Grand Prairie Seventh-day Adventist Church

06/02/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐬 - 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲
"Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." - Revelation 14:12, NKJV

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭
There's a moment coming - Revelation describes it clearly - when the pressure to conform will be global, political, and personal all at once. A mark. A mandate. A choice: bow or suffer.

But here's what strikes me: Revelation doesn't just show us the crisis. It shows us the people who will stand through it. And it describes them in just two phrases - they keep the commandments of God, and they hold the faith of Jesus.

Not two spectacular qualities. Not superhuman strength. Faithfulness and faith. Obedience and surrender. That's what produces the overcomers.

Let me show you something. The three Hebrew young men in Daniel 3 are a preview of Revelation 13. Same structure - bow to the image or face the consequence. Same demand. Same pressure. And the same kind of people who said no.

They weren't heroes because they were fearless. They were heroes because they were decided before the moment came. Their "no" to Nebuchadnezzar had been settled in the daily choices they made long before the furnace was heated.

Church family, you don't build crisis faith in the crisis. You build it now, in the small daily surrenders. The people who will stand at the end are the people who are standing today - in ordinary faithfulness, in quiet obedience, in unhurried prayer.

The world is already practicing its bow. The saints are practicing their stand.

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭
Crisis faith is built in daily faithfulness - long before the crisis arrives.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
1. What daily spiritual disciplines are you building that will sustain you in moments of intense pressure?
2. Where are you being pressured to conform right now - and what does faithful resistance look like in that space?
3. How does knowing the end of the story (Revelation 14) change how you live today?

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫
Lord Jesus, I don't know what tests are ahead - but You do. Build in me now the kind of faith that stands when the whole world bows. Make me faithful in the little things so I will be found faithful in the great ones. I want to be among those who keep Your commandments and hold Your faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.

𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
- Revelation 13:15-17 - The coming pressure to conform
- Revelation 12:11 - Overcomers through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony
- "Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive." - Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 625

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

06/01/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 - 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲
"My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me." - Daniel 6:22 NKJV

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭
Brother, sister—somebody dropped you in a den this week. Maybe it was a coworker who threw you under the bus. Maybe it was a diagnosis you didn't see coming. Maybe it was a betrayal from someone you trusted. You're in the den. And the lions are circling.

Daniel knew this place. He'd been faithful his entire life - decades of prayer, decades of integrity - and still ended up in a pit full of hungry lions. Why? Because he refused to stop praying.

Don't miss this. Daniel didn't end up in the den because he was doing something wrong. He ended up in the den because he was doing something right. Sometimes the very thing that gets you thrown in - is your faithfulness.

But here's what Daniel knew that his accusers didn't: the den is not your destination. It's your testimony in the making.

Are you with me? God didn't send Daniel to Babylon just to survive. He sent him there to witness. And the lions? God shut their mouths. Not because Daniel didn't go in - but because Daniel went in trusting.

You may not be able to control where they throw you. But you can control whether you keep praying when you get there.

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭
The den doesn't define you - the God who meets you in it does.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
1. Are you in a "den" right now because of your faithfulness? How does Daniel's story speak to your situation?
2. What prayer practice or spiritual discipline do you need to protect, even under pressure?
3. How might God be using your "den" as a witness to someone watching?

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫
Father, I didn't expect this den. But I know You are here. Shut the mouths of everything that is trying to devour me - my peace, my faith, my hope. I choose to pray, even now. I choose to trust You, even here. You are my God, and this den is not my grave. In Jesus' name, Amen.

𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
- Daniel 6:10 - Daniel's unbroken prayer life under threat
- Psalm 57:1-3 - "In the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge"
- "Daniel did not lose faith in God. He continued his communion with Heaven." - Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 543

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

05/31/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐭 - 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲
"When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." - Isaiah 43:2 NKJV

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭
Church family, let me ask you something this morning. Have you ever been in a situation so hot - so pressured, so painful - that you wondered whether God had forgotten your address?

Three young men in Babylon had that moment. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were told: bow down or burn up. And they said something that has echoed through the centuries: "Our God is able to deliver us. But even if He does not - we still won't bow." (Daniel 3:17-18, paraphrase)

Don't miss what they were saying. Their faith wasn't in a guaranteed outcome. Their faith was in an unchangeable God. They weren't trusting God because the furnace wouldn't be hot. They were trusting God because they knew Who walked through fire with them.

And that's the testimony of Isaiah 43 - God doesn't always remove the fire. Sometimes He walks into it with you.

Here's what gets me. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into that furnace, he saw four men - and the fourth looked like "the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25). Jesus met them in the fire before the fire could consume them.

He's already in your furnace, church family. The question is - will you trust Him in the heat?

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭
God doesn't always cool the furnace. Sometimes He steps into it with you.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
1. What "furnace" are you currently walking through? Have you invited Jesus into it?
2. Is your faith conditional on deliverance or grounded in God's character regardless of outcome?
3. What would it look like to say, "Even if He does not deliver me - I still won't bow"?

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫
Lord, I confess that I want You to remove the fire, not walk through it with me. But today I choose to trust You in the heat. You are faithful. You are present. You are enough. Even if the furnace stays hot - I know You are with me. Strengthen my faith to stand today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
- Daniel 3:16-18 - The faith declaration of three faithful young men
- Hebrews 11:34 - Faith that quenched flames and endured by fire
- "In the furnace of trial we are purified from the dross that prevents us from reflecting the image of Christ." - Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, February 5, 1902

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

05/30/2026

Watch Live - "Who Will Stand on the Wall?" with Pastor Mark A. Valadez

Message by: Pastor Mark A. Valadez | Scripture: Ezekiel 33:7

05/30/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 - 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” — Revelation 14:12 (NKJV)

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭
The final generation is not described merely by church attendance or religious language.

They are described by two things:

Obedience.
And faith.

The commandments of God.
And the faith of Jesus.

Not legalism.
Not rebellion.

Truth and trust working together.

And in the final crisis, emotional hype will not sustain believers. Cultural Christianity will not sustain believers. Surface religion will not sustain believers.

Only a deep relationship with Christ anchored in truth will endure.

The faith of Jesus is not weak belief. It is steadfast trust in the Father even under pressure.

And God is calling His people to that kind of faith now.

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭
Last-day faith is obedient, enduring, and Christ-centered.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
1. Is my faith growing stronger or weaker right now?
2. What pressures challenge my obedience most?
3. How can I deepen my trust in Christ daily?

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫
Father, strengthen my faith for these last days. Help me remain obedient, humble, and fully dependent on Jesus no matter what comes ahead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
Hebrews 10:35–39
The Great Controversy, p. 622

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

05/29/2026

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 - 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲
“…a famine… of hearing the words of the Lord.” — Amos 8:11 (NKJV)

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭
There may come a time when access to truth becomes harder than people ever imagined.

Right now Bibles are everywhere. Sermons are everywhere. Truth is available.

But availability does not guarantee appreciation.

Many people casually neglect now… what they will desperately wish they had later.

That’s why preparation matters before crisis arrives.

The strongest believers in the final crisis will not be those with the most information stored intellectually—but those who developed daily dependence on God.

Because borrowed faith collapses under pressure.

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭
Spiritual preparation cannot be postponed without consequences.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
1. Am I spiritually preparing seriously for the future?
2. What spiritual disciplines need strengthening now?
3. Is my faith personal or mostly borrowed from others?

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫
Lord, establish me deeply in Your Word before greater challenges come. Help me develop strong faith, daily dependence, and unwavering trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
Matthew 24:24
The Great Controversy, p. 593

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

05/28/2026

𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 - 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲
“You are the light of the world…” — Matthew 5:14 (NKJV)

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭
Influence is stewardship.

Whether you realize it or not—somebody is watching how you live.

Children are watching.
Coworkers are watching.
Church members are watching.
The world is watching.

And in an age where public Christianity often lacks private consistency, faithful influence matters deeply.

You don’t have to be famous to impact people.

One compromised believer can damage trust.
One faithful believer can strengthen faith.

Light does not argue with darkness—it exposes it simply by existing.

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭
Your lifestyle preaches even when your mouth stays silent.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
1. What kind of influence am I becoming?
2. Does my private life support my public witness?
3. Who around me needs a godly example?

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫
Father, help me reflect Christ consistently. Make my life an influence that points people toward truth, hope, and holiness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
Philippians 2:15
Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 340

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

05/27/2026

Our very own Pastor Mark A. Valadez!

What do we do with doubt and unbelief? What does strong faith look like according to Jesus? Let's explore+ 🔎✨

05/27/2026

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 - 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲
“For the grace of God… teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly…” — Titus 2:11–12 (NKJV)

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭
Real grace changes people.

Cheap grace says:
“Keep living however you want.”

Biblical grace says:
“Christ can make you new.”

And let’s be honest—modern Christianity often celebrates forgiveness while avoiding repentance.

But the gospel is not merely about escaping punishment. It is about deliverance from the power of sin.

Jesus did not die so believers could comfortably remain carnal. He died to restore humanity into His likeness.

Grace comforts the broken… but it also confronts the stubborn.

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭
Grace not only forgives sin—it trains believers to resist it.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
1. Have I misunderstood grace in any area of my life?
2. What sinful habits am I excusing instead of surrendering?
3. How has God’s grace been changing me recently?

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫
Lord, thank You for grace that forgives and transforms. Help me stop excusing what You are trying to remove from my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
Romans 6:1–2
Steps to Christ, p. 59

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

05/26/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 - 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” — John 17:17 (NKJV)

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭
Feelings are real. But feelings are terrible gods.

Some days you feel spiritual.
Some days you feel empty.
Some days you feel strong.
Some days you feel tempted.

But truth remains steady even when emotions fluctuate.

And this generation is drowning in feeling-based Christianity. If it feels good, it must be right. If it feels hard, it must be wrong.

But Scripture never teaches believers to follow emotions blindly.

Jesus did not say, “Your feelings will set you free.”
He said, “The truth shall make you free.”

The Word corrects feelings when feelings wander from truth.

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭
Truth must lead feelings—not the other way around.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
1. Where am I relying more on emotion than Scripture?
2. What truth do I need to stand on right now?
3. How can I strengthen my trust in God’s Word?

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫
Father, anchor me in truth. When emotions fluctuate, help me remain grounded in Your Word and faithful to Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
Psalm 119:160
The Great Controversy, p. 598

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez