Are The Gates Still Open?

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1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” 19 Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. 25 LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 NRSV Bible)

Dear Friend, welcome to Tuesday. Make it a tremendous one by what you say, think, and do. Each day starts out as blank, empty slates, open and ready for you to leave your mark. Make that mark be a reflection of Jesus living in you! As we pray, let us pray for the family of Byron Freeman (Chance Freeman’s dad). Byron passed away over the weekend. Let us also pray for Katie Foote and her family. Katie’s grandmother Betty Wakefield passed away on Saturday. And let us also pray for Barbara Brandon and her family. Barbara suffered a massive stroke last week and has gone home on hospice.May God's comfort and peace be with each. Pray for one another, especially for those on our prayer lists.

True to form, the psalmist begins this psalm in his usual way; giving thanks to God and encouraging us all to follow suit and give thanks to God. Why? Because God is good and His love endures forever. Who can argue with that reasoning? I can't. God is good all the time; and all the time, God is good!

If we serve God and do that which blesses Him, we are given an all-access pass to His riches and mercies, because our obedience and love we are counted as the righteous, and the psalmist says that those are the gates that open. It is also a prophetic reference to the gates of the city of Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered. The imagery of gates and righteousness in verses 19-20 symbolizes the access granted to those who seek the Lord with sincerity and humility. Through Christ, the ultimate cornerstone, we find entrance into the presence of God. Our hearts overflow with gratitude as we recognize God's response to our cries for salvation. Just as the rejected stone became the cornerstone, so too does God transform our lives, taking what the world may discard and elevating it to significance in His kingdom.

In verse 24, we are reminded that each day is a gift from the Lord, deserving of our rejoicing and gladness. No matter the circumstances we face, we can find solace and hope in the knowledge that God is with us, guiding our steps and granting us the strength to overcome.

As we continue to reflect on this psalm, let us echo the plea for salvation in verse 25, recognizing our continual need for God's intervention in our lives. May we welcome the Savior with open arms, proclaiming, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we give thanks to you, for you are good, and your steadfast love endures forever. As we reflect on the words of Psalm 118, may our hearts overflow with gratitude for your faithfulness and grace. Help us to enter your presence with joy and to trust in your salvation. Guide us each day, O Lord, and fill us with your peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Havea great and blessed day in the Lord! HERE'S YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Consider how you can express gratitude to Him for His steadfast love. Whether through prayer, acts of kindness, or sharing His love with others, let your life be a testament to His enduring faithfulness.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Triumphant Parade

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12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. (John 12:12-16 New International Version of the Bible)

Dear Friend, happy Monday for you! May this week be extra special for you and your walk with Jesus. Jesus loves you so much that this whole week will be about all that Jesus was willing to go through to save you and give you eternal life. Let us begin this day with prayer. Make it a prayer of thanksgiving; thanking God for all that you have and all that you are. Also, pray for a young man named Paul, whose younger brother took his own life this past week. May God's comfort be with him as he prepares to make final arrangements for his brother, whom he helped raise during a crucial time in his life. Pray for those whom God knows are thinking similar thoughts; who have given up on life and believe suicide is the best way to cope with things. May God change their hearts and minds and bring them peace. Pray for yourself and your needs. Friends, I just received word that Mrs. Audrey J. Bradley, wife of The Rev. George Bradley, died this Sunday morning (3/37/2024) while George was in church. No other details are available, but we ask you pray for George, the family and all who loved her and worked alongside her. May she rest in peace.

I have been blessed in having been present at two championship parades. The first was in the early 90s for the Houston Rockets. I moved to Houston in 1965 and during those years I waited and waited for any Houston team to be champions in any of the pro sports in which they competed. The Rockets came first, and what a ride that was! To stand on the curbs of that downtown street and await the start of the parade was awesome. As the minutes ticked by, we all noticed the parade was not starting on time. Word quickly spread that the star of the team, Hakeem Olajawan, had to say his daily prayers as a Muslim. Once he finished the parade started and the celebration began. A city long hungry for a championship was truly and joyfully celebrating this win and this team. I cannot begin to express how I felt as an adopted son of Houston. It felt good. The second parade came years later, 2017 to be exact, when the Houston Astros, long the joke of MLB, now paraded Houston streets as the World Series Champs. Again, unexplainable joy and happiness.

Imagine being a citizen and a son/daughter of Israel being on the curbs of the streets of Jerusalem on the day most people believed the long-awaited Messiah or King of Israel would make his way to the capital to take over the reign of Israel. The day was long awaited and we're talking two thousand and thirty years (2,030, and no Houston has not been around that long - though it sometimes seems like it does!). We're talking long-held traditions of family and temple; where parents taught children, who taught their children, who taught their children to hold on to hope (Just like the families who still believe in the Dallas Cowboys. I can say that since I once was one myself, thanks to Tom Landry). "The day is coming my daughter, when God will send His anointed one to take the nation back to where it once was; at the top, ruling all the world. It was something that was hard to believe in given all the defeats and different nations that ruled over Israel. As Texans we take pride in the idea of six flags; there's not a flag pole big enough to hold all the flags!

The rumors might be true! The Messiah was to make his entrance into the holy city today! Most of the people of Israel had heard about the traveling rabbi, who was teaching things and doing things not common for the day, and as he makes his way into Jerusalem, he might just reveal that he is indeed the new king! Excitement ran high and so did their hopes for their prayers to be answered today, at long last. So, the word is to prepare, to make ready the entrance of He who might be our king! And this during the celebration of Passover! Perfect timing on God's part, no? The people gathered palm branches and prepared for this triumphant parade. The shouts began, "Hosanna!" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" And, also "Blessed is the king of Israel!" We can only imagine the excitement on the part of the people, believers and nonbelievers.

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, fulfilling Biblical prophecy where it was written, "Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." Jesus knew what this was all about, His disciples did not. It would not be until after Jesus' glorification that they would understand all of these things. Yet, amidst the jubilation of the crowd, there is an underlying sense of irony and mystery. Jesus, the promised King, comes not riding on a majestic steed but on a humble donkey, symbolizing peace and humility rather than earthly power and conquest. This humble entry foreshadows the true nature of Jesus' kingship and His ultimate mission of sacrificial love and redemption.

As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of the paradoxical nature of Jesus' kingdom. It is not characterized by worldly standards of greatness and authority but by humility, servanthood, and sacrificial love. Jesus, our King, leads not with force and coercion but with gentleness and compassion, inviting us to follow Him on the path of selfless love and obedience to God's will.

PRAYER: Loving God, We thank You for the example of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Help us to embrace the humility and sacrificial love that characterized His life and ministry. May we, like the crowd in Jerusalem, welcome Jesus as our King and Savior, and may our lives reflect His kingdom values of love, mercy, and justice. In His name, we pray, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Let us respond to the humility and love displayed by Jesus in His triumphal entry by humbling ourselves before Him.

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Embrace God's Mercy and Love

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1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. 5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. 6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. 17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:1-7 NRSV Bible)

Happy Thursday,dear Friend. May the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus be with you. May all we say to God in prayer be to worship Him and bring blessings to us. As we pray today, please pray for Mr. Ricardo Gonzalez, who is in Houston awaiting to get a new series of injections to bless his body. Pray that the injections and God's healing hand do what our brother Ricardo needs

I have said before the two greatest prayers of humans are "Help me, God!" and "Forgive me, God!" The Bible has enough persons saying both things, and for a reason. The Bible is our story. You and I have been in situations where we have either asked for help or forgiveness, or even both at the same time. There is no perfect person in holy scriptures, save for Jesus. Paul, one of, if not the greatest of the evangelists said among sinners, he was chief. There are days when I think I have taken away his claim. This passage is the one King David wrote after his murderous affair with the wife of one of his soldiers. You know the story; he arranges returns from the battlefield in hopes that his solider would sleep with his wife and thus think that that the child Bathsheba had in her thanks to the affair. The loyal solider did not want to enjoy the comforts of home while his brothers-in-arms did not have the same benefits, and so the king then orders this solider, Uriah, to be sent to the fiercest part of the fighting, and then the other soldiers, for whom he felt so much loyalty, pulled back, and Uriah dies. God sent a prophet to tell David a parable about a man who loves his lamb so much and a terrible neighbor steals the beloved lamb, kills it, cooks it and offers it to a guest. The king is angered by the story and the prophet says, "That thief is you!" Oops. Gulp.

The king grabs his pen and writes this psalm with sadness, anger, embarrassment, guilt, and hope. He pleads for mercy, asking that his sin be taken away from him. He confesses that he has sinned against God and though he knows he deserves the full extent of the law-type punishment, begs for the outcome to be different. He sounds a lot like me. Maybe you?

This story is our story if we're honest. The universal human experience, written daily in our hearts, minds, spirits, and lives, has the same theme; we mess up, we confess because we are sorry, and we need God. I shared last Friday the story of the lawyer turned journalist, turned atheist, turned believer, who at Easter invited a close colleague to church for Easter. His invitation was declined by the friend, but a man working on his hands and knees behind the friend's desk resonated with the invitation; he needed God and so he went to church with his wife and teenaged son, and all three became believers. Maybe we're on our hands and knees behind the desk and hear something that hits us in the heart, reminding us we all need God and God's love and mercy. King David's words are our words, "I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived (us); teach me (us) wisdom in (our) secret heart. Purge (us) with hyssop, and (we) shall be clean; wash (us) and (we) shall be whiter than snow. Let (us) hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice." And the most famous line from this passage, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me." With all the filth, dust, dirt, mud that life throws at us, if our hearts had filters like our automobiles, we could replace them and have a new filter; but they don't. We need new hearts, and God provides those!

Hear the good news that David heard and experienced; that mercy and change can be ours as well if we but ask. God can restore our salvation, and sustain our willing spirits. In fact, that has been this entire season of Lent; preparing our hearts to be made new in Jesus. To fully realize that our decaying spirits can be made new, and that even those with dead hearts can fully experience personal resurrection. Where do you stand?

PRAYER: Loving God, as we pray we come with contrite hearts, knowing and confessing that we have been sinful and our need for You is great to be forgiven and made new. Create in us clean hearts and renew our spirits to a steadfast level. Lead us away from sin and help us walk in Your ways, experiencing the fullness of life that comes from being in relationship wiht You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Spend more time in prayer; pour out your heart to God and ask Him to cleanse you and renw your spirit.

I love you and thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

A New Covenant of Hope

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31 "That's right. The time is coming when I will make a brand-new covenant with Israel and Judah. 32 It won't be a repeat of the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant even though I did my part as their Master." God's Decree. 33 "This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them - write it on their hearts! - and be their God. And they will be my people. 34 They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about God. They'll know me firsthand, the dull and the bright, the smart and the slow. I'll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I'll forget they ever sinned!" God's Decree. If This Ordered Cosmos Ever Fell to Pieces (Jeremiah 31:31-34 The Message Bible)

Happy Wednesday, dear Friend. May the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus be with you on this special day. May we seek to glorify God and reach others who don't quite know God yet, and do our best to win them for Him. May we continue to pray for one another especially those who are in need. May our prayer continue to be, "Lord, send me among the ones no one else wants or sees! And give us the message of love and hope they long to hear." As we pray, let us pray for my sister-in-law, Mrs. Edna Rosales Cruz, who is in the hospital in the Valley with concerns about her heart. Pray the Lord touch her and make her well. Pray for her family as well. Edna is Nellie's younger sister.

Our God is a God of covenants. Such is the love of God that God is an all-in for all-time and all-love God. God is so invested in us, that He made and has kept five foundational covenants. The Noahic Covenant; made after the great flood in which God establishes a covenant with Noah and all living creatures. This covenant has its own sign, the rainbow which symbolizes God's promise never to flood the earth again. The second is the Abrahamic Covenant, which, as the name says is between Abraham and his descendants into a great nation. God promises to make them a nation, bless them, and give them the land of Canaan. This covenant also has a sign, which is circumcision. The third covenant was the Mosaic Covenant with His people through Moses in the giving of the Ten Commandments and other laws as part of the covenant. It also outlined the relationship between God and the people of Israel. The fourth covenant is the Davidic Covenant, which was made between God and David promising his lineage would be an enduring one. This covenant anticipated the coming of the Messiah, who would be from David's lineage. The fifth covenant is this one promised here, the New Covenant, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. It was His sacrificial death and resurrection established the covenant, which replaced the old system of sacrifices. The sign of this covenant is the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion or Eucharist.)

This new covenant as Jeremiah decreed, signifies a profound intimacy between God and His people. No longer will they need to rely on external teaching to know the Lord, for His presence will be tangible within them. Through this covenant, God offers forgiveness for their sins, wiping the slate clean and remembering their transgressions no more.

As recipients of this new covenant through Jesus Christ, we are invited into a deep relationship with God. His Spirit resides within us, enabling us to live in obedience and intimacy with Him. We no longer need to strive to know God from a distance; He reveals Himself to us personally and intimately.

PRAYER: Loving God, we are in awe and in gratitude of the new covenant of hope and forgiveness that You have established through Jesus Christ. Thank You for writing Your law on our hearts and dwelling within us by Your Spirit. Help us to live in the reality of this covenant each day, experiencing Your presence and walking in obedience to Your will. May Your love and forgiveness transform us from the inside out, that we may reflect Your glory to the world around us. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Consider areas in your life where you may need to experience God's transforming power and forgiveness. Surrender those areas to Him, inviting His Spirit to work in your heart and empower you to live in obedience and intimacy with Him.

I love you and thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Trust and Obey

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5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:5-10 NIV Bible)

A tremendous Tuesday be yours, dear Friend. May our time in prayer bring blessings to those for whom we pray. May it also be a reminder of how easily we can access the Father through this wonderful gift of prayer. More on this in the devotional. May we pray for Mr. Ricardo Gonzalez, who returns to Houston for another series of injections to help him, Lord willing, with his battles with health issues. May this injection do what the doctors want and may God be glorified! Pray for your needs and for those shared with you during Sunday's worship in your church bulletin's prayer list. Also, please pray for the mother of one of our church members here in Gonzales: She is Chery Atkinson’s mother in Iowa. She has been diagnosed with lung cancer and is dealing with heart issues. Pray for healing and strength as they prepare for treatment options with her medical team. Also pray for Cheryl as she is on her way to be with her Mom. Pray for the world, your nation, and your community.

Have you ever been given a phone number that you did not expect or think you were worthy of getting? Way back in the day, there was a desktop (no, I mean a real desk!) there was a device called a Rolodex. Most churches had one and on the many card files were the numbers of church members, so Nellie never stood a chance! I didn't have to ask her for her phone number. It was on the Rolodex! (My girls love this story! NOT!). ha ha. But when I was elected president of a certain board of the annual conference, I got to have the cell phone number of the bishop. Yes, a bishop. Those are not usually shared with many, and I got it because my board dealt with the ministers of the conference and thus my sometimes having to deal with matters the bishop needed to be made aware about. This is what I thought about when I read verse 7, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One Who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission." Talk about access! Son of God? Come on! But, you and I have the same access! No call waiting, no voice mail; our prayers go straight through! Jesus, as the true high priest, and again we remember the word priest meaning the "bridge" between God and humanity, so being the high priest for us, we have access to Him and to the Father.

This is what we can take away as spiritual insights from this passage; Direct Access to God: Through Jesus' sacrifice, we can directly and immediately approach God, without needing an intermediary priest. Think of how personal this is for us. More so if we have an intimate personal relationship with God. Whatever difficulties and sufferings that may have come our way, while not pleasant, can be opportunities for our spiritual growth. Through this periods we can learn deeper dependence on God, perseverance, and compassion for others who suffer.

As we study Jesus' life, we see a pattern on which we can follow His example. That Jesus, even as He faced suffering, He set an example for us. We are called to follow Jesus' lead and submit to God's will, trusting in His plan even when we don't understand it.

This passage also helps us understand that we must intercede for others and act as instruments of God's love and grace in the world. Our call is to be servants, faithful and obedient to God. That means we have a lot of work to do, for many are the ones who need our help and our prayers.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank you for the example of Jesus Christ, who learned obedience through His suffering and became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. Help us, Lord, to follow His example of reverent submission and trust in Your divine plan for our lives. Give us the strength to endure trials and hardships with faith and perseverance, knowing that You are with us always. May our lives reflect the obedience and love of Christ, bringing glory to Your name. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Learn and share with others that God understands our suffering and can show us the way out. Help others today.

I love you and I thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Are You a Sturdy Dreamer?

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20 There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. 21 They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: "Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?" 22 Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered, "Time's up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. 25 In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. 26 "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me. 27 "Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. 28 I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.'" A voice came out of the sky: "I have glorified it, and I'll glorify it again." 29 The listening crowd said, "Thunder!" Others said, "An angel spoke to him!" 30 Jesus said, "The voice didn't come for me but for you. 31 At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. 32 And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me." 33 He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death. (John 12:20-33 The Message Bible)

Dear Friend, Happy Monday! I wish you peace and joy during this day. My heart is full as Nellie and I still celebrate the birth of our seventh grandchild. We were blessed to be home when Caitlin and baby Ari James came home from the hospital. Mom and baby are doing well and we thank God for that. Seeing this tiny boy reaffirms my belief in God's marvelous creation. We thank you again for your prayers! Truly they were answered in a wonderful way. Big brother Eli had the last of his sutures removed at a plastic surgeon's office on Friday and he was quite the trooper not even winching with their removal. ¡Gracias a Dios! May we be in prayer for the family of The Rev. Josue Mora, a retired pastor from the Rio Texas Conference. Josue is the brother to Dr. Raquel Mora Martinez, wife of Bishop Joel Martinez. His memorial service will be in June to accomodate family and friends. May God's comfort be with all who mourn his death during these days.

God blessed Nellie and me in letting us be in the Holy Land six years ago, and later to travel in Greece, with a great group of brothers and sisters from our church, First Methodist of Gonzales, Texas. The impact of Jesus on Greece is almost immediately felt and seen. The first European convert to Jesus was Priscilla, whose church we were blessed to visit. So, to read that during Jesus' ministry, some Greeks came to Jerusalem reinforces the belief that many people heard about and sought the Messiah. The universal longing for God's Messiah shows there are no borders or barriers to seeking and finding He who will save your from your sins. Even Greece! Those Greeks probably did not expect to hear that they might have to die to become followers! Jesus' statement, "Time's iup. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 'Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reporduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal." This metaphor highlights the cost of following Jesus. It may require sacrifice, letting go of worldly desires, and embracing challenges for a greater purpose.

The calling from Jesus is to realize that we must sacrifice all to receive the glorified life. Jesus challenges us to examine our priorities. Are we following Him for personal gain or out of a genuine desire to serve Him and live according to His teachings? Jesus holds transformative power and that is found in surrendering to God's will. We should release our desires for earthly comforts and know that can lead to a deeper connection with God and a more fulfilled life guided by His purpose. Jesus knew the power of earthly things to detract and even detach us from Him. We must not take off our eyes from the prize: An eternal relationship with the God of love. Our investment should be in putting our energy in things that have lasting value, which is a lasting relationship with God. A daily commitment to be by Jesus' side serving with Him faithfully in a life that loves and embraces all people. Jesus says, quite correctly, even now, "At this moment the world is in crisis," and His death was what was needed for God's plan to move forward.

This passage made me immediately think of the classic and powerful hymn, Are Ye Able? The lyrics are like the response of Jesus to the Greeks, and also at other points, to His own disciples, but with the challenging reality to all who would follow Him: "Are ye able," said the Master, "To be crucified with me?" "Yea," the sturdy dreamers answered, "To the death we follow Thee." And the chorus: "Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine. Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance Above us shall be A beacon to God, To love, and loyalty."

Sturdy dreamers of the world, unite! And get to work doing what God has called us to.

PRAYER: Loving God, We thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly laid down His life for our salvation. Help us to embrace the call to die to ourselves, so that we may live fully for you. Give us the strength and courage to surrender our will to yours, trusting in your plan and purposes for our lives. May we bear fruit that brings glory to your name and spreads your love to others. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Reflect on areas of your life where you may be holding onto selfish desires or ambitions. Surrender those areas to God and ask Him to help you die to self so that you may bear fruit for His kingdom. Seek opportunities to serve others and share the love of Christ with those around you, knowing that true life is found in sacrificial love and obedience to God's will.

I love and thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Always Thankful!

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1 Oh, thank God - he's so good! His love never runs out. 2 All of you set free by God, tell the world! Tell how he freed you from oppression, 3 Then rounded you up from all over the place, from the four winds, from the seven seas. 4 Some of you wandered for years in the desert, looking but not finding a good place to live, 5 Half-starved and parched with thirst, staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion. 6 Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God. He got you out in the nick of time; 7 He put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live. 8 So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. 9 He poured great draughts of water down parched throats; the starved and hungry got plenty to eat. (Psalm 107:1-9, 33-37 The Message Bible)

Dear Friend, greetings and joy and peace to you. I'm glad to report that The Rev. John Alsbrooks, underwent a very successful surgery in Austin. I spoke to him after he had his supper and he will return home tomorrow. We praise God for these news and ask that God continue to bless him with health and recovery. May we continue to pray for The Rev. John Fletcher, who awaits a transplant surgery in Houston to continue his battle against cancer. Prayers also for his congregation, Kelsey Memorial UMC of Corpus Christi, who will be without John's presence and pastoral leadership for about two months. Prayers for Gloria, Brittani, Ashlei, and Nate. May God bless them with comfort, victory, and healing.

If you had the ability, and some of you actually do, to weave a tapestry of your prayer life, and blue was the threads that reflected the amount of thankfulness you have shared in your prayers, and red for the requests for help that you had lifted up; which color would be more prevelent? Blue or Red? I suspect mine, to be honest, would have red as the dominant color, for many have been the times I have cried out to the Lord for His help. And seriously, the times that God has helped me/us, should be equaled or surpassed by the times we have said, Thank You, Lord!

I believe that King David's tapestry has more blue for he was a soul who recognized the times God had helped him and many of his psalms are songs of praise and thanksgiving, as is this one. We should list Gratitude to God as number one on our prayers lists, so that when we pray we say, over and over again, thank you, Lord! We will notice the blessings of God increase when we say thanks rather than help. God is ready to help and will do so, but God loves when we say thank you for all things.

Our prayer life should also acknowledge God's sovereignty over all circumstances. God knows when we face hardships like wandering in deserts, enduring storms at sea, and imprisonment, and countless other things; we should know that God is always in control and God has the last word. King David also knew of the power of prayer in all things as he says, those who "cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress." David knew, as should we, that prayer is important as it sustains and supports us as we await God's response to our needs. Prayer affirms also that we know that God has transforming power to "turn barren deserts into springs of water," which symbolizes His ability to transform the seemingly hopeless situations into certain victories.

We should also seek to understand the purpose behind our challenges as we realize there truly is hope for restoration. The entire Old Testament is a message of God's ability to turn things around and to make new. And the message of Jesus as found in New Testament continues and affirms that.

May we maintain a spirit of hope as we let this psalm be a source of comfort and inspiration as we navigate our own life's journey. Remember, God is ever-present, offering deliverance, hope, and the promise of a brighter future.

PRAYER: Loving God, renew in us the hope that we need to face the daily challenges and opportunities that come our way. May we serve as inspiration to others in similiar needs with Thy help; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Remember all the times God has pulled you out of things you faced, and share your story with others!

I love you and I thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

God Provides!

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4 They set out from Mount Hor along the Red Sea Road, a detour around the land of Edom. The people became irritable and cross as they traveled. 5 They spoke out against God and Moses: "Why did you drag us out of Egypt to die in this godforsaken country? No decent food; no water - we can't stomach this stuff any longer." 6 So God sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit them and many in Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke out against God and you. Pray to God; ask him to take these snakes from us." Moses prayed for the people. 8 God said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it on a flagpole: Whoever is bitten and looks at it will live." 9 So Moses made a snake of fiery copper and put it on top of a flagpole. Anyone bitten by a snake who then looked at the copper snake lived. (Numbers 21:4-9 The Message Bible)

Happy Wednesday, dear one! Blessings upon blessings be yours today and all days. No news from the baby-front! Please continue to pray!

Again, the minivan is loaded with complaining kids. The tribe is on a lonely road with no Mickey D's for miles, and the only DQ's are closed. The AC in the van is kaput, and open windows only bring in more hot air. What's a parent to do? When the kids found out the road was a detour, they knew that meant more time on the road and the complaining begins anew. And this modern version makes it seem realistic; "Why did you drag us out of Egypt to die in this godforsaken country? No decent food; no water - we can't stomach this stuff any longer. You ever been there? No raising of hands! I know you have!

This reminds me of the story told to me by the aging rock and roller working as a painter at a plant for making oil discovery vans, who shared the tale of Interstate 10 way close to midnight, when he was a wild and crazy guy hitchhiking his way to Houston from California. The only saving grace for him that night was a full moon because the light let him see just where the rattlesnakes were warming up on the highway in the cold desert air. A sleeping rattlesnake is almost as good as a dead one, but not to be bothered. But the snakes in this story were very much alive and loved to bite as many of the complaining kids as they could. Sure sounds like "If you don't behave the snakes are going to come out and bite you!" Except they were out, and they were biting. That got the people's attention and they so they came to Moses with big sad, watery eyes and said, almost convincingly, "We're sorry..." So Daddy Moses prayed to God asking that God please take away these snakes.

The solution offered by God foreshadows that which some 1,430 years later would have God's own Son on the cross, dying for our sins. God said to Moses to build a snake and put it on a flagpole; and anyone bitten by a snake could look up and be healed from that bite. So Moses makes a snake of copper and put it on the wooden flagpole. And anyone bitten by a snake who then looked up to the copper snake was saved from death.

This provision from God reveals His compassion and willingness to extend grace even in the midst of judgment. It also points to Jesus Christ, who would later compare Himself to the bronze snake, signifying that those who look to Him in faith will find healing and eternal life.

Like the Israelites, we too may face moments of doubt, frustration, and rebellion in our faith journey. Yet, even in our weakness, God remains faithful. He offers us His grace and forgiveness, inviting us to turn to Him in repentance and faith.

PRAYER: Loving God, we confess that there are times when we grumble and complain in the face of challenges. Forgive us for our lack of faith and trust in Your provision. Thank You for Your mercy and grace, even when we fall short. Help us to turn to You in times of trouble, trusting in Your promises and finding healing and restoration in Jesus Christ. In His name, we pray, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Examine your heart and repent of any sins that are new to you. Confess that sin to God and repent of it. Learn to trust in God's provision by looking to Jesus always!

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

From Death to Life

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1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV Bible)

Dear Friend, greetings and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. May this be truly a day of new beginnings and new adventures of faith! No new grandbaby yet! Today one false alarm had our daughter in the hospital only to discover NOT YET! Grandma and grandpa accompanied her on a two-mile walk in hopes that one leg on the curb, the other off, might spark that which will motivate little one to make his appearance. Prayers for tomorrow as they might induce labor. We shall see and we trust God!

Maybe your life of faith is like Nellie's and mine. We were blessed in that our parents encouraged and placed us in settings where we were exposed to the things of God, and that made a difference in our lives. I should add, not that we have ever boasted of having halos or wings - we don't, and we are not perfect beings either. But we believe Mr. Wesley's belief that we can be made perfect in love in this life. But there have been moments when truly we have been "dead in our transgressions and sins" and needed Jesus to pull us out of there. And some of you may have truly been like some, whose parents never cared for any thing of God's or someone said or did something and they gave up on faith. This morning I heard a former atheist share how he and siblings were raised as Catholics until the moment the mother and father started to divorce and on one Sunday after mass, she approached the priest with a request to please meet with her right then. The priest curtly replied that his office hours were between Monday and Friday, and not on Sunday. The mother felt let down and hurried off with her children never to return, nor would she permit them to attend anything Catholic. As a result, this son became a non-believer and thankfully one day came to faith through Jesus Christ and now works in fields that help believers with their faith.

Paul was one who though not spiritually lost, was dead because of his zeal for the customs and traditions of his faith, and it took the encounter with the Risen Christ on the Damascus Road for him to truly come to life, thus his writing this part of his letter to the believers in Ephesus. He knew all too well what it was like to follow others and not the teaching and truth of Jesus. He also knew the wiles of the "ruler of the kingdom of the air," and how he never sleeps nor tires in his pursuit to de-rail believers from the path of life. But his joy is knowing how Christ Jesus has more energy and more desire to rescue us when we are truly dead in our sins and transgressions. God's desire is to see us alive, and not dead. God desires a true relationship with Him, thus He raised us from where we were to the heights where we are now with Jesus; knowing that one day when we leave this life we will enter the realm where God will show us "the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Our salvation has come through grace, through faith, not by anything we could possibly do (works); it is just through the love of God because we are truly His - His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, not as part of winning our salvation but because we are saved, we do that which God wanted us to do in the first place.

Indeed, there is much to do to fulfil God's claim on our lives. It starts with our daily devotion like we strive to do through ConCafe; to pray more, to pray for others, to grow deeper in our faith, and to seek new ways to show love and kindness to others. This should also prepare us to share our faith more openly to others, never knowing who needs to hear what we have to say. We should also seek to serve in our communities and to have fellowship with other believers.

PRAYER: Loving God, We come before you with hearts full of gratitude for the incredible gift of salvation. Thank you for your boundless love and mercy that reached down to us when we were dead in our transgressions. As we reflect on your Word, may it sink deep into our hearts and transform us from the inside out. We commit ourselves afresh to follow you wholeheartedly, knowing that our lives are a testimony to your grace and love. Use us as vessels of your mercy and instruments of your peace, reaching out to those who are lost and broken, pointing them to the hope found in Jesus Christ, in Whose name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: (see above) Do what you lack to grow in your faith!

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Light Points to Love

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14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. (John 3:14-21 Revised Standard Version)

Happy Monday, dear Friend! May God bring you a new revelation of faith and joy that will transform and bless you; that is my prayer for you. I already count you as a blessing because of your faith and your willingness to pray for others when needs arise in their lives. I truly felt your prayers this weekend as I shared with you in my prayer request. God brought us safely to Houston after a LONG day of travel from Orlando to Austin to Houston. All praise be to God for all. Let me just brief you that Caitlin is well and awaiting the baby's decision; Tuesday will be when her OB/GYN will induce labor. Eli is doing well and loving being with his grandma and grandpa. Again, my thanks to you for your willingness to pray for us.

My life was forever impacted by my years in Sunday school. I had wonderful teacher in all the classes that I was blessed to attend. Of all that I learned in those many years and countless Sundays, one truth was steadfast and strong: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." And it would be some years after I learned and loved this verse that I would hear the story of the great Karl Barth, theologian and author of many books on the Christian faith including his Church Dogmatics, a 14-volume opus on the faith, when asked to sum up his faith said, "Jesus loved me, this I know for the Bible tells me so." Boom.

Our lesson takes us today when Jesus speaks again of His coming death. Jesus reminds his audience of Moses' encounter with God when the people were being bitten by snakes and wanted to be saved from that, and God had Moses build a serpent and to hang that on a pole lifted up so the people could see it and believe and be saved. Jesus is now referencing Himself as He who must be lifted up so that we might live. And it is here that Jesus uses this to show the immense depth of God's love for us in sharing the verse that so many love and share: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son..." Yes.

God's ultimate expression of love is the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ, who came into the world not to condemn us but to offer us salvation and eternal life. Through faith in Christ, we are liberated from condemnation and granted the promise of eternal life with God.

Yet, Jesus acknowledges that not all will embrace the light of his truth. Some will choose to remain in darkness, preferring to conceal their deeds rather than expose them to the light. The light of Christ illuminates our lives, revealing both our righteousness and our sinfulness. It is a light that invites us to repentance, transformation, and a life lived in accordance with God's will.

As followers of Christ, we are called to walk in the light, allowing God's truth to guide our thoughts, words, and actions. When we embrace the light of Christ, our deeds are made visible as being wrought in God. Our lives become a testimony to God's grace and goodness, shining brightly for all to see.

Today, let us reflect on the profound love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. May we choose to step out of the darkness and into the light of his truth, allowing his love to transform us from within. May our lives bear witness to the power of God's love and the redemption found in Christ alone.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the incomparable gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save us. Help us to embrace the light of his truth and walk in obedience to your will. May our lives be a reflection of your love and grace, drawing others into relationship with you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Let us walk in obedience to the Lord, sharing His light and pointing to His love.

I love you and I thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.