Transformed by Resurrection Power

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35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being” ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. 50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 NRSV Bible)

I remember getting the keys to the church! I was the summer youth director for a nice-sized church in Houston. I had been entrusted with the spiritual lives of the church's youth for the summer, and with that huge responsibility came keys. I now had my own office, with a huge green executive chair, my own phone on the desk (Did I mention I had my own desk?), and in the mornings I was one of many staff there at the church offices. My having keys was not as important as planning a summer where I could plant seeds of faith into the fertile soil of young minds and spirits who were already at war with conflicting thoughts and messages of society and culture. I had the authority of the church to do what I had been hired to do, but it would be up to the Holy Spirit to give me the power to impact these lives for Jesus. My having said yes to Jesus just a few years earlier led me to this my first paying job within Christ's church. In my own life I had come to understand that all the seeds sowed in my direction by my parents, grandmother, pastors, and youth workers, could either sprout with a harvest, or keep sprouting weeds that could choke my faith.

The Apostle Paul, when confronted with the question about the return of Jesus in the face of so many believers being murdered by the state, has to respond, calmly even when frustrated, to the questions about the why of death and now the who of resurrection, if there is such a thing the people were asking. In this passage from 1 Corinthians, Paul uses the analogy of sowing seeds to explain the transformation that we will experience through resurrection. He emphasizes that our earthly bodies—flesh, perishable and weak—will be transformed into spiritual bodies, imperishable and glorious. The mystery of the resurrection is not just about life after death, but about the radical transformation that will occur in us, reflecting the glory of God’s ultimate plan.

In the midst of our busy and often chaotic lives, it can be hard to grasp the full scope of what Christ's resurrection means, not only for Him but for us. On these closing days of Epiphany, as we reflect on the "manifestation" of Christ to the Gentiles, we are reminded that Jesus came to reveal God's glory, and that revelation continues through His power over death, which gives us new life.

Paul's words invite us to remember that this transformation is not merely a future promise but a present reality. Through Jesus' resurrection, we have already begun the process of being transformed by His Spirit. The perishable has already begun to be clothed with the imperishable, the weak with power, and the mortal with immortality. Our lives, now in Christ, are a preview of the future glory that awaits.

As we celebrate the closing of this Epiphany season, we acknowledge that Christ’s revelation to the world is not just about physical appearance or geographical location. It is about the internal transformation He offers to each of us—spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Just as Jesus was raised to new life, so we too are called to embrace the new life that He offers, being changed in the twinkling of an eye into the likeness of His heavenly glory.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came to reveal Your glory and to show us the way to eternal life. We praise You for the mystery of the resurrection and the promise that we will be transformed, just as Jesus was. May we live in the hope of this transformation daily, trusting that You are at work in us, changing us from the inside out. Help us to reflect Your glory in all that we do and to eagerly await the day when we will see You face to face. This we pray in Jesus’ strong name, we pray,

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Take a moment today to reflect on the transformation that Christ offers you. How is He inviting you to experience His glory in your life right now? Reach out to someone who may be struggling, offering them the hope of resurrection. Share the light of Christ, knowing that just as He was revealed to the world, His light shines through you as well.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Love for Everyone!

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27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:27-31 NIV) Dear Friend, a most wonderful of days to you this day! Receive from God that which you need; share with God that which you need most; and share with all love that has been freely given to you. Remove from your life that which has set boundaries as to whom you could/should/will love, and with a red marker, in big letters, write on your heart: Love everyone!

Jesus, if we let Him, can really mess up our lives. We sometimes want to ask, "Lord, can't you leave well enough alone?" And His loving answer would be no. "If I leave you to your own and your own set ways, you will continue along the path of certain destruction; and I have come that you might have life, and that to the fullest." As Jesus was teaching in this passage, He speaks about loving those whom we find easy to hate; our enemies. As individuals we do have enemies, perhaps not on the scale of country versus country, but nonetheless, we face those who would like nothing more than to see us humiliated, or to fail, or worse. For some those enemies may live rent-free in our minds; others do have real life people who do not like us and want us to be failures. Yet, Jesus says, we are to love them, and harder still, to "do good to those who hate you." Wait. What? Lord, are you serious? We would like nothing more than to see them be harmed, and you want us to help them? And then Jesus makes the list longer! "Bless those who curse you." And, "Pray for those who mistreat you." Again, we think, wait! What? "If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them." Sigh. Lord, you're making my life so difficult now. And still, Jesus continues, "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."

In this passage, Jesus calls us to love in a way that challenges our natural instincts. We’re told to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and do good to those who hate us. In an often divisive world, this teaching stands as an epiphany—an awakening to a higher way of living. The world teaches us to respond in kind: to love those who love us, to seek revenge on those who wrong us. But Jesus flips this upside down and invites us to live a love that transcends what’s natural and human.

When we love our enemies and bless those who curse us, we align ourselves with the heart of God. This love is not about feelings or reciprocity but a choice to reflect God’s divine nature in a broken world. Jesus modeled this perfectly—on the cross, He prayed for the very people who nailed Him there. He embodied this radical love, showing us that it is possible to love unconditionally, even when it feels impossible.

The epiphany comes when we realize that our ability to love in this way isn’t about our own strength or willpower, but about allowing God’s love to flow through us. It’s a revelation of who God is and a revelation of what we’re called to be as His followers.

What happens when we live out this kind of love? It changes everything. It disrupts cycles of hatred and bitterness. It opens the door for reconciliation and healing. It brings the presence of God into every situation, transforming not just the ones we love but also our own hearts. This love leads us to a place of deeper intimacy with God, as we reflect His character in our actions.

As we walk in the love of God, we also find that we become less concerned with receiving in return. Jesus says, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." When we live this way, we invite others into the grace and kindness that God has freely given us, and in doing so, we become part of the beautiful cycle of God's kingdom breaking forth in the world.

PRAYER: Awesome God, we thank You for revealing to us a love that goes beyond what we can comprehend. Help us to see others as You see them, even those who may hurt or oppose us. Fill our hearts with the courage to love unconditionally, to bless, and to do good even in the face of adversity. May Your love shine through us, bringing peace, healing, and reconciliation wherever we go. Empower us to live as reflections of Your heart, showing the world the beauty of loving like You. In Jesus' strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, look for opportunities to love someone who may not seem easy to love. It might be a person who has hurt you, someone you disagree with, or even a stranger. Choose to bless them with kindness, pray for them, and do good even when it feels difficult. Allow God's love to transform not just your actions, but your heart as well.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Remember Your Roots

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View devotional: https://bit.ly/3EytZMt 1 How well God must like you - you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. 2 Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. 3 You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. 4 You're not at all like the wicked, who are mere windblown dust - 5 Without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people. 6 God charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row. (Psalm 1 The Message Bible)

I do not believe anyone is born evil. Yes, I believe we are born with original sin which is our tendency to disobey God, which we usually do; but the overall outcome of each childhood has on it the prints of many factors; home environment, parental influence, or lack thereof, school influences, including friendships, and a host of other influences and choices the child has made, and while every day bring us multiple choices, we would pray that most would choose to be good. For some it may have taken a change in environment, i.e. going away to school (college or university) where exposure to others who brought with them other world-views, that helped us see what is possible and even desirable in our way of life to bless others, especially our society and culture. The psalmist in writing this first of all 150 psalms, expresses his desire for readers to realize the positive blessing it is to live as a good person who is in a personal relationship with God. The language of this Biblical version drives home the point in very modern language.

God loves us all, but the psalmist says favor is upon those who seek to please God with the right life-affirming choices. He speaks of one who doesn't hang around Sin Saloon. Now, your views on saloons might vary from his, but his belief is that the "choices" available in a saloon should be different than those one should encounter in worship; the language choice for this version does imply that one has gone to a place where sin is the major option on the menu. The slinking of the unrighteous might also be to do it on Dead-End Road, again outlining the outcome favors negative ends; and the choice for educational opportunities at a Smart-Mouth College, well, you know. Honestly, the psalmist is correct; those who seek such outcomes usually find them and usually at times that seem to be too late to change.

The opposite is true for those who seek to "thrill in God's Word," where one can savor the deliciousness of Scripture day and night. That choice leads one to set ones roots in "Eden," God's original paradise, where "bearing fresh fruit" is a delicious and life-giving option. Eden was all about life, where not one "leaf" dropped and all fruits were "always in blossom." Your life will be way different from the wicked; whose lives mirror tumbleweeds and dust storms; and an appearance by one of the wicked in God's court will find them "without defense in court." Ouch! The innocent people will have great legal options. In closing the psalmist says that "God charts the road you take." The others seem to choose the road that leads to Skid Road.

Epiphany is a season of discovery, a time when we are invited to step into deeper intimacy with the Lord. In this season, we can reflect on our own spiritual lives and ask, “Where am I planted?” Are we drawing nourishment from the fleeting things of this world, or are we rooting ourselves in the life-giving presence of God? Are our roots from our past strong enough if they were positive, to bless us now in the present; if not, it's not too late to make changes and choices that better our situation.

This psalm calls us to choose a life that delights in the law of the Lord, to choose daily to sit with His Word and allow it to transform us. When we do, we become like that tree—steadfast, fruitful, and enduring through the seasons of life.

PRAYER: Loving God of life and love, thank You for the light of Your Word and the truth it brings to our lives. Help us to choose the path of righteousness, to delight in Your law, and to meditate on it day and night. We want to be like that tree planted by the water—strong, steadfast, and fruitful. Guide us in this Epiphany season to deepen our roots in You, trusting that Your wisdom will nourish us in every circumstance. May our lives reflect the blessing of living in Your presence. In Jesus' strong name,amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: As we journey through this Epiphany season, make a commitment to delight in God’s Word. Set aside time each day to read and meditate on Scripture, letting it transform your heart and mind. Like a tree planted by the water, allow your roots to grow deeper in His truth. And as you do, watch how God brings fresh fruit into your life, no matter what season you are walking through.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Eternal Hope

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12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. (1 Corinthians 15:12-20 NRSV)

Not a day goes by that my mind goes to the face and memory of a dear departed friend or colleague. The list is too long to list here, but suffice it to say that I am forever thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for me, gave you and me victory over sin and death, and all we have to do is believe and accept. One friend and colleague always had a ready smile and positive comment on all things. He himself had suffered much in his life and ministry, yet he had a ready ear, an awesome smile and a positive outlook on life. Two of my friends shared realistic perspectives on all things political and religious. Both died way too young; one of a long illness, the other of a heart attack while in the hospital. And of course I think daily of my mother, father, my grandmother, the only one I knew; my dear mother-in-law who loved me so much who from the moment we met until her death I was, for all practical purposes, her son. Their memories while making me a bit sad, still give me hope because of their faith and lives in Jesus. I believe in my heart that I will see them again one day.

In today's passage, the Apostle Paul is sharing his faith with a community deeply affected by death. Paul's message from the start was that Jesus was coming again soon. As the days, weeks. and months, passed, the people, who were losing loved ones to persecution and arrests, began to ask, "Define soon." Paul understood the questions of the people and so he is moved to write this letter to the believers in Corinth; he was hearing of those believers who are now doubting all that Paul had shared about life and death in Jesus, so his first statement is powerful and to the point: If our faith message is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, how can anyone, in the faith, say that there is no resurrection of the dead? His logic: "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain." He goes on to say, we might even be guilty of lying about God; for we have testified then changed our testimony about Christ. This truth is that the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our hope and our reason for rejoicing, not only during Epiphany but throughout the entirety of our lives.

This Epiphany, we are invited to reflect on the profound reality of the resurrection. Christ’s victory over death is not merely an abstract theological concept but a transformative reality that changes the way we live. It is the ultimate revelation of God’s love and power, and it is the reason we can live with hope, even in the face of suffering and loss.

This truth brings light to our own lives. In the midst of the darkness and suffering of this world, we know that the resurrection is a guarantee of a future hope. The Epiphany of the resurrection reveals to us that death is not the final word. Christ’s triumph over the grave means that death has been defeated, and we are invited to live in the power of that victory, both now and forever.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the gift of Your resurrection. Through Your victory over death, You have given us new life and hope. Help us to live in the light of this truth, knowing that our faith is not in vain, and our future is secure in You. As we celebrate this Epiphany season, reveal to us the full power of Your resurrection, and let it transform our hearts and lives. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: As you meditate on the resurrection today, consider how the reality of Christ’s victory over death changes the way you live. How can you live with hope, even in difficult circumstances, knowing that Christ has conquered death? Take a moment today to reflect on the resurrection, and let it fuel your faith and joy as you walk in the light of Christ.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Woe, Woe, Woe?

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17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon,18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. (Luke 6:17-26 NIV Bible)

Dear Friend, a most wonderful and marvelous Monday to you! May the blessings of God lead you into service to bless all! Prayers for our pastor Matt Pennington as he returns home from his mission in Africa. Continued prayers for Ms. Laverne Davis whose granddaughter died in a traffic accident. I met with her after church yesterday and prayed with her. As one can imagine this has been a most difficult blow to her and her family. May God's comfort be with all who loved her. A sincere thank you to the kind folks at First Methodist of Gonzales for welcoming me as their preacher for the day yesterday.

There are memes and videos poking fun at the reality that the first gospel written is believed to be the Gospel of Mark. It is further believed that the gospel books of Matthew and Luke were based on Mark's work. In the meme, three students are seated at the same table, the first one is identified as Mark, and the other two are Luke and Matthew; and the two are trying hard to comically cheat as they write as they keep looking at Mark's work. These three gospels are known as the Synoptic Gospels, with John being known as the spiritual gospel. This passage contains Luke's account of The Beatitudes, albeit a shorter version than that found in Matthew 5. The Beautifudes are all about being blessed. They follow Matthew's account very closely. Here is a quick comparison: Matthew's Beautitudes contain: Blesseed are those who are poor in spirit. Luke's: Blessed are the poor. Matthew: Blessed are those who mourn; Luke: Blessed are you who weep now. Matthew: Blessed are the meek. Luke: (Not mentioned). Matthew: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Luke: Blessed are you who hunger now. The next three from Matthew are not mentioned in Luke.

In Luke we see Jesus proclaiming blessings, not to the rich, the powerful, or the esteemed, but to those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted. These blessings turn the world’s value system upside down. In a society that often elevates wealth and status, Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)

Jesus is reminding us that God's favor does not depend on our outward circumstances but on the condition of our hearts. In the midst of hardship, when we feel the sting of hunger, grief, or rejection, God sees and values us. The poor in spirit, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness—these are the ones whom God blesses, offering them a glimpse of His kingdom.

Jesus also promises joy and reward for those who endure persecution for His sake. This echoes the attitude we are called to have—one of hope that transcends present struggles, knowing that God sees us and will reward our faithfulness.

Luke also contain "woes" shared by Jesus, not found in Matthew. He warns the rich, the well-fed, the laughing, and those who are admired by others, saying that their comfort is temporary and fleeting. In God’s economy, earthly wealth and ease are not signs of His favor. Jesus is challenging us to recognize that placing our hope and security in the things of this world is futile.

“Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” (Luke 6:24) Jesus is not condemning wealth itself but urging us to live with an eternal perspective, not to cling too tightly to earthly possessions, status, or comfort. True contentment comes from being rich in spirit and relying on God’s provision, not on our own resources.

The words of Jesus are sobering. They compel us to reflect on our priorities. Where are we investing our hearts? Are we more focused on temporary, worldly rewards, or are we seeking the eternal treasures found in God's kingdom?

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the words of Jesus that challenge us to live with a different perspective. Help us to value what You value—justice, mercy, humility, and love. May we not seek the fleeting comforts of this world, but find our true joy in You. Strengthen us in our trials and remind us of the eternal reward that awaits us. Teach us to be faithful in all circumstances, knowing that our true treasure is found in Your kingdom. In Jesus’ strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Today, reflect on where you are placing your hope. If you’re facing difficult circumstances, take comfort in knowing that God sees you and values you. If life feels easy, consider how you can use your blessings to serve others and invest in God's eternal kingdom. Ask yourself, "How can I live in a way that reflects God's values of humility, justice, and mercy?"

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

God is Faithful Always!

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1 Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!" Angels listen as I sing my thanks. 2 I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!" Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. 3 The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength. 4 When they hear what you have to say, God, all earth's kings will say "Thank you." 5 They'll sing of what you've done: "How great the glory of God!" 6 And here's why: God, high above, sees far below; no matter the distance, he knows everything about us. 7 When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, With your other hand save me. 8 Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal - don't quit on me now. (Psalm 138 The Message Bible)

Happy Thursday Friend, I ask that God bless you in a wonderful and unexpected way; may it cause you to deepen your faith in Him and to walk closer with Jesus. Much more to go and much more to do! I ask again for prayers for this old man as I prepare to preach in Gonzales at the 8:30 and 10:45 am worship services. Pray for our pastor, Rev. Dr. Matt Pennington as he continues his missionary work in Rwanda; may God bless multitudes through him and bring him safely home soon.

A dear friend and classmate was from Japan during my days at Perkins School of Theology SMU. He was a gracious man with limited English. Another friend and I noticed and believed that someone may have told him that if he didn't understand something in English he should respond with a simple, thank you. There's nothing wrong with that! He did not want to offend anyone, nor ignore anyone and though it may not fit, it still comes in inoffensively and with a strong sentiment; thank you. The psalmist always found time to say thanks to the Lord. It was interesting to read Wednesday's Upper Room where the writer confesses she allowed someone to make a U-turn in front of her even though she was holding up traffic by allowing that, and then when the woman zoomed away without acknowledging thanks of any kind she felt angry, then bad, for realizing she was doing good and that should be done without expecting any thanks of any kind. I confess that sometimes in our car we may say a word about ungrateful people but then we too realize we're meant to be and do good without worrying about any earthly thanks. How many times has God done something for us and we don't even thank Him? Not so with King David, "Everyhing in me says, 'Thank You!'" And he imagines angles listening to his singing his thanks to God. And his thankfulness is not limited to word and song; it's a part of his prayer life and his worship life; both inside and outside the temple (his church!). His list includes thankfulness for God's love, God's faithfulness, and grateful for God's grace. David, in the midst of his struggles, pauses to give thanks for God's enduring faithfulness. He recognizes that even when life feels overwhelming, God’s love and truth remain unshakable.

This psalm begins with a heart overflowing with gratitude. David doesn’t just thank God for what He’s done but also for who God is. God’s name is holy—set apart, sacred, a refuge in times of trouble. When David calls out in distress, God answers immediately, and with that, his life expands. Not in the way we might imagine—wealth, fame, or ease—but in strength, in peace, in presence.

When we experience our own moments of struggle—whether relational, financial, or emotional—it's easy to feel that God has forgotten us, or that He is distant. But David's testimony tells us something different. God doesn’t wait for us to figure everything out or to get our lives perfectly in order before stepping in. He hears us the moment we call, and He steps in with power. It is not always a dramatic shift in circumstances, but a quiet strengthening of the heart.

In fact, it’s often in the hardest seasons that God reveals Himself most clearly. When we feel most fragile, most vulnerable, He is most near. It’s in our weakness that His strength is perfected.

David’s response—thanksgiving—isn’t just for past blessings but a declaration of trust in God’s ongoing faithfulness. God is with him now, not just in past moments of deliverance, but in present struggles.

Psalm 138 invites us to ask: How often do we pause to recognize God’s presence and power in the midst of our challenges? How often do we offer our own spontaneous thanksgiving, not because everything is perfect, but because God is faithful?

PRAYER: Loving God, Thank You for Your unwavering faithfulness. In the midst of our struggles, we sometimes forget that You are with us, right there in the thick of it. Forgive us for when we’ve doubted Your presence and Your strength. Open our eyes to see You with us even in our weakest moments. Thank You for always answering when we call, for lifting us up with Your love, and for making our lives large with Your strength. Help us to live in constant gratitude, not because our circumstances are perfect, but because You are always present and always good. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Don’t wait for everything to feel “right” before you speak to Him. Acknowledge His presence and trust that He is stepping in to strengthen you in this very moment. Then, take a moment to thank Him—not just for what He’s done in the past, but for His love and faithfulness that never change.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

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1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:1-8 NRSV)

Dear Friend, welcome to Wednesday! Make it wonderful and wild by being your best self as washing the Blood of Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit! Be the sermon someone has been waiting to hear! Be the hymn that makes a person burst out in song and praise! Be the Doxology for which thanks are lifted to God! Continued prayers for Mr. Ronnie Menking, as he is still in the hosptial in San Marcos. Prayers for his wife, Christina as well.

I remember sitting in youth choir in my home church of El Buen Pastor UMC in Houston. God was speaking softly to my heart with a loving and kind invitation to be one of His pastors. I remember looking at the guys sitting near me and thinking/saying to God, "Why not him? He's better looking? Or her? She's kind to all people." But that's all I remember because it was as if God was not having any excuse from me as to me entering the professional ministry. I felt bad and knew I had nowhere to hide. What God was asking of me was a lot. I had just gotten used to Houston! God, if I could blame Him, had uprooted our family from what I perceived to be my paradise; and this call I knew would mean leaving the "shallow" from Monday's gospel lesson into some very deep waters. And it was from that point on that I paid closer attention to sermons, to prayers from my pastor, to listening more to my friends, to eavesdropping on my parents and their discussions about church. "God, You are asking a lot of me, and look at me! I ... and I listed a lot of superficial reasons for my not standing in front of any groups; shyness was a big one. And being boring, according to some female MYFers* didn't help either!

In the time of great national grief and need, a young man finds himself caught up in a vision where he finds himself in the presence of God. He writes, "I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple." This is what he saw: Holiness, pure and in full display; the majesty and power of God - God's Throne! Who gets to see that? The seat of all power! And God's presence was "high and exalted!" His words of the indescribable being shared in the best way he can; and seeing God's robe and train filling the temple! And with God? Angels and their superiors in this mortal's presence and they were praising God with songs of "Holy, holy, holy." And their singing was so powerful they were shaking the foundations of the temple and those structures that held up the temple. All served to move this man to repentance; he knew, realized and confessed that he was imperfect and lived among those who were imperfect; all while seeing the Lord!

His response led the seraphim to come at him with a live coal which he had taken from tongs and touches Isaiah's mouth and proclaim, "Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Bam! With that burning coal, sin and doubt and everything negative, is gone! And then Isaiah hears God ask, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" You probably would have said what I said to God, "Uh, not me! I can't!" And your list would be shared with God as I shared with Him when in the eleventh grade. But our hero, Isaiah said, with trembling faith, "Here am I. Send me!" (Note the exclamation mark!)

Isaiah heard in God's question a call to action. No more pondering or wondering; it was clear what needed to be done and the who needed to do it! The same holds true for all who see the holiness of God when in worship, prayer, or on retreat; and the mission is to trust God and to let Him guide you to the fields of opportunity; where hurting and hungry people await the good news of God from our lips. This is epiphany; God's light in our lives bursting forth into the darkness around us and showing us what could be in their lives. After such a moment like this, if you look at your list of excuses again, you will notice that it has been shortened or made to disappear altogether; God will equip us and lead us to be a part of His glory at work in the fields around us.

PRAYER: Loving God, You are holy, high and lifted up, and yet You draw near to us in our weakness. Like Isaiah, we stand before You in awe, recognizing our shortcomings and the brokenness of the world around us. We confess our sin and our need for Your grace, knowing that You are faithful to forgive and restore. Purify our hearts, Lord, and send us out as vessels of Your mercy. May we hear Your call clearly and answer, "Here am I, send me!" Empower us to go where You lead, to serve with love, and to share Your light with those in darkness. In Jesus’ strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Will we, like Isaiah, be overwhelmed by the awareness of our sin, yet trust in God’s grace to cleanse us? Will we then, with a heart transformed, answer God's call to go and serve in His name?

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

*Methodist Youth Fellowship-ers

Away From The Shallow Water; Go Deeper

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Hear devotional: https://bit.ly/4aIGEs6

View here: https://bit.ly/4gnFfsi

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11 NIV)

Dear Friend, Happy Monday! Easy for me to say, right? Regardless of what may seem insurmountable, Jesus is with you and we will overcome anything and everything that may come our way. Mr. Ronnie Menking had a good surgery on Friday and we pray that by this reading he be in a rehabilitation center. Please pray for his recovery and wellbeing.

When Jesus shows up, things can change. When we invite Jesus, He shows up. If Jesus speaks, we need to listen. And if Jesus says to act, we need to act on whatever it was that Jesus wants us to do. I invited Jesus into my heart when I was an eight years old. Jesus became my Lord and Savior. I wish I could say that I became the perfect boy; straight-A's, perfect attendance, perfect citizenship (remember that report card word? It was used to say how well you got along with others), and the perfect son. It really meant the joyous attitude of worship and praise was with me and started to enjoy being in church and Sunday school and all activities of the church; which came in handy, because my father was a "If-the-church-doors-are-open-we-are-there" man. My church friends became like brothers and sisters and I even talked to my parents about making me able to be in church Monday through Friday, and I could attend regular 3-Rs school the rest of the days. But the day came when Jesus wanted more. I was now in the eleventh grade struggling to figure out what my true calling might be. I knew that I would make my family greatly proud if I became a doctor, but the minor obstacle called high school Chemistry made that a difficult decision. I also had heard that one could decide such major decisions while in college. College and getting into one would be the first choice. I was still walking in shallow water. I could see the deep water from where I stood, but I wasn't quite there yet.

Shallow water is a comfortable spot for most people. For me, going to church was fun, going to school was a little fun, but I was doing well and going to college would be a viable option.In the midst of a mundane, exhausting task, Simon Peter encountered an epiphany—an unexpected revelation that would forever change the course of his life. He had been fishing all night and caught nothing. Yet when Jesus spoke, Simon obeyed. The result? A miraculous catch of fish that seemed impossible. In that moment, Simon saw not just the abundance of fish, but the authority of the one who had spoken.

It’s in this miraculous moment that Simon's eyes were opened—not just to Jesus' power, but to his own sinfulness. "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" Simon’s epiphany wasn’t just about the miracle in front of him, but about the holiness of Jesus and the brokenness of his own heart.

Jesus, with grace and compassion, didn't dismiss Simon's fear. Instead, He offered a new calling: "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people." Jesus was inviting Simon, not just to experience the miracle of the catch, but to enter into the greater mission—bringing others to Him, sharing the good news of God’s kingdom.

Like Simon, we often find ourselves in the midst of life’s routine, thinking we’re doing all we can but feeling like we’re coming up empty. It is in these moments of frustration that Jesus calls us to trust Him—to go into deeper waters, to let down our nets in faith. And sometimes, in these moments of surrender, we experience an epiphany: God is not just present in our lives but is inviting us into His mission.

What is God calling you to let go of? What deep waters is He inviting you to trust Him in? This epiphany, like Peter’s, is not just for a moment, but for a lifetime of following Jesus wherever He leads.

PRAYER: Loving God, Thank You for revealing Yourself to us in ways that change our lives. Like Simon, we often find ourselves exhausted, frustrated, and unaware of Your presence in the midst of our daily struggles. Open our eyes, Lord, to the deeper truths You have for us. Show us where You are calling us to trust You, to step into deeper waters, and to follow Your lead, even when it feels uncertain. Forgive us when we doubt, when we rely on our own strength, and when we miss the opportunity to be part of Your mission. May we, like Simon Peter, leave behind our own agenda to follow You faithfully, wherever You lead. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Reflect on the areas in your life where God may be calling you to trust Him more deeply. What “deep waters” is He inviting you into? Whether it’s in relationships, your work, or your spiritual walk, choose to let go of fear and step into God’s calling for you. Ask Him to help you see with new eyes, like Simon, and be ready to follow where He leads.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Light for All

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/3EtsKhm

View devo: https://bit.ly/3PTMSvV

1 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. 5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. 6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. (Psalm 71:1-6 NIV)

Dear Friend, may this be a great day for you in all you set out to do in thought, word, and deed. May each thought bring you peace and joy, and may each word bring the same to whomever you speak with; and may the deeds of your hands be guided by the love in your heart. Please pray for the family of Mrs. Anita Hornung, wife of The Rev. Warren Hornung. Anita passed away this week after a life of serving God alongside her husband. Her funeral will be on Friday morning at Yoakum United Methodist Church. Also, prayers for Mr. Ronnie Menking as he faces a third surgery this Friday in San Marcos. Prayers for a successful surgery and calm and peace to his wife, Christina.

Most people of a certain age may remember that we could not leave the house without Mom or Dad giving us a dime. Kids, a dime is a word for ten cents in one-coin. It's silver and you may have seen pictures of them; they're a little bigger than a penny and worth ten cents. In our day, the dime was the coin that would allow us to make a local-call. Mom or Dad wanted us to know we were not alone, we were covered; if we needed a ride home, we would place the dime in the pay phone and dial the number at home and they would come a'running. Oh, by the way, the pay phone was a phone permanentnly connected to a wall or a pole and it would reach any number anywhere in the world. There was both power and comfort in the dime. Later, the phone company raised the price of a call to twnety-five cents and we had to carry a bigger coin known as a quarter.

The passage today is a call that King David made to God. David knew God's number and felt very comfortable in making the call to Him. And he starts his call by reminding God how awesome God has been to him especially in his time of need, and then shares his need again. David calls upon God as a rock, a fortress, and a deliverer. These powerful images remind us that God is not only our safe place but also the One who will guide and protect us through all the seasons of life. Do you know God's number? Do you feel comfortable calling Him and often?

In the context of Epiphany, the psalm speaks to the revelation of God’s light and protection. Just as the Magi were drawn to the light of Christ and sought Him as their refuge and King, so too can we find refuge in God, who has been our hope from the moment of our birth. The psalmist declares that from the womb, God has been their sustainer, and it is this unshakable foundation that allows for trust and praise.

The call to “ever praise” God is an invitation to continually recognize His presence in our lives, just as the Epiphany reveals the glory of God through Jesus Christ. Christ is the ultimate revelation of God’s love and salvation, and He is the one in whom we place our refuge, hope, and trust. This season is a beautiful reminder that no matter where we are in our journey, God has been faithful from the very beginning, and He will continue to be our steadfast rock.

As we reflect on God’s faithfulness, let us also consider how we, like the psalmist, are called to respond with praise and trust. The light of Christ, revealed in this season, shines not only for us to receive but for us to share with others, inviting them into the refuge that God offers.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the light of Christ that has been revealed to the world, shining brightly in our hearts and in the darkness around us. You are our refuge, our rock, and our fortress, and in You, we place our trust. Like the psalmist, we recognize Your faithfulness from the very beginning of our lives. You have been our hope, our strength, and our deliverer. Help us to hold fast to that truth, knowing that no matter the season or circumstance, You are always with us. As we reflect on the Epiphany, may we be moved to praise You continually, to trust in Your sovereignty, and to share Your light with others. We give You all glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus’ strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This Epiphany season, let your heart respond with praise and gratitude, and look for opportunities to share the hope and refuge you have found in Christ with someone who needs it.Take a moment today to reflect on the ways God has been your refuge and strength throughout your life. Consider how the light of Christ has been revealed to you in both ordinary and extraordinary ways.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Called for a Purpose

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/3WE438n

View devo: https://bit.ly/4aD82b2

4 This is what God said: 5 "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations - that's what I had in mind for you." 6 But I said, "Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!" 7 God told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.' I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there. I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it. 8 Don't be afraid of a soul. I'll be right there, looking after you." God's Decree. 9 God reached out, touched my mouth, and said, "Look! I've just put my words in your mouth - hand-delivered! 10 See what I've done? I've given you a job to do among nations and governments - a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish, And then start over, building and planting." Stand Up and Say Your Piece. (Jeremiah 1:4-10 The Message Bible)

Dear Friend, may this Wednesday be wonderful for you. And we pray you shine brightly the light of Christ in all you say, think, and do!

Oh what joy was mine when I finally quit running from God and said yes to entering the ministry. I had heard many say that peace would never be mine if I had truly been called by God and I kept saying no. They were right, and I was blessed. I was filled with a peace that God would care for me, provide for me, and open any and all doors that I needed. I had just bought my first brand new car and I had a huge monthly payment of $103 a month! Quite a sum for an unemployed seminary student. My Dad was a bit worried about that and asked how I would make the payment. I told him that God would provide a way, and He did. I got a job working in Sears in Denver for a day because the job I really wanted called on that day. The little money I got from the job and my scholarship allowed me to pay the car off, and with the exception of one meal, I had food.

During this Epiphany season, we celebrate the moment Christ was revealed to the world and not just the Jews—a light shining in the darkness for all to see. Similarly, in the book of Jeremiah, God’s call to the prophet was a revelation not just for him, but for the entire world. God knew Jeremiah before he was born and had specific plans for him, despite his feelings of inadequacy. This is a theme that resonates deeply during the Epiphany season: God’s plans for us are greater than we can imagine, and His light can shine through our weaknesses.

Jeremiah’s response to God's call mirrors the doubts many of us face when we are asked to step into something bigger than ourselves. He didn’t feel ready or equipped, yet God reassured him: “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’” God didn’t call Jeremiah because he was qualified, but because he was willing. It was in God's strength, not Jeremiah’s, that the task would be accomplished.

The Epiphany story reminds us that God’s light is not just for a select few but is for the entire world. Similarly, God calls us to share His light through our unique callings, just as He called Jeremiah to speak truth to nations. The Epiphany is about revealing Christ to the world, and in our own lives, God is still calling us to share His message of hope and restoration—no matter how uncertain or unprepared we may feel.

Just like Jeremiah, we are called to “build and plant.” In this season of revelation, let’s be reminded that God has uniquely equipped us to shine His light into the world, even when we don’t feel ready. His purpose for our lives may be far bigger than we expect, but He promises to be with us every step of the way.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for revealing Your love and grace to the world through Jesus Christ. We pray for the courage to step into the call You have placed on our lives, even when we feel unprepared or unsure. Just as You touched Jeremiah’s mouth and gave him words to speak, we ask that You equip us with everything we need to reveal Your light to the world. Help us to see that Your plans for us are greater than we can imagine, and that, with You by our side, we can fulfill the purpose You’ve set before us. We trust in Your presence, and we surrender ourselves to Your will. In Jesus' strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Consider how God might be calling you to reveal His light to those around you. What areas in your life feel like they’re lacking or uncertain, and how can you trust God in those places? Ask God to show you His plans and purposes, and be open to stepping out in faith, knowing He will be with you every step of the way.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Whom Shall I Send? Send Me!

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Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/4jKKvZJ

View here: https://bit.ly/40GWVcF

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:1-8 NRSV)

Dear Friend, welcome to Wednesday! Make it wonderful and wild by being your best self as washing the Blood of Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit! Be the sermon someone has been waiting to hear! Be the hymn that makes a person burst out in song and praise! Be the Doxology for which thanks are lifted to God! Continued prayers for Mr. Ronnie Menking, as he is still in the hosptial in San Marcos. Prayers for his wife, Christina as well.

I remember sitting in youth choir in my home church of El Buen Pastor UMC in Houston. God was speaking softly to my heart with a loving and kind invitation to be one of His pastors. I remember looking at the guys sitting near me and thinking/saying to God, "Why not him? He's better looking? Or her? She's kind to all people." But that's all I remember because it was as if God was not having any excuse from me as to me entering the professional ministry. I felt bad and knew I had nowhere to hide. What God was asking of me was a lot. I had just gotten used to Houston! God, if I could blame Him, had uprooted our family from what I perceived to be my paradise; and this call I knew would mean leaving the "shallow" from Monday's gospel lesson into some very deep waters. And it was from that point on that I paid closer attention to sermons, to prayers from my pastor, to listening more to my friends, to eavesdropping on my parents and their discussions about church. "God, You are asking a lot of me, and look at me! I ... and I listed a lot of superficial reasons for my not standing in front of any groups; shyness was a big one. And being boring, according to some female MYFers* didn't help either!

In the time of great national grief and need, a young man finds himself caught up in a vision where he finds himself in the presence of God. He writes, "I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple." This is what he saw: Holiness, pure and in full display; the majesty and power of God - God's Throne! Who gets to see that? The seat of all power! And God's presence was "high and exalted!" His words of the indescribable being shared in the best way he can; and seeing God's robe and train filling the temple! And with God? Angels and their superiors in this mortal's presence and they were praising God with songs of "Holy, holy, holy." And their singing was so powerful they were shaking the foundations of the temple and those structures that held up the temple. All served to move this man to repentance; he knew, realized and confessed that he was imperfect and lived among those who were imperfect; all while seeing the Lord!

His response led the seraphim to come at him with a live coal which he had taken from tongs and touches Isaiah's mouth and proclaim, "Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Bam! With that burning coal, sin and doubt and everything negative, is gone! And then Isaiah hears God ask, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" You probably would have said what I said to God, "Uh, not me! I can't!" And your list would be shared with God as I shared with Him when in the eleventh grade. But our hero, Isaiah said, with trembling faith, "Here am I. Send me!" (Note the exclamation mark!)

Isaiah heard in God's question a call to action. No more pondering or wondering; it was clear what needed to be done and the who needed to do it! The same holds true for all who see the holiness of God when in worship, prayer, or on retreat; and the mission is to trust God and to let Him guide you to the fields of opportunity; where hurting and hungry people await the good news of God from our lips. This is epiphany; God's light in our lives bursting forth into the darkness around us and showing us what could be in their lives. After such a moment like this, if you look at your list of excuses again, you will notice that it has been shortened or made to disappear altogether; God will equip us and lead us to be a part of His glory at work in the fields around us.

PRAYER: Loving God, You are holy, high and lifted up, and yet You draw near to us in our weakness. Like Isaiah, we stand before You in awe, recognizing our shortcomings and the brokenness of the world around us. We confess our sin and our need for Your grace, knowing that You are faithful to forgive and restore. Purify our hearts, Lord, and send us out as vessels of Your mercy. May we hear Your call clearly and answer, "Here am I, send me!" Empower us to go where You lead, to serve with love, and to share Your light with those in darkness. In Jesus’ strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Will we, like Isaiah, be overwhelmed by the awareness of our sin, yet trust in God’s grace to cleanse us? Will we then, with a heart transformed, answer God's call to go and serve in His name?

I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

*Methodist Youth Fellowship-ers

When Truth Hits Close to Home

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/4gvvCrL

View devo: https://bit.ly/3Ce9bcv

21 Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" 23 He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, "Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, "Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.' " 24 And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. (Luke 4:21-30 NRSV)

Today is part two of what we studied last Monday; Jesus, hometown boy preaching in his hometown synagogue. I as a hometown boy of two churches, one in Kingsville and Houston, never had a chance to preach in Houston, but later as a district superintendent, did preach and do some baptisms in Kingsville's El Buen Pastor. In fact, Saturday Nellie and I drove by that church, which thank God, is still in relatively good shape. The people I knew as a boy were all gone by the time I preached and I did not share anything as profound as Jesus did in this passage. I imagine Jesus' Aunt Mildred from his mother's side, and Tía San Juanita are sitting next to each other that Sabbath and both are smiling that their little nephew, now all grown and honored with the opportunity to preach their Sabbath. They're filled with pride and expectation that little Jesse is going to share God's word. The congregation was slow in coming, but soon the good seats were filled, in the back, and family members had taken the front ones. The religious leaders were close to the front and synagogue officials were near Jesus. How handsome Jesus was, thought one of them as He stood to receive the scroll, and how commanding His voice! Now, He sat and the crowd braced for the sermon. "Great choice, my son, for reading from Isaiah! Oh, for that day to come soon!" said Juanita to herself.

"Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Wait. What? The crowd did not expect this, and the so-called religious leaders did not tolerate this! Jesus is a person and He's taking words from a page and into life! Wait. We cannot have this! We're more comfortable with words staying words, not becoming real and a part of our lives!

It’s a striking shift. These people, who knew him as the carpenter’s son, couldn’t reconcile the extraordinary message he brought with the familiar face they had always seen. How could someone so ordinary—someone they had watched grow up—claim to be the fulfillment of a divine promise? Their expectations collided with the reality of the truth. Isn't it what happens to us, especially when the Holy Spirit speaks to us and we listen, and then believe it enough to allow it to transform us.

This passage calls us to reflect on how often we, too, struggle to see God working in the places and people we least expect. The truth Jesus offers can feel unsettling, especially when it challenges our assumptions, preferences, and comfort zones. The people of Nazareth could not accept the radical implications of Jesus' message because it felt too close to home. They wanted the Messiah to come in a way they could control, in a form that fit their expectations.

Jesus, however, pushes beyond their limits and challenges their narrow vision. He points out that God's grace isn't bound by human biases or national boundaries—he reminds them that God’s love extends to the outsiders, to those they might dismiss. The truth of the gospel isn't always easy, and sometimes, it doesn’t come in the package we imagine.

Jesus' words in this passage serve as an epiphany: a sudden realization that God's plans are often bigger, broader, and more inclusive than we can fathom. It’s a reminder that the Kingdom of God is not just about what we want it to be, but about what God has chosen it to be. And in that reality, there is both comfort and discomfort.

Sometimes the epiphany comes when we realize we have to let go of our own narrow definitions of who is worthy of grace. It comes when we open our eyes to the truth that God is at work in unexpected people, places, and ways. When the message of Christ feels too familiar, too personal, or too challenging, it might just be God inviting us into a deeper understanding of His boundless love.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the truth of Your Word, even when it challenges our comfort and understanding. Like the people of Nazareth, we sometimes struggle to recognize You when You speak in ways that are unfamiliar or unrecognizable. Open our hearts to the epiphany of Your love, that it might transform us and extend through us to the world. Help us to let go of our narrow expectations and embrace the fullness of Your Kingdom. Teach us to see You in the unexpected, and to receive Your grace, no matter how it comes. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, take a moment to reflect on a person or group you’ve had a hard time accepting or understanding. Pray for God’s grace to open your eyes to see His image in them. How might God be inviting you to widen the circle of your love and compassion? Let this be a week of expanding your heart.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Revelations of God's Light

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1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; 4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.. (Psalm 19 NRSV)

Good day Friend! This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! I believe that a person who has a deep love for God also should have a deep love for all of creation. The awe and wonder of all things go a long way towards a more happier life, a more positive outlook, and a deeper sense of peace. Such was the life of Israel's greatest king. All the years in the pasture led him to a successful, albeit not perfect, life in the palace. What that means for many of us is to put down the phones, the video games, the unneeded distractions and more time outside! Let's see what the psalmist shared in this passage for us.

As we celebrate the season of Epiphany, we are reminded of the light that came into the world through Jesus Christ. This is a season where the revelation of God is made manifest—not just in the star that guided the Magi, but in the ongoing ways God’s presence illuminates our lives. Psalm 19 beautifully invites us to consider how God's glory is revealed in both the vastness of creation and the perfection of His Word. In this way, the psalm provides a fitting reflection for Epiphany, a season when we are invited to open our eyes and hearts to the light of Christ.

1. The Glory of God Revealed in Creation (Psalm 19:1-6) "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork." Psalm 19 begins with an awe-inspiring declaration of God's glory as revealed through the created world. The sky, the sun, and all of creation tell of God's greatness. There are no words needed—creation itself is a constant testimony to the Creator. The sun’s path across the sky, the movement of the stars, and the rhythms of nature all speak of God’s power, wisdom, and beauty. Every moment is an invitation to see God's handiwork reflected in the world around us.

Epiphany invites us to see God’s light in new and unexpected places. Just as the Magi followed the star to find Jesus, we are called to look for God’s light in the world around us. Creation does not merely exist for its own sake; it exists to reveal the greatness of God. The beauty we encounter in nature, the majesty of the mountains, and the quiet stillness of a sunrise all speak of the Creator. How often do we pause to notice and give thanks for the glory of God displayed in the world? In this season of Epiphany, let’s attune our hearts to see the light of God shining through creation.

2. The Perfection of God’s Word (Psalm 19:7-11) "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul." While creation speaks of God’s glory, the psalmist also declares the perfection of God's law. The law is not burdensome; rather, it revives the soul. It is trustworthy, it brings wisdom to the simple, and it enlightens the eyes. God’s Word is a light that shines on our path, guiding us toward truth and righteousness. In a world full of noise and confusion, the Scriptures offer us a firm foundation—a sure and steady light by which we can walk.

In this season of Epiphany, we are reminded that Christ is the Word made flesh. Jesus is the living Word, the ultimate revelation of God's love and truth. Through Him, the fullness of God’s wisdom is made known. As we read the Scriptures, we are invited to encounter the very light of Christ that illuminates our hearts and minds. How do you approach God’s Word? Do you see it as a source of light and life, capable of guiding you through every challenge? In this season of light, take time to immerse yourself in Scripture and allow it to refresh and revive your spirit.

3. The Call for Purity and Integrity (Psalm 19:12-14) "But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults." The psalm ends with a prayer of confession and a plea for God’s cleansing. The psalmist acknowledges that even the most righteous person falls short of God's holiness, and so he asks God to forgive his hidden faults and to help him live with integrity. The psalmist's longing is not only for the outward obedience to God’s law but also for an inward purity—a life that reflects God’s holiness in every part.

Epiphany calls us to respond to the light of Christ by seeking transformation. Just as the Magi offered gifts to the child Jesus, we too are invited to offer our lives in worship. The light of Christ exposes the darkness within us, but it does not leave us in that darkness. Rather, it calls us to be made new. Through the grace of God, we can be cleansed, renewed, and empowered to live lives that reflect His glory. As you consider the light of Christ in this season, reflect on areas of your life that need transformation. Where might God be calling you to walk more closely with Him?

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the light of creation that speaks of Your glory and the light of Your Word that guides us. In this season of Epiphany, open our eyes to see the ways You are revealing Yourself to us—in nature, in Scripture, and in the life of Jesus. Cleanse us, Lord, from our hidden faults, and help us to walk in integrity before You. May Your light shine brightly in our hearts, leading us to live in ways that reflect Your love and truth. In the name of Jesus, the Light of the world we pray, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. OUR CALL TO ACTION: Take a walk outside today, even if only for a few minutes, and reflect on how creation reveals God’s glory. Let the beauty around you be a reminder of His majesty. Take a moment to read a passage from the Scriptures, and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart through it. Allow God’s Word to light your path and refresh your soul. Finally, ask God to reveal any hidden areas of your life that need cleansing or transformation. Offer those areas to Him, and trust that He will make you new in His light.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Know God. Be Strong!

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1 all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 NRSV)

Dear Friend, may the strength of the Lord be what makes you happy today and all days. Today's passage will bring us strength; strength to live right and to do right. As we pray today, please continue to pray for baby Karson, and add the name of Mrs. Donna Hisey as today she undergoes total knee replacement. Pray for a successful surgery that God guide the hands of the surgeon and all who attend to her; prayers for her husband, Dr. Commie Hisey as well. And pray for the needs you've been facing.

Most of us have been fortunate in having had a church home where we were trained in the teachings of the Lord. We ate the cookies and enjoyed the punch, usually Hawaiian Punch or red Kool-Aid. We sang in the kids choir and wore our bath robes in church pageants. We learned to pray and we heard the standard Bible stories. Some of us were uprooted from those first church homes, but God blessed us with a new one, where the foundational teachings were continued. Most of us were given our own personal Bibles either by our parents or in third grade by our church home. Some of us even learned to read them. Not so with the people of Israel in this story. They had been carried off as prisoners of war and saw or heard of the destruction of their church home. This was a special day in which the word of God was brought back to them again, and they were truly and deeply blessed.

The story we just heard is one of profound revelation, and in many ways, it mirrors the epiphany theme we celebrate during this season. Just as the Magi came to witness the light of Christ revealed to the world, the people of Israel gathered in Jerusalem for a spiritual awakening. After a period of exile, they were rediscovering the importance of God's Word and the joy that it brings. The reading of the Book of the Law by Ezra reveals a powerful moment of awakening—a moment where the people’s hearts and minds are opened to the living Word of God.

In the passage, the people are attentive, and the atmosphere is charged with reverence. As Ezra unrolls the scroll of the law, he not only reads but also explains its meaning, ensuring the people understand God's intentions for them. The people's response is profound: they weep at the realization of how far they have fallen from God’s commandments. They experience deep sorrow at their past mistakes. But Ezra, along with Nehemiah and the Levites, encourages them not to mourn excessively, for this is not a time for grieving but for celebrating the gift of God’s Word, which offers strength, joy, and restoration.

The epiphany in this moment is twofold: The people now understood that the revelation of God's Word was intended to be a light for the people's lives. They also learned that the call to joy and celebration because God's Word brings healing and strength, even after a time of brokenness and exile.

Ezra’s declaration, “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), is a timeless truth. While it is natural to grieve over past mistakes or losses, the revelation of God’s Word calls us to experience joy—not because of our own righteousness, but because of God’s grace. The joy that comes from understanding His Word brings strength to carry us forward into new life, even when we face difficulties.

As we reflect on this passage during the Epiphany season, we are reminded that Christ's light has been revealed to us, not only in His birth but through His Word, which continues to speak to us today. Just as the people of Israel gathered to hear the Law, we too are invited into a deeper understanding of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ.

Like them, we too must listen attentively to the Word, allow it to convict and comfort us, and then live out the joy and strength it provides. The epiphany of Christ’s light leads us to a joyful response—a celebration of God’s grace, and a call to share that joy with others.

PRAYER: Loving Awesome God, we thank You for the revelation of Your Word, which shines as a light in our lives. Like the people of Israel who gathered to hear the law read, we open our hearts to receive Your truth today. May Your Word fill us with understanding and conviction, and may we be filled with the joy that comes from knowing You. Help us to embrace the strength You give us through Your Word and to share that joy with those around us. We pray that we may be faithful to walk in the light of Your revelation and be transformed by Your grace. In the name of Jesus, the Light of the World, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. OUR CALL TO ACTION: Take a moment today to read a passage from God’s Word—whether it’s a scripture that’s familiar to you or one you’ve never considered before. Ask God to reveal His truth to you through it, and reflect on how you can apply it in your life. Allow His Word to be a source of joy and strength, and share that joy with someone who might need encouragement today. As you do, remember that God's Word is always alive, always revealing His love, and always calling us into deeper relationship with Him.

Remember, the joy of the Lord is your strength! I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Unity in Christ

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12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. (1 Corinthians 12: 12-31s NRSV)

Dear Friend, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus be with you and yours. I pray that in all things you will be a great blessing to God and God's people. I pray that our time together will bless us with grace and strength. I pray that it will make us wise and bold to share the love of God; we have the world to win for our Lord Jesus. May that be our prayer. May we also pray for those who may be in harm's way in the coming winter storm to this area and other areas. Share old, unused coats with agencies that could pass them on to those who need it; same for blankets and other items that help keep people warm. As we pray today, please continue to pray for baby Karson, and add the name of Mrs. Donna Hisey as on Wednesday she undergoes total knee replacement. Pray for a successful surgery that God guide the hands of the surgeon and all who attend to her; prayers for her husband, Dr. Commie Hisey as well. And pray for the needs you've been facing.

Imagine being in such love for Jesus that you see Him and His purpose in all things. You could walk into a museum of medical studies and as you see the various part of the body, He shares with you the idea that we just read: We are one body. Nellie and I were blessed to walk in that museum of antiquities in Corinth and see the display that perhaps the Apostle Paul walked through in his day and God spoke to him and he had the idea that he shared with us, that being a believer makes us one with Christ and one with each other in our work and purpose of ministry. Let us examine what Paul saw and heard and how we can make it a part of who we are and what we do.

This epiphany season allows us to encounter the revelation of the Church as the body of Christ. Just as the Magi’s journey led them to discover Jesus, we too are called to a deeper understanding of Christ’s body, the Church, and our place within it. The Church is not a collection of individual, isolated believers, but a unified body with many members, each designed to function together in harmony for the glory of God.

Paul’s metaphor of the body highlights the necessity of unity in diversity. The human body is made up of many different parts—hands, feet, eyes, ears—and each part has a unique role. But none of them can function in isolation. The body only works when each part works together. The same is true for the Church. Every member has a role to play, and all are necessary, no matter how small or unnoticeable their role may seem. There are no "lesser" members in the body of Christ—each person is a vital part of the whole.

This teaching is especially profound in the context of the Epiphany season, which celebrates the revelation of Christ to the world. As the light of Christ shone forth to the nations, it also reveals to us the essential truth that we, as a community of believers, are each called to contribute to the whole. Christ's body on earth—the Church—is a visible witness to His love, justice, and grace in the world.

When one member suffers, we all suffer together. When one is honored, we all rejoice. This mutual care and interconnectedness reflect the very love of Christ, who gave Himself for us all. Each member, whether they are seen or unseen, celebrated or unnoticed, is an essential part of God’s plan to bring healing and transformation to the world.

This Epiphany, may we see more clearly our place in the body of Christ and the profound interconnectedness we share with one another. As we reflect on the revelation of Christ’s body, the Church, we are reminded that our calling is not to self-centeredness, but to a selfless commitment to one another. We are meant to honor the gifts of others, recognizing that we are all part of the same body. There is no room for division or rivalry; only cooperation, mutual care, and a commitment to unity.

In a world that often emphasizes individuality and competition, the Church stands as a powerful witness to the beauty of diverse, yet unified, community. As you consider your role in the body of Christ, reflect on how you can support, encourage, and uplift the other members of the Church, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their role or status, is valued and cared for.

PRAYER: Loving God, We thank You for the gift of Your Church, the body of Christ. Thank You for revealing to us that we are all members of one body, and each of us has a unique and vital role to play. Help us to honor one another, to care for each other, and to work together in unity for Your kingdom. Teach us to celebrate the diversity within the body and to understand that every part is necessary. May we reflect Your love in how we serve and support one another, and may the world see in us a glimpse of Your grace and mercy. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Reflect on your own unique gifts and role within the body of Christ. How can you use your talents to serve others and contribute to the health of the Church? Reach out to someone in your church community—whether they are struggling or rejoicing—and offer encouragement, support, or a word of affirmation.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.