Yesterday, the morning sky over our house reflected the sun and its brilliance. Preaching from the Word of God requires preparation, patience and perseverance, reflecting God’s heart to the world. It may not always make people laugh, draw a crowd or provide entertainment but it will always bless those who truly hear it and apply the truth to their lives.- Teresa

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (NLT)

“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”

 
While preparing my sermon for the women’s clothes closet (UGM), this realization struck me. We can oftentimes interpret truth about our circumstances through the lens of our experience. Ethan the Ezrahite wrote a song about the catastrophic experience of Israel bring invaded by a foreign country (Psalm 89). What amazed me was that he had such a healthy relationship with God. Not only did he recite all the reasons we can trust God’s loyal love but he felt comfortable enough with God to give him the true feelings of his heart. He asked God point blank….what about your loyal love that was firmly established? The last verse goes back to praise. Ethan used the lens of scripture to define his view of the current circumstances- not the lens of this bad experience. Even in the darkness of circumstances, His loyal love is firmly established!!- Teresa

  Psalm 91:14-16 (NLT)

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.  I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer;  I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

 Psalm 89:1-14 (NIV)

1 “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,I have sworn to David my servant,4 ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ “5 The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;  he is more awesome than all who surround him.8 Who is like you,Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.9 You rule over the surging sea;  when its waves mount up, you still them. 10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.12 You created the north and the south;  Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.13 Your arm is endowed with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. “

I Timothy 1: 5-11 (NLT)

5 “The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.”

8 “We know that the law is good when used correctly. 9 For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. 10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders,[c] liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching 11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.”

 Pastor Albright was an example of a man of God who never tired of doing good!! Not only was his smile contagious but his energy spurred on many to love and good deeds. During our adventures in Mexico (Andrea, Jane and me)- he shined in the way that he shared the essence of God’s love toward to the people.  The one memory that endears Pastor Albright to my heart forever was when he took me under his wing to help with door to door evangelism in the new neighborhood around the church.  What senior pastor invests their time and gifts into a teenager? – Teresa

#authenticleadership #amazinglegacy

2 Thessalonians 3: 6-13 ( NLT)

6 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers[c] who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received[d] from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.”

  Proverbs 25: 11-14 (NLT)

11″Timely advice is lovely,

    like golden apples in a silver basket.

12 To one who listens, valid criticism

    is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.

    They revive the spirit of their employer.

14 A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it

    is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.”

 When we rapel down a cliff we trust as we take a backward step of faith that the rope will hold us. When we trust God’s way to heaven it also is a step of faith. We are tempted to remember all the reasons God shoud find us acceptable to enter into the pearly gates: responsible, hard working, stayed married, had children who are good people, worshipper of God, etc. God’s way to heaven, however, is not based on man’s efforts. God’s way to heaven is based on the substitutionary atonement of His Son paying our debt. As much as we would love to do payback for sin, it’s never enough. We should not underestimate how pleased God is with the obedience of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. His way to heaven is paid for by one act- He laid down His life for us!!!-Teresa

 I Thessalonians 5: 9-11 (NLT)
9 “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

  
Trusting in the Lord means making Him our hope and confidence. This leads to the appearance of green leaves and fruit- evidence that our spiritual life is flourishing even when the circumstances appear to be drought-filled!!-Teresa

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,

    with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat

    or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green,

    and they never stop producing fruit.

9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,

    and desperately wicked.

    Who really knows how bad it is?

10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts

    and examine secret motives.

I give all people their due rewards,

    according to what their actions deserve.”

 Through the lens of Christ’s love- we can freely give thanks and sing songs of worship to our God!!- Teresa

Colossians 3:16,17 (NLT) 16 “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”