The Power of God's Word

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

"I could not put down that book because it was talking to me! I had never heard a talking book!" That was a testimony I heard many years ago from a missionary from India. He was sharing the story of the Christian missionaries that risked their lives in coming to his village, a non-Christian one, to share God's Word with them. This missionary was a boy and his dad allowed the missionaries to come in a share their story. The boy picked up the Bible they had carried with them and before he knew it, that "book" talked him into a new relationship with God and later into a professional service as an evangelist. Another testimony I heard was a from an Ivy League graduate who thought his life's calling was to be a social worker. As he walked around the neighborhood to which he was assigned, he entered a church, something he had not done much and he met the minister who was there. The young man asked the pastor if he had any Bibles. The pastor gave him one and the young man took it home and stayed up most of that night reading it and heard God not only speaking to him and his life, but calling him into ordained ministry. In a day or so he had read the entire Bible and came to see the minister again. "I want to go to seminary, but I want to go to the best there is." The pastor told him that in his opinion, Harvard had the best, so off he went.

Yesterday we read about how God speaks through creation. Today we hear how God speaks through God's Word. The people of Israel in a setting where they once had everything, return to find all is gone. They found a copy of God's word and it was read to the people. They not only heard, they understood and received God's word. What may have once been taken for granted was now treasured. How would we react if one day all our Bibles were taken away? Would the outcry match that of other possessions we have, i.e., weapons, automobiles, etc? For the Israelites that day was once again holy and it was a call to action; to receive God's word and then to live it, sharing with those who did not have, to have faith and hope and not sorrow. The powerful verse ends the text, "The joy of the Lord is your strength."

As we close our devotional time, turn everything over to God, smile, rejoice and be happy in the Lord, for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

PRAYER: Loving God, may the words of this passage speak to me about the treasure we have in Your holy word. Let us receive it and live it. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Nature Can't Keep Quiet!

Psalm 19: 1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; 4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (NRSV)

Nature does not need words to communicate. Heaven and earth, the seas and the wind, all shout the glories of God for our benefit. The sad thing is the steady bright flow of electronic devices have blinded us to the beauty and presence of God's great and beautiful creation. From infancy our children and grandchildren have movies beamed to their seats in the car. We can be driving by a beautiful waterfall or the beauty of a mountain range and our kids are watching a cartoon or movie. We ourselves, spend more time in front of either the glow of a television or a computer than we do by a window. When we take walks or runs, we wear ear buds or headphones to hear our music and we do not hear the music that God provides through the wind and the birds and other creatures that sing their praises to God. While I stop short of condemning our practices, I do urge us to spend a little time with nature. God has allowed most of us two different opportunities to learn and be amazed by nature; the first is our childhood when the wonder of a rain drops hitting our heads and then the awesomeness of a rainbow in the sky, the second through our children. Nellie and I are in our third round of learning and appreciating nature through our grandkids and what a precious gift that is.

The psalmist today shares a word of instruction for us. He makes the comparison in the verses I omitted from posting, to share the parallel between the perfectness of creation and God's word. His urging is for us to present ourselves clean and blameless before God like creation does. The last verse of the psalm is especially inspirational; "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." (v. 14). The best way for the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts to be acceptable to God, is to focus on God. Time spent reading a devotional such as this and spending time reading God's word and enjoying the beauty and majesty of God's creation help us to seek the purity around us that prepares us to share pure words and think pure thoughts before God. The distractions that we receive through our electronics may not serve that purpose, so we should seek that which is available free. Open a window, take a walk. Read and study God's word and enjoy the glory of God; it's all around us.

PRAYER: Loving God, I am the first to confess that I sometimes get distracted by things and do not enjoy creation as I should. I pray that with Your help I might enjoy what You have provided to help us focus on You and Your love. May what the psalmist prayed be my prayer as well, I want the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart and mind to be acceptable to You. You are my rock and my redeemer and I need You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus, the Life of the Party?

John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (NRSV)

As a teenager, I used to love this passage because of Jesus' reply to His mother as I saw it. "Mother! I can do this by myself!" Or so I thought. I had a streak for independence, but I've been cured now. The place is Cana of Galilee, forever marked as the place of "the wedding." ("Ahora si es boda"/Now, this is a wedding!). We don't know the couple's name. We suspect it was a large, typical Galilean wedding; what we do know is that Mary and her family, Jesus included, were invited and were known by the people. (Although a fun part of wedding receptions is to hear people ask, "Who's that or What are they doing at this wedding?") The setting of this being a wedding and a wedding feast is right on target to what we have been reading all week in the prophets and the psalmist's writings; a wedding feast where God's grace and salvation would be found. Jesus' very presence here is significant. John places this event early in the ministry. Jesus has been introduced and witnessed to by John the Baptist as "the Lamb of God." Jesus called His first disciples, including Philip and Nathanael; and these accompany Jesus to this wedding. As was the custom, the presence of wine was important. In the book of Joel 3:17-18 the presence of wine was considered the presence of God. And we know that it was Mary, Jesus' mother, who shared with her son that there was no more wine. Her concern is the embarrassment of the family for having run out of wine. The party would end sooner than perhaps was tradition and this was a concern to her. But she knew something about Jesus and so she approaches Him. His reaction is that it was not yet His hour or time. Yet, Mary goes and tells the servants to do whatever it is that Jesus asks of them. She was sure of Jesus' power and her influence on her son.

The story continues that Jesus sees six stone water jars for the rite of purification that could hold twenty or thirty gallons of water and Jesus orders them filled with water. As soon as they were filled, Jesus tells them to draw from jars and to take to the head steward. The steward is overjoyed upon the first taste of what was once water and is now wine and celebrates this with the bridegroom; "Everybody serves the good wine first and the inferior wine later; but you have kept this good wine until now."

It is considered the first of Jesus' many miracles. John writes that this revealed Jesus' glory and that this miracle also allowed for this young disciples to believe in Jesus. What impact did this have on the wedding couple, we don't know. It affirmed Mary's faith in her son, and it helped set the stage of Jesus' ministry being that which the prophets foretold. In Jesus we have the Messiah, the Anointed One of God come to set things right, and to turn the people's hearts back to God. Jesus was not just "the life of the party;" Jesus was the life of life, not the wine nor the food.

Jesus continues to be present where invited. It is important that Jesus be invited to our celebrations as well as our times of worry and hurt. It is best to live a life where we have invited Jesus to be present as our Lord and our Savior.

PRAYER: Living Lord, come into my heart. Come in to stay, come in today, come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

One Body!

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (NRSV)

Name a place you can sit where everyone there is exactly like you. We come close at the family table, but even there, no one is exactly like you. Yet, it is not that we are exactly alike that we were drawn or made into that family. Think of Communion Sunday and the Table of The Lord. Who kneeling alongside you as you receive or as you pray after receiving the Lord's Body is exactly like you? Paul is stressing that once we were brought into the Body of Christ, it was the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the same Holy Spirit that allows us to proclaim or live out the message, "Jesus is Lord." How we serve God varies from person to person, even from preacher to preacher, yet, it is the same Lord. God has given to all of us according to our needs, that which best serves God; all serving God for the good of everyone else. Some receive from God the gift of sharing wisdom. Some have the gift of sharing knowledge. Another has the gift of a strong faith. And some have the gifts of healing. Some can even work unexplainable things we call miracles, some can share God's word on coming events, some have the gift of knowing what spirits are at work near us; some have the gift of uttering God's good works through other languages, we call tongues. Each a gift from God. Each part of the work of the Body of Christ. Not one is considered better or more useful than the other. All should be working, not just resting on what someone else has done for the good of God's work.

The Church is made up of these brothers and sisters and each should be used for the good of the needed work among us. We have those who can share with those who just came into faith. We have those who have the gifts to lead and build up. We have those who can make worship real and meaningful. All of the gifts given for a purpose; to grow the presence of God in our churches and in our communities.

What is your gift? What is your role in sharing your gift with the work of God where you are? If you are unsure talk to someone, but first talk to God. Pray about what God has asked of you and gifted you to do. Then set out with a plan of action to grow personally, spiritually and to help your church or ministry grow. Never reach a point of contentment or comfort where you believe everything has been done and all have been reached or served. Every Communion Sunday since I learned from a fellow pastor in one of the communities where we served together I have asked, "Has everyone been served?" At first the church looked around and some nodded yes and some vocally said, "Yes!" I said, "No. Look around at the places where some are not yet sitting. There are still many who have not yet heard, not yet been invited, not yet received and believed. Everyone has not been served."

Serve the Lord by serving someone new.

PRAYER: Loving God as we prepare for worship, help us to be at work. Never let me reach the point of being satisfied with what I have already done; challenge me to do more. It is urgent that we reach and serve all. It is not easy, but it is that to which we have been called. Grant me strength and peace; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God's Having a Wedding and We're in It!

Isaiah 62:1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. 5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. (NRSV)

God loves His people. And this love cannot be hidden. At least on God's part. When it comes to us, we're not as vocal or as showy as God. As far as God is concerned, for many a PDA is out of the question. (Public Display of Affection). Yet, God declares in this passage that God will not be silent, and God will not rest until Israel is vindicated. Israel, in spite of her unfaithfulness to God, would be shown as an example of one found worthy and found righteous and as a result a new name will come from the mouth of God for her. Her beauty would shine before all nations as a shiny crown. No longer would people believe that she was forgotten or abandoned, now she will be a bride, the bride of God; for such is the love of God for God's people.

As we follow the texts recommended by the Lectionary, the theme for this coming Sunday is God's celebration over God's people. Yesterday, we looked at feasts and celebrations that accompany those and today the idea of a wedding and the celebration that that should be for all people. Unlike flawed or costly weddings here on earth, Isaiah is talking about the eternal relationship God desires with us. God's dream is to be in a fully committed, never abandoned, two-way relationship, thus what God did through Jesus Christ and Jesus' purpose and ministry on the earth.

God will have a marriage as the scriptures point out, and we that love the Lord will be included, but there's much to do. Like the hurried stress of an earthly bride-to-be, so should be hurrying in our work in getting people invited and in this new relationship with God. Such is God's love for us and so should our love be towards God and God's people.

PRAYER: God of love, thank You for the images of You love that we see through Your word. As you shared with the Psalmist and through Isaiah, may we share with others, tales of that great love You have for all, so that all may come and believe and be a part of this celebration. Make us ready. Make us worthy. We pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God's Love is Like a Banquet!

Psalm 35:5 God's love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, 6 His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. 7 How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings, 8 To eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water. 9 You're a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light. 10 Keep on loving your friends; do your work in welcoming hearts. (The Message)

"¡No es boda! This is not a wedding!" was a statement I heard from my Mom whenever we wanted more food. Which may have been at every meal in my case. I did not quite understand this statement until I attended a wedding at my uncle and aunt's farm for one of their daughters. Until that point most Mexican American wedding in the Methodist Church had copied the tradition of cake and mints, and if we were lucky, peanuts. But that wedding at the farm was quite the spread. Rows of tables loaded with food, and we're not talking everyday food, this was a feast with things that we did not see that often. It was part of the celebration that started at the church and continued on until the end of that night.

The psalmist knew celebrations of this nature and he knew the nature of God's love towards us. This modern version of the scripture paints the psalmist's description of God's love as "meteoric," God's loyalty as "astronomic", God's purpose as "titanic," and God's verdicts as "oceanic," in other words, gi-normous! Yet, the psalmist knew, that no one nor anything gets lost in the largeness of God. Nothing gets past God. He understood God's love to be that sheltering protection of a mother bird's wings, and to sit at such a wedding banquet of food and celebration, with the drink being straight from God's provision, "Eden spring waters." God is a "fountain of cascading light," and to be in God's presence is to have our eyes open to that light and love. Our invitation to God should be that God keep "keeping on." And for us to keep our hearts as "welcoming hearts."

If you're feeling small, or unimportant or insignificant, step into God. Let the largeness of God define who and Whose you are. If you're feeling lost or without a sense of good direction, walk into God. God will show you the way. If you're feeling alone and unwanted or unloved, run to God's love. God loves you, and soon you will find those that love God will love you too! If you're feeling hungry or thirsty or even empty, sit down with God, and feast. God always provides.

PRAYER: LOVING GOD, thank You for being Who You Are. May I find in You that which I need for myself and throughout this day may I share You with those who need the same thing. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Request for Today: Friends, please keep those pre-ordination candidates in your prayers as today in our area, these brave men and women are coming before a Theological Writing Review Committee. It's like walking right into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, so prayers for calm, straightness of thought, clearness of vision, etc., be theirs during these tough interviews. "Many are called, few are chosen."

Let Heaven and Nature Sing!

Psalms 29: 1 Bravo, God, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, "Encore!" 2 In awe before the glory, in awe before God's visible power. Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor him! 3 God thunders across the waters, Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness - God, across the flood waters. 4 God's thunder tympanic, God's thunder symphonic. 5 God's thunder smashes cedars, God topples the northern cedars. 6 The mountain ranges skip like spring colts, The high ridges jump like wild kid goats. 7 God's thunder spits fire. 8 God thunders, the wilderness quakes; He makes the desert of Kadesh shake. 9 God's thunder sets the oak trees dancing A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches. We fall to our knees - we call out, "Glory!" 10 Above the floodwaters is God's throne from which his power flows, from which he rules the world. 11 God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace. (NRSV)

We live in a thirsty part of the world. Our region has been through one of the roughest droughts in history. It was great news this week that we would have rain storms in this area. We were cautioned to be careful, to secure things, protect things, and prepare for much rain. The clouds played along, as did the thunder and lightning and all throughout the social media-sphere we saw comments of those who were thankful for God sharing this with us. And the storm did not quite deliver, at least in this area, that which we had hoped. But it did not diminish our gratitude towards God for what God shared with us. The psalmist knows how nature works, as did the hymnologist who wrote the lines, "Let heaven and nature sing." Those present at Jesus' baptism also saw how creation joined in with the glory displayed that day at that special event.

To hear the thunder, the psalmist said we are hearing "Glory, bravo, encore!" The lightning is shining its brilliance on God's creation and we stare in awe. God is awesome and we are blessed. May we receive this as a way of making us strong and as a way to receive God's peace.

