Keep Christ in Your Heart

On behalf of Nellie and the entire Valverde family, we wish you a most Merry Christmas and a Joyous and Prosperous New Year!

We will be on vacation these next two weeks and so your devotional time should continue. I recommend The Upper Room which you can find free at devotional.upperroom.org. Remember it's not about keeping Christ in Christmas, it's about keeping Christ in your heart; that way, every day is a Christ-centered day.

Please be safe in your travels and visits; may times with family, loved ones, and friends be Christ-centered as well.

Love to you all!

Eradio Valverde

There Can Be No Darkness Where God Is

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Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,    you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth     before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might,    and come to save us! Restore us, O God;    let your face shine, that we may be saved. O Lord God of hosts,    how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?  You have fed them with the bread of tears,    and given them tears to drink in full measure.  You make us the scorn of our neighbours;    our enemies laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God of hosts;    let your face shine, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:1-7)

Early in my career, I came to appreciate those people whose lives shined brightly.  One of them was in a dingy nursing home, and though initially I feared entering this home, as I entered her room, her smile, her words shone brightly like a light in a dark place.  Her attitude and spirit had beens shaped by God and she blessed all who visited her.  Others have been ushers in the churches I served, Sunday school teachers, officers, volunteers, friends, and I count some minister among those.  These people know that if invited, God will shine brightly in all situations, and they can't help but reflect that same brightness to those around them.

The psalmist knew this about God as well.  He knew God as shepherd, one who loving leads His flock.  He knew God's holiness, seated above the presence of angels.  And he knew God to shine brightly before all who come into HIs presence.  He knew God's power and ability, and desire, to save and restore; and this is what he clamors for:  restoration and salvation.  Even while confessing his situation had been the source of many tears and mourning, ridicule and scorn, his faith said there was restoration, salvation, and light coming his way if he would but ask.

Advent is a time of deep reflection.  Your reflection may have shown you to be in an area or phase of deep need.  You too may have cried more than your share of tears, but hear again what the psalmist knew and make it your own experience; God is an awesome God and can bring to us exactly what we need if we but humble ourselves before Him and ask.

PRAYER:  Loving God, to this dear reader and me, bring us to the place where we need to be.  Help us to be the people who shine brightly the message of love and peace, restoration and salvation.  This we pray in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God Will Give Us a Sign

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Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:10-16)

The word weary today may come from those tired from shopping or tired of the traffic around shopping centers.  You can ask me about traffic, as this past weekend we left San Antonio to attend a school program in Houston, then we drove to San Marcos to pick up our dog, Wesley, and then drove straight home.  Yesterday, we drove from Corpus Christi to San Antonio to check into our hotel for our cabinet meeting, drove on to Austin to attend another school program at a school off Hwy 360 past Barton Creek mall.  After the program back to SA.  If you see me today, weary will be written across my forehead.

In the time of Isaiah, the house of David (the government) was making the people of Israel weary with the worries of war with not just one king, but against two kings.  The Lord asks Ahaz to ask for a sign to help remedy the weariness he was feeling and sharing with his people, and he refuses, claiming not wanting "to put the Lord to the test."  So, the prophet speaks for the Lord and shares this Advent message:  "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign.  Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name Him Immanuel."  Ahaz knew that this meant, "God is with us."  And so, though he wanted to not trouble the Lord, the shares a message of hope.  Hope defeats weariness.  And God defeats weariness.  That's a message of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus; no matter what we may be feeling or facing, reach out to the God who has already reached out to us and take His hand and receive hope!

PRAYER:  Loving God, I take hope and strength from You.  I ask that You defeat the things causing me to feel worried or wearied.  And help me to share the good news with all who would hear:  You have acted on our behalf.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Set Apart for the Gospel

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Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1-7)

As I started ministry there were no personal computers.  I was blessed to have married a woman who owned a personal portable ELECTRIC typewriter!  I had been blessed by my parents in that they bought me a Sears portable manual typewriter, which got me through college and university years, and the first years of seminary.  But, for the last year, being a husband and co-owner of a Smith-Corona ELECTRIC typewriter, I produced some neat-looking papers.  I'm not going to vouch for the content, but let's just say it got me good marks on my transcript.  At my first church I had access to the ancient, huge whatever-the-opposite-of-state-of-the-art typewriter.  It was electric and would hum loudly and make the old steel government issue desk shake as I typed.  I was able to place our first born daughter on it when I would take her to work in her carryall, and I would place her on the desk, turn on the typewriter and she would fall fast asleep.  To use the typewriter meant I either had to produce the coming Sunday's bulletin, or answer correspondence.  I loved having access to the file cabinet with letters sent and received by predecessors of that church.  I especially loved reading the Spanish letters sent by The Rev. Dan Garcia.  Dan knew, probably through raiding his own file cabinets in his churches, how to write the best letters.  And I suspect that someone in that chain early on copied the Apostle Paul, who is the master of salutations.  

In this passage he begins like in most, identifying himself and explaining his calling.  In this particular one he says a truth about those who seek to serve God; "set apart for the gospel of God."  Many a theological class and Bible interpretation class were devoted to understanding that passage.  Many a candidate for ministry has stumbled in his or her explanation of their call when asked what makes them truly "set apart."  Paul would say that part of our identity depends on knowing that who we are and what we are called to do is way different from those who are not.  Being set apart, in Paul's life and example, means taking one's call very seriously, and is a never-ending process of sanctification; being made holy by following and practicing spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, study of scripture, worship, participating in the sacraments; all as a realization that the closer we get to God the more we will need God's love, comfort, joy, and peace.  Talk, better yet, pray for a minister about to close a stewardship campaign or evangelism week.  She or he will say that they are thankful they are close to God because some folks are not and do their best to try and separate us from what little holiness we may have.

"Grace and apostleship" is what we have received through our relationship with Jesus, and that's exactly what we need to share with others.  Obedience is another trait that shows we are truly set apart; all for the sake of Jesus' name and ministry in the world.  Our is a mission to share God's grace and peace with all.

PRAYER:  Loving God, as we start this day I ask to be set apart by You and ask for the strength to do what blesses You and Yours as I seek to be made strong in my faith and faithful in my service to You.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Emmanuel: God is With Us!

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Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:  ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25)

I have a dear friend who is a faithful reader of this devotional, but every so often she will email me and exclaim, "I don't know how I did it, but I no longer get your devotional!"  This poses a slight problem for me as the group's moderator, because with this email server if you unsubscribe, I can no longer add you on myself; you must re-subscribe for you to receive these again.  We can understand the policy, this server does not want to be a provider of spam, which is unwanted emails.  If you want to be with us, you must choose.  The passage is about God wanting to be with us, and the manner in which God took action during this season of Advent; God chose an honorable, Godly woman and place His child in her and visited her intended to share the news to convince him of his duty and role in this wonderful plan for humanity.  And, to show how this would be a fulfillment of ancient prophecy: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel, which means, 'God is with us."  Joseph's obedience to this dream and to his role as Jesus' earthly father made possible the salvation of humanity.

The better question:  Are you with God?  Joseph had to decide, "Yes, I am with You, Lord," as do we.  Every day we are given opportunities to say yes to God and God's plan and purpose of our lives.  Every time we say yes, we bless God's work and we end up blessing ourselves.  

Say yes to God today.  And all days.

PRAYER:  Loving God, we celebrate You and Your involvement with us.  As we continue these days of preparation for Jesus' celebration of His first arrival, help me to say yes again and again to You and Your plans for me.  I want to be faithful and fruitful.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God's In Charge - Always! Praise God!

Hallelujah! O my soul, praise God! All my life long I'll praise God, singing songs to my God as long as I live. Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing! God made sky and soil, sea and all the fish in it. He always does what he says - he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry. God frees prisoners - he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen. protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked. God's in charge - always. Zion's God is God for good! Hallelujah! (Psalm 146)

What do you do the first thing out of bed?  Your answer may determine the tone you set for the rest of your day.  If you wake up with a negative attitude or an anger comes to mind, your day may be shot.  If you begin your to--to list before you put on your slippers, you're already walking on negative ground.  But, if you wake up and think of a praise song or a hymn, or you wake up mentally praying your thanks or your dependence on God, your day stands a better chance of being a great day.  The psalmist seems to get out of bed with verse one on his mind:  "Hallelujah!  O my sou, praise God!"  Wow, if I would get out of bed with that praise, I'm already up the path of a glorious day!

Advent is a season of praise.  Everything we do at church in worship or at work, or at home, should reflect the praise we have in our souls for our loving God.  We should be people influencing other people with positive thoughts about God and God's goodness, not the other way around.  Sadly, that's what usually happens - others set the tone for us, and that rarely works out for good.  Be the power plug in your work group.  Be the thermostat that sets the tone for your home, and people will warm up to the glow of God in your life.

PRAYER:  Loving God, may my life be one of praise.  I love You so much that I want the glow from You to reflect off of me onto my loved ones and my work pals and those who see me.  Let them say, "I want what you have," because of what I do have, the peace that passes all understanding and has set my tongue to Praise Mode.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God Will Come to Save You!

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,    the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,    and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord,    the majesty of our God.  Strengthen the weak hands,    and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful heart,    ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.    He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense.    He will come and save you.’  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;  then the lame shall leap like a deer,    and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,    and streams in the desert;  the burning sand shall become a pool,    and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.  A highway shall be there,    and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it,    but it shall be for God’s people;    no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray.  No lion shall be there,    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there,    but the redeemed shall walk there.  And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,    and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;    they shall obtain joy and gladness,    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:1-10)

The coming of the Lord will mean a new world, with a new order of things.  The expected will no longer be welcomed.  The same will no longer be tolerated.  The barren will be fruitful.  The sad will be joyful.  The secular will give way to the sacred.  Such is the message of the prophet for the people of faith:  God has done, and will continue doing, a great thing.  Such is the message of Advent.  Christ's first coming has brought these things and many more to the lives of those who have received Him and live in a relationship with Him.  New converts are daily receiving these manifold blessings; but the day is coming when ALL will see just what God has had in store for the world.

God has a role in all of this and so do we.  Notice the second part of this reading; we are to help the weak and be proclaimers of a new message, "Be strong, do not fear!"  We can point to our lives and the way we have been transformed and to those being transformed around us; God is a saving God!  Salvation has brought new sight to the blind; people are seeing the hand of God at work in the world.  The deaf now hear things they had never before stopped to hear.  The lame are now active, leaping at chances to serve God, and the once quiet are now singing for joy in loud voices.  Areas of drought are now awash with God's grace, new life is present where once there was nothing.  This is God at work.  And this is us working alongside Him.

Tell somebody the Good News:  God is now here and at work, join us!

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for the joy that is ours.  May our lips and limbs proclaim the Good News.  Use us to bring others to the place where You need all of us to be.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God Gives Us Strength and Peace

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (James 5:7-10)

The bumper sticker sums up how many of us feel:  God, I want patience and I want it NOW!  Does that describe you?  Advent is a season of patience.  Imagine how your children or grandchildren feel about the coming of Christmas.  Nellie and I have grandchildren of the age who are "working on their wish list."  They go online and decide which toy they want us and their aunts and uncles to get for them.  Remember laying on the floor with your siblings fighting page by page over the Sears catalog?  If you do, you're old like me! ;)  

Patience is what distinguishes farmers from weekend growers like me.  A farmer knows to wait for the right time for the right step in the cultivation and growth of his/her crop.  We must have patience like them.  We also must have strong hearts for the coming of the Lord.  Our strength comes from the Lord through our daily practice of reading the Bible, praying, reading this devotional, telling others about this devotional, worship, singing and helping others.  And strength and peace also come with our being in peace with each other.  Indeed, as the writer says, "The judge is standing at the doors," meaning that the Lord watches our every action and thought; how better for Him to see us than people of long suffering and patience, just like those ancient prophets of God.

PRAYER:  Loving God, fill me with Your strength and peace.  As I open the catalog of today, help me choose wisely that gift that will bless You and Yours.  In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Questions We Ask During Times of Struggles

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When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11:2-11)

Advent is a time to reinforce our faith in Jesus Christ.  Each sermon, thought, study, talk, etc. related to Advent should remind us why we needed Jesus in the first place; why we need Him now, and why we need Him to come back for us.  Times of struggle and testing are those times doubt becomes a close friend, and quite frankly doubt is healthy if it leads us back to Jesus in a stronger way.  Such was the case with John the Baptist.  He served God and did all that God expected of him and yet, when found in a prison cell awaiting certain death, he wondered, "Is Jesus really who we think He is?" and has his disciples to ask Jesus.  Jesus responds with what we need to hear as well:  Jesus came to fulfill God's word.  He helped the blind to see, as scripture had foretold, the lame could walk, again a fulfillment of scripture; the lepers were made clean, deaf could hear, the dead raised from the dead, and good news shared with the poor; uh, yes, this is the One!  Jesus did not judge John for this time of weakness, nor will He judge us, for He understands all things even things we do not understand and His mercy far exceeds any comprehension of what we could possibly have, sinners that we are.

I highly recommend the movie "The Letters" about Mother Theresa of Calcutta, for it deals honestly with her life and work, and how she came to have great doubt towards the end of her life about whether she had done the right thing.  It's easier for outside parties to tell us about our work, for we are harsh judges of ourselves.  We struggle to forgive ourselves and to accept the grace and forgiveness Christ gives to us.  The message is to keep on keeping on, a 60s expression that sums up our need to continue forward with our work and faith.  Those times of doubt and sad reflection should pale to what we need Jesus will tell us one day:  "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Is Jesus the One?  You decide.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for Jesus and His work and word.  Bless us with strength of faith and character as we seek to continue to be His servants in a world that could care less.  Make us care more and lift our spirits when we think we can care no longer.  This we need and pray in the name of Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

It's time to wake up!

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Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.(Romans 13:11-14)

Advent is all about time.  Time for this.  Time for that.  Part of the time is spent hurrying up, but most of the time should be about waiting for the Lord.  The Apostle in this passage calls for believers to wake up from sleep.  His was an urgent message:  There's work to do, and "salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers!"  He wanted all people made right with God and he needed help doing it.  Nothing has changed.  Now more than ever, with declining interest in church, the church needs to be us going and doing the work that we usually took for granted that would happen on Sunday mornings.  It is a matter of people caring for people's souls and telling them why Jesus came in the first place, and why He's coming a second time.  Paul's description of what's going on in the meantime still speaks of what is going on now; revealing and drunkenness, debauchery and licentiousness, quarreling and jealousy - we're wearing the clothes of Satan when we do these things.  Paul instead says we should dress with Christ; spiritual clothese that help us live out the sacred.

May it be so.

PRAYER:  Loving God, clothe me with Christ Jesus.  Wrap me in those wraps of holiness and purity.  Cover my mind with thoughts of grace and love, my mouth with phrases of praise; use my feet to take me to those in need, and use my hands to care for the hurting, the lost, the last, and the least.  This is an Advent message and I want to be faithful.  I pray in Christ Jesus' powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

If You Knew, Would You Be Ready?

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‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.(Matthew 24:36-44)

When we were kids we knew to know the signs that Christmas was coming.  Aside from the calendar, but who had time to stop long enough to look at one? The signs were there.  A stroll, yeah right, a run through downtown and Roy's Camera Shop, you'd see the signs!  The little evergreen trees alongside the miniature train track with blinking lights, and before too long all the stores would have something "Christmasy" in their display windows, and soon school would be out for a long time!  Oh joy, oh joy!  It seemed as soon as trick or treating's candy stash was finished, the holiday season would be upon us.  The Thanksgiving-Halloween mash would not be as bad as it seems today, but it was still a grand time of year. 

In the Christian year, this Sunday is Advent Sunday One.  A time to prepare.  We celebrate and remember Jesus' first arrival as a baby, visited by the wise men and the shepherds; sung to by choirs of angels, forced to escape his homeland to a foreign land, where his parents had sought safety and a better life for their child; yes indeed, an undocumented immigrant in the Egyptians' midst.  And Advent is also a time to remember, as we say every time we celebrate Communion, "Christ will come again."  And I believe He is coming again, as do you, but we don't know when.  It will come when God is ready, and for our sake, we should be ready as well.  The story Jesus employs in today's passage is that it will be a day like any other day, just like in the days of Noah; party after party, marriage feasts after marriage feasts, then that day came when the flood took them away.  And to further illustrate, Jesus said, "Two will be working in the field, side by side; one will be taken and one will be left.  Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.  KEEP AWAKE THEREFORE, FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW ON WHAT DAY YOUR LORD IS COMING."  And then again, if a homeowner knew when the burglar had him or her on his scheduled homes-to-hit list, he or she would be ready.  We must be ready as well, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour we do not expect. And He's coming back for His own.  Are you in that number?

PRAYER:  Lord, for this week of preparation and travel for many of us, grant us Your pace and peace.  Grant us safety and joy, a time for love and sharing; a time for remembering and giving thanks for those who have joined You but have left us behind.  Help us live our lives in ways that glorify You and signify to others that we are ready. This we pray in the name of He who died for us; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus is the Bread of Life

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When they found him back across the sea, they said, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered, "You've come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs - and for free. "Don't waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last." To that they said, "Well, what do we do then to get in on God's works?" Jesus said, "Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God's works." They waffled: "Why don't you give us a clue about who you are, just a hint of what's going on? When we see what's up, we'll commit ourselves. Show us what you can do. Moses fed our ancestors with bread in the desert. It says so in the Scriptures: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus responded, "The real significance of that Scripture is not that Moses gave you bread from heaven but that my Father is right now offering you bread from heaven, the real bread. The Bread of God came down out of heaven and is giving life to the world." They jumped at that: "Master, give us this bread, now and forever!" Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. (John 6:25-35 The Message)

This is the week!  If you're like me, and most other Americans, this is feast week!  I'm a sucker for turkey and dressing, and all the trimmings.  (I'm gaining weight just by thinking about all the food that will be prepared and served in our house and in the big celebration we are having with family in the Valley.  But, it goes way beyond food as this passage explains.  Food was not as abundant in Jesus' time as it was now, so Jesus' miracles with bread and fish were awesome and some folks followed Jesus to get more.  Jesus was using these miracles to point to God and the feeding of the multitudes was no exception.  Those who wanted to see and get more, come to Jesus and ask how long He had been there.  Jesus honestly says, "You're not recalling looking for me because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs - and for free."  And then He proceeds in sharing the truth about God and life.  They question Jesus and go back to their Sunday school teachings on Moses and the manna shared with the people of God; but Jesus speaks of the bread from heaven, Who gives life to the world.  They get excited about that and ask how they could get in on it.  Here's the key:  Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life.  The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever."

That is the true feast, feasting at God's table with The Bread of Life; Jesus Himself.  May that be a part of our prayers, our words, actions, and thoughts this week as we return thanks to God for this past year.  May those things reflect that we have faith and trust in God and that God provides.  May it also be a time for celebrating the joy of life as found in Jesus Christ.  Our tables may be sad because loved ones who were with us last year are not so this year, but our hope is in the Lord who promised life beyond this life.  So our hearts should be glad for the promises that keep us going, and giving.  Give thanks to the Lord for all things; rejoice in the hope we have for each day that is found in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:  LOVING God, may we not lose sight of what this week is all about.  May our Thanksgiving be truly about what You have shared with us.  May we bless others with that same joy as we give You thanks.  This is our prayer in Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update:  Mrs. Cassandra Cochran underwent a successful surgery and initial reports are that the tumor was benign.  May we continue praying that this be so and that healing is coming to her soon.  In Jesus' name, amen!

A King Above Politics, And Everything!

Image from haikudeck.com

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake,  Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God of angel armies protects us. River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God of angel armies protects us. Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything." Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God of angel armies protects us.(Psalm 46 The Message)

Before this last presidential election, the memes on social media kept saying, "It Matters Not Who Our President Is, Jesus is Still Our King!"  Amen to that.  Interesting though, this psalm is written by a king, but a king who knew his place in the order of things.  If ever there were a king who knew the True King, it was King David.  He knew Who had the real power, the real strength, the control of all things, and that was God.  And so should we.  The language of The Message version of the Bible speaks an assurance and an affirmation of the God in Whom we believe.  All we could ever or possibly need is found in God.

We don't have to wait until Sunday to proclaim that Jesus is the King of Kings!  It starts now in our hearts and minds; it should carry over to our actions and words.  We serve an awesome King, so let everyone know!

PRAYER:  Loving God, Come into my heart as King and Lord.  Save me from my sins, restore me to life and give me life to the fullest.  Help the words of my mouth be those that glorify You and bring others to a deep knowledge of You.  I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Promise Fulfilled; Jesus is Our Shepherd King!

Image from thisischurch.com

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:1-6)

The television commercial for neglected dogs gets me.  The song that plays in the background and the pitiful condition of each animal just tears me up.  And that's what the purpose of the commercial is; to touch us to the point where we will reach for our checkbook or credit card and bless them with a gift.  Imagine God's heart when this passage was written.  So many neglected people, some of their own volition and some because of the shepherds they had "watching" over them.  Most of them scattered, doing their own thing, going their own way.  God promised that the day was coming when these people of His flock would be gathered up, blessed, cared for, and they would become a blessing for all generations.  Guess what?  Promised fulfilled in Jesus.  As we gather to worship this coming Sunday, we will proclaim again that Jesus is the King of Kings; the Shepherd King, the fulfillment of promise and prophecy.  "The Lord is our righteousness."

It is a message we need to get out to the people; that God cares for them, loves them, and desires to have a relationship with them. It is something too big to be held just in the church - it is a message for all people, for all time, and for all places.  God's compassion shouts out to us, and we should be the echo that reaches those who have not yet heard.

PRAYER:  Loving God, thank You for keeping Your promises to us.  Help us not to take this for granted.  Grant us the courage to share You with all we can.  Guide us to faithfulness in all things and in all ways.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Christ, Our Reconciler

Image from lakeharborumc.org

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for inhim all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:11-20)

I don't know about you, but I want my King to be strong; Whose very presence gives me hope and peace.  I want His reign to be one of victory over the biggest and baddest foes that we face; whose very flag is a symbol of supremacy; enemies see it flying and they back off.  I want a merciful King, a King of second chances, who is active, alive, and involved in making all things better and safer.  Yes, in Christ, we have all these things and what we just read above in the passage is an affirmation of King Jesus.  Christ can and will make us strong with His strength, grants us peace to endure all things, and Who has invited us into His kingdom to share all things.  He has pulled us out of dead-ends and dark alleys of life; His very image is the glimpse of God the Father.  Jesus created all things, both the things we can see and even those we cannot see.  Christ holds all things together.  When it comes to the church, Jesus is the head of the church; the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, and He has first place in all things.  He is the fullness of God and we find unity and reconciliation of all things in Him.  His blood availed for me.

This is good news.  This is hopeful and joyful news.  This is the news we should share to all people.

PRAYER:  Loving God, for Good News we are thankful.  We pray that we go beyond thanksgiving to action-making disciples who tell others and bring others to know You.  This we pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Time to Get Busy!

Image from keepcalmandposter.com

Sing to God a brand-new song. He's made a world of wonders! He rolled up his sleeves, He set things right. God made history with salvation, He showed the world what he could do. He remembered to love us, a bonus To his dear family, Israel - indefatigable love. The whole earth comes to attention. Look - God's work of salvation! Shout your praises to God, everybody! Let loose and sing! Strike up the band! Round up an orchestra to play for God, Add on a hundred-voice choir. Feature trumpets and big trombones, Fill the air with praises to King God. Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, With everything living on earth joining in. Let ocean breakers call out, "Encore!" And mountains harmonize the finale - A tribute to God when he comes, When he comes to set the earth right. He'll straighten out the whole world, He'll put the world right, and everyone in it. (Psalm 98)

God made history with salvation.  We have a God who loves us so much He does not want us to die eternally, but rather to live with Him forever.  That's an awesome message, but a difficult one to share with a world that does not want to hear it.  The psalmist knew the salvation of God.  God sought him, found him, and the psalmist entered into a loving and trusting relationship with God.  That's salvation.  The psalmist then undertook a lifetime of song writing and singing the glories of God.  For God came into his life and made all things right again.  A new perspective entered his life.  And the same has happened to you and me if we have sought that with God.  Now, as believers we should undertake that task of sharing God with all we can.

It is not easy, but it is needed.  Imagine if you would make it your goal to tell one person per month about God.  And by the end of that month you had worked to make that person a believer and a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Then the second month, third, until by the end of the year, you had blessed God's kingdom with twelve new disciples!  The way things are in most churches bringing in 12 new people into God's work blesses the church with a noticed difference.  If all twelve sat together on one row, the witness of God's salvation would be noticed.

God is going to put the world right, and God's going to use you and me to do it.  And it should start right now.

PRAYER:  Loving God I want to be a part of that work.  I want to touch lives and make disciples.  I want the world to be made right in the positive ways of love and compassion.  Let me roll up my sleeves as a sign of the work that I am willing to do.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

A Message for Today

Image from bibleoutlines.com

"Pay close attention now: I'm creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten. Look ahead with joy. Anticipate what I'm creating: I'll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, create my people as pure delight.  I'll take joy in Jerusalem, take delight in my people: No more sounds of weeping in the city, no cries of anguish; No more babies dying in the cradle, or old people who don't enjoy a full lifetime; One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal - anything less will seem like a cheat. They'll build houses and move in. They'll plant fields and eat what they grow. No more building a house that some outsider takes over, No more planting fields that some enemy confiscates, For my people will be as long-lived as trees, my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work. They won't work and have nothing come of it, they won't have children snatched out from under them. For they themselves are plantings blessed by God, with their children and grandchildren likewise God-blessed. Before they call out, I'll answer. Before they've finished speaking, I'll have heard. Wolf and lamb will graze the same meadow, lion and ox eat straw from the same trough, but snakes - they'll get a diet of dirt! Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill anywhere on my Holy Mountain," says God. (Isaiah 65:17-25 The Message)

History will always be His Story; of God in control and in charge in spite of the messes we create for ourselves here on the earth.  The Bible is full of events that make us shake our heads in wonder and sadness, and so have our lifetimes been as well.  No one can point to their past and say they have been perfect and without error and consequences of that error.  And so for us, the human race, God speaks through His prophet and says, "Hold on.  I'm the Creator of all things and I'm not through yet.  Listen, for I am creating a new heaven and a new earth.  Everything of the past, troubles, chaos, and pain are to be forgotten."  We are to look ahead with joy and expectation, for God is at work on our behalf.  The list is shared by the prophet and it sums up the hope and faith we should continue to have in God and one in which we hold on to.

For now, the work of sharing God's love is still before us and may be even more of a difficult task, but we press on with hope and resolve that the grace of God is available to all people.  The commandment is still in effect:  Love one another.

PRAYER:  May Your blessings be upon this earth, Heavenly Father.  Be at work in all people.  Share Your grace with us and help us make this world a better place, outdoing one another in showing love and support for each other.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Never Be Idle! Work!

Photo from First United Methodist Church of Corpus Christi of church members working beyond the church in many settings during the Day Apart Sunday! Proud of these folks!

Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labour we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work.Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13)

God must have had a purpose in designing pants with pockets.  They're handy for holding things, like keys, coins, crosses, rocks.  And they're also good for resting your hands when you don't know what to do with them.  I will never forget my first boss in the school cafeteria of Lon Morris College, a gentleman by the name of Josef Nadaverrie, and if his name is spelled incorrectly, it will protect me!  But he was a demanding man and one who could be heard shouting loudly at some of the cafeteria workers, "Get yer hands outcha pockets!"  Thankfully, I was not one of those, because I knew better.  If I ran out of work I would look for something else to do.  The same instructions come from the Apostle to the believers in Thessalonica:  Stay busy!  Paul knew that there were, and are still are, an overabundance of underemployed saints.  Paul says, "This is not the way we trained them, yet here they are doing nothing for the Lord!"  Ouch.  Paul, being a tentmaker, knew the value of hard work, and employed that same attitude towards the work of sharing Jesus Christ.  He would stay with people, eat their food, but work in some way to repay them.  He even gave that famous command that is so often quoted, "He that does not work, does not eat."  Being idle for the Lord can become employment for the devil in your life. Proverbs 16:27 says this: "Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece." 

If we center our lives and work on the Lord, we will bear fruit for Him.  If we seek to do nothing, we are doing something, but not for God.  Work for the Lord!

PRAYER:  Loving God, let me be employed for Thee, for there is much to do.  Let me take my hands out of my pocket and lift them high in praise and prayer, to help and bless others, and to do Thy will. This I pray in Christ Jesus my Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day for the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update:  The surgery with Alicia Carrizales went well.  She was having pain and discomfort and we ask continued prayer for her and her family.  Thank you! 

Buildings May Disappear; Hang On To Your Faith!

Image of Sarita and Liam at a 3D movie some years back.

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.’ They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’ And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and, “The time is near!” Do not go after them. ‘When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’ Then he said to them,‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. ‘But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls. (Luke 21:5-19)

Growing up movies were a big part of life.  The Texas Theater in Kingsville, and later the South Main Drive In in Houston were key places for me.  Every Saturday saw me sitting in the coldest place in Kingsville watching a movie at least twice for the same price of admission, a cool ten cents.  The South Main saw me there more often as I had a job there and on my nights off I would go and see the movies over and over again.  No one ever said, "Do you see the Texas Theater and South Main Drive-In?  The day will come they will not be there any longer."  I would have hit that person or gotten really mad.  Imagine my sadness my first weekend home from college as we drove along South Main and the theatre was gone!  Great sadness was mine.  Some years later, as a DS I get to drive through Kingsville and see that the Texas Theatre is boarded up after having served as a church for a while.  Now, I am not comparing the sacredness of of the Temple in Jerusalem to these theaters; just the impact of what Jesus was telling the disciples relates to our sadness to special places in our lives.  I thank God my childhood chruch is still open and as beautiful as ever; but my church of my youth, El Buen Pastor UMC in Houston is closed.  The building still stands.

Jesus' words were about the end times, and all that would occur to the world; in spite of what may happen to the world, Jesus is saying, your faith is more important than any building or what may happen in your city or nation.  If persecution comes, I will give you the words and the wisdom with which to defend yourself.  The time may even come, Jesus continued, when even your own family will abandon you because of your faith; you may even be hated by all, "But not a hair of your head will perish.  By your endurance you will gain your souls."

My faith in Jesus Christ is strong, and God is still in control of the world.  I pray your faith is strong as well and that you will give witness to the love and mercy of the Lord to those who have yet to see it.

PRAYER:  Loving God, may Your love and mercy be gifts from You that we can and should share with others.  As we pray this morning, we pray for Alicia Carrizales and the surgery she will undergo later today.  Comfort her and her family; and be with all today who need Your healing touch.  In Christ Jesus' precious name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Walking Among the Former Glories?

In the second year of King Darius,in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say, Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts,according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear. For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendour, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. The latter splendour of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 1:15,2-9)

You and I drive past buildings that were once glorious structures of different purposes.  You and I drive past old churches, now abandoned, boarded up, with overgrown lawns.  Even sadder, we may even go to some large, glorious church building that is now but a shadow of what it once was, and there are many churches which fit that description.  These churches hold anniversaries and enjoy hearing and seeing stories and accounts of what once was; with most people attending knowing that those days are long gone, never to return, unless something is done.

The same is going on with the people in this passage.  The prophet Haggai comes and asks, "Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory?  How does it look to you now?  Is it not in your sight as nothing?"  Here is where we need to hear what God may be saying to us:  "Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land says the Lord; work , for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts:  Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts.  The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts."

Several truths speak out from what the Lord said to the people through the prophet.  The first is that the Lord expects them to work.  That's an interesting thing to read isn't it?  That God expects work from those who want results that will restore things back to former glory?  The churches of the glory days were filled out of routine and ritual from many; it was a given you were going to be in church.  The church of the glory days was filled with people from the same persuasion and neighborhoods, truly defining the standard definition of Sunday at 11 o'clock being the most segregated hour in America.  As hard as it may be to hear this, very little work was done.  Yes, the pastor had to prepare sermons and deliver them; organists and pianists had to rehearse the choirs and the sacred music for worship.  And countless volunteers folded bulletins, collected the offering, etc.  The work expected by God was being done by some here and there, and as those days past, going to worship was seen as a chore, something grandma and grandpa did - where was the meaning and attraction for those who felt they outgrew church?  The second truth was that God is still in control.  Of everything.  And God is with us.  God will listen and provide to us that which we need to do the work that will bring people back or for the first time, into a relationship with God.  God will shake heaven and earth, the sea and the dry land; even nations will be shaken; and God's glory will return.

For now, we are called to faithfulness in preparing for, and finally, to do the work.  The work before us is to offer the love and grace of God to all persons, regardless of how they say hello.  The work is also that which Jesus defined in Matthew 25 to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, welcome the stranger, visit the prisoner - and make disciples of all people from all nations.  Add to that the need of Jesus' new commandment to love one another.  If we would all do that in every aspect of our lives, imagine the splendor of God returning to every aspect of our lives; our homes, our workplaces, our play places, and our house of worship, and especially in our relationship with God and our relationship with ourselves.  The good ole days are just ahead!

PRAYER:  Loving God, may the words You shared with the people of old, be the words that come to us the people of the new.  We want to work and work hard to return to a relationship that blesses You and those who see us.  We want to bring glory to Your name.  We pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde