The Restoring Shepherd

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1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken your might; come and save us. 3 Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. 4 How long, LORD God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful. 6 You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us. 7 Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:1-7 NIV Bible)

A happy and joyous Thursday to you, dear Friend! May this find you well as it leaves me. I pray the Lord bless you with many blessings.

In my senior year of high school, one of my classmates got a part time job at a service station doing car inspections. He did so well, he bought himself a brand-new Dodge Cuda. It was purple with white interior. Later reports told me that he dropped out of school to work fulltime. My guess is that it was difficult to maintain his car payments and upkeep. I do hope he finished his educatiounal goals. That Cuda along with the muscle cars of my era, are now what we call restored cars, which I love. The Big Four of the auto makers made many boys, and yes, girls, break the commandment of coveting their products. The Camaro, the Mustang, the Road Runner, the Barracuda, and so many others, were on most of the guy's drool list. There was for some years in the town of Hempstead, Texas, a warehouse owned by an auto dealer that featured a lot of these, and other cars, and the price tags led to some thinking that coveting was one thing, robbing banks to buy a restored car was quite another matter!

What I love more than restored cars are restored persons, the kind the psalmist speaks of. As a pastor I have come to love the changes that God can bring to us when we turn to Him and ask for the "make-over." As a brand-new pastor in my first and only student appointment in Waco, I visited a lot of the members of the church that were on the church's Rolodex. (Remember we were in the pre-computer days!). One of the stops Nellie and I made was to a young man who had done what other kids only threatened to do, run away and join the circus. This young man, we'll call him Johnny, actually ran away from home, joined the circus and came home. He was a bearded man, wearing what he must have worn during his circus days. He had married and had two young children, and I went and shared with him the word of God and he accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior that very evening. We prayed, hugged, and I invited him to church for the following Sunday. That Sunday a small family walked into our church and when I greeted them I was shocked to learn the father was none other than Johnny, whose whole appearance had changed! Christ had re-made him into a new creature, as He has done with you and me.

As you and I may seek restoration, we have to acknowledge the weight of our tears, the anguish that has filled our cups. We need to recognize our reality—feeling scorned by our neighbors, laughed at by our enemies. We truly don't have anywhere to turn, except to God, and we can plead for His intervention and for His face to shine upon us, and asking taht God bring to us salvation and deliverance.

In seasons of despair, we, too, find ourselves crying out for God's restoring presence. We may feel overwhelmed by adversity, surrounded by challenges that seem insurmountable. It's in these moments that our hearts echo the psalmist's plea for restoration and salvation. And the good news? It's available to all who ask. What are you waiting for?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Shepherd of our souls, we come before You, acknowledging our need for Your restoring presence in our lives. Shine Your face upon us, O God, and bring forth restoration where there is brokenness, hope where there is despair. Lead us in Your paths of righteousness, and grant us the strength to face our challenges. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Seek the Lord now.

Receive my love and thanks to God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

We Are The Work of God's Hands

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1 Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend, make the mountains shudder at your presence - 2 As when a forest catches fire, as when fire makes a pot to boil - 3 To shock your enemies into facing you, make the nations shake in their boots! You did terrible things we never expected, descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence. 4 Since before time began no one has ever imagined, No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you who works for those who wait for him. 5 You meet those who happily do what is right, who keep a good memory of the way you work. But how angry you've been with us! We've sinned and kept at it so long! Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved? 6 We're all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags. We dry up like autumn leaves - sin-dried, we're blown off by the wind. 7 No one prays to you or makes the effort to reach out to you Because you've turned away from us, left us to stew in our sins. 8 Still, God, you are our Father. We're the clay and you're our potter: All of us are what you made us. 9 Don't be too angry with us, O God. Don't keep a permanent account of wrongdoing. Keep in mind, please, we are your people - all of us. (Isaiah 64:1-9 The Message Bible)

A blessed and wonderful Wednesay to you, dear Reader. May the Lord reveal to us more of His love for us and may He impart wisdom to us to better understand His word for us. May it move us to a point of action and service, and may our hearts be filled with God's profound love that the world cannot understand!

I write this on Tuesday. Earlier today our daughter sent us a very clear 4D photo of grandchild number seven. Nellie and I are very blessed and we anxiously await the arrive of grandson number four. In the image, she placed her two older sons side by side and we are just blown away at what this little one looks like, and how much he looks like big brothers Liam and Eli. We both believe he looks more like Liam in some ways. What he will look like of course will not be revealed until he makes his arrival in March. How far we have come in science. I am old enough to remember not even knowing the sex of our children until their arrival and it didn't hamper my joy and excitement at their moment of joining the family. The prophet is expressing his desire to have God make His presence better known, even as in a face-to-face appearance. Many, through the ages, have said that things would be so much easier if only God would reveal His face. I think that would not make much of a difference, for there would still be those naysayers who would take issue with this or that, and still declare any appearance of God as not being real or relevant. Like Isaiah, we long for God to reveal Himself in extraordinary ways, to intervene in our lives and circumstances with awe-inspiring power. We yearn for a divine encounter that will shake the very foundations of our existence and bring us face-to-face with the Almighty.

We yearn for the divine intervention that will transform our lives and make the world aware of His sovereignty. We long for a revelation of God's greatness, a demonstration of His power that will leave us awestruck and trembling. Yet, In our longing for His presence, we're reminded of our imperfections and the sin that separates us from Him. We recognize our inadequacy, like dried leaves blown away by the wind, and we realize the desperate need for God's divine touch to renew and reshape us.

Yet, amidst our failings, we hold onto the hope that God, our Father, is the potter shaping our lives. We trust that even in our brokenness, He can mold us anew and bring forth something beautiful from the ashes. You and I can share countless stories of how God has, and will, continue to bless us in unexpected, and unexplainable ways. In my case, as an example, Nellie and I drove around the campus of my alma mater, Southwestern University earlier today. Nellie remarked that I was blessed to have received an education from such a prestigious institution such as Southwestern, and indeed I was. It was a dream held first by my Dad, who always told us we would attend and graduate from college, and that was echoed by my Mom; how it would come to be I would list under the blessings too awesome to explain. We need only point heavenward and shrug. I long believed that miracles were meant to bless us for our benefit and enjoyment, and no explanation is necessary. How about you?

We can conclude our study with saying that we indeed, are the work of God's hands. He is the potter and we are the clay. And guess what, the work is still in progress! Ask God to guide you to being that which God desires for you, and one day the finished result will blow you away!

PRAYER: Loving Potter, our souls cry out for Your presence to descend and shake the mountains, but shake us as well. We acknowledge our sinfulness and shortcomings, yet we trust in Your power to renew and reshape us. Mold us according to Your will, O God, and reveal Your glory in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Let God shape you.

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

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Are You Biblically Literate?

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3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:3-9 NIV Bible)

A wonderfully blessed Tuesday be yours, dear Friend is my prayer. May this find you blessed, refreshed and renewed in the Lord. There's work to be done my friend, and Jesus is counting on you!

There was a time in our country, and certainly in those parts of the world where the Christian faith has had some years, that people were, for the most part, biblically literate. The Bible was read so often that the speech used in those places was rich and cultured. The characters of the Bible were known and some people even named their babies for them. The graphic for today shows what Americans knew in 2010: 63% of Americans knew that Genesis is the first book of the Bible. 72% knew that Moses led the Exodus. 60% knew that Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son's life for God. 39% knew that Job remained obedient to God despite extraordinary suffering. 71% knew that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. 45% knew that the four gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These were from a multiple choice quiz of questions and done by the Pew Forum on Relgion and Public LIfe. A more recent survey shows: In 2022, 49% of Americans view the Bible as inspired by God, but not everything in it is to be taken literally. 29% say the Bible is a collection of fables, history and moral precepts recorded by man. And 20% of Americans say it is the actual word of God to be taken literally. I was blessed to have taught university-level Bible courses for university credit at then-Pan American University from 1980-1986. My predecessor was The Rev. Jose Luis Palos, who wisely told me, "I have learned that most, if not all, of the students who will take your classes who have never opened a Bible before. They will not know, like most of our United Methodist kids do, that if we say, 'Turn to John 3:16,' what that even means. I spend the first class explaining an overview of the Bible, including how to read such a location like John 3:16." And the American Bible Society reports, "In its 2022 State Of The Bible, the American Bible Society reported the largest decline in “Bible users” among American adults that the study has ever recorded—a 10 percent drop, from 49 to 39 percent. Yikes! What might this be saying about us? What might this be saying about our future?

The Apostle Paul knew his scripture, and as a result, he wrote most of the New Testament. The Hebrew Bible shaped him, but his love and walk with Jesus molded him into the disciple that he was. He became a grateful man, who freely and openly gave thanks and showed love to God, for the way that God worked in the lives of others, especially disciples of Jesus. Paul could see the impact Jesus was having on them saying they were enriched in every way; through their speech and with wisdom, for he could see that it was God confirming their witness about Jesus. And it was because of all that, that these believers did not lack any spiritual gifts as they made thir way forward awaiting the return of Jesus. Paul believed that it would be Jesus Who would keep them strong and steadfast until the very end so that they would be blameless on that day of Jesus Christ. Paul affirms what we should believe that God is faithful, and God has called us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Though the world be shakey and scary, God is streadfast as should be our faith. God can and does hold us those of us who cry to Him for His help. God doesn't just offer a partial measure of grace but provides abundantly in every aspect. He equips us with spiritual gifts, knowledge, and the assurance of His presence as we eagerly await Christ's return.

Our hope and confidence lie not in our abilities but in the faithfulness of the One who called us into fellowship with His Son.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Your unending grace and peace that sustain us daily. We're grateful for the gifts and enrichment You provide for our spiritual journey. Help us rest in the assurance of Your faithfulness, knowing that You keep us secure until the day of Christ's return. Strengthen us to live blamelessly, honoring You in all we do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Ask God to make us steadfast.

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

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Christ Will Come Again

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24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Watch therefore--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning-- 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Watch." (Mark 13:24-37 Revised Standard Version Bible)

A most marvelous of Mondays to you, dear Friend! May this first day of work, school, retirement, or whatever - after the holiday weekend be filled with joy and peace. I pray the blessings of being together with loved ones, family, friends, etc. enrich your life in immeasurable ways!

Welcome to the Advent Season! Advent is a time of preparation in hopes of the coming of Jesus. We, as believers, traditionally prepare for Christmas, but as this passage shows, we also prepare for the coming of the Lord again. Are you ready? Let's get ready!

I love the Christmas season, no matter when you decide it starts. Or ends. Nellie, our daughters, and I, have been blessed a number of times in being in the right place at the right time, for unexpected surprises of Christmas preparations and celebrations. When we lived in the Valley and we were returning home to the Valley from the Houston area after Thanksgiving, we happened to stop in Kingsville, Texas, at the right time their nighttime Christmas parade started. And some years later, when we lived in San Antonio, we happened to visit Fredericksburg, Texas, on the night of their Christmas parade. And guess what? We usually miss our local parades!

We do not want to miss out on what Jesus is talking about in this powerful passage. Jesus speaks of coming cosmic events, triggered by a time of tribulation, when the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give out its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and even the powers in the skies will be shaken. It is then, Jesus says, "That the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory." This is the beginning of what is to come. This is the Advent Season, a time to prepare for Christmas as well as the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus. The main command is to be ready. The promise of the Lord that even when all seems dire and scary, He is still in control and in command, and this, dear friends, is a message of hope and peace. There will be a process on that day, but no one knows when that day will be. Scholars have long debated when this day will be, and the least talked about is the one where some believe at the day of our death, that will be the day. Are you ready?

Many have made this a "game" for lack of a better word, and some televangelists have made a more than comfortable living proclaiming they know the day or at least the signs that will be. Our history books are filled with certain days in the past when people met on hilltops and countrysides to await the Lord for the signs were all aligned for Jesus to come back, only to find it was not yet the time. Jesus still says, "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come." He then compares it to a man preparing to take a trip, who leaves his servants in charge, and commands the doorkeeper to be on watch. Keep alert, Jesus stresses, for it could be in the evening, or at midnight, or at dawn, or the morning -- be alert because Jesus might find us sleeping. And the passage closes with the one word: Watch.

The world is filled with uncertainty. There are at least two wars going on right now. Threats of others seem to rise with each day. There are wars raging in many hearts; people fighting their own souls; spouses against spouses; neighbor against neighbor; where is peace? Advent is that time to say, "Lord, You Who are the Prince of Peace, come now and come quickly!" We can pray that and believe that, and Christ will bring it. Then, let us be ready for Him to come again.

PRAYER: Father, in this time we cry to You, come! Grant to us steadfast faith and that which keeps us vigilant as we await Your Son's return. May we not be troubled about the signs that could make us fear more; fill us with hope knowing that Your promises are faithful and true. Grant us wisdom and strength to remain faithful to You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Watch!

Receive my love for you and thankfulness for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Look to the Almighty!

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1 I look to you, heaven-dwelling God, look up to you for help. 2 Like servants, alert to their master's commands, like a maiden attending her lady, We're watching and waiting, holding our breath, awaiting your word of mercy. 3 Mercy, God, mercy! We've been kicked around long enough, 4 Kicked in the teeth by complacent rich men, kicked when we're down by arrogant brutes. (Psalm 123 The Message Bible)

Dear Reader, welcome to Thursday! I pray this is a great day for you and may all your endeavors for God be fruitful and fulfilling!

"Never a dull moment" is something we have heard or said. And it's so true. Just when we think life is going great, along comes an obstacle or a challenge and we start wondering what we said, thought, or did that this interesting "thing" came along? At this writing I'm in our local Walmart. The music is faint and so far, no Christmas songs, but plenty of classics from days past have been played. I've heard a baby or two cry in Walmart frustration that leads me to think the little one really NEEDED that toy and mean old momma didn't buy it for them. Yes, you and I have needed things or so we thought, but we couldn't afford them or really realized that need was not a part of the equation.

Going with this week's theme of oh-oh, I messed up again, the psalmist chimes in with his prayer. It's a simple prayer asking for mercy. And it sounds like what you and I may have prayed in the past when we faced something unexpected, or highly daunting. It's an invitation to have God come in and help us. Again. And again. As our psalmist has discovered the best place to look, is upward, towards the heavens from whence cometh our help. I remember going through a severe period of insecurity and as a result I would walk with my head facing down. My mother would stand outside and watch me walk towards the bus stop in those years and I would ride the Houston city bus to my junior high. "Don't be looking down, son, look up!" she would yell. "There are no more nickels to be found on the street!" she would joke. And she was right, our help does come from above, not below.

As we pray, we need to focus on God's voice. The loudness of other voices can be so distracting and depressing; the sometimes soft voice of God guiding us is just what we need; other times God yells and we can't help but listen and do as God is directing. Just now, a big sister was helping Dad in the guiding of the shopping cart on their way out, and little brother had a piece of foam and yelling, "Get away!" And as he did, he stepped right into the path of the front wheels of the cart and he stops and begins his wail of cries. We do the same when we find ourselves run over by life. Our Father says we will be alright. The human one just said,, "Come on, let's keep going."

The psalmist pleads for divine intervention against those who seek to harm. This is not a cry for vengeance but a recognition that God's love has the power to transform hearts. The surprising and overwhelming nature of God's love can disarm even the most hardened adversaries. One "challenge" I had was a very serious woman on the morning shift at my cleaners. She never smiled nor spoke other than to ask what my phone number and she would hand me my receipt for pick up later that day. Last visit she was on the phone and I was in my truck. I picked up the heavy bag of laundry to drop off and the weight of the bag honked the truck's horn twice! Gulp. I got off the truck and apologized, though she was still on the phone. Today as I dropped off some clothing she came out and said, "Just don't honk at me because I was on the phone!" And laughed! I apologized and explained and again, she just laughed. Hmm. God is good.

As are you! Share your goodness with others today in a great way! Make people smile because they saw you and you blessed them with your charm. God's taking care of the "arrogant brutes" and others who may come against us. We just need to be still and let God handle this.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in the midst of life's challenges, we lift our eyes to You. Our refuge and strength come from You alone. In moments of chaos, be our peace. Wrap us in Your loving embrace, that we may find security and solace in Your presence. Help us bless others; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Share kindness all around!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Meet Deborah!

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1 The People of Israel kept right on doing evil in God's sight. With Ehud dead, 2 God sold them off to Jabin king of Canaan who ruled from Hazor. Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim, was the commander of his army. 3 The People of Israel cried out to God because he had cruelly oppressed them with his nine hundred iron chariots for twenty years. 4 Deborah was a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth. She was judge over Israel at that time. 5 She held court under Deborah's Palm between Ramah and Bethel in the hills of Ephraim. The People of Israel went to her in matters of justice. 6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "It has become clear that God, the God of Israel, commands you: Go to Mount Tabor and prepare for battle. Take ten companies of soldiers from Naphtali and Zebulun. 7 I'll take care of getting Sisera, the leader of Jabin's army, to the Kishon River with all his chariots and troops. And I'll make sure you win the battle." (Judges 4:1-7 The Message Bible)

Good morning, Friend! I pray this finds you well! May our walk with the Lord bring us closer to Him and to His people. May this time in prayer, study, and reflection build you up for more service and outreach for Him, and towards Him. Pray for one another. Pray for those on your church's prayer list. Pray to reach the world for Jesus, and get busy!

We've talked about the prophetic cycle: Israel is blessed by God, so they're close to God. They mess up (sin) and they find themselves away from God. They cry out to God and God answers and they're close to God again. And this is precisely how this chapter of Judges begins; "The people of Israel kept right on doing evil in God's sight." Their wrongdoings led them as a nation to be sold to a foreign king, read welcome to slavery again! Their suffering was justified by their wrong decision-making. This time they faced 20 years of hard labor at the hands of their new king's army. Not much one can do when they're surrounded by an army of 900 chariots. And to face this type of oppression for twenty years!

Enter a female judge by the name of Deborah. She's a married woman and she was also a prophet of God. She was used by God to hold court, meaning to decide cases of her people. Her courtroom was under a palm tree that bore her name, Deborah's Palm. All who needed justice knew to go to her to seek it from her. Being a prophet, her connection to God gave her the wisdom needed for fair judgments. The word of the Lord came to her regarding their political situation, so she sends for Barak from Kedesh and tells him to go to Mount Tabor and ready himself and his army for war. He was to take ten companies of soldiers from Naphtali and Zebulon. Deborah says she would get the assistance of Sisera, the leader of Jabin's army, to go to the river Kishon with all his chariots and troops, and she shares God's promise of victory in the battle awaiting them.

What does this lesson teach us? There are several things we can benefit from reading this passage: First thing; God is still in charge. Though the people have gone astray, God is still where He needs to be; right alongside His people. Our God is an active, caring God, Who leads those who ask for His guidance. Secondly, God can use unexpected instruments. In Deborah's time, the role of a woman would not normally allow for a woman to be a judge nor a leader of men; those were roles of men, some would clamor! It's truly a lesson that says that God uses individuals that He selects regardless of what others may think or expect. May we be reminded that God's ways are not always going to align with human expectations. Thirdly, the response by Deborah and Barak show us what faithful obedience looks like. These two did not blink or wince at the thought of the challenges and risks ahead. These two trusted God and so are eager and ready to carry out His commands. It should serve to encourage us to trust God to lead us even when we face such daunting circumstances. Fourthly, this passage teaches us that collaboration and unity are important in doing God's work. A team effort usually beats out solo endeavors, if God so directs. If different individuals with diverse skills and roles can work together to accomplish God's plans, This emphasizes the value of cooperation and shared responsibility.

The fifth thing taught is the importance of God's word. The words of Deborah as judge were words of power because she was also God's mouthpiece, as prophet. As she spoke to Barack, it was really God speaking those words to him. This shows us that using God's word to direct and guide us is vital to all endeavors in God's work. We are to pay attention to God's word and follow His instructions. The sixth thing; this story sets the stage for God's intervention and deliverance. Even when up against a stronger army that may in all ways outnumber or outgun us, God assures us the victory. This reinforces the theme that ultimate success and deliverance come from God, not human strength. The final one is to remind us of the consequences of disobedience. As the passage mentions Jabin, the king of Canaan, who is oppressing the people of God, it is showing us a backdrop. It is implying that the people's disobedience and their turning away from God led to their being in challenging circumstances. There are consequences when people drift away from God.

PRAYER: Loving God, for all You do we are thankful. Guide us to faithfulness and trust. We thank You for the role model we find in Deborah. Open our horizons to better understand Your inmeasurable ways and see the potential in us when we are obedient and trustin in You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Trust God more to use you more!

Receive my blessings of joy and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Encourage One Another

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1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1Thessalonians 5:1-11 NIV Bible)

A blessed and tremendous Tuesday. Friend! May we pray for one another; praying for those who asked prayers from us. Pray for peace in the world, and pray for your specioal needs. Grow the kingdom with your faithful service.

I heard a neat story about a family that had a little girl dressed as a princess. Two college-aged girls entered the restaurant first and requested a booth. In comes the family with the child and the older young ladies upon seeing the princess, began to loudly exclaim their surprise and delight in meeting a real-life princess and asked the girl for her autograph. Their name was called for the booth and the two graciously gave it to the family. The girls went to sit at the counter where the gentleman relating the story sat. He told them he was blessed by their actions and attitudes towards the little one, and wondered why they had done such a thing. The girls responded with what the gentleman thought was an Italian accent. The girls said their grandpa had fought in the resistance movement against the Nazi invasion of Italy and they always heard from him how they should make a difference in the lives of others. Why? asked the man, and the girls said their grandpa had been influenced by the selfless actions of an American GI stationed in their village. This man blessed everyone by his smile, his generous acts of kindness, and genuine love for all people. Towards the end of the war, some neighboring villagers came to harass the GI but as people heard this, they formed a circle around the GI and would not budge nor would they allow harm to come to him. The why was obvious; in the way this man helped others, he was helped.

Paul in writing to the church in Thessalonia, speaks truth in saying they were blessed in having heard the gospel and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were already alert and aware of what Jesus would do upon His second coming, and so Paul urges them to live lives that bless others with love and kindness. His urging their dressing with the armor pieces of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet, speaks to what the world needed to see and hear from them. Paul is sure that God did not appoint those believers to suffer wrath, but to receive and rejoice in the gift of salvation; the end result being our living with Christ whether we live or die, in and with Him. His concluding thought and remarks are for encouragement and building of each other up, just in the way he had heard they were doing.

May that be our gift to the unbelievers; to love them in ways that demonstrate our hope and joy. May our love be based not on merit, but on mercy that we ourselves have received from the Lord Jesus Christ. It does not cost us a lot to share love and hope with others. Our smiles may be just what someone is needing to see. A kind word of encouragement may be just what someone is needing to hear. And we should use any opportunity that is given us to share the gospel truths of God's love, mercy, compassion, and understanding.

PRAYER: Awesome God, bless our lives with Your grace. Help us be those who are kind to others, who love others, and share hope with all. Guide our steps, grant us wisdom and words with which we can bless others in positive ways. Bless and protect us is our prayer, too. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Bless someone today with hope!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Set The Oven To Well-Done!

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14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' (Matthew 25:14-30 Revised Standard Version Bible)

This passage is from Jesus' last teachings before His arrest and almost right before His Last Supper. Jesus is laying the foundation for what the Disciples needed to hear about this life and the next. Honestly, the teachings are assignments for them; work for them to do and for those believers who would hear these. Last week's Ten Virgins/Bridesmaids parable is about the work of "lighting the way" for others to get right with God, and today's is very similar.

Yesterday in my second sermon at First United Methodist Church in Bastrop, Texas, I mentioned that Nellie and I have noticed in several funerals we have attended or have been a part of, that the 21st verse of this passage is used in almost all of those funerals. Someone speaking, even the officiant, will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant..." I confessed that sometimes I want to lift the lid of the coffin to make sure we are at the right funeral. But I said,"To be fair, I wonder what the Lord will say about me? I want to hear Jesus say that I have stayed connected with Him and I have beenf faithful and fruitful!" I said we are being falsely lulled by the repetition of this phrase, and peope will start to believe nothing is required in discipleship or service. The parable of the ten bridesmaids is about doing what was asked of them, to light the way; in the same way, we are to light the way with the faith in our lives blessing others.

This parable is oft-misunderstood and often-misquoted. This parable is one instructing believers to stay busy and fruitful with what God has shared with you as your gifts and graces. The word talent originally referred to a unit of weight and later became a unit of currency. The word "talent" is derived from the Greek term "talanton". In the New Testament, especially in the parable found in Matthew 25:14-30, a talent was a large sum of money.

In the modern context, a "talent" in this devotional can be compared to various God-given resources, abilities, or opportunities that individuals possess. These could include: Financial Resources: The parable's use of "talents" can be likened to the financial resources or wealth that individuals have. It encourages believers to responsibly manage and invest their financial blessings for the advancement of God's kingdom. Secondly, it could represent Skills and Abilities: Talents can also represent the unique skills and abilities that individuals possess. This could include intellectual abilities, creativity, leadership skills, or any other capabilities that can be utilized for God's purposes. The third way could be Time and Energy: Another interpretation could be the time and energy individuals have at their disposal. How we use our time and invest our energy in activities that align with God's will is a crucial aspect of faithful stewardship. The fourth way could be Influence and Relationships: Talents might extend to the sphere of influence and relationships that individuals have. God expects us to use our influence positively, impacting the lives of others for His glory. And lastly, as Spiritual Gifts: In a more explicitly spiritual sense, talents could refer to the spiritual gifts bestowed upon believers by the Holy Spirit. These gifts, such as teaching, serving, or leadership, are meant to be employed in building up the body of Christ.

If we see Jesus using talents in these modern terms, we can hear Jesus encvouraging you and me to reflect on how we are utilizing our unique resources, skills, time, influence, and spiritual gifts to further God's kingdom on earth. The examples Jesus used in the different servants should motivate us to be as faithful and as fruitful as the first and second servant; The paralysis of the third servant also says to us to not follow his example of fear and worry. Do what you need with what you have!

PRAYER: Loving God, grant to us the courage and wisdom to be faithful stewards of the gifts and opportunities You've entrusted to us. Help us overcome fear and inactivity, that we may invest in Your kingdom and hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Overcome fear and get busy for the Lord!

Receive my blessings of hope and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Sharing Stories?

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1 Listen, dear friends, to God's truth, bend your ears to what I tell you. 2 I'm chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I'll let you in on the sweet old truths, 3 Stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother's knee. 4 We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation - God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done. 12 He performed miracles in plain sight of their parents in Egypt, out on the fields of Zoan. 13 He split the Sea and they walked right through it; he piled the waters to the right and the left. 14 He led them by day with a cloud, led them all the night long with a fiery torch. 15 He split rocks in the wilderness, gave them all they could drink from underground springs; 16 He made creeks flow out from sheer rock, and water pour out like a river. (Psalm 78:1-4, 12-15 The Message Bible)

A tremendous and terrific Thursday be yours, dear Friend. May the joys of today set the stage for a wonderful weekend in which to serve and bless God. Please join me in lifting prayers of thanksgiving for a successful surgery of our niece, Isabella Saraí Ramirez, who underwent knee surgery. Bella is an athlete and was injured during this season and we pray this operation restore her for the senior year of high school. Please pray for The Rev. Richard Leggett, who is battling Covid. Richard is the pastor of First UMC of Bastrop and has been absent two Sundays due to the illness. He called me some weeks before and asked me to preach this coming Sunday in Bastrop. Prayers for this old man as well. Please pray for one another. Pray for those who have asked prayers of us, and pray for the needs of the world. Pray for peace.

My mother was a great storyteller. She shared stories from her life and stories she heard in the Catholic Church. She lost her mother when she was eleven and had to assume the household management of her family at that tender age. She had two younger brothers, an adopted sister, and three older sisters who were married. Her dad was my Papa Grande, my maternal grandfather. He led a serious life and the seriousness never left him. Mom told us stories of her life, her brothers and her sisters. My Dad was a man who loved to visit all family members and those visits served to share stories, to learn about each other, about those who were, those who had been, and prayers for those to come. What stories do you share? Who is your audience?

I became a storyteller when I landed in Houston at the age of 13. All five of us siblings shared a floor in a small Houston apartment and I was the only one not crying about having moved there. (Confession, I cried in privacy when I could find it.). My stories were mostly my re-visiting Kingsville and our family there. I re-told the stories I heard in the voices of those family members. I did the best I could in remembering those voices and trying to make them mine as I shared fond memories. I was chewing on the morsels of memories; sweet truths of a home we no longer owned. The stories told of a God Who moved us from a small town to a new world; our futures were in His hands and we wanted to bless Him as we followed, best as we could, towards God's dream for us.

The psalmist did this. Over and over, as he read and re-read his bible and the stories of the faith, he told and re-told the stories of his people. He truly, as this modern version says, chewed on morsels of proverbs, and let the world in on the sweet old truths, the stories of fathers and mothers, retold to sons and daughters, and re-told to grandsons and granddaughters - spread the news of a good and loving God and the power and might that God has to do good for His people. God's Greatest Hits are the stories of how God stepped in to help out His people. The more we tell these stories the more people will seek Him and all He offers. The believer shares the stories and thus shares the faith. We need to do the same. Whatever God has done in your life, He can do in the lives of others. We just need to share the stories.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Your praiseworthy deeds and wondrous acts in our lives and throughout history. Help us to be faithful stewards of these stories, passing them down to the next generation. May your faithfulness be a source of inspiration and strength for all who hear. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Tell your story to many.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Choose This Day...

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1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphra'tes, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. 3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, 14 "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; 17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land; therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God." 19 But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good." 21 And the people said to Joshua, "Nay; but we will serve the LORD." 22 Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses." 23 He said, "Then put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey." 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem. (Joshua 24:1-3 14-25 Revised Standard Version Bible)

What an incredible news story in the late 70s when the world heard that Robert Zimmerman, aka, dba, Bob Dylan, had converted to Christianity. One source quotes it this way: "Ian Bell, in his excellent biography The Lives of Bob Dylan, recounts that though there had been some religious and biblical imagery in Dylan’s lyrics of the Sixties and early and mid-Seventies, it was in 1978 that the artist found God. And it happened in a Tucson hotel room. Certainly Dylan has gone on record saying that late in 1978 he sensed 'a presence in the room that couldn’t have been anybody but Jesus', and even felt a hand placed upon him. 'Jesus put his hand on me,' he went on, 'It was a physical thing. I felt it. I felt it all over me. I felt my whole body tremble. The glory of the Lord knocked me down and picked me up.'" And for many years, Bob Dylan wrote and sang about his new faith, though he had always been religious in his own faith, Judaism. He later went back to Judaism. The same author says, "By 1982 he had returned to Judaism, occasionally flirting with extremely orthodox Judaism. And his music had returned to secularism." How about you? What decision(s) have you made about your faith and whom you would follow and serve?

Today's passage has Moses' young successor gathering the people of God and challenging them to commit to God. The entire forty years in the wilderness had been a march towards God and God's ideals and law. And yet, there still had to an "altar call," as it were, for the people of God to come to God. One of the reasons was that many of the original trekkers had died and been buried in the desert and, like many churches of today, we still need opportunities to seek and return to God, even for the first time. We have a history with God and we should be reminded of it as we think about the future and the commitment we have or have not made, with God.

I've shared before how some years ago I was invited to preach at a noted United Methodist Church, home church in the city where a noted seminary was located. Some major noted preachers had been invited to preach from that church's pulpit. To way that I was honored, duh. To say I was humbled, duh again. To say I was scared, yes I was. More so before I felt led to have an altar call. I felt led by God and so I didn't stop to do the why's and why-not's of doing such a thing. Had I done that I would not have done it. This pulpit had had the big names of evangelism and Methodism, preaching the Gospel, and I was more than certain that this church had lost count of the altar calls and the changed lives that the church had hosted. I preached the sermon and as I began the closing prayer, offered an invitation to the church to have them consider giving their lives to Jesus, and for those already committed, to re-dedicate their lives to Christ. I had heard The Rev. Zan Holmes, a preaching professor at Perkins School of Theology-SMU, once preach at a preacher's event where he shared that he felt led to have altar calls in his church in Dallas, and went to Cokesbury Book Store, the United Methodist bookstore in Dallas in those days. He found not one book on the subject of altar calls, and so, donning a disguise, went to The Baptist Bookstore and found an aisle dedicated to altar calls. He bought a few and then began that practice that blessed his church with much growth. I did the altar call and was astonished by the response. Later, I was told that it had been quite a long time since one had been offered from that pulpit.

Joshua made the altar call to the people of God. "Choose this day whom you will serve." Boom. He was saying, you always have a choice, so make the right choice. In their case, they could choose the little-g, gods of the Amorites, or big-G, God, Whom they knew. Joshua further stresses that he had made the choice for his family and household. "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The people responded in kind, 'Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods." and they reclaim again their history and how God had blessed them. The sermon continues with the reality the people were facing; choosing other gods would mean ultimately death for them, along with much misery and suffering, but to choose God was to choose life and blessings. Altar call successful, and the people enter into a covenant with God; along with laws and ordinances that would help them live their new life with God.

Today, we are presented with a similar choice. In a world filled with distractions and alternative paths, we must decide whom we will serve. Joshua's declaration, "as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord," serves as an inspiring example of unwavering commitment.

Friends, let us follow the example of Joshua and the people of Israel, choosing to serve the Lord with sincerity and faithfulness. As we do, may our hearts be inclined toward God, and may we put away the distractions that hinder our devotion.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we stand before you today with hearts inclined toward you. Just as Joshua and the people of Israel made a resolute choice to serve you, we too declare our commitment to serve the Lord. Help us to put away the distractions and idols in our lives, so that our service may be sincere and faithful. May our devotion to you shine brightly in this world. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Commit your life to Jesus!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Walking On Air!

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13 And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. 14 Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. 15 And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence - we have the Master's word on it - that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us. 16 The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast! He'll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise - they'll go first. 17 Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. 18 Oh, we'll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 The Message Bible)

"All I can say is that the MYF in Heaven is getting bigger by the day!" Those were some of the opening remarks I shared with the Saenz family on Saturday at the Service of Death and Resurrection of Mr. Hector Manuel Saenz. I also shared that I was blessed in seeing so many laughing, chuckling, and smiling at what usually tends to be a somber event. And I said the reason for this spirit in this room is that death has been defeated. Christ Jesus defeated death, we have believed and accepted that, and so hope is ours. And this is precisely what the Apostle Paul was addressing in this letter to the believers in Thessalonnia. Death in Paul's day was almost certain just for being a Christian in a pagan world. The persecution of the Church, as he well knew, was a real threat to all believers, and so he addresses the question family members and friends asked about those who had died as believers. Paul does not want them uninformed about death and what Paul knew about it. Paul begins by saying they should not weep and "carry one over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word." Paul had seen, as have we, those who do mourn and weep as if they have been defeated by death. I was one of those kids whose parents took us to all the funerals and man what sights and sounds we saw and heard at some of those! It got to the point where as kids we would say, "And the Oscar goes to..." for those who seemed to be putting on more of a show than true mourning. God forgive us our childish sins!

Death has been defeated! Yes, Satan has been defeated and his attempts to ruin our lives are in vain, for he is a vanquished foe. The grave is not the last word; in fact, the grave is the first word on life of the eternal kind. Paul reminds us that Jesus is the victor over death, bringing back to life those who died in Him, and he states proudly, "And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence - we have the Master's word on it - that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us."

Paul assures us that when Jesus returns, He will not leave the deceased behind. In fact, they will be the first to rise. The sequence of events on that day will include the command of the Master, the thunderous voice of the archangel, and the resounding trumpet blast of God. It will be a divine symphony announcing the grand reunion.

As believers, we will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Master. The imagery of this moment is breathtaking. We will be walking on air, entering into the presence of our Lord. The culmination of all this is a joyous family reunion with our Savior.

These words from Paul offer us profound comfort. They assure us that death is not the end but a transition to a glorious future. Our grief is replaced with hope, and our sorrow is turned into joy. As we walk through life's uncertainties, we can cling to the certainty of the hope of the resurrection.

So, let us take Paul's exhortation to heart and reassure one another with these words. Let us find comfort in the promise of resurrection, knowing that we will be reunited with our loved ones and, most importantly, with our Lord.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank you for the hope of the resurrection through our Lord Jesus Christ. In times of grief and uncertainty, help us find solace in the assurance of your promise. Fill our hearts with the hope that one day we will be reunited with our loved ones and experience the joy of a grand family reunion with you. May this hope carry us through life's challenges and uncertainties. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Live a contagious hope-guided life!

Receive my blessings of joy and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Always Be Ready!

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1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13 NIV Bible)

A blessed Monday be yours, dear Friend! I pray this time with God's word will bless you and make you a blessing to others. May we offer up a prayer of celebration for reader Cicely Jackson's sharing of good news; her daughter Breanne had her baby yesterday (Friday) she had a C section all is good. She had a little boy named Preston Wade. 6lbs 10oz 20 inches long. May God bless baby, mom, and dad and all family members! Also, prayers for Mrs. Lucy Saenz, whose husband Hector died this week and on Saturday we had a celebration of his life. May God's comfort be with Lucy and their daughter, Elizabeth, and all family members.

What do you think about when the word marriage is mentioned? I know the responses are as vast as those of you reading this. To me, it brings back the wonderful memory of that day in February when my bride walked down the aisle as the most beautiful bride I had ever seen, and she walked down that aisle to marry me! We fell in love and decided that life would be better spent together in love. It was an event of love. If you've seen the memes of the groom who's not facing his bride and his best man turns him around and his reaction is priceless; he immediately weeps and shakes his head in disbelief. You could say that was almost me. I teared up seeing such a beautiful woman coming for me!

For some, the memories might not be so wonderful, and even for some, they may be painful. Some may even say, the love died, or we're no longer in love. However you feel, I pray that all is well with your soul and with your relationship with God.

We must remember that for Jesus, He was talking about His marriage. Wait. What? "Jesus wasn't married, was He?' No, Jesus was not married, no matter what some novels and other naysayers may say, but He will be married, to His bride, the Church. His wedding will be to us as His Church. Such is the love God has for us that Jesus, His Son, is looking forward to having us all with Him, forever, and this will take place in that wedding that is to come. In Jesus' time, the wedding feast was all about celebration and rejoicing. It might not always have been about love, because most marriages were arranged by the parents of the couple. The couple usually did not know each other and would not see each other until the betrothal, the ceremony where the bride and groom would stand before the rabbi and acknowledge that for one year, the bride could take the groom as her husband, and his name, but during this time it was only she, the bride, who could say that she changed her mind and not marry the groom. The only way he, the groom, could call it off, was if she was found guilty of a sexual sin. (Think Joseph and Mary and his having found out that she was with child and it was not his). The next part of the wedding would take place in a banquet hall, with the groom deciding when he would come and take his bride to this feast. In a cultural twist, it was not known when the hour would be that he would decide to come and take his bride as his wife to the place where the feasting would begin in a manner that could take days. The hour was usually at night, thus the bridesmaids having lanterns ready to make the march from the bride's home to the banquet hall. It was their job to meet the groom and light the way to the bride then to the hall.

Jesus is saying that the key for all this to happen is for us to be ready. This parable highlights the significance of spiritual preparedness. The lamps represent our faith and readiness for Christ's return. The oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit's presence and our personal relationship with God. It reminds us that we must be vigilant and prepared for the unexpected moments when our faith will be tested.

In our lives, we may encounter moments of spiritual dryness or times when we neglect to nurture our relationship with God. The wise virgins teach us to keep our lamps, our faith, burning brightly by staying connected to God through prayer, studying His Word, and embracing the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The message is clear: Stay prepared in your faith journey. Be filled with the oil of God's presence, so when the unexpected moments come, and the cry goes out, you will be ready to meet the Bridegroom, our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us heed His warning to "keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." All we can be sure of is that it will be awesome experience, and it will not disappoint us; If. We. Are. Ready.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we come before you with a desire to remain vigilant in our faith. Help us to keep our lamps burning brightly with the oil of your presence and the guidance of your Spirit. May we always be prepared for the unexpected moments in our journey with you. Lord, grant us the wisdom to seek your presence daily and the readiness to meet our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, when He returns. In Christ Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

You Want The Best? Worship God!

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1 I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. 2 I live and breathe God; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: 3 Join me in spreading the news; together let's get the word out. 4 God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. 5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. 6 When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. 7 God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. 8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. 9 Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.10 Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but God-seekers are full of God. 22 God pays for each slave's freedom; no one who runs to him loses out. (Psalm 34:1-10, 22)

In talking with family members one evening over my birthday lunch, our daughter had offered up the prayer for my birthday meal, and I made the comment that I was sending her to seminary. She and her sister looked at each other and said, "We've lived that life already, and maybe my husband would like it; I know he would love the free food!" We chuckled, for we knew what "free food" meant. In case you don't, it's a reference to covered dishes and pot lucks. For many, the offer of a covered dish is a chance to sample some incredible food, and I remembered one church in particular where one of our staff members was always first in the line for the free food. His family situation was known by all and so we understood his wanting to be first. I thanked God his enthusiasm for worship was just as strong, and he delighted in being in worship as often as he could. How about you?

The psalmist loved worship, too. Yet, this psalm alerts us to the reality that worship is not limited to a place or time; worship happens when we become aware of God's presence and power. David invites us to praise God all the time and to enjoy the blessings of God's faithfulness to us. His worship was not limited just to the good times, but also during the moments of deepest despair and desperation, troubling anxiety and worry, too, but it was in those moments that he knew that if he called out to God, God would meet him "more than halfway." David knew God to be his refuge and protector, who offered a circle of safety when he needed it most.

David also invited us to move just beyond the thoughts of images; he says we should taste and see how good God is. It is an encouragement to experience God's goodness firsthand. We are called to open our mouths in worship, to taste the joy of His presence, and to open our eyes to see God's abundant blessings. We have been invited to seek Him, with the promise being that those of us who run to Him will "never lose out." God has paid for our freedom, God has set us free from the bonds of sin and worry.

It may be that tomorrow may bring to us a challenge we did not expect, and its size much larger than we want, but know this, we can stand with confidence, knowing that God is our refuge, protector, and provider. You and I can live a life enriched by continuous worship, a life where we taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

So, dear one, whether our life is filled with joy or trials, let us bless God at every chance we get and live and breathe Him in all we do. For God meets us more than halfway, and in Him, we find our eternal refuge and ultimate freedom. Amen? Amen!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your goodness and faithfulness. Help us, Lord, to live a life of continuous worship, praising you in every season of our lives. We open our mouths to taste your joy and open our eyes to see your blessings. Be our refuge, protector, and provider, and may we always run to you, knowing that in you, we find true freedom. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Start praising God right now!

Please know of my love for you and the wonderful gift you are to so many!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

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No More Tears

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Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/3QFNsyj

View the devotional: https://bit.ly/3SntXvD

Hear a classic from WrinklesandPimples.org, on Romans 8:31ff: https://bit.ly/3QBuuJe

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ (Revelation 7:9-17 NIV Bible)

A most blessed and sacred All Saints Day for you, dear Friend. May we remember that our faith in Jesus Christ and our faithful living a life like Jesus makes us a saint now; may we take seriously our call to follow Him with love and devotion.

A comedian fresh from Bible College said, "If you're worried about diversity in Heaven, don't worry - you won't be making it there anyway." Ouch. Truth hurts. For as long as I can remember and as many sermons I have heard in my life from so many different preachers, everyone, when preaching on this passage, have said that Heaven will be filled with people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, etc. but whose names have been written in the Book of Life because this passage conveys that truth. Several from our church about three years ago had the rare privilege of stepping inside the cave on the Isle of Patmos where John had the vision that gave him this book. Our tour guide said that when Jesus spoke to John, Jesus' voice cracked the ceiling in two, forming a cross on the ceiling. Sadly, photographs of this sacred space were not allowed and our memories recorded what beautiful images that place gave us as we heard the faith of that guide speak of how John was blessed with a vision of the coming Lord and His will to take us to be with Him in glory. Hear this with the same trembling fear of that ancient disciple as he first heard it, and with the same excitement that defeated his fear and shared with him hope of the coming place that will know no end and several other awesome realities.

This picture of Heaven as shared by John is a scene that transcends time and space, where a vast multitude, too numerous to count, gathers before the throne of God. These are people from every nation, tribe, people, and language. The diversity of humanity is beautifully represented, reminding us that God's salvation is universal and inclusive. It is that very salvation that we have heard preached, or some of us have preached, about God's love.

What stands out in this heavenly gathering is the image of people wearing white robes and holding palm branches. These white robes symbolize purity and the righteousness granted to believers through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. The palm branches are symbols of victory and celebration, signifying that these individuals have overcome through their faith. All things on earth were overcome by the power of God. The voices of the multitude resound with a declaration: "Salvation belongs to our God!" It's a reminder that our salvation is a gift from God alone, received through faith in Jesus Christ. It has overcome death and all that death brings with it, and we have entered that sacred realm where there will be no more tears.

As we reflect on this passage, we are encouraged to see the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan, where people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and languages find their place before the throne. In God's presence, there is unity, peace, and an end to suffering. The Lamb, who is Christ, is not only the Savior but also the Shepherd who leads us to living water and wipes away every tear from our eyes. Those things on earth that caused our weeping and mourning have been removed because they were defeated.

In a world marked by divisions and conflicts, this vision of heavenly unity and peace reminds us of the hope we have in Christ. It calls us to live out the values of love, inclusivity, and reconciliation in our daily lives. We are called to be ambassadors of God's universal salvation, sharing the good news and extending His love to all people. If we seek to divide or to encourage those who would make separation a reality in our worship, our fellowship, or in any sense, they may not make it to Heaven; for ours is a faith guided and driven by the power of love. Make it your priority to live a life that loves ALL people.

PRAYER: Loving God, we stand in awe of the vision of heaven's multitudes from every nation and the Lamb who leads us to springs of living water. We thank you for your universal salvation and the victory we have in Christ. Help us to live as agents of your love and peace in a world often marked by division. May we extend your invitation of salvation to all, so that one day, we may join the heavenly chorus in worship. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Love all people now with the hope that one day we will all be together forever.

Receive my love for you, and tha thanksgiving I offer up to God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.