PRAYER: Loving God, for what You have shared we are thankful. May our voices join in with the heavens and nature as voices erupt with our joyful and grateful praise to You and what You provide. May we be stronger and may we have peace. We pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

You Matter to God!

Isaiah 43: 1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. 5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; 6 I will say to the north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." (NRSV)

You can always come home. Those words may have come in through your ears or out of your mouth, but they were special to hear and to say. I heard those from my Dad when I left for college and years later I spoke those words to my children. It is a statement of great love from a parent to a child, that as long as you live and you have a place, that place is open to them. For a child, it should speak a message of comfort that if anything goes wrong or we do not quite accomplish what we set out to do, there's a place where we can go. God speaks this same message to the people of Israel, whose actions were not always the greatest towards God. They had a history of being like rebellious children who one day loved and followed God, the next they were on their own thinking they knew more than God. But God spoke these words through Isaiah and then years later spoke them to Jesus, through Whom God spoke again of our importance to God. "I have called you by name, you are mine." (v. 1). "Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you." (v4) "Do not fear, for I am with you." (v. 5).

Jesus' main message was the same; we matter to God. Through His own baptism, Jesus heard God speak of His love towards Jesus and in return, towards us. We are precious in God's sight. We have honor in God's opinion, and we are loved by God. Do not let anyone or anything tell you otherwise. We matter to God. It is a message the Church needs to share with those who are outside of the church. We need to turn away from the inward focus of most churches, towards reaching those whose lives reflect an attitude of worthlessness to share with them this message of importance in God's sight. God wants His sons and daughters to return to a relationship with Him.

What are you doing about it?

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You and praise You for this message of invitation and reconciliation. Help me to live this message. Help me to share with others that we do matter to you and that we are precious in Your sight. May I be part of the catalyst in my church that helps us focus on those who have not yet heard nor received this message. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Even in the Face of Persecution

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (NRSV)

It is worldwide, this movement of God. Acts, chapter two, shows that; You don't share the Gospel in different languages if you don't expect it to be for all people from all places. And wait, didn't Jesus, in the last verses of Matthew say something about this worldwide emphasis of making disciples? The passage today speaks of the people of Samaria accepting the word of God. That is to say, revival came to this place not known for their faithfulness to God. Many at the time would have said, "That's the last place I would have thought would accept the word of God." That's why God thought of it, not us. We tend to limit things. God doesn't. And it comes at an interesting time. The first part of this chapter shares how a great persecution is started against the Christian Church by Saul and Philip finds himself preaching in Samaria during the time a great magician is amazing the people of that place with his magic and proclaiming himself to be great. Philip did not share himself as great, but shared how great God was, and many people came to faith including the magician, Simon, who from then on followed Philip around to see the signs and great wonders that were taking place because of the presence of the faith in God.

It was up to Philip to plant the seeds and reap the harvest of this revival, then the Holy Spirit directs the apostles to send to that place, Peter and John. Peter and John had had great success in sharing the Holy Spirit, they themselves being faithful to what the Holy Spirit had done through them. In chapter three of this same book, it was Peter and John who healed a man born lame and then testified before the Sanhedrin about the power of God through Jesus. So, they are sent to ask God to send the Holy Spirit to Samaria. The people of Samaria had been baptized in the name of Jesus but had not yet heard nor received the Holy Spirit. Peter and John arrive, laid hands on the believers and they received the Holy Spirit. Their lives now had the presence and power of the indwelling Christ. To receive Jesus is the first step of a grace journey. To receive and believe in the Holy Spirit is the actual journey itself of sanctification; that of being made holy each day before God for faithful service. The description of what the Holy Spirit provides in later epistles of Paul help us understand that this journey with Christ is lifelong and it is a growing journey that equips us more and more to do more and more. Read Galatians 5: 22 and 23 for a better understanding of what the fruit of the Spirit is. And read 1 Corinthians 12 for a list of the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful for Thy service. Lead us to deeper understanding and to more fruitful work. We pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Baptism of Jesus: God with Us!

Luke 3: 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (NRSV)

The beautiful graphic used today in the email version of ConCafe comes from the artist He Qi. Her gallery can be found at www.hequigallery.com. You can see the graphic by going to http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2012/01/08/the-baptism-of-our-lord-jesus-christ/. The colors bright a dimension of power and joy that I know was present at the Baptism of Jesus. I can't speak for John the Baptist. He was having great success in calling all people to repentance, even offering a nonJewish rite to Jews who felt that they needed to be washed clean of their sinfulness. John was setting the stage for the power and message of Jesus. I don't think he expected to be asked by Jesus, a relative, considered by many to be a cousin, for baptism. Jesus among all these sinners, even some of the religious men who would later plot against Jesus, baptized? Jesus' intent was the identifying and relating to our situation. While Jesus had no sin, He bore our sins. But Jesus understands us and relates with us. He knows our suffering and our situations and in spite of that, loves and cares for us. As Jesus emerges from the water, the heavens open, and the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove descends upon Jesus and a voice from Heaven declares, "You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased." The first of two declarations from Heaven that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and Who enjoyed the pleasure of God for His faithfulness to the ministry to which He was called.

There is nothing you or I could go through that we enter or endure alone. Jesus' willingness to identify with us at His baptism shows that. The man with no sin who did not need baptism offered HImself freely and openly. Those who were present saw it though they may not have understood it at the time. Those who heard the voice understood the profound power of God's blessing upon Jesus. We are the ones years later, who are being blessed by Jesus' presence and caring for us. No illness, no challenge, no unexpected obstacle stands a chance against Jesus. It may seem at times that we are alone and weak, but we need to know that Jesus stands with us and helps us through whatever it is that we face. The challenges and opportunities of this New Year are best faced and lived with the knowledge that Jesus goes with us.

PRAYER: Living God as each day of the New Year unfolds, may we receive and enjoy each day with the sure knowledge that You are with us. Thank You for identifying with us and our situations. May each victory be a reason for praise and glory for You. We pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

KINGS!

Isaiah 60: 1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. 3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4 Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms. 5 Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. (NRSV)

My grandson, Liam, loves corn dogs. Last night while eating one at his aunt's house, he had an epiphany. "Mom! There's a hot dog in this corn dog!" His mom replied, "Yes, Liam, that's why they're called corn dogs." I often wonder how much the prophets understood the messages from God. They wrote down words that God shared and the images and statements there must have given them hope and wonder, but not the clarity with which we read these same words today. The idea of light for the prophets was easily understood, for they had seen their own contemporaries walking in darkness and leading others in that way. They understood the glory of the Lord, for they worked in that realm. But the notion of "nations" coming to "your light," and "kings to the brightness of your dawn," must have made them wonder. The idea of a Messiah being born and being made the light of the world was an accepted idea, but hundreds of years before it happened, the words were simply that of an accepted idea with the when of its completion completely unknown. Add to that that this vision also says these kings would bring "A multitude of camels," and "gold and frankincense."

We have the truth revealed, the Epiphany shared with us, that God worked in a way that made Jesus Christ for all the world, Jews and Gentiles alike. The Light of Jesus would shine on the darkness of all humanity for our good. The prophetic vision fulfilled on that night when the magi/kings came to where the child was, and offered to Him those gifts that Isaiah wrote about. And their homage was the praise that Isaiah saw in his vision.

We serve an awesome God. A God who hundreds of years before an event can share a glimpse of something great and glorious to come so that we might be stronger in our faith and more faithful in our service. The image of kings coming to a stable to find a child born in poverty does not make sense to a doubting world, but to the world that believes it is the Glory of God confounding humanity to prove the point that all matter to God. It matters not where you were born. It matters not how you were born or what social status your family enjoyed then; it matters that you recognize and accept that you matter to God right now and you are invited into a wonderful, abundant life journey with the Son of God, to realize and receive that perfect love that only God can share with us.

You ready?

PRAYER: Lord, put me to doing and help me in believing. Let Your Light shine brightly on my words, thoughts, and actions, so that I might join that procession of believers who praises You and Your Son, and seeks to be faithful in bringing others to that light. I ask this in faith and in the name of He born King of all people, Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Epiphany!

Matthew 2: 1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' " 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (NRSV)

Job security is important, even for a king. To have visitors from afar come into your home to ask, "Where is the child born king of the Jews?" does not sit well with anyone, especially an insecure despot like King Herod. The birth of Jesus drew attention from the known world and these magi, also called kings by other accounts, come to Jerusalem, to the palace to ask this king, "Where is He? You, of all people, should know where he is, since he will be taking your job." The Bible says Herod was "frightened." It also said "and all of Jerusalem with him" which may have come after Herod summoned all the chief priest and teachers of the faith to come and help him understand what this visit was all about. They knew the prophetic reference from their scriptures, and the meaning of the coming of a messiah. Herod has a secret meeting with the magi and wants to know more about the details of this birth and of the star that had appeared to announce this birth. He also asked for them to find the child and to let him know where exactly this baby was, so that he could also go and pay homage. Liar. We know the story and the real reason for wanting to know where Jesus was. The magi follow the star and come to the place where "they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage." Then, sharing from their treasure they shared gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. A dream from God warns them to return home by another route avoiding another meeting with Herod.

This day called Epiphany is special for many reasons. It shows the universal appeal of Jesus; His birth was noticed beyond the Jewish realm. Those who come to pay homage to the Jewish king are not Jews, but Gentiles. The child is born to be a shepherd king, who will guide the people of God to faithfulness. And the gifts indicate other roles that the child will fill: Gold, the gift fit for a king. Frankincense, the gift for the high priest (or "bridge" between God and humanity). Myrrh, the gift for one who was to die. And die He did for all humanity.

This birth provided us with security. God shared Jesus as our Lord and Savior; the King of kings, and Lord of lords, given for you and me. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, sent to guide us to a deeper relationship with God and a faithfulness to bless others. An invitation for all the world to know they matter to God and all are welcome to receive Him as King.

PRAYER: Lord, may the birth of Jesus continue to bless the world with this sharing of love. May I seek to be more a part of this love in all that I think, speak and do. I ask it in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

This is it! Don't Get Scared Now!

Matthew 28: And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (NRSV)

This is the last day of 2012. I love the line from Home Alone where Kevin tells himself, "This is it. Don't get scared now!" If you've been alive and able to read since 1983, you'll remember how so many were frightened about ushering in 1984, because of the book by the same name. Then in 1999, the scare was bigger and people stockpiled weapons, food, water and thought, "This is it; I'm scared!" And two weeks ago, yawn, some actually thought the world would end. Here we are.

Jesus said it best when He spoke to the Disciples. He gave them a commission to fulfill and the promise that while they were busying doing what He wanted, He would be with them, even to the end of the age. We can ask no better promise for the ushering in of a New Year. What we must also not forget is that we still have a lot of work to do. We have not yet reached all the world. We have not yet reached across the aisle or across the room and certainly not across the street. What are we waiting for? The New Year promises nothing if not new opportunities to serve Jesus like never before.

Happy New Year! Live life in abundance. And, get busy!

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Jesus and all that He shared with us. We are mindful of the work still before us and we pray for courage, boldness, wisdom and strength to make disciples of all nations. We also claim the promise that You will be with us each day, even to the end of the age. Thank You. We praise You and love You. In Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day and a Happy New Year! Be smart and be safe!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus and The Family Trip

Luke 2; 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; 43 and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; 47 and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." 49 And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man. (NRSV)

If Joseph had been my father, he would have walked into Jesus' room and said, "Get ready, pack up, we're goin on a trip." Jesus might have asked, "Where are we going?" Joseph: "Where did I say we were going?" Jesus: "How many days, then?" But he wasn't. This was an annual trip from their hometown to Jerusalem for the festival of Passover. This was the holiest of holidays for them in those days and a trip like this was a big deal. It was a journey traveled mostly on foot, usually with most members of the town or village that could afford to go. It was not an easy journey, but for a boy, it was an adventure. It meant a time of exploring, a time with friends, nights by the fire with the old folks listening to stories, and finally getting a chance to see the Temple again. It was a tourist's dream vacation. The festival celebrated God's action of liberation from slavery in Egypt and freedom for the Jews. It started the Exodus and it was an important day in their history and in their faith. The pilgrims would arrive about a week before the actual festival and would enjoy all that the big city of Jerusalem had to offer. For Jesus what it offered was a time in the Temple with the teachers of the Law. It was this that would get him in trouble with His parents.

The festival was over and the journey home started. The parents assumed that Jesus was with the usual crowd of friends and off they went a day's journey. As they are bedding down for the night, they assume Jesus would come, hungry, to eat with them. No Jesus. The parents look for Him among their relatives and friends. "Is Jesus with you?" No, came back the answer. They thought to return back to Jerusalem. Now, at this point I, and my wife, would be frantic. No child of any parent should go missing. This day without Jesus and the day it must have taken to return back were hectic hours for Mary and Joseph. They searched that first day in Jerusalem for Jesus, then a second, and it wasn't until the third day that they found Jesus in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Verse 47 says, "And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers." I suppose this was enough for Joe and Mary, but Lalo would have taken me outside, and I'll let your imagination guess as to what was next; had I been the missing Jesus... But Joseph and Mary were "astonished," but still Mary asked, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." Part of me says Jesus knew this. But the compassionate side says Jesus was too preoccupied with what was before him that he thought mostly about God and God's teachings. For your modern parents, it's like leaving your child in the Game Stop with a store full of their favorite games. You think they'd be thinking about you??

Jesus replies to Mary, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (v. 49). The trip home continues and verse 52 for me as a child was one I had memorized and treasured as well, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature in favor with both God and men." (King James Version).

I believe Joseph and Mary did their very best in raising Jesus. They were both good teachers of God's Word, but that which they may have not known, Jesus picked up on this trip to Jerusalem with the private audience and lesson he had from the greatest theological minds of His day. He was free to ask that which He would need later as He taught the people as God had taught Him. It was all a part of His preparation for His earthly ministry.

You and I have been taught either in Sunday school or through experience, the teachings and truths about God and God's love. How we use them later in life to bless others or to help ourselves is the big question. We should be committed to learning as much as we can without worry about when or how what we learn will be applied. God's Word will always bless us. It might not be this minute, but the minute will soon arrive and we will know and we will be blessed.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the teachers we have had in our lives. Thank Your for loving and caring parents who have sought to teach us Your ways. May we seek ways to reach those who have not yet heard nor learned about Your love. We pray especially for children who have not yet darkened the Sunday school door. Help us reach them before it becomes too late. We pray this in Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Live in Peace and Purity!

2 Peter 3:8 Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. 9 God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change. 10 But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment. 11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? 12 Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day - 13 but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness. 14 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. 15 Interpret our Master's patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, 16 refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don't know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it. 17 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. 18 Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes! (The Message)

One of the most special times in my pastoral life was leading the candlelight service on Christmas Eve. It is hard to describe, but it comes close to what Peter says is to live in "peace and purity." The photo above shows us at that moment just this week in worship. Our daughter, Nellie, photographed us without our knowing and captured a great shot of Grandma Nellie holding Eliana who was deep in sleep. To hold a candle in the darkness and sing "Silent Night" is a connectional moment. I remember all the past Christmas Eves and all who are now singing in the presence of God. After this service was over I heard my name called and it was a dear friend from my childhood who attends this church and his eyes were like mine, red. He said, "I love Christmas Eve but it gets to me - I remember my Dad and my sister..." Another connectional moment. Peter's basic message in this second letter was to connect with God and to stay connected, regardless of what is all around us or what may be coming. The last ConCafe was written on the 20th, the day before the Mayan calendar ran out and many interpreted this as the End. As far as I know you and I are still here and we're still living. I would pray living more connected than ever before. The world and its temptations still is going strong and we need to be likewise, but strong in the Lord.

Peter outlines biblical measurements as to "a day is like a thousand years" and a reminder that "no one knows the day nor hour," but reminds us that the end will come. His urging is to live in peace and purity. It is so urgent even now to tell people about God that the best way will be to live an inviting life. The Sunday NY Times shared two articles about faith or the lack there of. The main article said that one in five Americans now claims "None" as their religious preference. The second article in the Book Review said that modern books no longer share faith or issues of faith even in novels. The 1950s may have been the last more-or-less sacred decade. There is no question that our present time is a secular time, with the Christian Church no longer have the same influence it once did; all the more reason for those of us who are believers, to live a life that says, "There is a God of love, but whose invitation is to connect in a way that defeats sin and the consequences of sin." Peter says for us to grow as we stand strong in our faith.

PRAYER: Loving God, we pray that we might connect with You in a way that blesses us and others. May our connection be a blessing of strength and inspiration that we might bring about a revival of hearts for the good of humanity. We pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Christ Will Come Again, Stay Strong!

2 Peter 3: 1 My dear friends, this is now the second time I've written to you, both letters reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention. 2 Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed on by your apostles. 3 First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings, 4 they'll mock, "So what's happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything's going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing's changed." 5 They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God's word. 6 Then God's word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. 7 The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics. (The Message)

So, tomorrow may be the end of the world? If you believe that the Mayan Calendar truly has validity and don't take time to read that the Mayans knew that after tomorrow, the calendar starts over. I am not a gambling man nor do I place bets, but if I were, it's a sure bet that the world will not end tomorrow. But it will some day. Peter is addressing a serious challenge to the Christian faith since Jesus' day; "When is Jesus coming back? When will it all end?" Jesus gave clues and hints, but He also plainly said, "No one knows the time nor hour." But within our tradition as we celebrate the Lord's Supper we affirm, "Christ will come again." When? It doesn't matter if we're ready now. Many televangelists and writers have made some serious money predicting and aligning this with that and saying, "this is all part of the End Times," but the question really stays with us: Are you ready now? That's the point of Peter's message in today's passage, stay strong in the faith, and don't be distracted. Live your life as you should in the Lord and face each day with the hope and promise of telling at least one new person about this life we have in Jesus Christ. We have a new and better way to live and we are called to invite new followers into it. And even in the midst of doubters and nonbelievers, we stay strong. Christ will come again and I'm ready now.

Peter reminds us that out of chaos came order, and all through God's word. And it was God's word that brought destruction to those before the Flood. And it will be that the of the world will come through the spoken word of God. We live our lives ready.

To live with fear and doubt is not a way to live. We shortchange no one but ourselves. We miss out on so much if we cower and run from opportunities to speak to the fullness of God. We limit this or that and all in the name of the bad economy or prejudices we hold towards our leaders in our government and/or our churches. And who get harmed the most? Those living in fear. End that today and live a life like Jesus intended, full of life and love and hope in the God who will have the last word on all things.

PRAYER: Amazing God of creation and life, speak to those with fear and doubt in their hearts. Speak a word of truth and peace. Help us to raise our heads above the doom and despair shared by so many, towards the bright hope of a new day lived in God's love. Let me truly be a witness to those who need Jesus. I pray this with faith in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Stay on the Road That Leads to God

2 Peter 2: 13 Their evil will boomerang on them. They're so despicable and addicted to pleasure that they indulge in wild parties, carousing in broad daylight. 14 They're obsessed with adultery, compulsive in sin, seducing every vulnerable soul they come upon. Their specialty is greed, and they're experts at it. Dead souls! 15 They've left the main road and are directionless, having taken the way of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophet who turned profiteer, a connoisseur of evil. 16 But Balaam was stopped in his wayward tracks: A dumb animal spoke in a human voice and prevented the prophet's craziness. 17 There's nothing to these people - they're dried-up fountains, storm-scattered clouds, headed for a black hole in hell. 18 They are loudmouths, full of hot air, but still they're dangerous. Men and women who have recently escaped from a deviant life are most susceptible to their brand of seduction. 19 They promise these newcomers freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for if they're addicted to corruption - and they are - they're enslaved. 20 If they've escaped from the slum of sin by experiencing our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then slid back into that same old life again, they're worse than if they had never left. 21 Better not to have started out on the straight road to God than to start out and then turn back, repudiating the experience and the holy command. 22 They prove the point of the proverbs, "A dog goes back to its own vomit," and, "A scrubbed-up pig heads for the mud." (The Message)

This is a continuation of what Peter railed again in yesterday's passage. His anger is not easily hidden. He is angry! Like a parent that teaches a child to do one thing and the child chooses to do another, such was Peter's anger at those who knew better, but now are guided by selfish passion and greed and will stop at nothing to increase their influence and their possessions. If we know The Way that leads to God and life and the fullness of life, why would we choose to deviate from that and serve only ourselves? Peter believed it was better to have not even started on that road if they were just going to get worse than when they were when they first started.

There's an interesting man in one of our churches who suffered a serious medical incident that left him changed. It left him unemployed, broke, and with no possessions, yet in a talk he and I had, he's better off now he told me. He has learned how to say "God bless you" in many languages and seeks to learn more and share more. Materialism and greed are no longer a part of his life. He aims to bless God and God's people. It made me wonder that especially during this time of year when so many focus on stuff and more stuff, do we truly know what matters most in this life? The message on the television and the commercial is to acquire more and more; the truth is to know the love of God matters most.

PRAYER: God of all things, owner of ten thousand cattle and the hills on which they graze, teach my heart about what really matters most. The Gift you shared with the world during this time of year should matter more than anything else. I pray for a spirit of gratitude and sharing in the midst of all who seek to acquire more and appreciate less. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Discern the Good not the Bad!

2 Peter 2: 10 God is especially incensed against these "teachers" who live by lust, addicted to a filthy existence. They despise interference from true authority, preferring to indulge in self-rule. Insolent egotists, they don't hesitate to speak evil against the most splendid of creatures. 11 Even angels, their superiors in every way, wouldn't think of throwing their weight around like that, trying to slander others before God. 12 These people are nothing but brute beasts, born in the wild, predators on the prowl. In the very act of bringing down others with their ignorant blasphemies, they themselves will be brought down, losers in the end. (The Message)

We can never lose sight of the spiritual nature of the church. Given all that we do, we cannot forget that we exist to serve God and God's people. Our main function is to worship God. It was something Peter was aware of given all that he saw and experienced. He knew the power of evil and how it comes against the power of God. The church that is not connected to God does not know how savage this evil can be, even within the settings of church life. Among them, Peter knows, are those who come as "teachers" but are not guided by the spiritual but instead by the carnal. Peter, in this version, calls it "lust" and "filthy existence." These so-called teachers refuse to seek the divine and instead prefer to be guided by what serves them best. God is taken out of the equation. Their mission becomes one of speaking against those who seek to serve God and share God's truth with those in need of hearing it. Peter says that even God's angels, whose power exceeds those of mortals, do not use their influence or power to influence anyone. Peter calls the false teachers "beasts, born in the wild, predators on the prowl." But the losers are they; for Peter knows who wins.

God shares with believers a spiritual gift of discernment; that which allows those who seek in prayer and other spiritual disciplines, to learn more about God. God helps us sense when someone is sharing something not of God. Seek to be those who seek and serve God, and you will be among those who "win" against evil in the end. Seek to support and nurture those with whom you work, especially those you know seek to bring honor and glory to God.

PRAYER: God of power and might, mercy and love, speak to my heart as I seek to honor and serve You. Speak wisdom through me and let me put myself aside to seek You and Your ways. Let me not fall for those who seek the disruption of God's unity in the church. I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God's Heart Was The First To Break

Romans 8: 35 Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: 36 They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. 37 None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. 38 I'm absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, 39 high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. (The Message)

There are no easy answers for what happened this past week in Newtown, Conn. To gun down innocent children in their classrooms at their school should not happen. But because it did, there is only one place we can turn, and that is to God. Yes, already people ask, "Where was God?" and use this as an excuse for unbelief. Not knowing the depth and power of Scripture, these are those who know not to turn to God's Word for comfort and hope in the face of tragic loss. This is the time of year we read but do not hear the cries of those mothers whose sons were murdered by Herod in his search to find and kill the baby Jesus. (read Matthew 2:16-18). It was precisely for that sort of evil that God intervened in history by sending His only begotten Son. Jesus would die to pay the price of our sinfulness. But before His death taught us a new, different way to live, a fullness and abundance of life (John 10:10).

It was several years ago, that the son of Rev. William Sloan Coffin, then pastor of Riverside Church in New York City, got drunk and drove his car off a pier and drowned. Rev. Coffin shared how at the funeral one of his well-meaning church members said, "It was God's will..." He replied, "No, it was not God's will that my son drink and then drive; but God's heart was the first to break." The search and gift of free will since the creation of time, has both helped and hurt people; it's brought new ways to sustain life as well as new ways to take life away. We, as believers in the Most High God, must live our lives in ways that show Jesus' way to live, and when presented with situations like this join in the mourning but also in the comforting. I'll never forget a conversation I had with a seminary brother who was doing a CPE at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He was on duty as the ER chaplain when the wife of a minister had come in from a suicide attempt. She died of a self-inflcited gunshot wound. He was the closest to the pastor when told that efforts to save her life had failed. My friend said all he could do was to hug the man and cry with him.

I had never read the above passage in this modern paraphrase and I thought as I was looking it up that I would not like it, but it spoke to me. Paul's words about his belief about life and death are still as true as when he faced his own death; "They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or death...absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (vss. 36-39). And last night I walked in late to Mr. Don Piper's presentation at First UMC in Corpus Christi. Don is the man who died and spent 90 minutes in heaven (the title of his book). He spoke of seeing those who had brought him to Christ who greeted him at the gate. His grandfather and next-door neighbor were among the first. Don said they were now perfect unlike they had been on earth. His grandpa had lost several fingers on both hands during the war as he built battleships in Beaumont, TX, but in heaven he was perfect. A man with no teeth at the time of his death now had a beautiful smile. Don says he did not want to leave that place and came back to several years of pain in his recovery, but understand now it was to help others who had come through that same sort of suffering.

May our lives be those to whom people can turn and find a ready shoulder and embrace that comforts; may our prayers also bring comfort to those whose lives will never be the same again.

PRAYER: Loving God, Your heart broke on that night when mothers and fathers wept in Ramah. Your heart broke this week after those children and teachers were gunned down. Comfort and be with those mothers, fathers, grandparents, friends and neighbors who are crying uncontrollably because of it. Let us bring comfort where we may. We pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Those Reminders of Disobedience...

2 Peter 2:4 God didn't let the rebel angels off the hook, but jailed them in hell till Judgment Day. 5 Neither did he let the ancient ungodly world off. He wiped it out with a flood, rescuing only eight people - Noah, the sole voice of righteousness, was one of them. 6 God decreed destruction for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. A mound of ashes was all that was left - grim warning to anyone bent on an ungodly life. 7 But that good man Lot, driven nearly out of his mind by the sexual filth and perversity, was rescued. 8 Surrounded by moral rot day after day after day, that righteous man was in constant torment. 9 So God knows how to rescue the godly from evil trials. And he knows how to hold the feet of the wicked to the fire until Judgment Day. (The Message)

My brother was recently in Jordan and took a picture of what is supposed to be Lot's wife. It is a pillar of salt in an area where there should be no salt or something like that. What it is is a reminder of disobedience. We all have them. The dent on the car, the hole in the wall, the now too-small pants and shirts in the "other " closet, the pain in our hearts of things said that cannot be taken back, all reminders of what we should not have done, said, or been. The passage from today is such a reminder from Peter from scripture of those who disobeyed God. Folks who "had it made" when it came to the things of God, who chose "something else" because they thought they knew more or better for themselves than God. We've all been there and we all have the reminders. But, hear the Good News, verse 9: "So God knows how to rescue the godly from evil trials." If we seek to be right with God, we're godly. And if we're godly, we have the promise from Apostle/Disciple No. 1 that God knows who to rescue us!

The dent can be fixed as can the wall. We can try to lose weight or donate the clothes to a church or charity that helps those in need; the words cannot be taken back, but we can try to mend the relationships that we may have hurt. God can help us stay us away from future disobedience if we stay close to God.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me mend those reminders of my disobedience. Help me stay on the path so that future rescue will not be needed. I pray this with faith in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Don't Be Deceived!

2 Peter 2: 1 But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They'll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other - biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They've put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, 2 but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can't tell right from wrong. 3 They're only out for themselves. They'll say anything, anything, that sounds good to exploit you. They won't, of course, get by with it. They'll come to a bad end, for God has never just stood by and let that kind of thing go on. (The Message)

Nothing worse than a church fight. Well, worse is a divided church, where people take sides and the pastor(s) find themselves outnumbered and outgunned by both sides. Peter knew this for he had seen and experienced it within the religious leaders of his day and how they plotted against Jesus and brought Jesus to a mock trial and forced His death. Peter knew that sort of deception and dishonesty would continue even until today. Why does this occur? A dis-connect with God and an unwillingness to dis-connect from ourselves. Those who stay in prayer constantly connect with God. Those who read and prayerfully study the scriptures connect with God. And these are the least likely to fall for those things that are not of God's. They know to seek what God wants, not what they want or what will directly benefit them. They know that God's mission is beyond the four walls of the church and anything set up just to please members fails God.

Are you connected with God? Are you at least seeking that connection? If so, you're on the right path; no one will blindfold you and lead you away!

PRAYER: God of Truth and Light, speak to our hearts as we seek You. Help us to see that which brings honor and glory to You. Don't let us fall for anything, instead let us stand for You. We pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Focus of God's Delight!

2 Peter 1: 16 We weren't, you know, just wishing on a star when we laid the facts out before you regarding the powerful return of our Master, Jesus Christ. We were there for the preview! We saw it with our own eyes: 17 Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: "This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight." 18 We were there on the holy mountain with him. We heard the voice out of heaven with our very own ears. 19 We couldn't be more sure of what we saw and heard - God's glory, God's voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You'll do well to keep focusing on it. It's the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts. 20 The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. 21 And why? Because it's not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God's Word. (The Message)

The testimony of an eyewitness says, "We were there. We saw it." Peter, an Apostle of Jesus, says, "We were there. What we have shared is true. This is not, as another version says, a "cleverly devised myth" shared with you, this is the Good News. In fact, we were even there when we saw with our own eyes and heard with our own ears when God spoke and said, "This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight." This was but a preview of that which is to come, namely Jesus Himself, whom we proclaim will come again. All the scriptures pointed to this and were fulfilled in Jesus. Stay focused on believing and sharing.

When I first read this passage and decided that delight would be the main focus of this passage, I looked for an image on the internet that would be under "delight" in a Google images search. I found a fancy lettering of the word, tons of sweets, cakes, pies, cereal, some drinks. And nothing jumped out at me as truly being a delight. I asked myself, what brings me delight? No question, my children and grandchildren. I put the above picture together as that which says delight. If I get such a thrill out of being with my little ones, then God's got me beat with the delight that Jesus gave/gives God! Jesus has brought me delight in knowing that in Him I can and do find forgiveness. In Him I can and do find hope. Jesus give me delight in knowing that as I journey towards the unknown challenges of the day (a dental appointment today at 8:30), Jesus journeys with me. Jesus has perfect teeth. I'm the one whose hand Jesus will hold! (LOL). In Jesus I find the promises of a life that will never end. And that bring me delight. And that is the message you and I are called to share with those who have not yet heard. We are eyewitnesses of what God can do and God can do it again for them.

Be the delight in God's eyes today by bringing delight to someone else in sharing this story.

PRAYER: Loving God, bless us in what we need to do. Lead us, guide us, give us courage, wisdom, and boldness to share of Your love in a way that bring delight to You. Let us be delight to others we pray, in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Stay Alert!

2 Peter 1: 12 Because the stakes are so high, even though you're up-to-date on all this truth and practice it inside and out, I'm not going to let up for a minute in calling you to attention before it. 13 This is the post to which I've been assigned - keeping you alert with frequent reminders - and I'm sticking to it as long as I live. 14 I know that I'm to die soon; the Master has made that quite clear to me. 15 And so I am especially eager that you have all this down in black and white so that after I die, you'll have it for ready reference. (The Message)

The stakes are high. How often have you thought or said that about your faith? I presided over three charge conferences yesterday, all two-plus hours from home. At two I heard hints of "if things don't get better (financially) we might have to close..." I shared with them that in our district there are six (6) possible retirements, and out of 39 charge conferences, only one new candidate for ministry. The stakes are high. Higher still, are the personal stakes of not sharing as we should. Peter took it upon himself to write these words and to urge believers to stay strong and focused on the message of Good News from Jesus Christ. He knew that was his duty and he could say he stayed faithful and would be faithful until his death. And he adds, he knew that his death was coming soon, as the Lord Jesus Christ had made it clear to him. For him to share and encourage was especially urgent.

How is it with your soul? I pray that after time with God each day you can say, "It is well with my soul! I have hope and joy and peace, and I look forward to the day and whatever challenges and opportunities it might bring!" A contagious faith is what we need to share with those who do not know yet about Jesus. A recent study by another denomination shared a startling fact: A lot of people are waiting for someone to invite them to church and into faith. I don't know the reason why if you're hungry you don't find your way to a place that serves food, but some just need that special nudge or invite that may save their lives. If it's well with you soul, tell somebody! Don't wait or blame your pastor for declining numbers! As a baptized believer in Christ Jesus you are a co-pastor in the work of sharing the Good News.

What are you waiting for?

PRAYER: Loving God, let this day be a day when I can share with all that it is well with my soul. May I do so in a way that gets others interested or excited about God's love and the relationship that awaits them as they surrender their lives to God. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Get Out The Construction Paper!

1 Peter 1:5 So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, 6 alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, 7 warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. 8 With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. 9 Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. 10 So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing, 11 the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. (The Message)

I love the name construction paper. It reminds me of my childhood when we needed to buy and take to school new construction paper. I can't say that we ever built anything lasting. We did build some paper chains to hang around our classroom, and we did cut out some odd shapes of things meant to be stars, squares, and circles. Many resembled my later years attempts to making flour tortillas resulting in what my mother called "maps." Yet, I loved the name for to me construction implies building and building implies moving and growing. Such is the message in today's passage from Peter. Peter says that we are not to lose one single moment in building on that precious gift given to us by Christ Jesus, faith. All believers when we enter into a relationship with Jesus are given the gift of faith. But faith serves as a foundation on which we are to build that which makes us a more effective and fruitful believer. Look at the list (and we studied this not too long ago in an earlier ConCafe) and see what Peter is recommending. On faith the foundation, we add good character, which means we become people of integrity, people whose yes is yes and no is no. People whose word and handshake mean something. Add to that good character spiritual understanding. Paul called this spiritual understanding, the Mind of Christ, which means to see things from a spiritual perspective not an earthly one. It means we seek to learn more about our Lord through prayer, the study of Scripture, fellowship, worship, small group participation, accountability groups, etc. We cannot become content nor comfortable where we are at the moment; we must seek to grow always. Closely related is alert discipline which is self-control. We have the gift of free will, use it to say no to those things that can deviate us from the course set for us by God! Passionate patience means endurance, or not giving up when things seem to go against us. It means being excited and enthusiastic at all times even when people may think us crazy for "hanging in there" while others give up. Add to our faith the gift of reverent wonder, which means seeing the hand of God at work in all things. Make time to look at flowers, the brilliant colors and awesome design. Study a newborn baby. Stare at creatures at work and at play in nature and tell me that you cannot see the presence and power of God in creation. Add warm friendliness to your faith, because a cold, stuck-up Christian is of no service to anyone except to their own thinking. And lastly, the icing is generous love. Anyone who knows the love of God has to share it. Those who wear the label and jewelry of faith but care nothing for no one but themselves is not a Christian. A self-centered Christian - there's no such thing; yes, there are plenty who may call themselves followers of Christ but care nothing for others. What kingdom are they building up, besides their own?

This is the kind of faith that moves us forward and blesses the work of God in our midst. It is a faith that matures. Last night at a charge conference I was leading, we were talking about prayer and several shared how God had answered their prayers. One woman shared how when her son was little, he had been in trouble at school and that evening when the phone rang she began to pray out loud, "Oh God, please give me th patience and wisdom to deal with this problem..." The little boy ran to the phone, picked it up and yelled, "Not right now, she's talking to God!" and slammed it down. That woman's faith has matured because she knew with Whom to talk about in the good and the bad. Never forget that your past life ended last night at midnight. And if you confessed and turned over your sins to God last night, today you awoke with a clean slate of faith. Make the best of the day with acts that bless God and God's people.

A faith that matures is a faith that moves forward on the road that leads to God's eternal kingdom, inviting people along the way to join the journey.

You ready?

PRAYER: Loving and awesome God, may the words shared by Your servant Peter bless and protect my life and my faith. I want an active, maturing faith that makes disciples and grows the throng of those who love you and seek to follow You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Tickets, please!

2 Peter 1:1 I, Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God's straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 2 Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. 3 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! 4 We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you - your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. (The Message)

We begin our study of the Second Letter of Peter, written more as a testimony of a faithful believer. We sometimes do interesting things to get tickets. I took the photo above of some tickets from my life. The top tickets were to a Rolling Stones concert in Houston in 1972 and they cost all of six dollars ($6.00). But it took my dear friend, George S., to spend the night waiting in line to get these tickets. My part of the bargain was that I would drive us to the concert venue. Also slated to appear that night was Stevie Wonder! Imagine getting offered $100 for each ticket, which we were, but we declined. "We" had been through a lot to get these tickets and to see the concert was the purpose of our even having tickets.

You and I have very special tickets, according to this passage by Peter. Tickets to participate in the greatest life that is possible for any human. A life lived in the presence of God through Jesus Christ. An "invitation" to the fullness of life because of what Jesus did for us. Peter knew that grace and peace were ours and that these would deepen daily as we walked and talked with our Lord. He writes, "Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God." This is the best invitation. And this invitation came with tickets. To have tickets means you have full admittance into that event. These cannot be sold to anyone else; who would want to? Our saying Yes to Jesus means we have said No to the things that separate us from Him. Back in the days of my childhood, the only air conditioned place I knew was the movie theater in downtown Kingsville. To have a ticket to the movies also meant entrance into a world free from the South Texas heat. No one would buy a ticket to stand outside and wonder about what movie was showing and what it was about. Yet, many of us live that way when it comes to knowing and experiencing the fullness of God through Jesus Christ.

You have the ticket. Why wait outside?

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the invitation to come in to You and this wonderful life of faith. Help me and those who make this their prayer, not to stand outside and miss out on the fullness of life that is ours by entering into a relationship with You. Thank You. I pray this prayer of gratitude and invitation, in the name of Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Hang In There!

1 Peter 5: 10 The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ - eternal and glorious plans they are! - will have you put together and on your feet for good. 11 He gets the last word; yes, he does. 12 I'm sending this brief letter to you by Silas, a most dependable brother. I have the highest regard for him. I've written as urgently and accurately as I know how. This is God's generous truth; embrace it with both arms! 13 The church in exile here with me - but not for a moment forgotten by God - wants to be remembered to you. Mark, who is like a son to me, says hello. 14 Give holy embraces all around! Peace to you - to all who walk in Christ's ways. (The Message)

1 Peter 5: 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. 12 Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13 Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. (NRSV)

In this day and age it is difficult for most people to write letters. We get hundreds of emails a day, and there is something to be said about checking your mailbox several times a day and finding in there messages from those who matter. But gone, for the most part, of hand-written letters to loved ones is gone. My first year in college was at first a difficult one and letters from my mom and grandmother were very special. These were usually brief recaps of goings on at home and each would contain a dollar or two for my "gum" as both would say. I felt connected through those letters. Peter ends his letter with the passage from today. In it he summarizes what he has tried to share in this first letter, which I sum up in modern terms, "Hang in there." Most people know what that means. I tell that to my pastors after we discuss a challenge or unexpected blow, hang in there. Peter is telling the Church to hang in there. He knew the sufferings of believers and he believes the suffering would be nothing like the coming reward. In fact, in the NRSV he says, "The God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you." That's "hang in there - it's gonna get good!"

Many are the days when we feel we need restoration. It's coming. Many are the days when we feel we need support. It's coming. Many are the days we feel weak and tired. Strength is coming. Many are the days when we feel unsure or shaky about where we are and how we are living. God's going to establish us. It's all coming and today may be the day!

Hang in there! And for good measure, Peter adds that our fellowship should include a "holy kiss" with the knowledge that the peace of Christ is ours. Hang in there.

PRAYER: Loving God, even on those days when we think we are going to be hanged, You call us to hang in there. So be it. May a special blessing of strength, support, restoration and peace be mine and mine to share is what I ask, in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! (Hang in there!)

Eradio Valverde

A Defeated Enemy!

1 Peter 5:6 So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. 7 Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. 8 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. 9 Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. (The Message)

1 Peter 5: 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. (New Revised Standard Version)

We don't like to think in terms of having any enemies. Most of us want to be liked by everyone, and most of us succeed. Yet, some of us find out early, we don't have to say anything or do anything, and there will be those who do not like us. I found this out earlier than I may have wanted, but it was to be a fact of life. In about eight or ninth grade, in my P.E. class, as we were dressing to return to classes, I was taking off my shirt and a guy came by and punched me hard in my stomach. In what I can only explain as a natural reaction, three quick punches to his stomach landed him on the floor with no desire to fight any longer. As a senior in high school, in my after school job as a worker in a drive-in theatre (kids, ask your parents what those were), a co-worker was smarting off to me, and I was ignoring him. He swung at me, I moved back and while his body was in motion with that swing, I grabbed him by the shirt and belt and threw him over some hedges. He landed with no desire to fight.

Now our enemies are worries, anxieties, and fears about what may be or what really is. Our worst enemy may even be ourselves in the perception we have about who we are or who we need to be. Peter, inspired by God, says, "Be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; He'll promote you at the right time." (I have to add that this morning because I am more versed in the New Revised Standard of the Bible, I included that version as well above). I love that we can, according to verse 7, "Cast all (our) anxiety on Him, because He cares for (us)." That takes care of the perceived enemies we face daily, if we trust God. Yet, as believers, we know that the Bible speaks of a spiritual enemy of God, by the name of Satan or the devil. As a child I remember my Mom telling us, "El diablo nunca duerme; the devil never sleeps." Peter knows this from his experience and says as believers we should discipline ourselves, staying alert, "Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour." Our task is to resist, staying strong in our faith, even in the face of persecution and suffering; for in the end it will be God who will be victorious.

What control does your enemy have on you today? Are you resisting or giving in? The devil gives despair; God gives grace. Which would serve you better today?

PRAYER: Loving God of power and might, bless my life with Your grace. Give me hope and victory over despair and worry. Even if I am facing much, I can trust in You in what You offer to me. I cast to You my anxieties, and know that in You I have found and can always find that which blesses my life. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde