hand would I be allowed to get up, and if I needed to visit the facilities, I would have to raise my hand, await the proctor to accompany me and before I was even allowed in I had to remove everything from my pockets and even had my glasses checked to make sure that I wasn't able to receive messages or information that might help me cheat on the exam. I had studied. I had prayed and I did all I could and I turned the exam in. The proctor ran the exam and placed it face down on the counter and told me I could turn it over. PASSED! And with a good score, too, thank God!

And here we find Moses doubting just where he was, and who he was. He asks for someone to accompany him.

Moses, the leader of the Israelites, boldly approached the Lord with a heartfelt plea: "Please show me your glory." He desired a deeper knowledge of God, a more profound encounter with His presence. For Moses, his desire is to know God more intimately, and for him knowing God's presence is just what he desires. Moses' words in verse 15 reveal a deeper truth: "If Your presence will not go with us, do not bring us up from here." God being with them made them stand out among the other people of the region. Without God, they would be just like any other nation.

God responds with a promise filled with grace and favor: "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." It is a reassuring affirmation of God's commitment to His people. Moses was granted his request to see God's glory, but with a divine disclaimer – "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." Despite the limits placed on the human encounter with God, Moses was granted a glimpse of His goodness. The truth was that anyone who saw God would die, thus what we read in verse 23, "Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

As we journey in faith, we, too, long for a deeper understanding of God's presence. We desire to see His glory and experience His grace. Just like Moses, we recognize the importance of God's presence in our lives. We know that it is in His presence that we find rest, grace, and favor.

As we reflect on this passage, consider your own longing to experience God's presence and glory. Remember that, like Moses, you are known by name and have found favor in His sight. Take comfort in His promise to go with you and grant you rest. May you seek His presence and, in that seeking, find all you need.

PRAYER: Loving God, we are grateful for the promise of Your presence and the assurance of Your favor. Just as Moses longed to see Your glory, we, too, desire to know You more deeply. May Your presence go with us on this journey of faith, and grant us rest, grace, and favor. In our seeking, reveal Yourself to us, and fill our lives with Your goodness. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Seek to know God's presence more in your life.

Receive my blessings of love and joy,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Modeling Faith & Love?

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1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)

I have a family member who used to be a drag racer. He owned a modified production car and spent a lot of time working on it. I can't begin to explain all that is involved in owning and the care and feeding of a funny car. What I do know is that my relative spent a lot of time on a mat under the car adjusting and tweaking the engine. God blessed that relative with a baby girl who grew up watching all her daddy did and the nicest memory shared with me was of this precious little girl, who laid out a towel on the floor, brought her bike over, and got on the towel to "work" on her bicycle. She was imitating her dad. It's the fondest form of flattery. (Okay, it's also the most sincere way of flattery, too!). If your life has ever been improved or impacted in a positive way by somebody, you do things that reflect that impact that we can say is imitation. Did you ever imitate your mother or father?

As Paul writes this letter to the church in Tessalonica, he's sincerely impressed by the way believers there were imitating his and his partners, for the "work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." This was evidence to Paul that the Thessalonian church was characterized by three remarkable qualities: faith, love, and hope. These are not mere words but the driving forces behind their actions. Their faith was evident in their work, their love was seen in their labor, and their hope was manifested in their endurance through trials. These qualities weren't just theory; they were practical, lived out in daily life. Are we modeling faith and love?

The Thessalonians' faith was not passive but active, producing work. Their love was not theoretical but practical, driving them to labor for the well-being of others. Their hope was not wishful thinking but a source of endurance in the face of adversity. It was what drove them to action, of living and modeling a life of faith and love. Jesus was real to them, and Jesus was real in them!

Furthermore, the Thessalonians didn't keep this vibrant faith, love, and hope to themselves. They became imitators of Paul, Silas, and Timothy, who were imitating the Lord. In a world marked by suffering, their joy was unmistakable, a gift from the Holy Spirit. The impact of their faithfulness was far-reaching; they became a model for all the believers in the region.

Their transformation was clear and powerful, and real. They turned from believing and serving idols to serve the one true, living God, and they eagerly awaited the return of Jesus, who would rescue them from the coming wrath. Their lives were a living testimony to the life-changing power of the gospel. We, too, should be witnesses of that as well; that would make our lives truly models of faith and love. Here's our challenge: We must cultivate a faith that works. We should possess and truly pour out a love that labors, that is, works for others. We should also hold dear a hope that endures forever; a hope that is not easily swayed nor distracted nor de-railed by anything or anyone. And the best way to achieve those is to imitate the model of Jesus in our lives. The people in Thessalonia imitated Paul, Silas, and Timothy. These men were bright shining models of faith, love, and hope in a world that still desperately needs to see the message of the gospel in action.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the inspiring example of the Thessalonian believers. Help us to cultivate a faith that produces good works, a love that drives us to labor for others, and a hope that sustains us in all circumstances. May we imitate Christ and become models of faith, love, and hope to those around us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Live the life of Jesus in today's world.

Receive my blessings of hope and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Render to God

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15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero'di-ans, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin. 20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they heard it, they marveled; and they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:15-22 Revised Standard Version)

The Bible teaches that "the love of money is the root of all evil." (1Timothy 6:10). A good question to ask is how you came to know about money and what of that lesson stayed with you all these years? I'm old enough to remember the power of a penny, yes, one cent, and that it could buy things during the early part of my life. A nickel was five times more powerful, a dime ten times more powerful, and a quarter was usually enough for a fun day at the movie theatre. The Texas Theater in Kingsville in those days charged ten cents for a child's admission to a movie, and in those days one could stay in the theater all day, watching and re-watching the movie over and over. Yes, Kids, even leave after coming in at a certain point, watching the ovie end, start over and when it got to the part you first saw, you got the phrase, "This is where I came in." The fifteen cents left over from the admission charge could be used to buy a soft drink for a nickel, a bag of popcorn for ten cents. Or, if you were hungry, a hot dog for fifteen cents. And a full size candy bar was a nickel. And I have to admit, there were days I'd rather spend the morning at the creek. Money was okay, but I rather enjoyed the outdoors and the freedom to roam almost all over Kingsville until dark.

In today's lesson, which is the Gospel reading for this coming Sunday, the Pharisees tried to use money to trap Jesus to arrest Him and get Him out of the way once and for all. Money in those days had power and more so because of the occupation of Roman soldiers in their midst. Not to mention the presence of tax collectors who served to remind the Jews this land was no longer their land and their freedom was limited. And so their scheme involved money and the order they pay taxes to Rome. It was the most talked about topic of the day, hotly debated, and possibly the most hated.

The Pharisees begin with a smooth way, telling Jesus that He was true, and that He taught the way of God in a truthful manner, and had no concern about what others said about Him, and then the question; "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" The reality was that it was the law, so it was lawful, but according to Jewish sentiment, it was not "lawful" in their opinion or even in the interpretation of their law, paying money to a foreign government was not lawful. They figured there was no right way to answer and they had Him. But this is Jesus and He knew their hearts and the malice in them. So, Jesus asks for the money with which they paid the tax. And they bring to Him the coin used to pay the tax. Jesus looks at the coin and asks, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" The obvious reply, "Caesar's." Then the most awesome comeback, that I will use in the post office this week, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." What could the Pharisees possibly say? The Bible says, "They marveled" at His response. They walked away and began to plot their next moves against Jesus.

In this response, Jesus addressed the concept of dual citizenship. We live in a world with earthly responsibilities and authorities, symbolized by the coin's image of Caesar. However, we also bear a divine likeness, created in the image of God. Just as we give to Caesar what is Caesar's, we must also give to God what is God's.

So, what is it that we owe to God? We owe God our hearts, our worship, our love, and our devotion. We bear God's image, and our ultimate allegiance is to Him. And I believe we are called to reflect His likeness in our lives, to show His love, grace, and compassion to others.

Friends, In our earthly responsibilities, we should remember that God is the one who established authorities, and we should obey just laws and pay our dues. But in all things, we must prioritize our relationship with God and honor Him with our lives.

PRAYER: Loving God, We thank you for the wisdom and teachings of Jesus. Help us to discern the earthly matters that require our attention and the heavenly matters that require our devotion. May we recognize the image of God in ourselves and others and honor it by loving one another; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen. Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Bear an image of God that is loving, compassionate, and open to all people.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

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In The Gap

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1 Hallelujah! Thank God! And why? Because he's good, because his love lasts. 2 But who on earth can do it - declaim God's mighty acts, broadcast all his praises? 3 You're one happy man when you do what's right, one happy woman when you form the habit of justice. 4 Remember me, God, when you enjoy your people; include me when you save them; 5 I want to see your chosen succeed, celebrate with your celebrating nation, join the Hallelujahs of your pride and joy! 6 We've sinned a lot, both we and our parents; We've fallen short, hurt a lot of people. 19 They cast in metal a bull calf at Horeb and worshiped the statue they'd made. 20 They traded the Glory for a cheap piece of sculpture - a grass-chewing bull! 21 They forgot God, their very own Savior, who turned things around in Egypt, 22 Who created a world of wonders in the Land of Ham, who gave that stunning performance at the Red Sea. 23 Fed up, God decided to get rid of them - and except for Moses, his chosen, he would have. But Moses stood in the gap and deflected God's anger, prevented it from destroying them utterly. (Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 The Message Bible)

I propose that we change the name of The Book of Psalms to El Libro de Corridos. A corrido is a song style that originated in Northern Mexico that tells a complete story. King David was an awesome storyteller when it came to his writing psalms and songs about the history of Israel. I don't know how the lyre compares to the accordion or the tuba, but it's all about making joyful noises. And the telling of a good story, and David came upon the perfect one; the one we read about yesterday. It's about the goodness of God and His unfailing love. David declares the happiness that is ours when we're faithful and fruituf to God. And he calls out to God to remember him, especially when He is out "enjoying" His people; and begs to be included in the salvation that God offers to all. Those who come to God and receive His salvation become a part of the "celebration nation," who offer up songs of Hallelujahs. The past mistakes and sins have been forgiven and forgotten; even to the generation of their parents. David is among the first to admit that he has sinned a lot and falled short of God's expectation and this reminds him of the incident at Horeb, where the sinful people melted gold and cast a mold for a golden calf, a "cheap piece of sculpture - a grass-chewing bull," a fitting tribute to their state of fallenness. Their minds hold no memory of the good things God has done for them, including the major one of God turning all things around in Egypt. God turned their world upside down, from slavery to freedom, and a free trip home! Truly, as this version says, "A world of wonders," including quite the demonstration in the Red Sea. Even at the point of extreme anger that would have incinerated all the people, and God would have done it, but the man of the hour was Moses. Moses, David says, "stood in the gap and deflected God's anger, preventing it from destroying them utterly."

Despite our unfaithfulness, God's love and mercy are evident to us. It is a reminder that even in moments of rebellion, God is ready to turn things around for those who return to Him. God's anger was deflected by Moses, who stood in the gap, preventing utter destruction. Even during those moments of such forgetfulness and unfaithfulness in our daily walk with God, even then God's love remains the same; steadfast and open. When we do repent and turn back to God, God's mercy abounds, and God turns things around for our good.

Where do you find yourself right now, friend? Are you still wandering in the wildnerness of sin and temptation? Do you desire to turn back to God and receive from Him that which will set you back where you need to be? It only takes a prayer and a request, and God will respond and love you, forgve you of your sin, and even forget that sin forever.

PRAYER: Loving God, We thank you for your goodness, love, and faithfulness. In moments of forgetfulness, we often stray from your path and make idols of our own desires. Forgive us for the times we have traded your Glory for the things of this world; embrace us and love us, and we will be saved. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Return to God with songs of praise for all God has done for you.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The "god" of Impatience

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1 When the people realized that Moses was taking forever in coming down off the mountain, they rallied around Aaron and said, "Do something. Make gods for us who will lead us. That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt - who knows what's happened to him?" 2 So Aaron told them, "Take off the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters and bring them to me." 3 They all did it; they removed the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took the gold from their hands and cast it in the form of a calf, shaping it with an engraving tool. The people responded with enthusiasm: "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from Egypt!" 5 Aaron, taking in the situation, built an altar before the calf. Aaron then announced, "Tomorrow is a feast day to God!" 6 Early the next morning, the people got up and offered Whole-Burnt-Offerings and brought Peace-Offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink and then began to party. It turned into a wild party! 7 God spoke to Moses, "Go! Get down there! Your people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt have fallen to pieces. 8 In no time at all they've turned away from the way I commanded them: They made a molten calf and worshiped it. They've sacrificed to it and said, 'These are the gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt!'" 9 God said to Moses, "I look at this people - oh! what a stubborn, hard-headed people! 10 Let me alone now, give my anger free reign to burst into flames and incinerate them. But I'll make a great nation out of you." 11 Moses tried to calm his God down. He said, "Why, God, would you lose your temper with your people? Why, you brought them out of Egypt in a tremendous demonstration of power and strength. 12 Why let the Egyptians say, 'He had it in for them - he brought them out so he could kill them in the mountains, wipe them right off the face of the Earth.' Stop your anger. Think twice about bringing evil against your people! 13 Think of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants to whom you gave your word, telling them 'I will give you many children, as many as the stars in the sky, and I'll give this land to your children as their land forever.'" 14 And God did think twice. He decided not to do the evil he had threatened against his people. (Exodus 32:1-14 The Message Bible)

Dear Reader, may the peace of the Lord Jesus be with you and yours. I have just now received a very important request from a reader who asks prayers for his nephew, Ian Garcia as Ian is on the USS Carl Vinson, which has been deployed to the war region of Israel and Gaza. May we pray for Ian and his colleagues that God bless and protect them and bring them all safely home quickly. Prayers for all who are affected by this war, too.

The senior pastor was on retreat and a sabbatical. The expected date for his return came and went, and still no senior pastor. What was more pressing was that worship day was approaching and the bulletin information that the senior pastor usually provided was not ready. The secretary called the associate pastor and he scribbled what he believed would suffice, but it did not meet the secretary's standards and so he tried again. The secretary called the pulpit committee who called the associate to see if he couldn't try a third time to make the missing information a bit better and up to snuff for the bulletin. They also wanted to know what they could do since the senior pastor was not yet back. Someone even called the district superintendent to ask her if they could find a temporary senior pastor to fill in for the missing senior pastor. The associate soon felt this was all hopeless and he would be moved the next conference year, which was two months away. He thought about it and wondered aloud to his wife and asked her if perhaps if he could but just drag out his old Elvis costume,, he could dress as Elvis and re-do some of The King's hits in a Christian way that that might appease the growing anger of the congregation over the missing senior pastor. Out came the gold lamé suit, and the itchy but effective porkchop sideburns. The toupé was dusty and on it went on the head. The song would have to be All Shook Up.

Okay, this has already happened in some churches, but not in the passage we read today. First Church Exodus was in an uproar over the over-praying senior pastor Moses. "It seems like forever!" was the cry of the impatient congregation. But there was no gold Elvis suit. What there was was almost just as stupid. Aaron, the associate pastor of First Exodus too quickly agreed with the congrgation that they needed to do something. And he even listened to their ridiculous request to "make gods for us who will lead us." Stop and ponder that for a second. This is not the only time we read something like this in the Bible. My favorite is the prophet's story of the man who chops down a tree to use half of it to cook his food and the other half of the tree to make a god to thank for the food! But Aaron's order to take the gold rings and to bring them to him to make a golden calf is equally stupid and silly. But that was what they did; they melted the gold and formed a calf from it. And they planned a feast day for this "god."

The party started the next day, first as a Whole-Burnt-Offering and Peace-Offerings, a semi-reminder of what was once holy to them, but it quickly escalated into a wild party. If you've ever seen the old Ten Commandments movie with Charlton Heston, you remember the scene of this party. It was wild enough for God to take notice and for Him to order Moses to return back to the camp. God was not pleased to hear His people thanking a golden calf for their freedom from slavery in Egypt. God even says, "I look at this people - oh! what a stubborn, hard-headed people! Let me alone now, give my anger free reign to burst into flames and incinerate them. But I'll make a great nation out of you." Moses pleads with God to not do that to the people reminding God about others in their story with whom God had delivered, including His covenant with Abraham, and that swayed God and He did not do the harm He had intended for Israel.

The truth is that in moments of spiritual struggle, we may also look for substitutes for God. It may take the form of our pursuit of wealth, power, or worldly pleasures. We may make idols out of our desires and priorities, forgetting the one true God who has been faithful to us.

But the beauty of this passage lies in God's response. Despite the people's unfaithfulness, God is willing to relent from His anger and give them another chance. Moses, in his role as an intercessor, pleads with God to spare the people, reminding Him of His promises to their ancestors. And God, in His mercy, relents.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, We come before you with gratitude for your boundless patience and mercy. Just as the Israelites strayed from your path, we, too, have our moments of weakness and waywardness. Forgive us for the times we have made idols out of our desires and neglected our relationship with you. Thank you for being a God of second chances, for relenting in your anger, and for giving us opportunities to return to your loving embrace. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Remind someonf ot the patience of God.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

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1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:1-9 NIV Bible)

The busy season of Medicare Advantage plans is neigh upon us, and here I sit in the Seguin Walmart for one day, Monday. October 15th is the start of the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) when one who has a Medicare Advantage plan can switch out to another; and this year's new additions to plans makes shopping around worthwhile. I sit near Register 9 and about an hour ago, a young woman with a basket filled to the brim and beyond with groceries and other items came to check out. This being an information day, I knew it would be slow and I wondered how she would do her self-checkout with so many items and such a limited space to work with. I also noticed she was wearing a jacket with the dreaded two initials most Texans didn't want to see; O U. Well, she did it. As she bagged her groceries, she arranged the bags neatly on the tiny counter space and some items were placed on the floor until she finished and she paid for all items and I told her I admired her for the way she was able to meticulously handle all things. She said thank you and she thanked the military for helping her handle such details. I wondered how I would have handled the challenge. All minds do not work alike; some work patiently with all challenges, and others can't work because of impatience.

The Apostle Paul addresses this in today's passage. As he writes to the church in Philippi, he is concerned about some of the believers there, and he names them and he names that they were no longer getting along, and urges Syntyche to help mend that relationship by urging them to think like Jesus. What Would Jesus Do is more than a cute saying on now-outdated bracelets and s-shirts; it's a way of living. If more of us would seek to think like Christ, we might be able to work things out better and faster. Those whom Paul mentioned were going through a rough patch but that did not erase their names from the book of life. But Paul does call them to be joyful, and to be joyful always, so much so he says, "I will say it again: Rejoice!" Thank God for the people in our lives whose joy is contagious and almost ever present; no matter their situation or their lot, they are joyful. And Paul also urges them, and us, to not be anxious about anything. This is sometimes difficult. As I took my morning walk this morning my heart was heavy for the people in Israel and Palestine. There is a war going on and many are dying as a result. I read bout 260 people attending a music festival who were gunned down by paragliding terrorists who flew into their midst and just opened fire. One man was on the phone with his daughter and her husband when they were killed as the father listened in, helpless to do anything. I had to admit to the Lord that I was a bit anxious about such a situation and asked Him to do what He can to bring about a resolution.

Paul says beside not being anxious we should, in every situation be prayerful and to list our petitions to Him along with our thankfulness, as we talk to God about what is bothering us. And as a very helpful reminder, Paul says The Lord is close by to listen and to respond to our cares and worries. And Paul adds, as we pray, the Lord will grant to us His peace, and this is a peace that "transcends all understanding." The Message Bible puts it this way, "Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Imagine worry being displaced by God and having His peace as the center of our lives? Paul shares a model for this peace and thinking in this way: "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things." Thinking along these lines helps our attitude, and a right and proper attitude helps our altitude, in other words, lofty thoughts lift us up and away from that which was holding us down. Using Dr. Peterson's word from The Message again, "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." What a way to live, no?

PRAYER: Dear God of Peace, be with us and lift us from those deep depths of despair that sometimes try to drag us down. Help us be lifted by Your Spirit to the heights of glory and peace. Help us bless others to join us there; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Allow God to lift your spirit today and take someone with you!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Invited? Yes! Will You Go?

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1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:1-14 NIV Bible)

Growing up in a family with limited means, a growing and hungry boy sometimess overreached the resources. That's a nice way of saying a poor fat boy sometimes doesn't eat all he would like to eat. "Are you going to eat that?" was a question that my sister soon tired of hearing from me. And when caught asking that my mother would respond in Spanish, "¡No es boda!" which means "This is not a wedding." I never knew what she meant until one day we were invited to a cousin's wedding on the land where they were sharecroppers. They were not rich either, but a wedding was a BIG occasion and no expense was spared. There were miles of tables filled with food, and special food not usually found in daily meals. And that was the Aha! moment! I know what Mom means when she says, "¡No es boda!" This is a boda and I'm here! Not too long ago a movie was made about two guys who discovered there were plenty of resources at weddings and so they became professional wedding crashers, scouring the newspapers (remember them?) for upcoming weddings and so they would prepare themselves for each, rehearsing lines and procedures so they could be successful in all their desires, not all of them good.

Jesus speaks of a wedding feast thrown by a king for his son. I'll pause and let your mind run wild. If a poor sharecroppers lays out a mile-long feast for his daughter, how much more would a king do for his son? The resources of a king outweigh those of a sharecropper. Yes, even in Jesus' day, a king was rich in the riches of the day, and so this parable draws the attention of those who did not have many resources and who seemed to follow Jesus to see what miracle He might perform that involved food. So, the hungry would be drawn to stories about food. So are fat boys. But this story has a twist. In this story, those whom the king invited did not want to attend. A second invitation had to be shared with them, this time with a preview of the menu. "My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet." Is your mouth watering? Theirs was not. Again, they refused to go; they stayed doing what they were doing, some working in their field, and others tending to their business; and some scoundrels grabbed the messengers and killed them. And this angered the king. He sends his army and destroys the murderers and burned their dwelling places.

The king tries again, this time with a twist on the invitation. "Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find." Anyone? Even commoners, with dirty clothes and no shoes? Even those who smell because they haven't bathed in days? Yes. The servants brought back a crowd and the wedding hall was soon filled with guests. Hungry guests. Surprised guests. But, the king discovered that one man there was not wearing "wedding clothes." And this man was asked how he managed to get inside and the man could not answer and so the king says, tie him up and throw him outside "into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And he closes with, "For many are invited, but few are chosen." The question remains, who was this man who was not wearing "wedding clothes," and why was he thrown out in that dramatic way? Some believe that in those days, the wedding hosts provided wedding robes or wedding garments and to refuse to wear one even if provided was an insult to the host. Others believe that it wasn't so much what he did not "put on" as it was his refusal to truly be as what Jesus is talking about; a kingdom of rightesouness and holiness; to seek to be a part of such kingdom without truly forsaking sin and temptation and still wants to take part. And still others says the man without wedding garments was the devil himself. The only thing I know to do is question how we are in our walk with God? Have we done all we know we should do or have we said we are fine just as we are and still continue to walk towards Him? The kingdom is for those who have repented and desire a relationship with God, who is the Divine Host of this wedding. It is up to us to accept the invitation with gracious hearts.

PRAYER: Loving Host of the Feast, we are hungry and we are weak; nurture us to strength and to faith so that we mght accept the call to be a part of the celebration. We have been invited to invite others; let us be faithful. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Invite someone to the feast!

Receive my blessings of joy and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Credentials

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4b If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:4b-14 NIV)

The most impressive title I've come across is the clergyman in charge of Wesley's Chapel in London, The Reverend Doctor Leslie The Lord Griffiths. I have to confess that I read that title several times wondering what it could possibly mean, and as worship started the associate pastor welcomed us and explained the title to us. It is very impressive, but St. Paul would ask, What does it matter? He had come across many who bragged on their credentials and standings and driven by frustration he wrote the words of today's passage. Quite impressive; not a Lord, but still. He was thoroughly Jewish for he was circumcised on the eighth day according to the Law. He was a part of the people of Israel, more specifically, the tribe of Benjamin, his words, "A Hebrew born of Hebrews." Continuing with the explanation of the law, he was trained and received as a Pharisee. As to his enthusiasm for his calling, he was a persecutor of the Church, and if you defined righteousness by the law, then he considered himself blameless. Measured against any man of his time, there would be few with more impressive credentials on either side, the Jewish side or the Christian side; yet, Paul says, these mean nothing compared to Jesus Christ; everything I used to have and value I now consider as rubbish compared to the joy and life I have found in Jesus Christ my Lord. The things of the past are all lost, the gain that I seek is to know Jesus better, to be found in Him, and to be known as one righteous not because of the Law, but because of faith in Jesus Christ. The thing I want most is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, and yes, even suffering as He did to become like Him even in death. Paul's hope was to attain resurrection from the dead, and this was his motivation in faith. The main thing, Paul says, is to leave the past in the past and strain forward to what lies ahead; the heavenly prize of God calling him home in Jesus Christ.

Paul's case as stated above simply says, it's not what we know, but Who we know. If we know Jesus Christ and seek to know as much as we can about Him, that should be motivation enough to keep going forward. It's not about titles, degrees, diplomas, pedigrees, or what have you; it's about faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Our motivation is not to keep looking backward at past failures or mistakes, it's about trusting God enough to move towards being faithful in our ministry here now.

PRAYER: Loving God, allow me to move toward You today. Whatever may have troubled me about yesterday should not matter today. Let me live fully in You in all that may come my way today, for I seek to be faithful to You in all things; this I pray in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: May I be known for knowing Christ

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, J.

The Tenants

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33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ? 43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet. (Matthew 21:33-46 NIV Bible)

A blessed Monday to you, dear Friend. I pray the blessings of the Lord enrich your life and allow you to become a wonderful blessing to many, Prayers today for Mr. Bill Meadows of First Methodist Church of Gonzales who is having a surgical procedure today in Seguin. May God bless Bill with a victory and a speedy recovery. Pray for all who have asked prayer from us and may God bless you in your needs.

Jesus shares yet another vineyard story. He always knew His audience and so captures today's crowd with this story. This one a bit more personal. It hits very close to home. The story is about the owner of the vineyard and his son. We all should, by now, know what and Who Jesus is talking about. But, let's follow the story. This owner, having moved away, has rented out his vineyard and his winepress. The day comes that the rent is due and so he send his servants to collect the rent. These tenants grabbed the servants, beating one, killing another and stoning a third. Not what he expected, and so he sends other servants, more than the first time, to try and collect the rent, and the same thing happens. Finally, the owner decides he will send his son to collect the rent, thinking the renters would respect his son. But the tenants had other ideas thinking, "This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance." And that's what happened; the son was thrown out of the vineyard and killed him." Then Jesus asks, "When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" The audience replied, "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time." The question is asked by Jesus, "Have you never read the scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, an dit is marvelous in our eyes'? "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed." Ouch. For in the audience were the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were smart people and they knew who He was talking about and so decided they would look for ways to get Jesus arrested, but also feared the crowd because the people held Jesus to be a prophet. Funny, because that's exactly who Jesus was talking about; God sending His prophets to speak His word and most of them were killed, and Jesus knew what fate awaited Him.

We must not overlook the declaration Jesus makes about Him being the cornerstone. He was rejected by the religious leaders of His time, just as the landowner's son was rejected by the wicked tenants. But, we thank God that His plan prevailed, and Jesus became the cornerstone of our faith, our salvation. But here is the reality; we will all be held accountable for how we've managed the resources and opportunities that God has given us. This is our time to reflect on our lives and ask whether we are producing the fruits of righteousness. This parable calls us to recognize Jesus as the cornerstone of our faith and to use the blessings in a responsible way that bears the fruit of love, grace, and obedience to God's will. God's patience and grace provide us with the opportunity to turn back to Him, even when we have strayed. May God give us the strength to respond to His call and faithfulness.

PRAYER: Loving God, rain down on us Your grace and love to do Your will. May we seek to share Jesus as cornerstone with others; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Make Jesus the Cornerstone of your life.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.