Encourage One Another

Image from biblia.com

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/47tQV8R

View here: https://bit.ly/3szsyaX

1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1Thessalonians 5:1-11 NIV Bible)

A blessed and tremendous Tuesday. Friend! May we pray for one another; praying for those who asked prayers from us. Pray for peace in the world, and pray for your specioal needs. Grow the kingdom with your faithful service.

I heard a neat story about a family that had a little girl dressed as a princess. Two college-aged girls entered the restaurant first and requested a booth. In comes the family with the child and the older young ladies upon seeing the princess, began to loudly exclaim their surprise and delight in meeting a real-life princess and asked the girl for her autograph. Their name was called for the booth and the two graciously gave it to the family. The girls went to sit at the counter where the gentleman relating the story sat. He told them he was blessed by their actions and attitudes towards the little one, and wondered why they had done such a thing. The girls responded with what the gentleman thought was an Italian accent. The girls said their grandpa had fought in the resistance movement against the Nazi invasion of Italy and they always heard from him how they should make a difference in the lives of others. Why? asked the man, and the girls said their grandpa had been influenced by the selfless actions of an American GI stationed in their village. This man blessed everyone by his smile, his generous acts of kindness, and genuine love for all people. Towards the end of the war, some neighboring villagers came to harass the GI but as people heard this, they formed a circle around the GI and would not budge nor would they allow harm to come to him. The why was obvious; in the way this man helped others, he was helped.

Paul in writing to the church in Thessalonia, speaks truth in saying they were blessed in having heard the gospel and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were already alert and aware of what Jesus would do upon His second coming, and so Paul urges them to live lives that bless others with love and kindness. His urging their dressing with the armor pieces of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet, speaks to what the world needed to see and hear from them. Paul is sure that God did not appoint those believers to suffer wrath, but to receive and rejoice in the gift of salvation; the end result being our living with Christ whether we live or die, in and with Him. His concluding thought and remarks are for encouragement and building of each other up, just in the way he had heard they were doing.

May that be our gift to the unbelievers; to love them in ways that demonstrate our hope and joy. May our love be based not on merit, but on mercy that we ourselves have received from the Lord Jesus Christ. It does not cost us a lot to share love and hope with others. Our smiles may be just what someone is needing to see. A kind word of encouragement may be just what someone is needing to hear. And we should use any opportunity that is given us to share the gospel truths of God's love, mercy, compassion, and understanding.

PRAYER: Awesome God, bless our lives with Your grace. Help us be those who are kind to others, who love others, and share hope with all. Guide our steps, grant us wisdom and words with which we can bless others in positive ways. Bless and protect us is our prayer, too. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Bless someone today with hope!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Set The Oven To Well-Done!

Image from christrugby.dioet.org

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/3Qz2x3r

View devotional: https://bit.ly/46eztnL

14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' (Matthew 25:14-30 Revised Standard Version Bible)

This passage is from Jesus' last teachings before His arrest and almost right before His Last Supper. Jesus is laying the foundation for what the Disciples needed to hear about this life and the next. Honestly, the teachings are assignments for them; work for them to do and for those believers who would hear these. Last week's Ten Virgins/Bridesmaids parable is about the work of "lighting the way" for others to get right with God, and today's is very similar.

Yesterday in my second sermon at First United Methodist Church in Bastrop, Texas, I mentioned that Nellie and I have noticed in several funerals we have attended or have been a part of, that the 21st verse of this passage is used in almost all of those funerals. Someone speaking, even the officiant, will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant..." I confessed that sometimes I want to lift the lid of the coffin to make sure we are at the right funeral. But I said,"To be fair, I wonder what the Lord will say about me? I want to hear Jesus say that I have stayed connected with Him and I have beenf faithful and fruitful!" I said we are being falsely lulled by the repetition of this phrase, and peope will start to believe nothing is required in discipleship or service. The parable of the ten bridesmaids is about doing what was asked of them, to light the way; in the same way, we are to light the way with the faith in our lives blessing others.

This parable is oft-misunderstood and often-misquoted. This parable is one instructing believers to stay busy and fruitful with what God has shared with you as your gifts and graces. The word talent originally referred to a unit of weight and later became a unit of currency. The word "talent" is derived from the Greek term "talanton". In the New Testament, especially in the parable found in Matthew 25:14-30, a talent was a large sum of money.

In the modern context, a "talent" in this devotional can be compared to various God-given resources, abilities, or opportunities that individuals possess. These could include: Financial Resources: The parable's use of "talents" can be likened to the financial resources or wealth that individuals have. It encourages believers to responsibly manage and invest their financial blessings for the advancement of God's kingdom. Secondly, it could represent Skills and Abilities: Talents can also represent the unique skills and abilities that individuals possess. This could include intellectual abilities, creativity, leadership skills, or any other capabilities that can be utilized for God's purposes. The third way could be Time and Energy: Another interpretation could be the time and energy individuals have at their disposal. How we use our time and invest our energy in activities that align with God's will is a crucial aspect of faithful stewardship. The fourth way could be Influence and Relationships: Talents might extend to the sphere of influence and relationships that individuals have. God expects us to use our influence positively, impacting the lives of others for His glory. And lastly, as Spiritual Gifts: In a more explicitly spiritual sense, talents could refer to the spiritual gifts bestowed upon believers by the Holy Spirit. These gifts, such as teaching, serving, or leadership, are meant to be employed in building up the body of Christ.

If we see Jesus using talents in these modern terms, we can hear Jesus encvouraging you and me to reflect on how we are utilizing our unique resources, skills, time, influence, and spiritual gifts to further God's kingdom on earth. The examples Jesus used in the different servants should motivate us to be as faithful and as fruitful as the first and second servant; The paralysis of the third servant also says to us to not follow his example of fear and worry. Do what you need with what you have!

PRAYER: Loving God, grant to us the courage and wisdom to be faithful stewards of the gifts and opportunities You've entrusted to us. Help us overcome fear and inactivity, that we may invest in Your kingdom and hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Overcome fear and get busy for the Lord!

Receive my blessings of hope and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Sharing Stories?

Image from pledgett.org

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/3QSz9GE

View devotional here: https://bit.ly/3StwF2V

1 Listen, dear friends, to God's truth, bend your ears to what I tell you. 2 I'm chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I'll let you in on the sweet old truths, 3 Stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother's knee. 4 We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation - God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done. 12 He performed miracles in plain sight of their parents in Egypt, out on the fields of Zoan. 13 He split the Sea and they walked right through it; he piled the waters to the right and the left. 14 He led them by day with a cloud, led them all the night long with a fiery torch. 15 He split rocks in the wilderness, gave them all they could drink from underground springs; 16 He made creeks flow out from sheer rock, and water pour out like a river. (Psalm 78:1-4, 12-15 The Message Bible)

A tremendous and terrific Thursday be yours, dear Friend. May the joys of today set the stage for a wonderful weekend in which to serve and bless God. Please join me in lifting prayers of thanksgiving for a successful surgery of our niece, Isabella Saraí Ramirez, who underwent knee surgery. Bella is an athlete and was injured during this season and we pray this operation restore her for the senior year of high school. Please pray for The Rev. Richard Leggett, who is battling Covid. Richard is the pastor of First UMC of Bastrop and has been absent two Sundays due to the illness. He called me some weeks before and asked me to preach this coming Sunday in Bastrop. Prayers for this old man as well. Please pray for one another. Pray for those who have asked prayers of us, and pray for the needs of the world. Pray for peace.

My mother was a great storyteller. She shared stories from her life and stories she heard in the Catholic Church. She lost her mother when she was eleven and had to assume the household management of her family at that tender age. She had two younger brothers, an adopted sister, and three older sisters who were married. Her dad was my Papa Grande, my maternal grandfather. He led a serious life and the seriousness never left him. Mom told us stories of her life, her brothers and her sisters. My Dad was a man who loved to visit all family members and those visits served to share stories, to learn about each other, about those who were, those who had been, and prayers for those to come. What stories do you share? Who is your audience?

I became a storyteller when I landed in Houston at the age of 13. All five of us siblings shared a floor in a small Houston apartment and I was the only one not crying about having moved there. (Confession, I cried in privacy when I could find it.). My stories were mostly my re-visiting Kingsville and our family there. I re-told the stories I heard in the voices of those family members. I did the best I could in remembering those voices and trying to make them mine as I shared fond memories. I was chewing on the morsels of memories; sweet truths of a home we no longer owned. The stories told of a God Who moved us from a small town to a new world; our futures were in His hands and we wanted to bless Him as we followed, best as we could, towards God's dream for us.

The psalmist did this. Over and over, as he read and re-read his bible and the stories of the faith, he told and re-told the stories of his people. He truly, as this modern version says, chewed on morsels of proverbs, and let the world in on the sweet old truths, the stories of fathers and mothers, retold to sons and daughters, and re-told to grandsons and granddaughters - spread the news of a good and loving God and the power and might that God has to do good for His people. God's Greatest Hits are the stories of how God stepped in to help out His people. The more we tell these stories the more people will seek Him and all He offers. The believer shares the stories and thus shares the faith. We need to do the same. Whatever God has done in your life, He can do in the lives of others. We just need to share the stories.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Your praiseworthy deeds and wondrous acts in our lives and throughout history. Help us to be faithful stewards of these stories, passing them down to the next generation. May your faithfulness be a source of inspiration and strength for all who hear. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Tell your story to many.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Choose This Day...

Image from dustoffthebible.com

Hear the devotional:https://bit.ly/49tVUrO

View the devotional: https://bit.ly/3Qx0o8z

1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphra'tes, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. 3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, 14 "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; 17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land; therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God." 19 But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good." 21 And the people said to Joshua, "Nay; but we will serve the LORD." 22 Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses." 23 He said, "Then put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey." 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem. (Joshua 24:1-3 14-25 Revised Standard Version Bible)

What an incredible news story in the late 70s when the world heard that Robert Zimmerman, aka, dba, Bob Dylan, had converted to Christianity. One source quotes it this way: "Ian Bell, in his excellent biography The Lives of Bob Dylan, recounts that though there had been some religious and biblical imagery in Dylan’s lyrics of the Sixties and early and mid-Seventies, it was in 1978 that the artist found God. And it happened in a Tucson hotel room. Certainly Dylan has gone on record saying that late in 1978 he sensed 'a presence in the room that couldn’t have been anybody but Jesus', and even felt a hand placed upon him. 'Jesus put his hand on me,' he went on, 'It was a physical thing. I felt it. I felt it all over me. I felt my whole body tremble. The glory of the Lord knocked me down and picked me up.'" And for many years, Bob Dylan wrote and sang about his new faith, though he had always been religious in his own faith, Judaism. He later went back to Judaism. The same author says, "By 1982 he had returned to Judaism, occasionally flirting with extremely orthodox Judaism. And his music had returned to secularism." How about you? What decision(s) have you made about your faith and whom you would follow and serve?

Today's passage has Moses' young successor gathering the people of God and challenging them to commit to God. The entire forty years in the wilderness had been a march towards God and God's ideals and law. And yet, there still had to an "altar call," as it were, for the people of God to come to God. One of the reasons was that many of the original trekkers had died and been buried in the desert and, like many churches of today, we still need opportunities to seek and return to God, even for the first time. We have a history with God and we should be reminded of it as we think about the future and the commitment we have or have not made, with God.

I've shared before how some years ago I was invited to preach at a noted United Methodist Church, home church in the city where a noted seminary was located. Some major noted preachers had been invited to preach from that church's pulpit. To way that I was honored, duh. To say I was humbled, duh again. To say I was scared, yes I was. More so before I felt led to have an altar call. I felt led by God and so I didn't stop to do the why's and why-not's of doing such a thing. Had I done that I would not have done it. This pulpit had had the big names of evangelism and Methodism, preaching the Gospel, and I was more than certain that this church had lost count of the altar calls and the changed lives that the church had hosted. I preached the sermon and as I began the closing prayer, offered an invitation to the church to have them consider giving their lives to Jesus, and for those already committed, to re-dedicate their lives to Christ. I had heard The Rev. Zan Holmes, a preaching professor at Perkins School of Theology-SMU, once preach at a preacher's event where he shared that he felt led to have altar calls in his church in Dallas, and went to Cokesbury Book Store, the United Methodist bookstore in Dallas in those days. He found not one book on the subject of altar calls, and so, donning a disguise, went to The Baptist Bookstore and found an aisle dedicated to altar calls. He bought a few and then began that practice that blessed his church with much growth. I did the altar call and was astonished by the response. Later, I was told that it had been quite a long time since one had been offered from that pulpit.

Joshua made the altar call to the people of God. "Choose this day whom you will serve." Boom. He was saying, you always have a choice, so make the right choice. In their case, they could choose the little-g, gods of the Amorites, or big-G, God, Whom they knew. Joshua further stresses that he had made the choice for his family and household. "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The people responded in kind, 'Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods." and they reclaim again their history and how God had blessed them. The sermon continues with the reality the people were facing; choosing other gods would mean ultimately death for them, along with much misery and suffering, but to choose God was to choose life and blessings. Altar call successful, and the people enter into a covenant with God; along with laws and ordinances that would help them live their new life with God.

Today, we are presented with a similar choice. In a world filled with distractions and alternative paths, we must decide whom we will serve. Joshua's declaration, "as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord," serves as an inspiring example of unwavering commitment.

Friends, let us follow the example of Joshua and the people of Israel, choosing to serve the Lord with sincerity and faithfulness. As we do, may our hearts be inclined toward God, and may we put away the distractions that hinder our devotion.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we stand before you today with hearts inclined toward you. Just as Joshua and the people of Israel made a resolute choice to serve you, we too declare our commitment to serve the Lord. Help us to put away the distractions and idols in our lives, so that our service may be sincere and faithful. May our devotion to you shine brightly in this world. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Commit your life to Jesus!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Walking On Air!

Image from listeningfaithfullyblog.com

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/46SpsxH

View the devo: https://bit.ly/3Mzhwt3

Bonus: Say Yes to God:

13 And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. 14 Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. 15 And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence - we have the Master's word on it - that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us. 16 The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast! He'll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise - they'll go first. 17 Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. 18 Oh, we'll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 The Message Bible)

"All I can say is that the MYF in Heaven is getting bigger by the day!" Those were some of the opening remarks I shared with the Saenz family on Saturday at the Service of Death and Resurrection of Mr. Hector Manuel Saenz. I also shared that I was blessed in seeing so many laughing, chuckling, and smiling at what usually tends to be a somber event. And I said the reason for this spirit in this room is that death has been defeated. Christ Jesus defeated death, we have believed and accepted that, and so hope is ours. And this is precisely what the Apostle Paul was addressing in this letter to the believers in Thessalonnia. Death in Paul's day was almost certain just for being a Christian in a pagan world. The persecution of the Church, as he well knew, was a real threat to all believers, and so he addresses the question family members and friends asked about those who had died as believers. Paul does not want them uninformed about death and what Paul knew about it. Paul begins by saying they should not weep and "carry one over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word." Paul had seen, as have we, those who do mourn and weep as if they have been defeated by death. I was one of those kids whose parents took us to all the funerals and man what sights and sounds we saw and heard at some of those! It got to the point where as kids we would say, "And the Oscar goes to..." for those who seemed to be putting on more of a show than true mourning. God forgive us our childish sins!

Death has been defeated! Yes, Satan has been defeated and his attempts to ruin our lives are in vain, for he is a vanquished foe. The grave is not the last word; in fact, the grave is the first word on life of the eternal kind. Paul reminds us that Jesus is the victor over death, bringing back to life those who died in Him, and he states proudly, "And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence - we have the Master's word on it - that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us."

Paul assures us that when Jesus returns, He will not leave the deceased behind. In fact, they will be the first to rise. The sequence of events on that day will include the command of the Master, the thunderous voice of the archangel, and the resounding trumpet blast of God. It will be a divine symphony announcing the grand reunion.

As believers, we will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Master. The imagery of this moment is breathtaking. We will be walking on air, entering into the presence of our Lord. The culmination of all this is a joyous family reunion with our Savior.

These words from Paul offer us profound comfort. They assure us that death is not the end but a transition to a glorious future. Our grief is replaced with hope, and our sorrow is turned into joy. As we walk through life's uncertainties, we can cling to the certainty of the hope of the resurrection.

So, let us take Paul's exhortation to heart and reassure one another with these words. Let us find comfort in the promise of resurrection, knowing that we will be reunited with our loved ones and, most importantly, with our Lord.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank you for the hope of the resurrection through our Lord Jesus Christ. In times of grief and uncertainty, help us find solace in the assurance of your promise. Fill our hearts with the hope that one day we will be reunited with our loved ones and experience the joy of a grand family reunion with you. May this hope carry us through life's challenges and uncertainties. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Live a contagious hope-guided life!

Receive my blessings of joy and hope,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Always Be Ready!

Image from patrickcomerford.com

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/47jeLnB

View the devotional: https://bit.ly/3skpVK4

1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13 NIV Bible)

A blessed Monday be yours, dear Friend! I pray this time with God's word will bless you and make you a blessing to others. May we offer up a prayer of celebration for reader Cicely Jackson's sharing of good news; her daughter Breanne had her baby yesterday (Friday) she had a C section all is good. She had a little boy named Preston Wade. 6lbs 10oz 20 inches long. May God bless baby, mom, and dad and all family members! Also, prayers for Mrs. Lucy Saenz, whose husband Hector died this week and on Saturday we had a celebration of his life. May God's comfort be with Lucy and their daughter, Elizabeth, and all family members.

What do you think about when the word marriage is mentioned? I know the responses are as vast as those of you reading this. To me, it brings back the wonderful memory of that day in February when my bride walked down the aisle as the most beautiful bride I had ever seen, and she walked down that aisle to marry me! We fell in love and decided that life would be better spent together in love. It was an event of love. If you've seen the memes of the groom who's not facing his bride and his best man turns him around and his reaction is priceless; he immediately weeps and shakes his head in disbelief. You could say that was almost me. I teared up seeing such a beautiful woman coming for me!

For some, the memories might not be so wonderful, and even for some, they may be painful. Some may even say, the love died, or we're no longer in love. However you feel, I pray that all is well with your soul and with your relationship with God.

We must remember that for Jesus, He was talking about His marriage. Wait. What? "Jesus wasn't married, was He?' No, Jesus was not married, no matter what some novels and other naysayers may say, but He will be married, to His bride, the Church. His wedding will be to us as His Church. Such is the love God has for us that Jesus, His Son, is looking forward to having us all with Him, forever, and this will take place in that wedding that is to come. In Jesus' time, the wedding feast was all about celebration and rejoicing. It might not always have been about love, because most marriages were arranged by the parents of the couple. The couple usually did not know each other and would not see each other until the betrothal, the ceremony where the bride and groom would stand before the rabbi and acknowledge that for one year, the bride could take the groom as her husband, and his name, but during this time it was only she, the bride, who could say that she changed her mind and not marry the groom. The only way he, the groom, could call it off, was if she was found guilty of a sexual sin. (Think Joseph and Mary and his having found out that she was with child and it was not his). The next part of the wedding would take place in a banquet hall, with the groom deciding when he would come and take his bride to this feast. In a cultural twist, it was not known when the hour would be that he would decide to come and take his bride as his wife to the place where the feasting would begin in a manner that could take days. The hour was usually at night, thus the bridesmaids having lanterns ready to make the march from the bride's home to the banquet hall. It was their job to meet the groom and light the way to the bride then to the hall.

Jesus is saying that the key for all this to happen is for us to be ready. This parable highlights the significance of spiritual preparedness. The lamps represent our faith and readiness for Christ's return. The oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit's presence and our personal relationship with God. It reminds us that we must be vigilant and prepared for the unexpected moments when our faith will be tested.

In our lives, we may encounter moments of spiritual dryness or times when we neglect to nurture our relationship with God. The wise virgins teach us to keep our lamps, our faith, burning brightly by staying connected to God through prayer, studying His Word, and embracing the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The message is clear: Stay prepared in your faith journey. Be filled with the oil of God's presence, so when the unexpected moments come, and the cry goes out, you will be ready to meet the Bridegroom, our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us heed His warning to "keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." All we can be sure of is that it will be awesome experience, and it will not disappoint us; If. We. Are. Ready.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we come before you with a desire to remain vigilant in our faith. Help us to keep our lamps burning brightly with the oil of your presence and the guidance of your Spirit. May we always be prepared for the unexpected moments in our journey with you. Lord, grant us the wisdom to seek your presence daily and the readiness to meet our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, when He returns. In Christ Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Live a prepared life!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

You Want The Best? Worship God!

Image from workingpreacher.org

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/45XZVlB View the devo:

Hear a companion devotional to this one: https://bit.ly/3QzsfpQ

1 I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. 2 I live and breathe God; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: 3 Join me in spreading the news; together let's get the word out. 4 God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. 5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. 6 When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. 7 God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. 8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. 9 Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.10 Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but God-seekers are full of God. 22 God pays for each slave's freedom; no one who runs to him loses out. (Psalm 34:1-10, 22)

In talking with family members one evening over my birthday lunch, our daughter had offered up the prayer for my birthday meal, and I made the comment that I was sending her to seminary. She and her sister looked at each other and said, "We've lived that life already, and maybe my husband would like it; I know he would love the free food!" We chuckled, for we knew what "free food" meant. In case you don't, it's a reference to covered dishes and pot lucks. For many, the offer of a covered dish is a chance to sample some incredible food, and I remembered one church in particular where one of our staff members was always first in the line for the free food. His family situation was known by all and so we understood his wanting to be first. I thanked God his enthusiasm for worship was just as strong, and he delighted in being in worship as often as he could. How about you?

The psalmist loved worship, too. Yet, this psalm alerts us to the reality that worship is not limited to a place or time; worship happens when we become aware of God's presence and power. David invites us to praise God all the time and to enjoy the blessings of God's faithfulness to us. His worship was not limited just to the good times, but also during the moments of deepest despair and desperation, troubling anxiety and worry, too, but it was in those moments that he knew that if he called out to God, God would meet him "more than halfway." David knew God to be his refuge and protector, who offered a circle of safety when he needed it most.

David also invited us to move just beyond the thoughts of images; he says we should taste and see how good God is. It is an encouragement to experience God's goodness firsthand. We are called to open our mouths in worship, to taste the joy of His presence, and to open our eyes to see God's abundant blessings. We have been invited to seek Him, with the promise being that those of us who run to Him will "never lose out." God has paid for our freedom, God has set us free from the bonds of sin and worry.

It may be that tomorrow may bring to us a challenge we did not expect, and its size much larger than we want, but know this, we can stand with confidence, knowing that God is our refuge, protector, and provider. You and I can live a life enriched by continuous worship, a life where we taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

So, dear one, whether our life is filled with joy or trials, let us bless God at every chance we get and live and breathe Him in all we do. For God meets us more than halfway, and in Him, we find our eternal refuge and ultimate freedom. Amen? Amen!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your goodness and faithfulness. Help us, Lord, to live a life of continuous worship, praising you in every season of our lives. We open our mouths to taste your joy and open our eyes to see your blessings. Be our refuge, protector, and provider, and may we always run to you, knowing that in you, we find true freedom. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Start praising God right now!

Please know of my love for you and the wonderful gift you are to so many!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Friends, if's Open Enrollment time for those who might need health insurance. To find an affordable plan, use this no-oblligation link: https://www.healthsherpa.com/marketplace/zip_code?_agent_id=eradio-valverde

No More Tears

Image from bible.com

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/3QFNsyj

View the devotional: https://bit.ly/3SntXvD

Hear a classic from WrinklesandPimples.org, on Romans 8:31ff: https://bit.ly/3QBuuJe

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ (Revelation 7:9-17 NIV Bible)

A most blessed and sacred All Saints Day for you, dear Friend. May we remember that our faith in Jesus Christ and our faithful living a life like Jesus makes us a saint now; may we take seriously our call to follow Him with love and devotion.

A comedian fresh from Bible College said, "If you're worried about diversity in Heaven, don't worry - you won't be making it there anyway." Ouch. Truth hurts. For as long as I can remember and as many sermons I have heard in my life from so many different preachers, everyone, when preaching on this passage, have said that Heaven will be filled with people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, etc. but whose names have been written in the Book of Life because this passage conveys that truth. Several from our church about three years ago had the rare privilege of stepping inside the cave on the Isle of Patmos where John had the vision that gave him this book. Our tour guide said that when Jesus spoke to John, Jesus' voice cracked the ceiling in two, forming a cross on the ceiling. Sadly, photographs of this sacred space were not allowed and our memories recorded what beautiful images that place gave us as we heard the faith of that guide speak of how John was blessed with a vision of the coming Lord and His will to take us to be with Him in glory. Hear this with the same trembling fear of that ancient disciple as he first heard it, and with the same excitement that defeated his fear and shared with him hope of the coming place that will know no end and several other awesome realities.

This picture of Heaven as shared by John is a scene that transcends time and space, where a vast multitude, too numerous to count, gathers before the throne of God. These are people from every nation, tribe, people, and language. The diversity of humanity is beautifully represented, reminding us that God's salvation is universal and inclusive. It is that very salvation that we have heard preached, or some of us have preached, about God's love.

What stands out in this heavenly gathering is the image of people wearing white robes and holding palm branches. These white robes symbolize purity and the righteousness granted to believers through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. The palm branches are symbols of victory and celebration, signifying that these individuals have overcome through their faith. All things on earth were overcome by the power of God. The voices of the multitude resound with a declaration: "Salvation belongs to our God!" It's a reminder that our salvation is a gift from God alone, received through faith in Jesus Christ. It has overcome death and all that death brings with it, and we have entered that sacred realm where there will be no more tears.

As we reflect on this passage, we are encouraged to see the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan, where people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and languages find their place before the throne. In God's presence, there is unity, peace, and an end to suffering. The Lamb, who is Christ, is not only the Savior but also the Shepherd who leads us to living water and wipes away every tear from our eyes. Those things on earth that caused our weeping and mourning have been removed because they were defeated.

In a world marked by divisions and conflicts, this vision of heavenly unity and peace reminds us of the hope we have in Christ. It calls us to live out the values of love, inclusivity, and reconciliation in our daily lives. We are called to be ambassadors of God's universal salvation, sharing the good news and extending His love to all people. If we seek to divide or to encourage those who would make separation a reality in our worship, our fellowship, or in any sense, they may not make it to Heaven; for ours is a faith guided and driven by the power of love. Make it your priority to live a life that loves ALL people.

PRAYER: Loving God, we stand in awe of the vision of heaven's multitudes from every nation and the Lamb who leads us to springs of living water. We thank you for your universal salvation and the victory we have in Christ. Help us to live as agents of your love and peace in a world often marked by division. May we extend your invitation of salvation to all, so that one day, we may join the heavenly chorus in worship. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Love all people now with the hope that one day we will all be together forever.

Receive my love for you, and tha thanksgiving I offer up to God for you,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

A Life Worthy of God

Image from heartstrings77.com

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/3tQtOa7

View devotional: https://bit.ly/3QfckeX

More devotional listening material at https://www.pimplesandwrinkles.org/

9 You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn't have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God's Message to you. 10 You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren't freeloaders! 11 You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, 12 holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life. 13 And now we look back on all this and thank God, an artesian well of thanks! When you got the Message of God we preached, you didn't pass it off as just one more human opinion, but you took it to heart as God's true word to you, which it is, God himself at work in you believers! (1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 The Message Bible)

A blessed and happy Tuesday to you, my dear Friend. May this find you well and enjoying God's love and blessings for your life. I pray that God blesses you with an adventure of faith today! Let us pray for one another, especially for those who need our prayers and have asked such from us. Let us pray for peace in the world, peace in our hearts, and peace in the hearts of those who still seek it.

My mentor in ministry, The Rev. Jose Alvirez Galindo, said once that when he went to minister in a new colonia, the people said they wanted someone who lived and care for them and not just preach and live. And that's a key to God's work! And Paul and Silas knew that. And that's what why Paul writes in the opening verses of hard work, long hours, listening and be confidential and discreet among them, and loving them enough to be courteous; always sensitive to their needs and always sharing Jesus with them. They saw their role as one of being like loving parents with children; holding their hands, sharing encouragement and showing and living in ways that is step-by-step manner, showing them how to live well before God (Other versions say, "Living a life worthy of God."). Paul reminds them we were called into this life, His Kingdom, into a "delightful life." Serving as an intern minister under the loving guidance and care of Rev. Galindo strengthened these words of Paul. He lived an authentic, loving way with his wife, his sons, and those entrusted to his care as their pastor; he shared the powerful message of God's grace not only in words, but by his example and attention to them. In the same way, you and I are called to not only share the gospel, but our lives, too.

When we share our lives, we make the message of God's grace real and tangible. It's in our showing kindness, showing patience, our humility, and our love that people see the reality of our faith. We become living testimonies of God's transformative work. Just as Paul and his companions were willing to be vulnerable and transparent, we too should be open and authentic in our relationships, allowing others to see the grace of Christ working in us.

Paul goes on to emphasize the power of God's Word at work in believers. The Word is not just information; it's a dynamic force that transforms hearts and minds. As we read and meditate on Scripture, we invite the Holy Spirit to shape our character, renew our minds, and empower us to live out the gospel in our daily lives.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the example of Paul, Silas, and Timothy in their dedication to sharing the gospel and their lives with others. Help us to live out our faith with the same authenticity and love. May your Word continually work in us, transforming us and enabling us to be a light in the world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: LIve a life worthy of God!

Receive my love and appreciation for your devoted reading, viewing and support of this ministry!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Do As I Say, Not As I Do!

Image from dustoffthebible.com

Hear the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3tZLvnp

View the devotional: https://bit.ly/3Mn5UJH

LIsten to an oldie: The Mixed Up Marriage: https://bit.ly/3tZoYqP

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. 8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:1-12 NIV Bible)

I am now more convinced than ever that there existed a secret school for Dads. I said it existed, because no one invited me to attend! But at that school, besides classes on wisdom and patience, there was a class on clever come-backs to wise-acre children. I won't bore you with all of them, but the title of today's devotional was one my Father said to me on numerous occasions. My Dad was stern in his teachings but faithful in his example, but on numerous occasions I might have challenged his wisdom and patience by asking or saying something contrary to what he may have tried to impart. "Do as I say, not as I do!" would be his comeback to me. I have to confess that I did not know what that meant at the time; but with age usually comes wisdom, and to that I was usually invited. And it was my understanding from others at school, their dads said they same thing. Oh, my favorite was "This is going to hurt me more than it is you." LOL.

Today's passage finds Jesus teaching His disciples and the crowd gathered that day that they must be obedient to God and not to the so-called leaders of their faith. Jesus does affirm their authority in the reference to the place on which they taught, the Moses' seat. It wasn't until I was in the ruins of an old synagogue near Jesus' home, that I saw with my own eyes a real Moses' seat (Or replica as the original one was taken to a museum in London). The common ritual followed by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, was to have an attendant bring the scroll which contained the law and their scriptures, and they would unroll the scroll, read the passage for the day, re-roll the scroll and hand it back to the attendant and they would seat in the seat of Moses. The symbolism was that from the man who gave us the law, we sit. We rest on his authority and his relationship with God to have brought us this law and as we teach it, we're doing it from that position of trust and obedience.

Then Jesus shares His warning, Because they sit in Moses' seat, "You must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." They loved to preach, but did not like to practice what it was they preached about. It was all about show and not real living. Jesus describes their attraction to their garments and add-ons, rather than taking the time and effort to live out what these add-ons contained. The phylacteries were small leather boxes containing scriptural passages which were worn on the left hand or on the head as reminders to follow the law. Jesus further says these religious leaders loved the prestige that came with their office, such as sitting in the place of honor at feasts and taking the most important seats in the synagogues, and the greetings of respect in places such as the marketplace, and they loved the title of "Rabbi." Jesus warns that they (and we) are not to call anyone on earth "father" for we have only one Father. Please know that Jesus was not outlawing our calling our Dads, "Father," but instead He was cautioning against our misusing titles and positions of authority in ways that detract from the authority of God and that promotes self-exaltation. Jesus wants us to give all spiritual authority to God, Whose reverence belongs exclusively to Him. Honestly, Jesus says, "The greatest among you will be your servant. In other words, those who learn to humble themselves and their authority under God, will we truly realize our place and purpose.

Friends, ours is to work in a humble manner, obedient to God and following His example and teachings, to bring about the changes that God desires to have among the world and its needs today.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts of humility, acknowledging that our desire for recognition and honor can sometimes lead us astray. Help us, Lord, to embrace the way of servanthood that Jesus exemplified. Teach us to put the needs of others above our own desires for recognition and praise. May our lives reflect the humble heart of Christ, and may we find true greatness in serving others. In His name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Live a life that glorifies God!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The Death of a King

Image from stmarysregina.ca

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/475pF04

View devotional: https://bit.ly/474Sp98

1 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” 5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:1-12 NIV Bible)

A most joyous of days, may this Wednesday be to you, dear Friend; for you see on this day some many, many years ago, your servant was born in Kingsville, Texas, to Maria del Jesus Jimenez Valverde, and Eradio Valverde, Sr. Both of these fine people are now in the presence of the Lord, and I am thankful to be alive, thanks to them and thanks to God, Who continues to bless and watch me. I pray this finds you well and enjoying God's awesome blesssings surprising you over and over again. May this translate into joyful prayer and praise and reflection. Let us pray for one another, especially for those who have asked prayers of us, and let us pray for those nobody wants or even sees. May they come to know love and acceptance from us. And a wonderful birthday to my birthday partner, my granddaughter, Eliana Beth Garcia! Happy Birthday, Eliana! Grandpa and Grandma love you!!

I will never forget my walking off a plane at Orlando's airport on Sunday afternoon, February 18, 2001. We had survived the first year after Y2K and we were still alive and well. The zombie apocalypse did not occur and I had a meeting to attend in O-Town. The usually busy and joyous airport, think Disney, was strangely quiet. The TVs in every lounge area had people glued to them. Some were hugging one another, others were outright crying. Sadness in Mickey's town? Could it be? I finally asked a stranger what had happened that had everyone there so sad? Then I learned that Dale Earnhardt had died that afternoon not far from the Orlando airport. The Daytona 500 had claimed the life of the current king of NASCAR at the young age of 49, and his subjects were in mourning. Those of us who were not too intimate with that type of racing could not understand such grief, but those of you who are maybe still mourn the senseless death of a legend. Death is never easy and death always hits closer that we expect.

Another king's death is shared in today's passage. For all intents and purposes, Moses was the king of the Israelites as they made their trek from Egypt into the wilderness as their 40 year journey neared an end. I have made reference to Moses being the senior pastor of First Exodus, but he was much more. He was the father of the movement that first shaped the religion we know as Judaism. He was also a father of our faith as he set in motion what faithfulness and fruitfulness looked like when one person says yes to God. Moses had what we can say was an interesting life; born during a time when baby boys did not survive due to poliitcal pressure from the Pharoah, who feared what more male Jews could do to his nation. Moses was blessed with an astute mom who made sure he was born and not instantly killed, and he had an equally smart sister who made the right moves to get Moses adopted into the right family and that this new family hired Moses' momma to be his nurse maid. He was raised in a royal setting and never lacked for anything; his big mistake was killing an oppressive aggressor that was threatening a fellow Jew. Moses chose to leave Egypt to escape legal consequences from Pharoah. Led by God to the right family who took him in as he married Zipporah, he became a shepherd when he encountered the Real Shepherd, God Himself who called him into service. Moses got to the border of the new homeland but was told by God that he would not enter it. Where we pick the story up, Moses is shown the promised land -from Gilead to Dan, all of Nephtali, the territy of Ephraim and Manasseh, all fhe land of Judah, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea, the Negev and the entire region of Jericho and its Valley, and as far as Zoar. "That's the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," God told him, and I promised that I would give it to their descendents, and I have shown it to you, but you will not enter it." And with that, Moses the great leader, was dead and God buried him in a spot that to this day no one knows where it is. Moses was 120 years old when he breathed his last, and yet, the Bible says, he still did not need glasses, had they been around, and Geritol was not needed either, for Moses was still a strong man. Then the mourning began for this king of a still-forming nation.

Right before his death, Moses anointed Joshua as the new leader of Israel. And Joshua was blessed with the spirit of wisdom. But Moses remained among the greatest of the prophets, "whom the Lord knew face-to-face" and Moses was able to do things only because God was with him, and even went up against Pharoah and his officials and saw the liberation promised to this people happen. Moses died a great man in the eyes of all of Israel.

Of all the Moses did, the greatest thing was the relationship with God was what impressed me more. Given all he had to endure as the dirver of a huge station wagon filled with unruly kids, he enjoyed the ear and heart of God with which he was blessed in the good and the bad. The relationship continued for when Jesus had His transfiguration event, as the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, said that Moses and Elijah would come back, which they did when they visited Jesus in the wilderness. What an amazing thing to strive for! It begins with our faith allowing us to say yes to God in whatever God may ask of us, and our being receptive to seeking Him out in the good and the bad; never giving up, and holding steady to what has blessed us in our lives with His gifts of faith, love, and hope.

PRAYER: Loving and awesome God, bless our lives to be obedient and trusting like Moses. Help us to always know You are with us and You will guide us to where You would have us be and do; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blesssed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Say yes to God today!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr. Past devotionals are available here:

God-Pleasers or People-Pleasers?

Image from newlifenarrabi.wordpress.com

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/45IDKiY

1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. (1 Thessalonians2:1-8 NIV Bible)

A gracious and blessed Tuesday be your, dear Reader. I was blessed that on Sunday Nellie and I were able to visit Cami Chapa in her room in the ICU of Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, She is in and out of consciousness, but awoke when I called her by her given name and smiled when she saw me. I asked if she remembered me and she nodded yes. I asked if she remembered Nellie and again, yes. She was not able to speak but she did nod when asked questions, especially when I asked if I could pray for her. Please continue to pray for her and her full recovery. Our brother, Rick Gonzalez is doing well and we continue to pray that God work through his treatments to make him better. We ended our rounds of visitation with a home visit with Nellie's brother, Hector Rosales, who is lively and alert, yet needing to regain use of his fingers and regain mobility. Hector is a talented artist and I told him of a conversation I had with one of our nephews who wants a painted bull head and said he regrets that he did not act fast enough to have his Uncle Hector paint a head he found on a ranch and said that Hector's daughter, Rose, is just as talented as her dad and she could probably do it. Hector quickly said, "I'll do it!" And may it be so! Let us pray for peace in Israel and Gaza; may God bless decision-makers to make decisions of peace and life. Pray for one another, pray for the needs of the world and for those needs you have.

This is the last week of Pastor Appreciation Month and this text is very appropriate to the work our brothers and sister carry on for our good. The Apostle Paul could have written a timeless book of the do's and don'ts of work among believers. Paul experienced it all. He shares a hint of the suffering and outrageous treatment he received in Philippi; yet always under the care of God, he pressed on with the message of the Gospel even in spite of opposition. Paul stresses their motive was not from error or impure thoughts, nor were they trying to trick them. His appeal and authority, he says, springs from their having been approved by God to preach the gospel. This reminded me of another great revelation in a seminary class, and that was my preaching class. I had self-identified preaching as my major weakness that I wanted to address in my internship year. And this class was meant to help me prepare to be a better preacher. The question was by whose authority do we dare step foot into a pulpit to preach? This was another silence-maker among us students. The professor, Dr. Grady Hardin, said, "By their being in church they are granting you permission to share what God has laid on your heart. And that made sense. Our being in seminary was to confirm the earlier authority-granting that God had shared with us in our call into ministry. We should always remember that we step into the pulpit to please God, as Paul wrote, and not the people who gather on Sunday to hear us preach. "God tests our hearts," Paul says, "So we never use flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed - God is our witness. We preach not to gather praises from people, but like young children, we work among the people, with awe and wonder. Our desire is to care for the people as a nursing mother cares for her children, and because of our love for God and for these people, we strive to share not only the gospel but our lives as well.

Here's what we can take with us after spending time with this passage: All ministers should perform ministry with integrity. All of us should serve with integrity whether in our professional, personal, or spiritual endeavors. We should strive to be honest, sincere, and trustworthy in our words and actions. God-centered service; we can only please God and not worry about pleasing people; if we get, or don't get, human recognition or applause that's okay because we seek only to serve and please God.

A pastor and all believers should provide gentle and caring leadership. Paul's example of a nursing mother shows the tenderness and care that leaders and fellow believers should share with all people. Our call to lead should come with compassion and support for others. Our goal should be to share not only the Gospel, but our lives as well. One televangelist was notorious in his living in San Diego, California, while serving a church in Dallas. He would fly in his persona jet, preach, if I can use that word, leave out the back door, board his jet and repeat each Sunday. During the week, his staff cared for the needs of the congregation. Where, dare I ask, was his authentic, supportive and caring relationship with his fellow believers?

A pastor should use the power of encouragement to help bring the Gospel to life. We labor among those who learn from us by our example, especially if we care and love others. The gospel impact on lives depends on our being able to relate to others; we must show how the gospel changed us from where we used to be, to where we are, and to where we believe we are going. And Paul stresses the importance of mentorship and discipleship. We should seek those who can mentor us, or we should offer ourselves as mentors to those who need us as such; through this we can pass on the faith and help nurture spiritual growth.

PRAYER: Loving Father, help us be those who genuinely love You and love Your people in ways that bless Your Kingdom. Help us seek to serve and to seek Your favor as we labor for the good of the Gospel. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen,.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Become a God-pleaser!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The Big One?

Image from oursaviorhaddonfield.org

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/3sbRtRA

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”“The son of David,” they replied. 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:34-46 NIV Bible)

As I approached a small church of mine in the country, I parked my car, gathered my stuff and as I was closing the door of the car, I saw that across the street a little girl was staring at me. I got it right away. She and I were the same color, and perhaps she had not seen anyone like us going into that church. I went in and greeted the folks gathered for our charge conference and I asked if anyone knew the name of the little girl across the street. Sadly, no one did and some acted like how would we know her, she's not one of our church members. The church, like many, knew and sought to affirm the "greatest commandment," but did poorly on the "second" commandment.

In their almost daily task of Let's stump Jesus so we can get rid of Him task, the Pharisees, hoping to one up the Sadducees, and so they chose their expert in the law to pose a question to Jesus. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Maybe not a Sunday or Sabbath school question, but one that most Jews should know, and Jesus did and He says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Jesus then adds, "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Wait. What? Yes, Jesus says that love, if we center it on God, we should also center it on others, especially our neighbors. Jesus had already addressed the neighbor question by sharing the Good Samaritan parable, of our neighbor being anyone in need, even if they were of a different tribe or nation or race or religion. At our family reunion this past weekend, being the sole clergy and of a different persuasion of all, I get asked a lot of questions, and Saturday was no exception; how is our baptism different from a Catholic baptism? I answered knowing the real question was could I do a baptism for a family member? I answered my question by saying both churches baptize in the Name of the Triune God, i.e., Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; but to remain faithful and true to the Catholic Church it might be best to get a priest to explain baptism and actually baptize family members, regardless of age or perceived tardiness to do so. I stressed that all baptisms are done by God and just as importantly is our desire to live as faithful and as loving as we can with God and raise our children with the knowledge of God being central to who we are. We can ask, are we loving God the way we should, and our family members in the same way? And, our neighbors like that too? There is no excuse for not loving all people.

The discussion shifts as Jesus now does the questioning. "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?" Good question, and one that learned men of the Pharisees should be able and eager to answer. They knew the correct answer, "The son of David." Okay, Jesus says, but explain this: Why then does David calls the Messiah, 'Lord'? Again, a great question, but Jesus further says, "Explain how it is that David is saying to 'my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' "If then David calls Him, 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" The Bible says this really silenced the Pharisees for good. Jesus had asked an unanswerable question. Jesus is posing the question to those who enjoyed their power and authority and squashes them by asking a question of power and authority. David, long revered as the number one king of Israel, how could he call the coming Messiah, Lord, if the Messiah is his "son." This refers to the Messiah being long-expected heir of David's lineage. Could the great, great, great, great-grandchild be "Lord" to his great-grandfather? The answer we know is yes, but for those who easily felt threatened by so many, it was hard for them to say "Lord" to someone born to them; how dare they be Lord if we are their father? We know that in the grand scheme of things, David would willingly bow down and worship the Son of God and would not balk at that, for great is He who is the Son who came to save the world. David, and me, and you, would line up to worship He Who takes away the sins of the world.

Friends, the line has already started of those who seek to be forgiven by Jesus and who desire to be made right with God through the influence and power of the Lord. Let us surrender all thoughts of authority and power to Him only who can grant that to us. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is your Lord. Amen.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. May these commandments guide our daily actions and inspire us to be agents of love and grace in this world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Line up and gather others to join you in this line!

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Fun Fact, thanks to my bride:

When was the first name Eradio first recorded in the United States?

The oldest recorded birth by the Social Security Administration for the name Eradio is Thursday, March 17th, 1910.

The God of Awe & Wonder

Image from pinterest.com

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/3tyVWy5

View the devotional: https://bit.ly/45DjEXi

1 God rules. On your toes, everybody! He rules from his angel throne - take notice! 2 God looms majestic in Zion, He towers in splendor over all the big names. 3 Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you! Holy. Yes, holy. 4 Strong King, lover of justice, You laid things out fair and square; You set down the foundations in Jacob, Foundation stones of just and right ways. 5 Honor God, our God; worship his rule! Holy. Yes, holy. 6 Moses and Aaron were his priests, Samuel among those who prayed to him. They prayed to God and he answered them; 7 He spoke from the pillar of cloud. And they did what he said; they kept the law he gave them. 8 And then God, our God, answered them (But you were never soft on their sins). 9 Lift high God, our God; worship at his holy mountain. Holy. Yes, holy is God our God. (Psalm 99 The Message)

A blessed and awesome Thursday to you, dear Friend. I pray wonderful blessings upon you and your needs. May this day prepare us to wonderfully serve the Lord. May we continue to lift up those prayer request shared yesterday evening. Pray for one another.

There's a certain portion of the population that has an awe toward the persona of Chuck Norris. For those of you who are not familiar with Mr. Norris, he is an American actor who notably played the character of Walker, Texas Ranger. He played the role so well a mysterious aura grew around him. It is filled with awe and mystery about what and who Chuck is. There is a library of jokes that add to his strength and awesomeness. I heard one, well, one that I can use in this setting. "Did you know Chuck Norris gargles with peanut butter?" And, "Chuck Norris was once bitten by deadly cobra and after several pain-agonizing days, the cobra died." Okay, one more. "They named a street after Chuck Norris but it didn't work because nobody crosses Chuck Norris."

Nothing compares to the awe and wonder we need to have about God The psalmist knew this and wrote about it over and over. He never tired of it nor should we. David's enthusiasm should ignite in us the childlike desire to enter and be completely involved in the worship and praise of God. As a child, my favorite morning of the entire week was Sunday, with Saturday's cartoon lineup a close second. But I could not wait to get to church to see my friends/brothers/sisters in Sunday school, then to be in worship. I'm blessed in that I grew up in that era of Sunday being a day mostly dedicated to God. Our state had the famous blue laws and every Sunday seemed like Christmas days of recent years; everything was closed and nothing competed with the activities of the church. As a result most churches were full. Yes, times changed as did the desires of our hearts and minds and now Sunday is seen like any other day and with it, God seemed to be drifting away in some people's spirits. This version starts off with the proper declaration that nothing can ever change, "God rules." Indeed He does regardless of our opinions or thoughts; God rules. That should help us set the tone for our participation in worship. "This is all about You, loving God!"

The psalmist also says there is no name that compares to God, even if they are "big names." The "big names" should be leading us in worship by their actions and example. Our praise should glorify the God of love and justice. God, in His infinite wisdom laid everything out in His way to bless us. The foundations laid in Jacob were those of "just and right ways." And our worship should reinforce that in our being. We should be in awe as we enter and as we take part in the elevation of God's name. May we never forget about the holiness of God. We are to be reverent and in awe of God. Our worship should be our natural response to the majesty and righteousness of the One who rules over all of us. When we acknowledge God's sovereignty we are blessed with a deeper understanding of our place in God's divine plan.

So, friends, may this psalm prepare us for our day of worship. May we approach every worship space as God's holy mountain and recognize the awesomeness of God's authority, which should mean we approach God with reverence for God is truly holy, righteous, and majestic. Dear one, take a long moment to reflect on your plans for worship. Pray about what God would have you do as your day of worship approaches. May our hearts, minds, and spirits be ready to lift God's name high and in turn, for God to lift our spirits to help us serve Him in spirit and truth.

PRAYER: Loving God, prepare us to praise You. Forgive us for at times wanting to be You as the center of attention of worship. We truly are not worthy of that, but You invite us to be Yours; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Begin now to prepare for awesome worship.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace. I love you and thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The Back Side of God

Inage from logossermons.org

Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/3PZc3N5

View the devotional: https://bit.ly/3RZlLBN

12 Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:12-23 NIV Bible)

There is a ride at Disney Parks called the Jungle Cruise. Give them a couple of weeks and it will become the Jingle Cruise. But the ride features animatronic animals as if one were on a real safari cruise and also features corny, but sometimes hilarious, skippers of each boat. One of the classic line is, and read ahead if you're not wanting a spoiler if you're planning on going on a Disney trip in the future; but as you go behind the waterfall, the skipper says you're seeing something rarely seen and that's "the back side of water!" Bada bump. I thought it was funny that Moses wants to see the glory of God and God hides him and allows him to only see His back. And we will get into that in this devotional! Welcome!

There are things that we sometimes need to see or hear over and over again before we truly begin to beli peve or accept. Remember when you first heard from your spouse or significant other the words I love you? Was that not a great thing to hear? Or, if you're a student and you've studied hard for an exam, you take it and you get your exam handed back and you see the word PASSED; wasn't that also an awesome feeling? I remember taking my state health and life insurance and knowing that I needed a 70 to pass. I studied hard, Nellie helped me study (and she knows it way better than me!) and finally to make it real, I set the date for me to drive to San Antonio to take the exam. It was a difficult environment in which strictness is the rule of the day. I could not get up once I sat down and only with the raising of my hand would I be allowed to get up, and if I needed to visit the facilities, I would have to raise my hand, await the proctor to accompany me and before I was even allowed in I had to remove everything from my pockets and even had my glasses checked to make sure that I wasn't able to receive messages or information that might help me cheat on the exam. I had studied. I had prayed and I did all I could and I turned the exam in. The proctor ran the exam and placed it face down on the counter and told me I could turn it over. PASSED! And with a good score, too, thank God!

And here we find Moses doubting just where he was, and who he was. He asks for someone to accompany him.

Moses, the leader of the Israelites, boldly approached the Lord with a heartfelt plea: "Please show me your glory." He desired a deeper knowledge of God, a more profound encounter with His presence. For Moses, his desire is to know God more intimately, and for him knowing God's presence is just what he desires. Moses' words in verse 15 reveal a deeper truth: "If Your presence will not go with us, do not bring us up from here." God being with them made them stand out among the other people of the region. Without God, they would be just like any other nation.

God responds with a promise filled with grace and favor: "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." It is a reassuring affirmation of God's commitment to His people. Moses was granted his request to see God's glory, but with a divine disclaimer – "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." Despite the limits placed on the human encounter with God, Moses was granted a glimpse of His goodness. The truth was that anyone who saw God would die, thus what we read in verse 23, "Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

As we journey in faith, we, too, long for a deeper understanding of God's presence. We desire to see His glory and experience His grace. Just like Moses, we recognize the importance of God's presence in our lives. We know that it is in His presence that we find rest, grace, and favor.

As we reflect on this passage, consider your own longing to experience God's presence and glory. Remember that, like Moses, you are known by name and have found favor in His sight. Take comfort in His promise to go with you and grant you rest. May you seek His presence and, in that seeking, find all you need.

PRAYER: Loving God, we are grateful for the promise of Your presence and the assurance of Your favor. Just as Moses longed to see Your glory, we, too, desire to know You more deeply. May Your presence go with us on this journey of faith, and grant us rest, grace, and favor. In our seeking, reveal Yourself to us, and fill our lives with Your goodness. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Seek to know God's presence more in your life.

Receive my blessings of love and joy,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.