Readying for the Journey?

Lord, this Lenten Journey is all about You; help this dear reader in what the journey is all about; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for Ash Wednesday comes from Matthew 6:1 "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding. 2 "When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure - 'playactors' I call them - treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. 3 When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. 4 Just do it - quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out. 5 "And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? 6 "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. 16 "When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don't make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won't make you a saint. 17 If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. 18 God doesn't require attention-getting devices. He won't overlook what you are doing; he'll reward you well. A Life of God-Worship 19 "Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or - worse! - stolen by burglars. 20 Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. 21 It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (The Message)

For many starting the Lenten Journey is like New Year's resolutions all over again. The stress becomes on choosing just the right thing to "give up." And sadly, many who "give up" something usually quit after a week or two and then "take it back." Lent should not be like that. It is a spiritual journey of preparation and fasting is a part of the discipline that helps us "take up" something that we don't usually do or don't do as often as we should. Think about prayer. You might pray once or twice a day or you might limit your prayers to meals or unexpected emergencies. Why not take up prayer as a discipline you're going to commit to for a set amount of time each day? You could commit to pray at least five times a day, using prayer as worship, and using prayer as your personal listening time for God. Set the times and hold to them. And listen carefully to God. If you feel led to give up something, make it something that usually interferes with your prayer time! Your iPod, your tv shows, your recreational time; you know what it is - give it up for 40 days starting Wednesday and see if God doesn't richly bless you for the time you spent praying instead of listening to music or watching television. I have to confess that I still don't see how giving up chocolate helps anything or anyone; hey, but that's just me! (wink).

Jesus talked about a "good life" in the above passage. Jesus knew that most want to live a more spiritual life but either can't or won't. Lent is the Christian Church's response to help in that endeavor. Some will give up meat for these 40 days or soft drinks, but what good does it do if something spiritual doesn't take its place? And where this all matters and where it all takes place is deep inside of you, not on the outside, "look at me! See how wonderful I am" theatre as this version calls it. It's in the quiet times between you and God.

Remember the starting day is Wednesday, but be praying and reflecting on where you will start.

PRAYER: Loving God of all journeys, as I and whoever makes this prayer their own, begin our 40-day journey with You, travel with us, guide, bless, and protect us. But grant to our souls that which we lack so that when that week of all weeks, Holy Week arrives, we will be ready to celebrate and receive what it truly means for us. We pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

A Shy, Silent God?

Loving God of all days, bless this day as a joy for this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Psalm 50: 1 The God of gods - it's God! - speaks out, shouts, "Earth!" welcomes the sun in the east, farewells the disappearing sun in the west. 2 From the dazzle of Zion, God blazes into view. 3 Our God makes his entrance, he's not shy in his coming. Starbursts of fireworks precede him. 4 He summons heaven and earth as a jury, he's taking his people to court: 5 "Round up my saints who swore on the Bible their loyalty to me." 6 The whole cosmos attests to the fairness of this court, that here God is judge. (The Message)

This week's lectionary theme has been on God speaking and not in any shy way, but in a bold, declaratory way. The Psalmist knew it, the early believers knew it, and Jesus knew it. God speaks and we must listen. Has God stopped speaking? Only if we have stopped listening. A theme of my ministry has been the use of prayer as a two-way form of worship. We speak from our hearts and then as we say amen, it is our turn to listen. Yet, we're saying we're too busy. We're saying life is too loud and too fast, how can we possibly hear God? Jesus knew to find a quiet place, as should we. Jesus knew to find a quiet time, as should we. Jesus knew to worship and glorify God in His prayers and so should we. Jesus knew to always be listening to the voice of God, and so should we.

You might be blessed hearing God speak to you!

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for not being a shy nor silent God. Thank You for caring enough to be involved with me and with those who make this prayer their own. May I hear You speaking truth and guidance for my life. May I be bold enough to respond. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Becoming a Mentor to Others

Amazing God of provision and supply, pour down from the heavens that which this dear reader needs; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from 2 Kings 2: 1 Just before God took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on a walk out of Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. God has sent me on an errand to Bethel." Elisha said, "Not on your life! I'm not letting you out of my sight!" So they both went to Bethel. 3 The guild of prophets at Bethel met Elisha and said, "Did you know that God is going to take your master away from you today?" "Yes," he said, "I know it. But keep it quiet." 4 Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. God has sent me on an errand to Jericho." Elisha said, "Not on your life! I'm not letting you out of my sight!" So they both went to Jericho. 5 The guild of prophets at Jericho came to Elisha and said, "Did you know that God is going to take your master away from you today?" "Yes," he said, "I know it. But keep it quiet." 6 Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. God has sent me on an errand to the Jordan." Elisha said, "Not on your life! I'm not letting you out of my sight!" And so the two of them went their way together. 7 Meanwhile, fifty men from the guild of prophets gathered some distance away while the two of them stood at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and hit the water with it. The river divided and the two men walked through on dry land. 9 When they reached the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, "What can I do for you before I'm taken from you? Ask anything." Elisha said, "Your life repeated in my life. I want to be a holy man just like you." 10 "That's a hard one!" said Elijah. "But if you're watching when I'm taken from you, you'll get what you've asked for. But only if you're watching." 11 And so it happened. They were walking along and talking. Suddenly a chariot and horses of fire came between them and Elijah went up in a whirlwind to heaven. 12 Elisha saw it all and shouted, "My father, my father! You - the chariot and cavalry of Israel!" When he could no longer see anything, he grabbed his robe and ripped it to pieces. (The Message)

I believe everyone has had a mentor in their life. One who was older, wiser, experienced in the craft and skill of one's calling or career. We looked up to them, treasured their advice and counsel, and hoped that we could be at least half as good as they. This was and is true in ministry for those who seek to serve the Lord in the professional ministry. In our tradition we assign mentors and these do their jobs, but the kind of mentor I'm mentioning are the ones we select and we know to be the ones from whom we can learn. So it was with Elisha. He had been called and set apart by God to be a prophet and he came to know Elijah as his mentor. He saw what the power of God could do in one's life if one knew to seek and obey God and so he tried to copy Elijah. He learned much and was blessed much. Then the day came when he knew that his mentor was being called home to Heaven. In a comical way, he is reminded of this by several "guilds of prophets" along the way. Each tried to distract him as did Elijah to keep him from feeling the pain of separation, for it was obvious to all how much Elisha loved and admired and would miss his mentor. Even at this point of separation Elisha desired to learn and when given the opportunity to respond as to what he wanted, Elisha said, "I want a double portion of your spirit" (from other versions) or "Your life lrepeated in mine." And so it was that at this point some would call death, Elisha witnessed a bibical miracle, a man being taken up to heaven without dying, and to receive a double portion of Elijah's spirit.

Who was your mentor? What did you learn? What did you ask of this mentor and what have you done with it? Who has blessed you in your spiritual life and what are you doing to become the mentor of somene else?

PRAYER: Loving God, may I not hide my talents and blessings from others. May I be faithful to You in living a life that gives witness to others about Your power and presence in mine. May I and others who are praying this prayer as their own, become mentors of life and light to many. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Afraid of the Dark?

Loving God, bless and protect the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from 2 Corinthians 4: 3 If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. 4 All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get. 5 Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. 6 It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. (The Message)

Are you afraid of the dark? I'm not a big fan. Growing up I enjoyed playing outside in the sunlight and hated when it was getting dark and no matter what part of the neighborhood I was in, I could hear my Mom calling me to come home. I knew night was coming and soon I would have to be in bed. I am a big fan of light. I dislike dimly lit rooms and prefer a room with bright light. In our spiritual life God has offered us the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. And while not everyone is running to hear and accept the Good News, those of us who have know it to be just what God wanted; God loves us, desires to have a relationship with us, and through Jesus Christ we can enter into that relationship. Yet, the world offers another path. There are more glamorous and attractive ways to live or so we believe, but when it's all said and done and we see it for what it is, the only true way for me to live is in the light of the world.

This week is a week of our hearing about Jesus Christ as He who is God's Son and the long awaited Messiah. The emphasis has been on what God wants for us and in God's declaration about Jesus through the text we studied yesterday on the Transfiguration. Today it is on our knowing and accepting Jesus for Who He can be in our lives as well. If you want to get out of the darkness of life, come to Jesus! Ask Him to enter your heart as Lord and Savior and He will. Jesus is Who God said He is.

PRAYER: Loving God of light, thank You for Jesus. May today be a day when I can share the light of Jesus with others, and if I have to, I'll share it with words. I pray this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Your Confirmation Moment

Master of life and teacher of great things, bless the life of this dear reader with Your lessons of love; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Mark 9: 2 Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. 3 His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. 4 Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus. 5 Peter interrupted, "Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let's build three memorials - one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah." 6 He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing. 7 Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: "This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him." 8 The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus. 9 Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. "Don't tell a soul what you saw. After the Son of Man rises from the dead, you're free to talk." (The Message)

God sometimes provides Ah-hah moments or what we could call confirmation moments; those points in our lives when sometime we have suspected suddenly becomes proved right or true. It is those positive, wonderful confirmation moments that lift our spirits and help us know we're in the place or doing the right thing. Some of these confirmation moments come in our times of worship and prayer, sometimes in a time of spiritual retreat. These times of renewal and refreshing are vital to our survival as Christians. Every Sunday or every worship opportunity, if approached right, with a receptive and ready spirit, can be one of those confirmation moments. If we listen closely to God, God may just surprise us with that which we need right at that moment. So it was with these three influential disciples; Peter, James and John. For some reason, Jesus selected them to see and hear things the others did not. It was at this event the Church calls The Transfiguration, that these three had an awesome confirmation moment of Jesus' divinity and special relationship with God. After hearing Jesus speak about seeing and experiencing God's glory, they were taken by Jesus to a secluded place for worship and prayer. As they arrived to the spot where Jesus was leading them, Jesus was changed in a way that has been historically called transfiguration. It's not an easy word to define nor is the event any easier to explain. What happened was that God opened Heaven inside of Jesus so that these three could see Jesus for who He truly was. The words used to try to describe it include radiance, bright light, all within Jesus. And to make matters even more difficult to explain to those who did not see it, these three realized that they were no longer alone. They understood and recognized that standing with them were these figures from their history; Moses and Elijah. The three do not know what to do other than to try to provide hospitality to their guests, but God spoke. They heard one of two times that God spoke and said, "This is my Son, listen to Him." This was their confirmation moment.

What confirmation moment do you need? Have you spent time in worship and prayer? Have you made time during your day to truly listen to God? Have you sought a place to be alone with God so that God may speak to you and your life and need? You will be blessed.

PRAYER: Loving God, You know my needs better than I do. Let me seek to know You and Your presence and plan for my life. I know of Your love for me; help me to share that knowledge with others. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Wal-Mart Culture

Wal-Marts are a reality of life, whether or not we like them. They've even become a part of the attraction to rural church appointment, "I want a church near a Wal-Mart," has been heard before. Wal-Marts have a culture of their own. In some, there are convenient banks, hair salons, insurance agencies, or eye glasses centers. In all, there are greeters, with the blue vests, who are supposed to greet shoppers as they enter and in some cases, the greeters hand out specials or ads. They also have shopping carts to hand those who seek them. In some they even offer free coffee. I read once about a retired man who drove fifty miles past his Wal-Mart to the next Wal-Mart. When asked why, he replied that at the other Wal-Mart they greeted him and knew his name, and the coffee tasted better.

I don't know if the coffee really tasted better, but I do know when people greet you and make the effort to know your name, everything tastes better. And the culture of Wal-Mart may not be that different from that of our churches. Some drive past your church to get to the other church because the "coffee" tastes better, maybe because the people there know your name, greet you with a smile and show they are truly grateful that you are there. "Full service" at your church may mean those things and other things; greeters who really greet, ushers who really "ush" and go the extra mile. Some churches may not even have "service" because they're really a smallish club for members only, with a "secret" language with words such as "narthex," "Doxology," or even "Gloria Patri.". Shhh, not so loud, we have guests and if we're not careful, they may just learn these words! And they may want to actually join our club!

I don't know, maybe He was serious when He said, "I was a stranger, and you welcomed me."

God Put Me Together When I Was Falling Apart!

Amazing God of the Journey, strengthen the needs of this dear reader in their journey today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today is from Psalm 30: 1 I give you all the credit, God - you got me out of that mess, you didn't let my foes gloat. 2 God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. 3 God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out. 4 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! 5 He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. 6 When things were going great I crowed, "I've got it made. 7 I'm God's favorite. He made me king of the mountain." Then you looked the other way and I fell to pieces. 8 I called out to you, God; I laid my case before you: 9 "Can you sell me for a profit when I'm dead? auction me off at a cemetery yard sale? When I'm 'dust to dust' my songs and stories of you won't sell. 10 So listen! and be kind! Help me out of this!" 11 You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. 12 I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you. God, my God, I can't thank you enough. (The Message)

You know you're in a difficult sitiuation when you yell for help. You know you're well-loved and protected when your yells for help get answered. Life is that way, and what makes it nice for those of us who believe is that God is with us and answers us when we yell. This version of the psalm is a far cry from the more solemn versions of it. In real language it is describing some of this writer's life. There have been great moments, and there have been not so great moments. There were times when the writer was up, and times when the writer wad down. There were even times when the writer was down-and-out. But when God pulled and put this writer back together and when God pulled the writer up from those down-and-out times, those were times of great celebration! And not just for celebrating alone, but with others! Yesterday, in a tax seminar sponsored by our pensions board, the presenter laughed when she was reading IRS definitions of worship; and guess what? Worship, according to IRS guidelines, is done in fellowship! Yep. In a group, not alone. So, whenever someone says, "I don't need to go to church to worship!" Ask them if they'd like to be audited, no, ask them if they know the Internal Revenue Service's definition of worship.

The bottom line? Praise God all the time, for we know that we are never alone, God is with us. Pray for assurance and guidance and pray for our faithfulness. Join others in praising the name of God. It will do wonders for your soul.

PRAYER: Loving God, I praise Your name and I give You thanks for the blessings You have shared with me during my life's journey. I ask for the boldness to share with others that joy that is mine in knowing You and knowing that I am known and loved by You; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER CONCERNS: Dear friends, please lift up prayers for Mrs. Marisa Barrera, wife of the Rev. Rudolfo Barrera, retired UM pastor. Marisa is battling cancer of the liver and lungs. It is believed to be in Stage Four. Please ask for God's comfort and peace with her during these days as well as for Rev. Barrera. We also ask for prayer for Mrs. Raquel Mariscal, wife of the Rev. Arturo Mariscal, who is also battling cancer. And for Ian Warshack, a young man mentioned before, who is being moved out of ICU, but still may face some amputations due to the illness he has. May God be with him. Thank you for sharing your faith in God through your prayers even for those whom you do not know.

Dipped and Healed!

Loving God of peace, pour out Your joy upon this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from 2 Kings 5: 1 Naaman was general of the army under the king of Aram. He was important to his master, who held him in the highest esteem because it was by him that God had given victory to Aram: a truly great man, but afflicted with a grievous skin disease. 2 It so happened that Aram, on one of its raiding expeditions against Israel, captured a young girl who became a maid to Naaman's wife. 3 One day she said to her mistress, "Oh, if only my master could meet the prophet of Samaria, he would be healed of his skin disease." 4 Naaman went straight to his master and reported what the girl from Israel had said. 5 "Well then, go," said the king of Aram. "And I'll send a letter of introduction to the king of Israel." So he went off, taking with him about 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothes. 6 Naaman delivered the letter to the king of Israel. The letter read, "When you get this letter, you'll know that I've personally sent my servant Naaman to you; heal him of his skin disease." 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he was terribly upset, ripping his robe to pieces. He said, "Am I a god with the power to bring death or life that I get orders to heal this man from his disease? What's going on here? That king's trying to pick a fight, that's what!" 8 Elisha the man of God heard what had happened, that the king of Israel was so distressed that he'd ripped his robe to shreds. He sent word to the king, "Why are you so upset, ripping your robe like this? Send him to me so he'll learn that there's a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman with his horses and chariots arrived in style and stopped at Elisha's door. 10 Elisha sent out a servant to meet him with this message: "Go to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed and you'll be as good as new." 11 Naaman lost his temper. He turned on his heel saying, "I thought he'd personally come out and meet me, call on the name of God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. 12 The Damascus rivers, Abana and Pharpar, are cleaner by far than any of the rivers in Israel. Why not bathe in them? I'd at least get clean." He stomped off, mad as a hornet. 13 But his servants caught up with him and said, "Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn't you have done it? So why not this simple 'wash and be clean'?" 14 So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new. (The Message)

We can only imagine the actual timeline in this story. We read it as if all of these things occurred on the same day. They didn't. Even had they had planes and cars, cell phones and internet, it would have taken several days. Add to the reality the personalities that peak out at us in this story, and we begin to see it was an act of God and one that took some time to finally happen. We know the characters; Naaman, important military figure, well-loved and respected by Aram, his king. Aram, king, victor over Israel. The unnamed girl, prisoner of war, captive, who lived in the household of Naaman. The unnamed wife of Naaman. The king of Israel, unnamed for this story, and Elisha, the prophet. The scenario: Naaman has leprosy. It bothers him. He probably kept it hidden for his complaining took place at home. The wife is told by the unnamed girl of a man in Israel, who can heal Naaman of this dreaded disease. The wife tells Naaman, Naaman tells Aram. Aram says, "By all means, let's get the proper papers in order, a proper gift (and what a gift it was!) for this holy man, and let's get a caravan ready to take you there!"

The story gets good in that after that long trip, the king of Israel freaks out, tears his clothes and somehow, word of this frustration and fear of Israel's king gets to Elisha, and Elisha sends word to the king, "Don't fret my king, send him to me; I"ll deal with him!" So, the king of Israel sends Naaman to Samaria where Elisha lives. Upon arrival, Naaman does not even get to see Elisha. Protocol was broken. Here is a man of his king, with orders from his king, and the word from Israel's king to come and see the prophet and the prophet does not even come out. A servant comes out and tells Naaman to dip himself seven times in the Jordan river. This insults the general in two ways. The prophet does not come to see him and he is given the task to go to what Naaman perceives to be a dirty river. Naaman's servant calms him down and says, "Think of how easy this really is, all you have to do is go down to the river and dip. Try it! He finally does it and he is healed. His skin is made new, like that of a baby.

This is a story of faith and patience, sacrifice and obedience. God provided a way of healing, through a long process. Healing came eventually, unlike Monday's healing through Jesus. Both healing of this terrible disease came through faith and both required faith in God's servants, Jesus and Elisha. Both required the sick to ask for the healing. Neither was disappointed once it arrived. In the Naaman story, if you keep reading, Naaman declares his faith in God. What he did after that, we do not know.

What would you have done? How would you have lived?

PRAYER: Living God of healing and wholeness, you know my needs and I entrust them to Your care. Let my heart be grateful for Your love and presence in my life. May I bet a witness to the most important healings that can occur in one's life, namely the healing of my heart, from sin-scarred and heavy, to a new heart, clean from sin. Let that heart pour out love for all people. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Our Best for Christ Jesus

Loving God of peace and healing, may Your loving touch be upon the needs of this dear reader in whatever way You deem best; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from 1 Corinthians 9: 24 You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. 25 All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. 26 I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! 27 I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. (The Message)

Comedians talk about the things everyone thinks about, but doesn't want to say aloud. One comedians some years back prior to the Olympics imitated that runner in a race who realizes that he is going to come in last. "All those years of training, and I'm coming in last?" Of course, the reality is that to even be in the Olympics representing your country is a great honor and to come in last still means this runner could probably beat the average person in a race. Yet, what an honor to win! Paul says that the Christian life is the same thing. We train to win over all things. We keep ourselves in the best shape we can to face all that may come our way. We're to "give it everything" we got. We should not be content in living sloppy Christian lives where we accept mediocrity as a standard. To serve Christ is to serve the One and only; to serve the best. Anything else falls short.

Think about Who you represent in your life today and all days.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to fully understand how important it is to be in the best shape I need to better represent You. Make clear to me as I listen to You what that means and how I best can achieve that, for Your good and Your glory. I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Touch of Jesus!

Loving God who made us all, make aware in the life of this dear reader, the worth and value they have to You in all things; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Mark 1: 40 A leper came to him, begging on his knees, "If you want to, you can cleanse me." 41 Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean." 42 Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. 43 Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: 44 "Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people." 45 But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over. (The Message)

The omitted verse from this passage comes between verses 41 and 42, "And immediately, Jesus took the antibacterial hand soap, coated a generous amount on the palms of his hands and then rubbed it all over both sides of his hands to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria." We could also add, "For Jesus had seen this done many times in the celebration of His Holy Communion by those called to serve Him." Okay, those are not real verses. And I am not condemning those who use antibacterial soap before the Lord's Supper, for I am one of those. But do you notice the power of Jesus' touch in verse forty-one. Those who were declared to have this dreaded skin disease were as good as declared dead. They could no longer live among the living, they had to live among the tombs. They were isolated from their families and friends and all they could do was to await their death. Yet, even lepers hear good news. They heard about a man who had the power to heal even leprosy. This one leper comes to Jesus and very convinced in his heart about what Jesus could do said to Jesus, "If you want to, you can cleanse me." His hope was that Jesus would want to; and He did. I believe the last thing this poor man expected was to feel a human touch ever again, and that's exactly what Jesus did. Jesus touched him and immediately, the disease left the man. Jesus' touch gave the man new skin, smooth and soft. And it's interesting to note that Jesus tells him to tell no one about this healing, but instead to go to the priest of his village, offer up the sacrifice for healing, fulfill the Mosaic law about having been healed, and that would be it. The man reacted as anyone of us would had we been the one to receive new skin and more importantly, new life! He told everyone who would listen.

The touch of Jesus sometime in your life gave you new life. The touch of Jesus may have even brought healing to you. What did you do about it? Were you obedient to Jesus and tell no one? Or, like the grateful man, have you told everybody? Imagine if everyone we met knew about the touch of Jesus in our lives, we might have a run for the place where Jesus still touches folks, our worship settings, our hearts, our minds, and our bodies.

Tell someone!

PRAYER: Loving God, for the touch of Jesus I am thankful. That touch made me new in many respects. May I receive from You the boldness and courage to give witness to what You are willing to do yet for others. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Southwest Culture

Sitting in our airline terminal and we have just been informed of bad weather delay in Houston. I have been up since 2:29. a.m. That's given me some time to pray, look around, go out of the secure area to check on my connection, and that delight of delights, going through security a second time! Ah, what fun. But it has also allowed me to notice the difference between the gate of airline on which I am booked and the gate of Southwest Ailrines. These folks have a different culture about who they are and what they offer. For example, our gate is strictly business. The SW gate has red tin foil hearts and a red and white paper heart chain. They know Valentine's Day is coming and they're ready. And if you've ever flown SW you know they have fun in all they do and it shows. And it's contagious.

I think about the Church. Business as usual, and that in a strict way? Or do your hearts show?

Do You Feel The Urge to Praise?

Loving God of the journey; may this day be a day of rich discovery and joy for this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Psalm 147: 1 Hallelujah! It's a good thing to sing praise to our God; praise is beautiful, praise is fitting. 2 God's the one who rebuilds Jerusalem, who regathers Israel's scattered exiles. 3 He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds. 4 He counts the stars and assigns each a name. 5 Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we'll never comprehend what he knows and does 6 God puts the fallen on their feet again and pushes the wicked into the ditch. 7 Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn, play music on your instruments to God, 8 Who fills the sky with clouds, preparing rain for the earth, Then turning the mountains green with grass, 9 feeding both cattle and crows. 10 He's not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles means little to him. 11 Those who fear God get God's attention; they can depend on his strength. 12 Jerusalem, worship God! Zion, praise your God! 13 He made your city secure, he blessed your children among you. 14 He keeps the peace at your borders, he puts the best bread on your tables. 15 He launches his promises earthward - how swift and sure they come! 16 He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes, 17 He broadcasts hail like birdseed - who can survive his winter? 18 Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter - suddenly it's spring! 19 He speaks the same way to Jacob, speaks words that work to Israel. 20 He never did this to the other nations; they never heard such commands. Hallelujah! (The Message)

The Lectionary recommends the optional reading of verses one through eleven (1-11); the focus is on verses twelve to twenty (12-20), but as you read the entire psalm you see the picture the psalmist is painting about God. There are powerful worship-worthy references to the power of God that need a special place in our minds and heart. The first for me is that God is a God of rebuilding. The psalmist knew the power of God to pull us out of our brokenness and put us back together. Then the psalmist says that God is a God who regathers. How often have we not found ourselves looking here and there for the things that should have stayed here and now? God is a God of healing. God has the last word in all of our ills and illnesses. God is a God who provides that which we need. The psalmist is asking, if God provides for cattle and crows, will not God do the same for us? The urge on our part should be to worship God always and everywhere. We get God's attention through our worship and praise. We get noticed when we notice the goodness of God. A relationship with God is a great place to be.

PRAYER: Loving God let my heart and life join the chorus of praise that is being lifted up by brothers and sisters who believe in You. May my life be a song of praise for Your goodness. May my actions reflect my faith in Your faithfulness. May others come to see You reflected in me. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Everlasting God!

Loving God of great surprises, bless the life of this dear reader with an unexpected blessing of joy and peace; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Today's text is very special to me. It comes from Isaiah 40:21-31: 21 Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; 23 who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. 24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25 To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God"? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (New Revised Standard Version)

If you've ever heard the Christian Song, "Everlasting God" by Lincoln Brewster, at the very end a child is heard reading this passage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2nz6PG8KM). The first time I heard it, I was taken back many years to La Trinidad United Methodist Church, on a Sunday morning, when our firstborn, Nellie Maria, was asked to read the Scripture for the day. She was six years old and was already reading at a sixth grade level. Her voice and that of the child on the recording were the same. Today is Nellie Maria's birthday, so it is extra special to have this OT lesson on her birthday. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NELLIE!).

The passage is the prophet's song of praise to Almighty God. His life experiences had allowed him this time of reflection on the greatness of God and God's presence in his life. He had reached a point of faith that others' lack of faith puzzled him. It was as if he's asking, "Weren't you ever in Sunday school? Did you not pay attention? Have you not ever picked up a Bible or seen across the sky or in the beauty of the earth, the presence and majesty of God?" Sadly, there are still many like that and Isaiah would be puzzled. It's as near as your next breath, proof of the presence of God. If you can reach the nearest window and look out and see the stars or the moon or the beginning of a new day, you've seen God's handiwork. If you hear the singing of a bird or the rustle of the wind, you're listening to God. If you smell the bouquet of fresh flowers in your garden, you're smelling the presence of God's awesomeness. At some point in our life our faith should allow us to recite this affirmation of faith: The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Our God is a God that will never die. Our God is the creator of all things. God's strength cannot be compared to ours, where one day we are strong, the next we are not. God understands all things. God gives power to the faint and give strength to the weak. Even the youth among us may faint and grow weary and the young may fall from exhaustion; but we who wait for the Lord shall receive new strength, even that which seems like we have mounted up with wings like eagles. We will run and not be weary, we shall walk and not even faint. What more do we need for having a great day?

PRAYER: Loving God, grant me an increase of faith today to face all that may come my way. Let me be a beacon of inspiration to others, especially the weak that I may live this affirmation of Your presence and strength in my life. I claim for my life that strength so that I may not grow weary nor faint, but instead have that newness of faith that gives my life wings, and my legs untiring strength. I ask and pray this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Are you in on It?

Blessed God of new days and new starts, bless and proect the life of this dear reader in whatever may come their way; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from 1 Corinthians 9: 16 If I proclaim the Message, it's not to get something out of it for myself. I'm compelled to do it, and doomed if I don't! 17 If this was my own idea of just another way to make a living, I'd expect some pay. But since it's not my idea but something solemnly entrusted to me, why would I expect to get paid? 18 So am I getting anything out of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message at no cost to you. You don't even have to pay my expenses! 19 Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: 20 religious, nonreligious, 21 meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, 22 the defeated, the demoralized - whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ - but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. 23 I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! (The Message)

The life and ministry of the Apostle Paul came as a sort of course correction in the evangelization of the world. Paul's life was not God's Plan B, it was more of God's A1. Okay, now you're thinking steak sauce, which is not a bad thing, but it's early in the day (at least for me). In Paul, God saw and called forth a passionate person with a determination and commitment that God needed. Think on why you're a believer at this point of your life. What did God see in you? In Paul, God saw someone who would stay on task and complete the task the best he could. God saw a man who would use both head and heart to not only accept the Gospel (Called the "Message" thus this version's name), but also to proclaim it AND live it. Remember the pre-Jesus Saul? He was a go-getter and did he ever go and get and arrest followers of Jesus. Saul was a very well connected person who was able to secure the rights to arrest the Christians in Damascus, and it was on that road that God called him through the Risen Christ.

How did God call you to faith? Through your parents? If so, have you realized what your parents saw and believed in Jesus? If it was through a friend or spouse, the same question; have you found that same faith as this important person? If you have come to faith as one who believes and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, have you gotten into a life that is the Gospel? By that, we mean as one who fully understands it, shares it, and seeks to make his/her life a witness of the better way to live. In Paul's words of today, he didn't settle for being an armchair quarterback, he wanted to be the quarterback. He didn't want to reflect and critique Sunday's sermon on Monday; he wanted to preach and live his own. He didn't stop at only those people who were like him, he wanted to know that all people, as Jesus had directed him, had truly come to accept Jesus for themselves. Are you in on it? If you're not, you're missing out. Get going!

PRAYER: Loving God, I don't want to miss out! I want to be in on it. I want to be a part of whatever it takes to help the whole world come to know Your love and grace through Jesus Christ. Help me be a part of it in however I can best help. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed dayin the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Our God of Wholeness

Gracious God of opportunities, bless and protect this dear reader in whatever challenges they may face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Good day, dear friends, our text for today comes from the Gospel of Mark 1: 29 Directly on leaving the meeting place, they came to Simon and Andrew's house, accompanied by James and John. 30 Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed, burning up with fever. They told Jesus. 31 He went to her, took her hand, and raised her up. No sooner had the fever left than she was up fixing dinner for them. 32 That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, 33 the whole city lined up at his door! 34 He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn't let them say a word. 35 While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. 36 Simon and those with him went looking for him. 37 They found him and said, "Everybody's looking for you." 38 Jesus said, "Let's go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I've come." 39 He went to their meeting places all through Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons. (The Message)

The smart-alec theologians and scholars might call a portion of this story, the double-miracle healing, for not only was the woman healed, Peter actually wanted his mother-in-law healed. For those of us who were blessed with sweet, loving mothers-in-law, we can identify with the ansxiousness of Peter and his household. For those of us whose mothers-in-law are in Heaven, we miss them dearly. Yet, this is the story of Jesus' early ministry according to Mark. The arrival of Jesus and His disciples to the home of Simon and Andrew finds a key member of the household very sick. A fever in those days was not a good sign and thus the people there told Jesus of this illness. Jesus takes her by the hand and she is healed. Her healing is so complete that she began fixing the evening meal. You might be one, like me, who would have said, "Well, the fever has left me, but I'm still a little weak, perhaps I should stay in bed a little longer to recover my strength."

That evening the village, having heard of this healing, brings to Jesus all of the sick and demon-possessed. Jesus healed them all, and in so doing begins to demonstrate the power of God within Him. Jesus was the Son of the God of wholeness. He reveals to His disciples that His power came from staying connected with God through prayer. And this prayer was a holy habit of Jesus, and one usually done in seclusion so that Jesus could not only speak to God, but listen to God as well. The lesson shared here is that we should stay connected with God and share with God all of our needs, trusting God to be at work in helping and blessing us. We should also model our lives as those who go forth, after prayer, to serve the God of wholeness.

PRAYER: Loving God, I praise and love You. I am blessed to have You as my God. I thank You for Your strength, ability, and desire to be at work in my life. Bring me to wholeness according to Thy will. Let me stay connected with You throughout this day, and guide me to more deeper service in all areas of my life. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Personal Note: Dear friends, I thank all of you who prayed for me this weekend as the first round of interviews were held in Dallas and Little Rock. I thank God for safe travel and for this special opportunities to meet the fine leaders of our jurisdiction. Please continue to pray for all the candidates before us as we have offered ourselves to serve God in this unique way. This coming Saturday I am traveling to Oklahoma City to meet with two delegations there. Blessings to you!

Still driving your first car?

Loving God of light and mercy, shine brightly in the life and path of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Psalm 111: 1 Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got - Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation. 2 God's works are so great, worth A lifetime of study - endless enjoyment! 3 Splendor and beauty mark his craft; His generosity never gives out. 4 His miracles are his memorial - This God of Grace, this God of Love. 5 He gave food to those who fear him, He remembered to keep his ancient promise. 6 He proved to his people that he could do what he said: Hand them the nations on a platter - a gift! 7 He manufactures truth and justice; All his products are guaranteed to last - 8 Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof. All that he makes and does is honest and true: 9 He paid the ransom for his people, He ordered his Covenant kept forever. He's so personal and holy, worthy of our respect. 10 The good life begins in the fear of God - Do that and you'll know the blessing of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever! (The Message)

What products last forever? Are you still driving your first car? Chances are you are not and if you are, you have either a well-kept classic or the prime example of what baling wire and duct tape can do for a car. What about the shoes you wore in junior high? Are you still wearing those? And the list goes on and on, and the answer is that very few products last forever. In that imagery, the Psalmist is saying (in this version) that God's "products are guaranteed to last. Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust proof." He started the list with Grace and Love (v. 4), the continued with "truth and justice." (v. 7). We can add to it as well, but we're also proving that God is always relevant for those who seek God. Many today struggle with finding and providing ways to make God and God's Church relevant, but we discover that one on one, friend to friend, or family member to family member, as we share and show, God becomes real and relevant.

In our worship settings we should praise the name of God. We should be part of a joyous gathering that provides a setting to worship God and a place where we receive what we need to carry on and to move forward. We should gather to give thanks to God. We should be reminded of God's generosity as we share back with God our lives and our gifts, our service and our witness.

While you're thinking about it, why not take someone to worship this weekend?

PRAYER: Loving God, You are indeed worthy of my praise and that is what I seek to do today and all days. I know of my need to worship and also of my need to share with others. Give me wisdom and boldness to take the next opportunity that presents itself to take someone with me to worship You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God's Mouthpiece

Loving God of new paths and opportunities, may Your grace shine brightly upon the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Deuteronomy 18: 15 God, your God, is going to raise up a prophet for you. God will raise him up from among your kinsmen, a prophet like me. Listen obediently to him. 16 This is what you asked God, your God, for at Horeb on the day you were all gathered at the mountain and said, "We can't hear any more from God, our God; we can't stand seeing any more fire. We'll die!" 17 And God said to me, "They're right; they've spoken the truth. 18 I'll raise up for them a prophet like you from their kinsmen. I'll tell him what to say and he will pass on to them everything I command him. 19 And anyone who won't listen to my words spoken by him, I will personally hold responsible. 20 "But any prophet who fakes it, who claims to speak in my name something I haven't commanded him to say, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die." (The Message)

I remember hearing in seminary that the word prophet literally meant "mouthpiece." And from countless black and white gangster movies I had seen, I knew that the word mouthpiece had been used to describe lawyers. "Don't ask me, ask my mouthpiece!" God uses people to speak God's word to people. And it usually is not a message one could label "comfortable," it is usually a message calling us to repent and get right with God. In today's passage the message is clear that God will call another prophet to continue to share God's word with all the people. The people knew that Moses was getting old and that he might not be with them much longer, and they also were tiring of their time in the desert. God tells them that this new prophet will come out of not only their ranks, but from their relatives. This prophet will speak, like Moses, for God; so everyone must listen to what this prophet will say. God then stresses that anyone would "fakes" it, that is, that does not speak for God but for him/herself, must die.

This week's texts speak of both Jesus and you and me. The Gospel reading says that when Jesus taught, He was being God's prophet. The Epistle says that when we talk and how we live should speak prophetic words to our neighbor. And today's text underscores the seriousness with which God takes on the message we have received and should be passing on to others. Have you ever thought of yourself as God's mouthpiece? Have you ever lived as God's mouthpiece?

PRAYER: Loving God, I understand and accept the seriousness for which you have called me and called all of us. May my life reflect the seriousness with which I have taken the teachings of Jesus and the way that I live my life before You and Yours. May I serve to share Your words in a way that blesses You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Helping Transform the World

God of unlimited resources, bless the needs in the life of this dear reader in whatever way blesses You; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (Key verses) 9 But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a Christian still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track. 10 For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn't there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused - maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong. 11 Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn't you at least be willing to give up going to dinner for him - because, as you say, it doesn't really make any difference? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin! 12 When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn't worth it at the cost of even one of these "weak ones." 13 So, never go to these idol-tainted meals if there's any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters. (The Message)

We as Christians enjoy great freedoms. We are free from sin. We are free from death. We have and enjoy these freedoms because of the great price that God paid through Jesus, God's Son, on the cross. We are also responsible for how we live our lives as a positive influence on the lives of others. In Paul's day, the threat to baby Christians was the whole issue of what is considered right in living the Christian life in the midst of a culture where most everyone else was not a Christian but believed in the worship of the day. That worship was the worship of idols. Most merchants of the day either worshiped idols or provided the meat for the worship of them. The issue was, can we eat meat that has been offered in the worship of idols? Paul knows that there was nothing to idol worship. Paul knew and believed in the one, true God, as do we, so to eat meat offered to nothing was no big deal for him, yet, he knew it could be for someone just pulled out of idol worship. Paul urges believers to live lives that reinforce the faith rather than placing new Christians in positions of confusion and doubt. Never "trip up one of your brothers or sisters," Paul says in verse 13.

We too, have freedoms to make our choices on how we will live. We may choose to enjoy our freedom in ways that may confuse or cause doubt in the lives of new Christians. Paul asks if that is worth it in the long run. I know you know the answer to that, so why risk it? Ours is to reach new people, help them become believers and then disciples; all for the transformation of the world. Is your world already transformed, or does it look just like everyone else's?

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to understand my responsibility to You and Yours in the living of my life. May the choices I make be those which help build up Your Kingdom. Forgive me those times that I have placed myself first and cared nothing for someone else. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Imagine being in a place of worship...

Amazing God of grace, pour out Your love upon the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Mark 1: 21 Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. 22 They were surprised at his teaching - so forthright, so confident - not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars. 23 Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, 24 "What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you're up to! You're the Holy One of God, and you've come to destroy us!" 25 Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!" 26 The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly - and got out. 27 Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. "What's going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!" 28 News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee. (The Message)

Imagine, in a place of worship on the day of worship. For some of us now that seems rare for most people. It wasn't for Jesus. But not everyone in Capernaum was in the place of worship either, but there were enough to be blessed by their experience with Him. Jesus taught. Imagine the teachings of Jesus that were not recorded. I believe we have the core of those teachings in our gospels, but to be there and experience His voice, His thoughts, His examples as He taught from that from which He came! There is a difference between knowing and experiencing truth. One can read about truth all day long and that will not match what comes from those who experience it. And as sometimes happens in a setting where good and positive things are happening, something or someone will oppose or challenge it. Mark says it was a demon possessed man who knew who Jesus was. He questions Jesus and even declares that he knows what Jesus is up to; but this demon was no match for Jesus and Jesus cast him out. Those who were in worship that day saw what perhaps very little of those who were not there believed. But it did make for a great story that was spread through out Galilee.

Imagine being in a place of worship this coming Sunday. Imagine being there expectant and hopeful for a teaching from God about God's love. Imagine being one who supports and prays for that person who brings the message. Imagine more like you in worship doing the same.

PRAYER: Loving God of power to cast out that which "steals, destroys, and kills," even in church and worship settings, let me be among those who are there not only to receive but to share life in abundance. Let me also be among those who go out and share the stories of You love beyond the worship place, for You are needed everywhere. I ask this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Equipped to Serve God!

Loving God of the Journey of Life, journey closely with this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray,amen.

Our text comes from Psalm 62:5 God, the one and only - I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? 6 He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life. 7 My help and glory are in God 8 So trust him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for him. God is a safe place to be. 9 Man as such is smoke, woman as such, a mirage. Put them together, they're nothing; two times nothing is nothing. 10 And a windfall, if it comes - don't make too much of it. 11 God said this once and for all; how many times Have I heard it repeated? "Strength comes Straight from God." 12 Love to you, Lord God! You pay a fair wage for a good day's work! (The Message)

One of my life's greatest blessings was to go to youth camp as a child and youth. In those days, the Rio Grande Conference went to Mount Wesley Methodist Encampment in Kerrville, Texas. I first went as a seventh grader recently moved to Houston. At that point in my life I had seen Kingsville, Monterrey, Mexico, the Valley, and now Houston. Monterrey had inspired me with mountains, a beautiful waterfall and caves. It was a short trip during those years when you don't remember much, but Kerrville had what seemed like mountains to me. The camp was located outside of town, isolated and ideal for a retreat. To climb to Vesper Point was to invite something spiritual to happen. The setting and the events, the speakers, all had a lot to do with my hearing God call me into ministry. This psalm reminds me of those days that I didn't fidget nor whisper jokes - I did indeed sit and wait for God. Those moments allowed me to have hope in God and in what might lie ahead for me and my life. I did feel that I could walk anywhere and do anything that God might ask of me, for I never walked alone. I had the fullness of life through Jesus Christ through those moments and during those times. God indeed took me to the mountain top and I could see what lay ahead for me, a journey filled with the blessings of God. I received my strength from God, "Straight from God" (v.11). I fell in love with God and that is a relationship that has never failed me, and I still seek to serve God in whatever ways God may still have for me.

Make time today to listen for God. And as you listen be reminded of all that God has shared with you. You can be a different person because of the presence of God and the strength that God provides for you. Come what may, we are never alone and we are never defeated because of what God shares with us. And in the joy of these discoveries, serve God! God rewards us lovingly and generously!

PRAYER: So be it, dear God, that I might find time today to be quiet and listen to you. Let me put down the cellphone, silence the music, turn my gaze away from the computer monitor, remove the ear buds from my music player and genuinely listen. May what I hear be a loving reminder of how blessed I am and how well equipped I am to serve You and Yours. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

A personal note: Dear friends, I had not yet said anything about an important journey that begun this past summer and in a couple of weeks becomes more real for me. As I may have mentioned through this e-devotional, I am a delegate to General Conference and as a result of that election I have been blessed and humbled and honored by an endorsement by the Rio Grande Conference of The United Methodist Church to be a candidate for bishop. The process is long and hard. I have to travel very soon to begin my series of interviews with all the delegations of our South Central Jurisdiction. I ask for your prayers. I want God's will to be done, not mine. The time is too critical for us to elect just anybody and I truly want the right persons (for we are electing three this time) for this important ministry position. I love what I am doing as a district superintendent, but will serve with God's help if elected, to the best of my ability. I thank you for your prayers for my wife, Nellie, our family and myself.

God's Do-Overs

Loving God of second chances, give to this reader that understanding of Your grace; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Jonah 3: 1 Next, God spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 "Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They're in a bad way and I can't ignore it any longer." 3 This time Jonah started off straight for Nineveh, obeying God's orders to the letter. 4 Jonah entered the city, went one day's walk and preached, "In forty days Nineveh will be smashed." 5 The people of Nineveh listened, and trusted God. They proclaimed a citywide fast and dressed in burlap to show their repentance. Everyone did it - rich and poor, famous and obscure, leaders and followers. 10 God saw what they had done, that they had turned away from their evil lives. He did change his mind about them. What he said he would do to them he didn't do. (The Message)

"Do over!" How many times have we not said that during an intense game with family or friends? How close we were to victory and we flubbed it so we said, "Do over!" Depending on the friend or family member, you probably heard, "NO WAY! That's it, you had your chance and you blew it!" Game over. You lost. God doesn't play that way. In fact, God gives do overs time and time again. Jonah found out. Jonah was asked to share his faith in the Living God and he fled at first, then tried to hide from God and the task and you know where he ended up for three days. Then he finally did what God had asked, he shared his faith and the message God asked him to share. And what a message! "In forty days Nineveh will be smashed." I truly think that's the condensed version of the message the old boy preached, but the point was, he finally was obedient and he finally shared the message and guess what, the people believed! They "trusted God, (and) proclaimed a citywide fast and dressed in burlap to show their repentence." Verse ten, here's the do-over: "God saw what they had done, that they had turned away from their evil lives. He did change his mind about them. What he said he would do to them he didn't do." They got a second chance. So do we.

Have you ever talked to someone about your second chance? Don't you think someone could benefit greatly from hearing such a message from you? Don't wait until you're in the belly of a whale...

PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for the many do-overs I have had in my life, thanks to You. I ask that I receive the courage and the boldness to share my faith with someone today. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Things and Time

God of the richness of life, pour out Your knowledge of the fullness of life upon this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from 1 Corinthians 7: 29 I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don't complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple - in marriage, 30 grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things - your daily routines of shopping, and so on. 31 Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out. (The Message)

Someone once said, "You never see a hearse with a trailer attached to it," meaning that the other phrase we often hear is, "You can't take it with you," is true. Paul shares the urgency of time with his readers in this passage. He knows that what really matters is that which we can't see, yet we carry on like the physical is more important. Paul is stressing that in our comfort we become complacent in all things and the urgency of helping bring more people to Christ falls by the wayside, and this is true especially in most churches today. Our minds and thoughts should be on Jesus and Jesus' message of Good News for the world. Yet, is it something we as individuals and as members of a church strive for? Our minds and concerns tend to focus on "making ends meet," or meeting deadlines or just attending meetings; Paul would ask, "Where is Christ Jesus in all of this?" And he would remind us of his belief that Jesus was coming back soon. The theme of this week's scripture lessons is on reaching more for God. Never have we seen scripture deal with the problem of better furnishings or new carpet or better choir robes; it always seems to be about sharing God's message with those who have not yet heard. And what are we doing about it?

PRAYER: Loving God of all people, use me today to reach at least someone new. May my life be part of that sermon that someone should experience about how loving and wonderful You are. I ask for boldness and wisdom so that I may be a part of that sharing. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Changing Our Diet

Loving God of justice and peace, may Your touch of peace be upon this dear reader's heart so that she or he may be a person of justice with all; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Mark 1: 14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: 15 "Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message." 16 Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. 17 Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." 18 They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed. 19 A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John, Zebedee's sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets. 20 Right off, he made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and the hired hands, and followed. (The Message)

What does your diet consist of? And I'm not talking about the "new" diet you resolved to follow until yesterday's playoff games; I'm talking about your intake of thoughts and messages. What message does the music you hear share with you? What message do the news share with you? What message do the televisions shows you watch give you about life and morality? What reading materials have you had that gave you inspiration to do and live better? I ask because it is important to ask. If you surround yourself with negative messages or messages that influence you to live less than the way God would have you live, then you know you should be asking yourself, why? Consider the world during the First Century when Jesus walked and taught and preached and did miracles. It was a dismal place. The religious people were no different nor any better than those who did not believe. The message from the holy places was a iist of Do Nots (I know it's early but that is do not in plural form, not donuts!). People's lives were not being changed because there was no message of hope nor power to change. That's why Jesus' sermon as shared in this language says, "Change your life and believe the Message." The "message" refers to what other versions call gospel. And gospel as we know refers to Good News. John the Baptist started sharing that message and here comes Jesus to seal the deal. And as Jesus begins His ministry He knows that He will need those who are ready to help in sharing and taking the message to others. Here we read that Jesus called Simon and his brother Andrew, with the invitation to become fishers of others. They were primsed and ready to follow as some believe that they were disciples of John the Baptist. They had heard of the One who was coming and in seeing Him and hearing His invitation, they followed. The same happened with James and John. They hear the invitation and they too, follow. Their lives were changed, never to return to what they had been before.

What about you? You must have heard about the Good News which is why you're reading this, or, someone has shared this with you because they care about you and your life. The Good News says that we can change for the better. We can let God have reign over our inner being and lead us away from destruction and death to life and the fullness of life through Jesus Christ even today. This goes beyond a simple New Year's resolution, it goes to a personal revolution overthrowing the bad and accepting the presence and power of the good from God. Are you ready? Do you want it?

PRAYER: Loving God, let the revolution begin in me now, as I overthrow the negative and the bad that is leading me to certain death. Help me in my choices to choose the good and positive and the things that lead to life. Let this apply to physical and spiritual things alike in my life and body. I want to be a person who knows, loves, and serves You. I cannot do it alone, I need You, and I lift this prayer up in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Going or Coming, God is with You!

Splendid God of grace and peace, pour out a double portion of peace on the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Psalm 139: 1 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. 2 I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. 3 You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. 4 You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. 5 I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too - your reassuring presence, coming and going. 6 This is too much, too wonderful - I can't take it all in! 13 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. 14 I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration - what a creation! 15 You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. 16 Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day. 17 Your thoughts - how rare, how beautiful! God, I'll never comprehend them! 18 I couldn't even begin to count them - any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! (The Message)

No one ever cared for you like God. Some might say, "My mom did." Yes, close, but not quite. Others might say, "My dad did?' Okay, but not as much. This is what the Psalm is saying. There is no aspect of your life, warts, wrinkles, pimples and all, that God did not know or better yet, that God did not care for. God has known us since Day One. The Psalmist even says that God knows us inside and out, like an "open book." Such is the love and care of God for you and me. The Psalmist uses this as a motivation to live life with that peace and comfort of knowing that there is nowhere we can go that God does not go with us. What a difference this makes in the lives of those who take this to heart and know that anywhere they go, God is with them, and all actions, words and thoughts should reflect the presence of God with us. Does this even include behind the steering wheel of our car? Yes, especially there. Many of us tend to forget we're Christians in that spot, we have a tendency to change religions from Christian to Impatients. Don't do that, God is there too and God will bless us as we try to go from point A to point B. May God's care for us begin a new attitude on our care towards our care for others.

PRAYER: Loving God, may I live life in a way that says to You and myself, God is with me and I am lovingly and carefully being watched by God. May my actions and my words reflect the love God has for me. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Speak, Lord, for I Am Listening!

Loving God who provides daily bread, bless and grant to this dear reader the bread of life; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from 1 Samuel 3: 1 The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli's direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. 2 One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad - he could hardly see). 3 It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested. 4 Then God called out, "Samuel, Samuel!" 5 Then he ran to Eli saying, "I heard you call. Here I am." Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed." And so he did. 6 God called again, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, "I heard you call. Here I am." 7 (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.) 8 God called again, "Samuel!" - the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, "Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am." 9 So Eli directed Samuel, "Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, 'Speak, God. I'm your servant, ready to listen.'" Samuel returned to his bed. 10 Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen." 11 God said to Samuel, "Listen carefully. I'm getting ready to do something in Israel that is going to shake everyone up and get their attention. 12 The time has come for me to bring down on Eli's family everything I warned him of, every last word of it. 13 I'm letting him know that the time's up. I'm bringing judgment on his family for good. He knew what was going on, that his sons were desecrating God's name and God's place, and he did nothing to stop them. 14 This is my sentence on the family of Eli: The evil of Eli's family can never be wiped out by sacrifice or offering." 15 Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then rose early and went about his duties, opening the doors of the sanctuary, but he dreaded having to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But then Eli summoned Samuel: "Samuel, my son!" Samuel came running: "Yes? What can I do for you?" 17 "What did he say? Tell it to me, all of it. Don't suppress or soften one word, as God is your judge! I want it all, word for word as he said it to you." 18 So Samuel told him, word for word. He held back nothing. Eli said, "He is God. Let him do whatever he thinks best." 19 Samuel grew up. God was with him, and Samuel's prophetic record was flawless. 20 Everyone in Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, recognized that Samuel was the real thing - a true prophet of God. (The Message).

If you made a New Year's Resolution, from whom did it come? From you or from God? Did God tell you to lose weight or stop spending so much, or was that you? The tasks that you do, same question: you or God? The career or work path you took for your life, was it your desire and dream or was it God's? Today's passage deals with one of the most known call stories in the Bible, God calling the boy Samuel to be God's prophet. Samuel's whole life story to this point in his young life is very interesting and can be found in the two chapters prior to this one. Samuel's mom was a devout woman and she promised Samuel to the Lord. At an early age she turned him over to the care of Eli, and it was while under that care that this call from God comes to Samuel.

When God calls we have a choice, but our first choice should always be to listen. As God called Samuel, Samuel replied he was ready to listen. God explained to Samuel the purpose of that call. Our call may not come as crystal clear as Samuel's though I believe Samuel wasn't quite ready to hear a judgment pronounced on Eli and his family, but he heard it and delivered it as told. Our call may take some time to form and become doable, but we should keep in mind that God is with us and will help us in whatever God has called us to do or be. Whatever the task, it matters to God and to the person, person or situation to which we are called to serve.

PRAYER: Loving God, speak, for I am listening. Help me to hear what it is You would have me hear. If this is a call for new ministry or new service, so be it, but be with me. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God Owns the Whole Thing!

Blessed God of all days, may this day be blessed for this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from 1 Corinthians 6: 12 Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims. 13 You know the old saying, "First you eat to live, and then you live to eat"? Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but that's no excuse for stuffing your body with food, or indulging it with sex. Since the Master honors you with a body, honor him with your body! 14 God honored the Master's body by raising it from the grave. He'll treat yours with the same resurrection power. 15 Until that time, remember that your bodies are created with the same dignity as the Master's body. You wouldn't take the Master's body off to a whorehouse, would you? I should hope not. 16 There's more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, "The two become one." 17 Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever - the kind of sex that can never "become one." 18 There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another. 19 Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. 20 God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body. (The Message)

We're good at playing games. We're also quite good at rationalizing things. As the New Year's countdown approaches, we get out a slip of paper and a pen and we write that which we resolve to do, and usually the majority of people resolve to do something related to the body. Then at about this time of year we realize we did not have the willpower to continue the resolution and we give up. And that's when the games begin; What matters most is what's within. God doesn't judge me by my looks; it's what's in my heart! And so on. We sometimes play the game of keeping the spirit clean even though we're messing with the physical. This version of the Bible goes into deeper detail than most of us are used to. In fact, uses words that we would not be comfortable hearing from a pulpit. Yet, it is a clear picture of that which is rationalized for us in the movies or on television shows, that sex has nothing to do with our spiritual lives. A recent magazine headline said something to the effect that Christian teens are no longer waiting to engage in sexual acts. Paul knows as we should know, that God owns the whole thing, the body, the mind, the spirit; everything that defines who we are. Paul stresses what we know God's word to say, Glorify God through your body. Let everything we do reflect the presence of God in and through us. God owns the whole thing.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to do away with the games. Let me be honest with me. You own the entire me, and no part of me does not belong to You. Forgive me for what I have rationalized in some of my actions, and help me to reflect You alive and present in me. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde
God

Jesus Meets Us Where We Are, Though He Knew Us When We Were Somewhere Else!

Loving God of life, bless and protect the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from John 1: 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, "Come, follow me." 44 (Philip's hometown was Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter.) 45 Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, "We've found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It's Jesus, Joseph's son, the one from Nazareth!" 46 Nathanael said, "Nazareth? You've got to be kidding." But Philip said, "Come, see for yourself." 47 When Jesus saw him coming he said, "There's a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body." 48 Nathanael said, "Where did you get that idea? You don't know me." Jesus answered, "One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree." 49 Nathanael exclaimed, "Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus said, "You've become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven't seen anything yet! 51 Before this is over you're going to see heaven open and God's angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again." (The Message)

Jesus meets us where we are, though He knew us when we were somewhere else. Such was the case here in this story but in our lives it may not seem as innocent. Some of us were in places where we hoped no one saw us, doing things we pray will never come to light. And yes, some of us where simply sitting under a fig tree. Jesus calls us out of love and out of a hope that we will never return to where we were. Jesus' call means a complete change of life and life-attitude so that we will never be the same. I've shared about a film one sees (or used to see) on the retreat called Walk to Emmaus; The disciples have just had the Last Supper and they're talking about what they'll do next and one of the disciples says to the other, "Don't you realize that we will never the same? We'll never get to go home again!" He was telling the truth. Those of us who encounter the Living, Risen Christ and have their lives transformed for the better, never should be the same again. And home is where we serve the Lord, not the same place we've laid our heads to sleep in years past. And the best part? Just as Jesus said to Nathanael, we haven't seen anything yet! "Before this is over," we're "going to see heaven open and God's angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again," meaning we will see and witness wonderful, unexplainable things. What will you see if you stay seated under the fig tree? Just a hint: Don't look up!

PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for Your call upon my life. May my walk with You be one that never leaves me the same. May each step, each day, bring to me opportunities to witness Your power and grace. May I be among those angels that minister to You and Yours. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Newness of This Day and This New Year!

Loving God of peace, grant a blessing of calm and confidence in the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Genesis 1: 1 First this: God created the Heavens and Earth - all you see, all you don't see. 2 Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. 3 God spoke: "Light!" And light appeared. 4 God saw that light was good and separated light from dark. 5 God named the light Day, he named the dark Night. It was evening, it was morning - Day One. (The Message)

No better way to start a New Year than with a reminder of how everything, I repeat, everything, began. It began with God. A simple yet profound way to start any New Year and any day for that matter. You can tell yourself, "Everything I see today, was created by God, and God did not abandon me nor God's world!" And to further our thoughts about God's awesome power think about that first day of creation; From nothing came everything. And over everything God's Spirit "brooded like a bird" over it. And of all the things God created first, there comes light. And light is good, and it separates light from dark. And that was Day One.

May the newness of this day not scare us; nor may the thought of a New Year lead us to darkness. May all our days be days lived in the knowledge and comfort of God's presence and the power of God's light.

PRAYER: God of creation, create in me a new heart with new hope and new love, for You and Yours. May I live each day knowing Your Spirit is with me and that with that knowledge I can live in the light. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Next Steps to a New You in the New Year!

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on the life of this dear reader in all they may face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Acts 19: 1 Now, it happened that while Apollos was away in Corinth, Paul made his way down through the mountains, came to Ephesus, and happened on some disciples there. 2 The first thing he said was, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Did you take God into your mind only, or did you also embrace him with your heart? Did he get inside you?" "We've never even heard of that - a Holy Spirit? God within us?" 3 "How were you baptized, then?" asked Paul. "In John's baptism." 4 "That explains it," said Paul. "John preached a baptism of radical life-change so that people would be ready to receive the One coming after him, who turned out to be Jesus. If you've been baptized in John's baptism, you're ready now for the real thing, for Jesus." 5 And they were. As soon as they heard of it, they were baptized in the name of the Master Jesus. 6 Paul put his hands on their heads and the Holy Spirit entered them. From that moment on, they were praising God in tongues and talking about God's actions. 7 Altogether there were about twelve people there that day. (The Message)

As many have been talking about having a "New You" in the New Year, some have actually taken steps to become a new person. This means different things to different people. As I shared yesterday, the loss of weight for many does actually mean a new person. For others, it is a time to reassess old habits and consider abandoning or quitting same so that a new person can truly emerge. John the Baptist's message was for a new person to emerge out of the waters of the Jordan River; a forgiven person who had left his/her sins in the water. This was a message that many took to heart and as today's lesson shows, kept preaching. Paul encounters a group who had been baptized for the forgiveness of sins and stopped there. Paul asks, in effect, did you take the next step? Have you "embraced Jesus with all your heart? Is He living in you?" This modern version is trying to explain what it means to have the Holy Spirit. Paul goes on to explain that John's baptism was valid and necessary, but John also spoke of the One who came after him and His baptism.

The presence of Jesus dwelling within us is evidence of God's Holy Spirit. If we surrendered our hearts and lives to Christ Jesus and invited Him in, He has come in and become our Lord and Savior. To me, it is a daily surrender and a daily asking; "Christ Jesus come into me and guide me and use me," is part of my prayer at the start of each day. And I keep praying thought prayers and situational prayers, knowing that I want not only to embrace Jesus, but to be embraced by Jesus as well. There are moments when I am too weak to stand on my own and the strong arms of Jesus hold me. How about you? Have you discovered the awesomeness of God's Holy Spirit and the difference it can make in your life?

PRAYER: Loving God, I want to receive Your presence in my life. I want to be Spirit-led and Spirit-changed, so that my life will be one that gives evidence of all that is possible within us through You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Life-Change is Possible!

Loving God of new and old things; bless and protect the days of this new year in the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

CORRECTION: The Prayer Request from last night said surgery for Mrs. Leifeste is tomorrow Wednesday at 7:30 a.m., not today. My apologies for the wrong day! Keep praying!

Our text for today comes from Mark 1: 4 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. 5 People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. 6 John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey. 7 As he preached he said, "The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will change your life. 8 I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism - a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit - will change you from the inside out." 9 At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God's Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. 11 Along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life." (The Message)

This is the time of year many of us resolve to change our lives. We have made a list of "resolutions" of things that we will do, for at least two weeks, then with the right invitation or temptation, go right back to what we were doing in 2011. Probably the number one resolution is that to lose weight. Sales of exercise equipment is high during this time of year and new gadgets and appliances appear in homes and for a few days the clinging and clanging of iron and steel may be heard in our own homes. Then one long, tiring day at work will cause us to place our blouse or shirt on the exercise equipment and before we know it, we have a thousand dollar wardrobe holder. So much for the resolution. Please know this has happened to me and I am not criticizing nor pointing fingers. Life-change is what is required. And so it was that on that day that this wild man from the desert came to the Jordan River with his loud message of life-change, many came to hear him. John would not have gotten very far in yelling, "All ye must lose weight!" His message was a deeper and more profound one. His message had something to do with the personal side of our lives, the spiritual, where we know we have deep-rooted sins, especially the kind we hope will never resurface nor brought to light so that others will know just how bad we are. John's message said, "You don't have to live that way! Come to God and have that sin removed once and for all!" That got the attention of the fat and skinny, the energetic and the lazy. This was a message that hit home in the hearts of all who truly heard it. The passage said that people began to confess their sins and received changed lives.

A changed life is still available to us. This morning's Upper Room devotional is by a former drunk, who gives God complete credit and glory for having changed his life. He went from facing a life on the streets to being a respected and loved husband, father and now grandfather. He also was able to be with his mother as she died some years ago, something he knows he would not have done had he stayed under the grip of alcohol. John the Baptist offered this to all, setting the stage for the power of Christ to change our life into a "kingdom life." I love the way it says, His baptism-a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit-will change your life from the inside out."

How's your inside? Want it changed? Leave it to God.

PRAYER: Loving God, may our voices join those whose lives have been set free from the clutches of sin. May I be among those who can say that God changed even me, from the inside out. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Happy New Year!

Loving God, may the fullness of a relationship with You be this dear reader in all the days of this New Year; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Happy New Year! Here it is, 2012! And as Hollywood tried to warn us, it is the final year of existence for the human race! And this based on a Mayan calendar that simply runs out this year and then it starts again.

Our text for today is one recommended by my lovely wife for a New Year's verse, Matthew 6: 33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. 34 "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (The Message).

Many people always ask at the start of a New Year, What does this year hold for me? And the answer is, God only knows and God's not telling! What we do know, as the hymn writer said, But we do know who holds this year! It's God. The modern language of this version shares some key thoughts for us and how we could and should live: If we immerse ourselves in the knowledge that God exists and God is with us; that is "God-reality." If we believe we do have a plan and purpose for our lives and that each day brings us closer to fulfilling that for ourselves if we listen for and trust in, God; that is "God-initiative." If we truly believe Christ in His words in that powerful prayer we call the Lord's Prayer and we ask and believe God does provide for "our daily bread," then that is God-provisions. Too many of us miss out by worrying so much about little details and we don't see the big, awesome picture that God is painting for us. God is in the present and God will be in the future, but our attention and energy should be right here, right now to whatever God is doing in your life and personal ministry. Listen again to that last verse, "God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Amen!

PRAYER: Loving God, this gift of a New Year comes from You. I also know that whatever I may encounter, whatever I may need, I need trust only in You. Let that be my resolve for a better me in this New Year; that I do fully and truly trust in You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde