A God for All People

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25 Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I'll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers. 26 Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. "Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!" 27 From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him. 28 God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word. 29 All the power-mongers are before him - worshiping! All the poor and powerless, too - worshiping! Along with those who never got it together - worshiping! 30 Our children and their children will get in on this As the word is passed along from parent to child. 31 Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news - that God does what he says. (Psalm 22:25-31 The Message Bible)

Imagine being at a friends house when s/he says, "Well, it's time for supper - you'll have to leave now." Awkward, no? Imagine being in a church when the minister informs those in church, "If you're not a member of this church you cannot take communion." Awkward again. But imagine a God who would say, "Not everyone is welcome to this table unless..." Well, our God has never said anything like that; in fact the second verse of the passage says, "Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising Him." And later, the next verse, "From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God." This is the one true God; the God of all people, Who invites all, and welcomes all. No one is excluded.

The psalmist encourages a life of wholehearted worship—"Live it up, from head to toe. Don’t ever quit!" It's a call to unceasing praise, regardless of circumstances or challenges. For in worship, we acknowledge God's authority and celebrate His goodness.

Furthermore, the psalmist proclaims the universality of God's reign. From the four corners of the earth, people are returning to God, recognizing His sovereignty and bowing before Him in worship. It's a picture of restoration, reconciliation, and redemption.

As believers, you and me, are invited to join in this chorus of praise—to worship God with abandon, knowing that He reigns supreme over all creation. Our worship is not limited by time, place, or circumstance. It's an eternal anthem that resounds throughout generations, reaching even those who have not yet been born.

To those who have been hurt or harmed by the church, please know the harm and hurt came from humans, not God. Move on and away from those with limited thinking and embrace the thinking of a God who loves and welcomes all; and live in Him.

PRAYER: Loving God, in your presence we find fulfillment and joy in Your presence. Help us to live wholeheartedly for You, never ceasing to proclaim Your goodness and grace to the world. May our lives be a testimony to Your unfailing love and may Your name be praised now and forevermore. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: As you worship daily pray for those who feel invisible, ignored, and neglected. Pray harder for those who are feeling unwanted; then embrace and love them as your own.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Share Boldly!

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26 Later God's angel spoke to Philip: "At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza." 27 He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia, where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. 28 He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Spirit told Philip, "Climb into the chariot." 30 Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?" 31 He answered, "How can I without some help?" and invited Philip into the chariot with him. 32 The passage he was reading was this: As a sheep led to slaughter, and quiet as a lamb being sheared, He was silent, saying nothing. 33 He was mocked and put down, never got a fair trial. But who now can count his kin since he's been taken from the earth? 34 The eunuch said, "Tell me, who is the prophet talking about: himself or some other?" 35 Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they continued down the road, they came to a stream of water. The eunuch said, "Here's water. Why can't I be baptized?" 38 He ordered the chariot to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized him on the spot. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly took Philip off, and that was the last the eunuch saw of him. But he didn't mind. He had what he'd come for and went on down the road as happy as he could be. 40 Philip showed up in Azotus and continued north, preaching the Message in all the villages along that route until he arrived at Caesarea. (Acts 8:26-20 The Message Bible)

The late Rev. E. Stanley Jones, was a pastor asked to present a talk to young people about the mission field and the great need the Church has for effective missionaries. Rev. Jones was hesitant to accept such an assignment for he felt he did not know that much about that sort of work, but agreed to help out nonetheless. As he presented the message he began to weep for he realized it was he who was being called to be a missionary. And off to India he went to share the Good News. Dr. Jones had an awesome career as missionary, retreat leader, author, and pastor. At the highlight of his ministry he was elected bishop and he turned it down because it was not what he felt called to do or be. His daughter went on to marry a bishop and Dr Jones' legacy still lives on because he was not afraid to say yes to God to go where God would have him go.

This passage reintroduces us to Philip, one of the Twelve who was called by God through an angel to go and share the Good News. The angel told him the place and the time, so at noon that same day, there he was and he meets an official from Ethiopia, who while riding in a chariot was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah. The writer also lets us know that this man was the Finance Minister of Queen Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. The Spirit tells him to climb aboard the chariot and so Philip runs alongside the vehicle and hears the words of the prophet being read aloud. Philip asks if the minister understands what he was reading, and the man answers, "How can I without help?" This was the opening that Philip wanted and so climbs on board and hears the passage is about a sheep being led to the slaughter, who while being slaughtered keeps silent, though mocked and put down, who never got a fair trial. This intrigued the minister and he asks, "Who is this that Isaiah is talking about? Himself, or someone else?" And so Philip shared Jesus with him, indicating the need for surrender to Jesus and to be baptized into the faith. The minister sees a stream of water and so asks why he can't be baptized right then and there? And there in that stream, Philip baptizes this minister into the Chrisian faith. And as soon as the two come up out of the water, Philip is taken away by the Holy Spirit. The finance minister no longer saw Philip but he was the happiest he had been in his life, for now he knew Jesus.

Philip was taken by the Holy Spirit to Azotus and traveled north preaching the Good News in all the villages along the route he was sent to, until he reached Caesarea. Philip's willingness to step into the chariot and engage in conversation with a stranger demonstrates his openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit and his commitment to sharing the gospel with all people, regardless of their background or status.

As believers, we are called to follow Philip's example—to be attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, to boldly proclaim the gospel, and to respond with obedience when opportunities arise to share God's love with others. In my other podcast, Your Best Day Ever published yesterday, I shared how God placed in my heart the need to pray Where and What, asking God to daily lead us to where He would have us be, and to do what He would have us do. In my ministerial career I have gone many places and have been blessed to have shared with many the Good News of Jesus. I continue to pray that because God never stops needing us.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the example of Philip, who listened attentively to Your Spirit and boldly proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ. Grant us the same courage and obedience to step out in faith and share Your love with those we encounter. May we be sensitive to Your leading and faithful in our witness, that others may come to know You and rejoice in Your salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Be open to wherever God would lead you and to share with any whom you feel you need to share God's Good News.

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

All You Need Is Love

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7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. (1 John 4:7-21 NRSV Bible)

God has a wonderful sense of humor. Why else would one of the funniest church jokes be possible with one of the verses in this passage. I heard this joke many years ago and it was so funny I still use it from time to time. The story goes that a couple deeply in love and wanting to marry decided to pray about which verse in the Bible would be ideal for topping the cake. You know instead of Happy Birthday or whatever, the Bible verse would be there. They met for their usual morning date at a coffee shop (This joke is so old it takes place before Starbucks!) and as they studied the Bible, the groom finds verse 18: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." Aww, perfect says the bride and begins to weep. They were fearful of the future as most couples are; college debts, housing costs, groceries, etc. And since the groom had written the verse down on a napkin when he sees his intended crying, hands her the napkin and she dabs her tears. They then take the tear-soaked napkin to the baker who will prepare the cake. On the day of the wedding, the two gasped as did the parents for on the cake were the words: "You've had five husbands, and the man you're living with now isn't even your husband. " The tears of the bride erased the 1 before John 4:18 and so the baker looked up in his Bible that verse and that was what he wrote on the cake.

Is it hard for you to say you love someone? Were you told on a regular basis that you were loved? More than likely, if you didn't hear that often and if you didn't reciprocate and say to the one telling you, I love you, then as you grew older it was a rare thing to say. My grandfathers were raised in different times and I don't know if they were ever told by their mothers that they were loved, and I believe I never heard from either that they loved me. And since they were strangers to that concept of saying I love you, my Dad knew only to say, for a while, "We love you." I took it gladly, for I knew by every other indication that he did indeed love me. And even when Mom died, he continued to say "We love you." Then it may have hit him that he should change it and he said "I love you" on a regular basis. And friends, we should be free to say that as often as we can, and more importantly, to show it as part of who we are. The story is told of the old farmer and his wife who while sitting on their porch one afternoon the wife asks her husband, "Honey, do you love me? You never tell me that you do!" The old man thought about it and said, "I told you once that I love you and if I ever change my mind I'll tell you then." Ouch.

Friends, it is important to say we love one another and it is more important to show it. The strong foundation of the Christian faith is to know and recieve the love of God through His Son Jesus, Who showed perfect love and whose teachings and practices are all based on love. The disciple writing this passage tells it straight up: "Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love." Sad that there are truly those who say they love, but truly do not. God loved us first. We heard it and received it and so we not only should say it but demonstrate it. For on the day of judgment we will have boldness to stand before God and we will be judged according to our love and how we shared it with others. Harsh will be the judgment for those who say "I love God," and live out a life filled with hate for all others. It is God's commandment that we should love all people, with NO exceptions.

As recipients of such lavish love, we are called to love one another. Our capacity to love flows from our connection to God, for His Spirit dwells within us. When we love one another, we reflect the very character of God to the world. Our love becomes tangible evidence of His presence among us.

PRAYER: God of love, thank You for the incomprehensible depth of Your love. Teach us to love one another as You have loved us—sacrificially, unconditionally, and extravagantly. May Your love permeate every aspect of our lives, casting out fear and filling us with boldness and compassion. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Reflect, practice and live love with all people. If you're scared, cast out that fear and ask God to show you how to better love!

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Live In Jesus

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1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. (John 15:1-8 NIV Bible)

Well hello, Friend, welcome back! I hope you had a great weekend. Our weekend got better when we got word that our son-in-law Eric Cortez was released from the hospital after a three night stay. The medicines given him helped his obstruction go down and he's back almost to normal, thanks to God and thanks to all of you who prayed for him. Please pray for one another and pray for those who have asked prayers from us.

Among my favorite fruits, the grape is way up there. I love the white grapes when they are in season. I love the purple and red ones too. And as a boy I enjoyed the movies where the star would be fed grapes from the cluster. And I believe grapes were also a favorite of Jesus' besides figs, for they were used to make this passage more understandable. Jesus declares Himself as "the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower." Those in His audience understood the science and mechanics of this statement: The vinegrower owns the vines, and the vines produce and support the grapes. It was an everyday understanding for most in the crowd. What they may not have expected was the following comment, "He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit." Ouch! Those branches who are not doing what they were created to do find themselves removed. Jesus then says, "Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit," meaning God is at work in those who are working, so that the harvest is great. And we know that to be true that God blesses those who are bringing new believers into the fold.

Jesus then continues in explaining that which was happening in them and around them. "You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you." The process includes this cleansing, for it makes the believer more of the realm of God than that of the world. And it is also part of the initiation into the realm of Christ, for as He says, "Abide in me as I abide in you," Jesus is saying life lived in Him is the best and to have Him live in us is to be blessed by God in an incredible way.

Notice how Jesus emphasizes the necessity of remaining in Him. He speaks not of occasional visits or momentary connections, but of a continuous, abiding relationship. Just as a branch severed from the vine withers and dies, so too do we, spiritually, when we disconnect from Christ.

Moreover, Jesus speaks of the Father’s pruning. While pruning may seem painful or unnecessary, it is essential for fruitfulness. The Father lovingly removes what hinders our growth, refining and shaping us for greater productivity in His kingdom.

Our fruitfulness is not solely for our benefit but for God's glory. Through our lives, marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), we bear witness to the transforming power of Christ within us.

PRAYER: Gracious Father, thank You for grafting us into the vine, Jesus Christ. Help us to abide in Him daily, drawing strength and sustenance from His life-giving presence. Grant us the grace to embrace Your pruning, trusting in Your wisdom and love. May our lives bear abundant fruit, bringing glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Make a commitment to deepen your relationship with Jesus through prayer, Scripture reading, and fellowship with other believers, while pruning that from your life that is hindering you from truly living in Jesus!

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The Power of the Name

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5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:5-12 NIV Bible)

Happy Wednesday, Friend! I trust all is well with you on this day. May God's favor shine upon you and make you glad! As we pray this morning, please pray for Mr. Bill Meadows, who is undergoing surgery in Gonzales. Bill is a dear man, the pianist at our church, and a gifted singer and friend to all. May Bill's surgery bring him healing and joy. Prayers for his lovely wife, Cheryl and family, and for all who are praying for him. Pray for one another; pray for the Lord to watch over the world. Also, prayers for Mr. Paul Trejo, a 35 yo church musician, who suffered a heart attack recently. He survived, so please hold him in prayer that the Lord watch over him.

The ancient world knew the power of a name, for there are names that can open doors; names that can close doors, even prison doors. And they also knew about power. But what they didn't know was the power of the name of Jesus and what He could do! The Jewish leaders angered that awesome things were being done in Jesus' name and that even unexplained miracles like a lame being able to walk, and leap, and praise God! (The Jews had not had any similar incident). "By what power or name did you do this?"

The religious leaders were perplexed and demanded an explanation for this miraculous act. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly proclaimed the source of their power: the name of Jesus Christ.

Despite facing intimidation and threats, Peter didn't hesitate to attribute the healing to Jesus. He recognized that salvation comes through no other name but Jesus Christ. This passage reminds us of the authority and power that is vested in the name of Jesus.

Today, we live in a world where many voices compete for our attention and allegiance. We encounter various challenges and obstacles that seem insurmountable. In times of trouble, we might seek solutions in our own strength or in the wisdom of others. However, the message of Acts 4:5-12 calls us to remember the supremacy of Jesus' name.

Like Peter and John, we are called to boldly declare the name of Jesus in every situation. Whether we are facing sickness, financial struggles, relationship difficulties, or spiritual battles, we can find strength and victory in the name of Jesus. His name is not just a word; it carries the authority to transform lives, heal the sick, and break chains of bondage.

As believers, let us cultivate a deep reverence for the name of Jesus. Let us pray with confidence, knowing that when we invoke His name, we tap into the power of the Almighty. May we never underestimate the significance of proclaiming Jesus as our Lord and Savior, for it is through Him alone that we find true salvation and redemption.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, whose name is above every other name. Help us, Lord, to always recognize the authority and power vested in His name. Strengthen us to boldly proclaim Jesus in every circumstance of our lives. May Your Holy Spirit empower us to walk in faith and obedience, trusting in the saving grace of Jesus. In His mighty name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Are there areas where you have been relying on your own strength rather than trusting in His power? Commit to praying fervently, invoking the name of Jesus in every situation you face.

I love you and thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Embraced by God's Love

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16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. (1 John 3:16-24 NRSV Bible)

Happy Tuesday, Friend! May the love of the Lord become more real to you than ever before so that your heart will be filled and flows out to many.

How did you come to know love? When did you know that you were truly and fully loved by someone, like your mother, father, sibling? If you are married, how did you know you were loved by your future spouse? Nellie and I came to fall in love with each other over the phone. You've heard my sob story of being shot down every time I asked her out, because she was on an important committee of the church grading me on my ministerial internship, but nonetheless we spoke every day for over an hour and on weekends we sometimes spoke through the night. We came to know each other and in that way we fell in love. By the time we finally had a real, in-person date, we knew and on Christmas Eve when I left Mission for Houston as we kissed goodbye she cried. No one had ever cried for me before! That sealed the deal for me.

"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us - and we ought to lay down our lives for one another." The writer has set a high bar based on what he knows about Jesus' willingness to die for us and if we love others in the same way, we, too, should be willing to lay down our lives for each other. He then goes from peaching to meddlin'! He says rightly so, that if we say we love each other and we have God's love in us, but we see a brother or sister in need and we refuse to help; that's not love, says John. Ouch and double ouch. But hs is right.

The writer continues by speaking his mind: Our love should be, "in truth and action," not just talking about or giving examples in speech. This will prove that we are truly people of God's love. Love is not passive; it compels us to action. It moves us to extend a helping hand, offer words of encouragement, and share our resources with those in need.

Furthermore, John reassures us that when our hearts are aligned with God's commandments, we can approach Him with boldness in prayer. Our obedience to His commandments, particularly the commandment to love one another, demonstrates our love for God and confirms His presence within us through His Spirit.

As followers of Christ, our lives should be marked by a genuine, active love that reflects the love of our Savior. It is through our love for one another that the world will see the transformative power of the gospel at work in our lives.

PRAYER: Loving Father, thank You for the awesome demonstration of love by Your Son, Jesus. Help us to love one another not only in words, but in deeds and truth. Grant us the courage to sacrificially serve all in need. Let us obey Your commandments wholeheartedly and may Your Spirit continually guide and empower us to live lives that glorify You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! HERE'S YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Take necessary steps to meet the needs of those around you.

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

El Buen Pastor/The Good Shepherd

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11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:11-18 NIV Bible)

Dear Friend, a happiest of Mondays to you! May the peace of the Lord Jesus be with you and yours. As we pray today, let us keep the family of Mr. Jesau Ozuna Arévalo in your prayers. On Saturday we held a memorial service for him in the very welcoming and loving church, Smiley Methodist Church in Smiley, TX. The Rev. Tommy Myrick, pastor of SMC graciously allowed the family to hold the service there. It was a very emotional time for his family. Let us pray God's comfort be with all who loved him and who miss him. A very special thanks to Mr. Johnnie Fogle who is a good friend to the brother of Jesau and who did most of the legwork to get all things ready.

There is perhaps no other name for a church that touches my heart as much as El Buen Pastor. I was born into an EBP church in Kingsville and spent the first 13 years of my life there; then in our move to Houston we joined an El Buen Pastor church there. It didn't hurt that our previous pastor in Kingsville was now our pastor in Houston. This passage explains why the church fathers and mothers of those churches and many others chose such a special and powerful name for the congregation.

Of all the I-Am declarations made by Jesus in the gospel of John, this ranks up there as the most relatable to the time when Jesus lived. Everyone either had a shepherd in the family, had been a shepherd or knew someone who was. They knew the work of the shepherd and more importantly the love that real shepherds had for their flocks. In His declaration Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd," and defines what that means. The love of a shepherd for his/her flock is a special one; one where the shepherd knows his strength and his sheep's weaknesses. He or she is willing, because of that love, to die for his sheep. The hired hand, on the other hand, will not lay down his life because he does not own nor love the sheep. In fact, says Jesus, they run away. Jesus was hitting the religious leaders of His day; He loved the people and would die for the people; the Jews did not love the people and had, on many ocassions, ran to protect themselves.

"I am the good shepherd," Jesus says again; "I know my sheep (note His love) and my sheep know me -- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father -- and I lay down my life for my sheep." Jesus speaks of "other sheep" not of the same fold, indicating His love for all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or background. His desire is for all to be brought into His fold, united under His loving care.

But Jesus's love is not just words; it is action. He proved His love by laying down His life for us on the cross, taking upon Himself the punishment for our sins. And not only did He die for us, but He also rose again, conquering death and giving us the assurance of eternal life.

PRAYER: Awesome God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd. Thank You for His sacrificial love, demonstrated by His death and resurrection. Help us to fully grasp the depth of His love for us and to respond with gratitude and obedience. Guide us each day as we seek to follow Him faithfully. In Jesus's name, we pray, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Spend a moment or two reflecting on Jesus' love for you personally. Then pray your thanks to Him for this sacrificial love and ask Him to deepen your understanding of it. Then emphasize Jesus' love in your relationships with others.

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Peace in God's Presence

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1 Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. 2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods 3 Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him. 4 Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. 5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the LORD. 6 Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us. 7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. 8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4 New International Version of The Bible)

Happy Thursday, dear Friend! Which part of the house holds the most comfort for you? Which part of the house is the one in which you feel more comfortable to cry or get angry? Which room finds you praying more?

I'll go first. My most comfortable room is the living room when Nellie and family are there. And the room in which I feel more comfortable in dealing with my feelings and thoughts is the bedroom. It is in here that most prayers get sent up. One wonders where David wrote or said his prayers? He was an adamant pray-er; trusting in God and hopeful in his petitions as we read in verse 1: "Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God." He had come to believe in God's faithfulness in his times of distress, as should we. David knew God to be the source of righteousness and justice, Who does hear his prayers and provides relief from his troubles. In the same way our times of anguish, we can appeal to God for God is compassionate and grants us mercy.

We see David shift from his prayer to contrast the fleeting pleasures of the world with the enduring peace found only in God. David admonishes those who chase after false gods and the success of the world, reminding them of the true source of blessing and prosperity, who is God Himself. David knows and encourages us to have trust in God's provision and rejoices in the abundant blessings that come from walking in obedience with God.

We come to the most famous of the verses of this psalm, verse 8, where David declares his full confidence in God's protection at the most vulnerable time of day, right before bed. It is usually at those moments that our brain can present to us a rapid recap of the highs and lows of the day, with the lows jumping more prominently to our attention, and it is then that we should turn that over to God. God is the source of peace, and no better word can accompany us into sleep.

As we reflect on Psalm 4, let us follow David's example of seeking refuge in God in times of trouble. Let us turn to Him in prayer, trusting in His righteousness and mercy to sustain us. May we examine our hearts, turning away from sin and placing our trust fully in the Lord. And may we experience the profound peace that comes from resting in God's presence, knowing that He alone can truly satisfy our souls.

PRAYER: Awesome Father, we thank you for Your faithfulness and mercy towards us. You alone are the source of power that lifts up beyond all challenges and obstacles. As we come before You in prayer, we ask for Your help in times of distress and uncertainty. Grant us relief from our troubles and fill our hearts with your peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! HERE'S YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Spend intentional time in prayer, pouring out your heart to God and seeking His guidance and peace!

I love you and thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr

Embrace Repentance

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12 When Peter saw he had a congregation, he addressed the people: 13 The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his Son Jesus. The very One that Pilate called innocent, you repudiated. 14 You repudiated the Holy One, the Just One, and asked for a murderer in his place. 15 You no sooner killed the Author of Life than God raised him from the dead - and we're the witnesses. 16 Faith in Jesus' name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on his feet - yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes. 17 "And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. 18 But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans. 19 "Now it's time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, (Acts 3:12-19 The Message Bible)

Happy Wednesday, Friend! Blessings be yours dear friend for today and all days. Make this day count with what you say, think, and do! Bless others. Make this a day of prayer that blesses others.

Have you ever been in a setting where someone in your group or class, has done something wrong, and the leader comes back in and yells at everyone and you don't know where to hide because you know you're not the one they're looking for? Me neither. Okay, yes. Have you ever been the person they were talking about but feared revealing yourself? Now, let's put ourselves in this crowd to which Peter is addressing. How would you have felt? What would you have done about it?

Peter had just prayed for a man who was lame to be healed and he was. The congregation loved it, but wondered who could possibly done such a thing? I love this passage in older versions because of the song that came of this healing; "Silver and gold have I none, but in the name of Jesus, rise up and walk and he went walking and leaping and praising God."*. Peter takes advantage of this opportunity to focus their attention on Jesus as we see in verse 16: "Faith in Jesus' name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on this feet - yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes." Peter emphasizes that it was not their own power or righteousness that healed the man but faith in the name of Jesus.

Peter's message cuts to the heart of the crowd's culpability in the crucifixion of Jesus. He calls them to repentance, recognizing their ignorance of the true identity of Jesus. Despite their past actions, Peter assures them of God's mercy and willingness to forgive if they turn to Him in repentance.

Just as Peter urged the crowd to repent and turn to God, we too are called to examine our lives and turn away from sin. Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for our wrongdoings but a sincere turning away from them and turning towards God. It involves a change of heart and mind, leading to transformation and renewal in our relationship with God.

Today, let us reflect on areas in our lives where we need to repent and seek forgiveness. Let us humbly come before God, acknowledging our shortcomings and asking for His grace to change our ways. As we repent, may we experience the refreshing showers of God's blessing and restoration in our lives.

PRAYER: Loving God, we come before you with humble hearts, acknowledging our need for your forgiveness and grace. We confess our sins and shortcomings, knowing that we have fallen short of your glory. Grant us the strength to turn away from our sinful ways and turn towards you wholeheartedly. Pour out your mercy and grace upon us, O Lord, and renew us by your Holy Spirit. May our lives be transformed as we walk in obedience to your will. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! HERE'S YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Write down specific actions or attitudes that need to change, and commit them to God in prayer.

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Here's a video on that song SIlver and Gold: *https://youtu.be/bUVKTAN0GNo?si=a2vrlsEOVARhuwgn

God's Love is Awesome!

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1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. (1 John 3:1-7 NIV Bible)

A blessed Tuesday to you, dear Friend. May the wonders of God's love embrace you and allow you to share it freely with all, especially those whom no one else wants or sees! Prayer Update: The Rev. Scott Bradford underwent a successful surgery on Monday, April 8th in San Angelo, and reports are the surgery went well. I just spoke with him this morning and he will go home if he can meet doctor's expectations. Prayers for needed next steps!

I love the posts on social media when children are adopted by their foster parents, and those stepchildren who present their stepdad with forms requesting they become their parents. Those videos bring on the waterworks for me. The same can be said for John as he writes this passage. The idea of the great love that God has for us is described with a wonderful word "lavished on us." And right with it, "that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" As children of God, we are enveloped in a love so deep and profound that it transforms our very identity. Yet, John also reminds us of our ongoing journey toward resemblance with Christ. Although the full extent of our future transformation remains a mystery, we eagerly anticipate the day when we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

This hope of transformation isn't merely a passive waiting, but an active pursuit. Those who hold fast to this hope purify themselves, aligning their lives with the purity and righteousness of Christ. We are called to live in a manner that reflects our identity as children of God, free from the bondage of sin. For in Christ, there is no sin, and those who abide in Him strive for righteousness.

John makes it clear that a life marked by continual sin is incompatible with a life lived in Christ. To know Him is to turn away from sin, for He came to take away our sins and offer us a new way of living. Let us not be deceived by the allure of sin or the false teachings that diminish its significance. Instead, let us stand firm in the truth, knowing that righteousness is the hallmark of those who belong to Christ.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the incomprehensible love You have lavished upon us, calling us Your own beloved children. Help us, Lord, to grasp the depth of this love and to live in a manner worthy of our identity in Christ. Grant us the strength to continually purify ourselves, aligning our lives with the purity and righteousness found only in Him. May we never stray from the path of righteousness, but remain steadfast in our pursuit of You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Pursue a life marked by purity and rigtheousness.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Doubting Again? Thanks, Thomas!

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36 Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:36b-48 NIV Bible)

Happy Monday, dear Friend! May the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus be your strength for today and all days. Pray for one another. Prayers for this old man as this coming Saturday we will have the memorial service for the young suicide victim from Nixon, Texas. Pray for his family, friends, and all who loved and knew him. The memorial service will be in Smiley, Texas at the Methodist Church there, at 10 a.m. Friends, please pray for The Rev. John Fletcher, pastor of Kelsey Memorial UMC of Corpus Christi, who is in Houston awaiting a transplant surgery in his battle against cancer. Pray for John's healing and victory over cancer. Prayers for his wife, Gloria, and their children. May God's peace be with them.

For the second time in less than a month, we visit the passage where Jesus presents Himself among the disciples who were hiding in the Upper Room. The one we studied last time was by John in his gospel; today's is from the Gospel of Luke. Each writer highlights what they see as most important. John's gospel focused more on the doubt of Thomas, this one focuses on the physical evidence that Luke believes makes the case for this event to have actually taken place. I'v shared before that my New Testament professor shared how he did not believe this event took place physically; his exact remark was that "the objective eye of a camera would not have captured the image of a risen Jesus." Okay. Let's move on. Luke, like John, shares how the physically alive and present Jesus makes Himself seen inside a locked room. In other words, he walked right in through the lock door in physical form without needing to open the doors. Luke also shares how the disciples thought Jesus was a ghost. Yes, people back then knew about ghosts and even some believed they existed. In fact, Jesus' response was to counter that they thought he was a ghost. "Look at my hands and my feet. it is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." John's remarks from Jesus were directed to the disciples then later to Thomas for his not having been present when this event took place.

Luke further has Jesus saying he is hungry; something ghost do not ever demonstrate. "Do you have anything here to eat?" The disciples give Him some fish and he eats. Then Jesus proceeds to further prove the fulfillment of scripture and His mission; "Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." He then opens the minds of the disciples so they could understand the Scriptures. All was in obedience to what God had wanted to happen so that there would be repentance of sins preached in His name to all nations, starting there in Jerusalem, and the Twelve were disciples of these things.

This passage resonates deeply with our faith journey. Like the disciples, we may encounter moments of doubt, confusion, or fear. We may question the reality of God's promises or struggle to grasp the depth of His love. Yet, Jesus meets us in our uncertainty. He invites us to experience His presence, to witness His faithfulness, and to embrace the reality of His resurrection power in our lives.

As we reflect on this encounter, let us remember that Jesus meets us where we are. He understands our doubts and patiently offers reassurance. Just as He commissioned the disciples to be His witnesses, He calls us to testify to His transformative power in our lives. Our call to action is to share the good news of Christ's resurrection boldly, to live as reflections of His love and grace in the world.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the assurance of Your presence in our lives. Help us overcome doubt and fear, knowing that You are with us always. Empower us to be bold witnesses of Your resurrection and love. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Face your doubts with the understanding that doubting sometimes comes as part of our faith journey. Don't let doubt defeat your faith, but let it strengthen you on your walk!

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Living in Unity

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1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 133 NIV Bible) Happy Thursday dear Friend. Make this a tremendous Thursday! Bless the Lord with your soul, and others with joy and love. Friends, please pray for a dear sister from our church, Ms. Norma Fink, who is battling Covid. Pray for her peace and healing as she is isolated from loved ones during this time. Pray for one another; lift up prayers for the world, for peace, for harmony.

The story goes that Frank never particularly wanted to go to church, but he had promised his wife that he would, and as was his custom he was in his usual pew and when there was a lull in the worship service, his cell phone rang. His wife immediately sussed him, as did two or three worshipers sit near him. The faces from the choir could have killed, if looks could kill; and even the pastor shared her reaction of disgust at such an interruption. As church ended, most people ignored him because they were so upset that he had allowed such a thing to happen. That night Frank, still smarting from the trouble he had caused in the Lord's house, went to Joe's Bar. Frank ordered a drink and as he was setting it back down after his first sip, he accidentally knocked it over, and the bartender immediately wiped it up without saying a word and when he had thoroughly cleaned the spot, served him another one. Frank's buddies came over and asked if he was alright, slapping him on the back as buddies do. Which place would Frank prefer to go back to? Which one would you?

The above story, while made up by someone on the internet, can and does happen more times than we'd like, and yes, some folks have said there is more love and unity at Joe's Bar down at the corner than there is in most churches. You and I have probably seen and heard things that you would imagine being said and done in the Lord's house. You and I have probably seen some disagreements turn into outright fights. A dear friend once had his label microphone on while he was in his office awaiting worship to start. Being a small church, he was his own sound man, and so the mic was hot, and in comes Sister Business and begins to yell at him for something she had not agreed with during a recent council meeting, and the two began to argue quite loudly. The oldest son of the pastor ran to the office door and knocked. Preacher Dad told him not now son! "Dad," the boy said, "Your mic is on and people in the sanctuary are hearing you two argue!" Gulp. Fight over.

I have also seen, heard, and experienced the most incredible acts of love that one cannot see anywhere else, but a church. When we had recently arrived to a certain church I had made friends with the pastor of The Presbyterian Church in town, and he and I were walking buddies. Every morning we would walk for miles and swap jokes. One day I awoke with the flu and I called my friend to let him know I would not be walking that morning. He later came by our house and left two bags with chicken noodle soup, canned orange juice, and some over the counter medicines. A small gesture said he; a huge gesture of love and care said I. I have seen church members caring for others that could no longer care for themselves. I have seen some drive other sisters and brothers from the church from the Valley to Houston for cancer treatments. And you could add to this already long list your own stories that support what the psalmist said and knew when he wrote those powerful words about "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!" This verse supports what we studied yesterday about the first Christian church of Jerusalem. His addition to better explain this awesome behavior is not a well-known one to us. "It is like precious oil poured on the head, running dow on the beard." The custom of pouring oil on our heads, as far as I know, has faded away. As for Aaron, well he's been long dead, and dew of Hermon falling on Mount Zion doesn't compute for us. Some scholars associate the "dew of Hermon" being symbolic of abundance, blessing, and freshness; with which we can relate. We do know and believe that wherever God bestows His blessings, is a blessed place, as is life everlasting.

Unity is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of harmony, cooperation, and love. When God's people come together in unity, it not only blesses them but also reflects God's character to the world. Unity draws others to the beauty of the gospel and fosters an environment where God's blessings can flow freely.

PRAYER: Gracious God, We thank You for the gift of unity among Your people. Help us to cherish and cultivate unity in our churches, families, and communities. Pour out Your Spirit upon us, that we may be bound together in love and mutual respect. May our unity be a testimony to your goodness and grace, drawing others into relationship with you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! HERE'S YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Seek where you can add to the unity of God's people, and do it!

I love you and thank God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

United and Generous

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32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. (Acts 4:32-35 NIV Bible)

Happy Easter Wednesday, dear Friend. I pray this finds you well. May God bless you in all your endeavors today. Make it a Christ-centered day with the intent to share Jesus with as many as you can. God will lead you.

I was there against my will, but two very loving and generous friends made it possible to be there. I was blessed in that way, but felt that I did not need yet another retreat. A dear departed mentor in ministry from so many years ago used to joke, "Why do we always retreat? If we're truly the army of God, we must charge every once in a while!" And he was right, but retreats are necessary. But not for me, or so I thought. But as the moments progressed I was having a hard time with the water well behind my eyes. I saw posters signed by people from every corner of the world that were praying for us by name! Wait. What? People in Austrailia were lifting Eradio Valverde in their funny accent? Would God understand them? (Yes, of course, but I'm being silly!). People in Africa had also sent poster boards with messages of love and prayers. And friends, I weighed 98 lbs when I started that retreat on Thursday night and by the time Sunday rolled around, so did I! There were more homemade cookies than should be legal to be on serving platters! We're talking chunky chocolate chips cookies of all shapes and sizes, and darn cookies they all knew my name and could say it quite loudly as I walked by! I felt a true sense of unity and generosity during this retreat.

Had the believers of First Jerusalem made cookies, they might have matched those served ot the pilgrims of that Walk to Emmaus back in 1985 at Mount Wesley in Kerrville, Texas. That first verse always gets to me. "All believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had." Wow. The change Jesus had made in their hearts, minds, and spirits changed them. They went from "This is mine," to "I don't mind sharing with you." What wonderful things our hearts and minds can be when we let the touch of Jesus control them. Hearts can truly pump out love and minds can truly think positive and loving thoughts towards others! What a concept! To be able to say to others, "This is no longer mine, it's yours!" that dear friends, is miraculous. And to add to this, the passage says that the apostles were empowered by this and by the Holy Spirit to share their faith in the message about Jesus' resurrection. And the grace of God was at work in all who listened and worshiped with them, so much so that there were no needy people among them; all their needs were being met. All were fed and fully clothed. All bills were being paid. And to make it even more a God-thing; "From time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." Boom!

This past weekend, a long-time church building that served in both the Rio Grande Conference and the Southwest Texas Conference was sold. It was no longer a viable church. The building had fallen into massive disrepair and the church was no longer attracting people to its worship services and other programming was no longer effective. This particular building, in my opinion, was a white elephant. The previous SWT congregation had bought land in another part of San Antonio, and so they decided to sell it to a RGC congregation. In my opinion, the loving thing would have been to sell this old building for a dollar, but it was not. No unity and no generosity.

We have a choice dear ones of how we can live. The apostles reported this miraculous event at the first church during the first century. We can re-write our history in loving and positive ways, of showing the world that we can rise above the norm or expected into the divine way of God's expectation. This would add a dimension to Easter the world would love to see and experience.

PRAYER: Loving and awesome God, plant in us the love and power of Your grace so that we can live in unity and generosity with all. Help us set the examples of going beyond the expected. This we ask in Christ Jesus powerful and strong name, amen.

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

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Complete Joy

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1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 1:1-2:2 NIV Bible)

Happy Tuesday, dear Friend! I pray this finds you well and enjoying the fullness of life we can find in Christ Jesus. I also pray this finds you more of a pray-er than before; knowing we pray because God answers prayer! Pray for one another and for the needs shared with you in various ways of those who need help from the Lord.

What's the happiest and most joyful you have ever been in your life? I know that's a tough question for most of us because most of us have had several occasions where we were giddy with joy and excitement; and narrowing it down to one example is almost impossible. My wedding day stands out as the most joyful I had ever been, and on other levels, the birth of my children, then my grandchildren, and I can't forget the spiritual goals met in my life; graduation from seminary, ordinations, first appointments, etc. And of course, meeting Jesus as my Lord and Savior is quite the capstone of my life. As we read this passage we can begin to see that John as he is writing this is doing it out of joy, and for the purpose of sharing joy with others; because Jesus is the core of his faith and life. His having heard the good news was key, as was his accepting and believing those news as his; seeing and witnessing the transforming and redemptive power of the Gospel also imprinted deeply into his life, and life as Jesus shared it as truly abundant and wonderul. This is what his letter is all about. He loves the fellowship of faith in the company of other believers, as is the more important fellowship with God the Father and God the Son. His desire, as he writes, is "to make our joy complete."

John had come to know that God is light. The darkness through which he trod before meeting Him now is a fading memory of a life almost wasted, for he had not experienced the fullness of life in Jesus Christ. He reminds us that if we make a false claim of having fellowship with God and yet are really still where we used to be, we are lying and not living out the truth. But if we truly walk in the light of God, we walk not alone, but with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and with all who have made the same declaration about deciding to walk with Him. And John knows and tells us that there is power in the blood of Jesus to purifiy us from all sin. To make a claim that we are without sin is a sin, and a statement made from a false place where we should not be. Yet, if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness. And here in this day and age, there are those who claim to be without sin or not needing to ask forgiveness because they are good. Those who say such things are making God out to be a liar, and us along with Him, because God's word is not in us.

John's invitation is for us not to sin. And if we do sin, he reminds us that God will and does, forgive us in a restorative way; always having as our advocate with the Father, His own Son, Jesus Christ, whom he calls the "Righteous One." For it is Jesus who atoned for our sins through His sacrifice and not only for us, but also for the sins of the whole world.

The message of God's light contrasts with the darkness of sin and deception. Walking in the light entails living a life of truth, righteousness, and authenticity. It requires acknowledging our sins, confessing them to God, and receiving his forgiveness. Through this process, we enter into fellowship with God and experience purification from sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the gift of fellowship with You and with one another. Help us to walk in the light, embracing truth, righteousness, and authenticity in our lives. Give us the humility to confess our sins and receive Your forgiveness, knowing that You are faithful and just. May our lives reflect the reality of Your love and grace, drawing others into fellowship with You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: If there are areas where we are walking in darkness, hiding from the truth or living in deception, let us humbly confess our sins to God, seeking his forgiveness and purification.

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Easter is For Doubting?

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19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin ), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:19-31 NRSV)

Happy Easter dear Friend! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!

In a drive I will never forget, we had only sketchy information. My best friend had drowned. We had stopped at the traffic light as we were making our way to his home. I had to ask again, "Is he dead?" To me, could you drown and still be alive? Yes, please?! So, I had to ask my Dad if Rene was indeed dead. It was the stage of denial for me. Though it has been so many years, I now hesitantly accept that yes, he died. I will always remember going day after day to the funeral home where his body lay. I kept thinking it was taking too long for his mom to finally agree to a funeral service, and that each day his body lay in that casket was not good for her or her husband or sisters, or me. Yes, me selfishly, I did not want him to be on display; I wanted him to rest. I cried and cried for him. I looked up to him and his wisdom, laugh, and love.

I can only begin to imagine that times 12 or times 125; but in that room, it was maybe a couple more than 12. I know that denial had set in in the hearts and spirits of those followers of Jesus. And more than denial, there was fear. If it was that easy for the religious leaders to kill Jesus, Who had the respect and following of the people, how much more easier would it be for them to kill us? was the question that led them to lock the doors of that Upper Room. Doom and gloom had been served fresh since Friday, every time they gathered. Is peace the opposite of fear? Or is peace the antidote to fear? Fear and doubt would soon kill the souls of these eleven men and the women with them. And into this setting comes the Risen Lord with the words they needed to hear, "Peace be with you." BOOM! What they lacked, Jesus supplied! His presence, His words, His Spirit broke that doom and gloom. And to add more to the remedy they desperately needed, Jesus showed them His hand and His side; the very wounds that helped kill Him! As they begin to process what they are seeing, joy entered them for they truly saw the Lord. Again, Jesus says, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Marching orders, then marching power; He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Wow.

They are now realizing they were called not to join a social club - they were called to a mission where they were to have a stated purpose of reaching the world for God. A world where sin would meet its defeat by the sharing of Jesus' words and power. A world to which we are invited and yes, members, when we said yes to Jesus; where we too, are expected to produce results. But what made this story interesting was that one of them was not there. Yes, that friend who is always late or who somehow always finds an excuse or reason not to come. Yes, we all have them! Thomas, the Twin, was somewhere else. When he finally joins them, they tell him the good news, and he's like those friends, "Huh? Uh, sure you did... I won't believe it unless I see it with my own eyes!" But he added, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in HIs hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in His side, I will not believe." In Spanish we would have remarked with disgust, "¡Sí tú!" ("yeah right").

One week later, guess who bothered to join them? Doubting Thomas. (Hey, it only takes one remark to get a nickname or label!). I can only imagine, yes my snarky self, someone had to have said, "Well, look who bothered to join us!" (You can add your own snide remarks in the Comments section below...). Back to our story: While gathered again in the Upper Room, again behind locked doors, Jesus makes another appearance, and guess what He says? "Peace be with you." They still needed to hear that and this time Thomas is hearing it for the first time. Speaking of Thomas, Jesus says to him, "Thomas, put your finger here and see my hands; reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe." Thomas wanted to scream, "Who told??" Jesus knew. Thomas did not need to get a physical touch for he was touched in his heart and soul; this is Jesus and tells Him so, "My Lord and my God!" Boom again. Thomas believes in the whole mission with that declaration. Yet, Jesus has to ask him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not yet seen and yet have come to believe." (That's for you and me!). Then John adds the words to explain the purpose for which he wrote to the book, "So that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His name."

Like the disciples, we often face fear and doubt in our lives. We may feel locked behind doors of uncertainty or paralyzed by our lack of faith. My friend Rene's death dealt quite a blow to my life. That year I did not attend our annual youth camp, because the previous year he and I had been roommates at that camp, and I could not imagine camp without him. Yet, Jesus meets us in the midst of our doubts, offering us His peace and presence. He invites us to move beyond our doubts and fears and to trust in Him.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank you for meeting us in our doubts and fears. Thank you for offering us your peace and presence, even when we struggle to believe. Help us to trust in you, even when we cannot see the way forward. Strengthen our faith and empower us to live as your disciples, sharing your love and grace with the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! HERE'S YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Let us consider areas in our lives where we are struggling with doubt or fear. Let us bring these concerns to God in prayer, asking for his peace and guidance. And let us seek opportunities to share the love and grace of Christ with others, embodying the message of hope and redemption found in the resurrection.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

My Favorite Palm Sunday Hymn

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Filled with excitement, all the happy throng

spread cloaks and branches on the city streets.

There in the distance they began to see,

riding on a donkey comes the Son of God.

From every corner a thousand voices sing

praises to him who comes in the name of God.

With one great shout of acclamation loud

triumphant song breaks forth:

“Hosanna to the King!”* (UMH 279 Mantos y Palmas)

Happy Wednesday, my dear Friend. May this Wednesday truly be a Wonderful Wednesday for you and those whom you hold dear. May this day fill you with hope and peace. The time is quickly approaching when we shall gather to praise God for the resurrection of Jesus from the dead; His victory and triumph over sin and death. I pray God's joy be your strength and your peace. Pray for those for whom we have been praying and may God answer all according to His will. I pray all is well with you.

Today's devotional will give me away. I can't hide it. I am a child of hymns. My Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday evenings, were times we would gather for worship, singing and praise, and all gathered around whatever hymnal we had at the time. I can even say that my wife and our daughters as well are products of singing hymns. From my birth until 1998 I sang en español. Many of the himnos are directly from hymns; and many trigger the waterwells found behind both of my eyes.

I was blessed to have served on a committee of the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church to interpret the "new" hymnal published in 1989, which allowed me to hear some new incredible hymns. Later I was on the actual committee that put together Mil Voces, the Spanish language hymnal of the UMC. There, it was an emotional time of hearing old and new hymns sung by the awesome voices of representatives from across the denomination. During those experiences, one hymn stayed with me for its power and ability to re-create that day we will celebrate this coming Sunday, Palm Sunday.

The hymn was written by Rubén Ruíz Avila, and translated into English by Gertrude C. Suppe. The actual hymn was written in 1972 with a mariachi and dance-like feel not found in the traditional Palm Sunday hymns from the 17th and 18th centuries. If you re-read the lyrics shared above you get the idea of what Mr. Avila had in his heart as he wrote the hymn. Key words like "excitement," "happy," "a thousand voices," and "great shout of acclamation loud" wow me (and I have to confess I sing this or hear this several times more than just that one Sunday for which it was written. It does beg me to ask myself, and to ask you: Which of the words I quoted reflect how you approach that Sunday? One year, when I was a senior pastor of a church, I kept thinking had I known then in the actual year of Jesus entering Jerusalem, I would have paid money to be a part of that Big-Ticket event, and so I went to my computer and designed a ticket which I printed out on letter sized paper and took it to Kinko's (remember them?). I asked them to put it on a huge foam poster. Viola! I had my big ticket! I used it that Palm Sunday and for many years later as a reminder that we did not need a ticket had we been there, nor do we need one now, but if we did, we would pay whatever price to have been part of that throng who shouted and sang, "Hosanna to the King!"

What will we do this coming Sunday? I know some will go "through the motions," and that's fine - no better place to be, but think about it. Jesus paid it all. Jesus suffered all, and it started on this false premise of people thinking He entered the captial city as a military and political king. And that in and of itself would have been sufficient, but it was more! Jesus came and knowing He would be dead by that following Friday, yet on He rode on this donkey. He knew that because of our sinfulness; our doing, thinking, and acting on things we should never have even thought, done or acted on! And even those done to us by ones we thought we never do such things to us - and still He loved us, and yes, even them! We should quit having our pity parties and start singing, no? Hosanna sounds better when we mean it because we feel it.

PRAYER: Lord, make us people of the hosannas that lift spirits, especially ours. May this Sunday be just about You, and may it bless us to the place we know we should be. Bless those who don't seem worthy of being blessed (myself included!), and let us all be blessings to all, especially You! In our King Jesus' strong and holy name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Shout Hosanna now and Sunday. Repeat Often.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

View one church's Palm Sunday use of "Filled With Excitement" here: https://bit.ly/43lm25u