The eye (as painted “graffiti-style” by miss Carly) reminds me that people are watching us as believers and “seeing” what we truly trust in. Is it a set of OT observations, rules and laws or is it Christ alone as our refuge and righteousness? Jesus Christ is the only power strong enough to combat our natural inclination toward evil. (Even those with “good” desires to put church names or seminary degrees above Christ will be caught in a self-righteous trap lacking power over evil). Thank you Father for the power of the One who acted in obedience to You, true love-that brought Christ Jesus our Lord down to the grave and back up to life again. He alone is the catalyst that brings us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Faith in the Son of God is the victory that overcomes the world’s power over our lives, helping us also to love.- Teresa

 Colosians 2:8-23 ( NLT)

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[a] of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[b] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.[c] 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed[d] the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels,[e] saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

 Twinkie minions are fun to look at, even clever in representing our foolish inclinations to join the dark side, however innocent.  Jeremiah’s heart was painfully askew over his people who could figure out many ways to do wrong but what about how to do right? How are we equipped for training in righteousness? (See 2Tim 3:16) We must hold on to God’s word- the scriptures. There is nothing else that will prepare as thoroughly or as effectively!!-Teresa

Jeremiah 4:19-22 (NLT)
My heart, my heart—I writhe in pain!

    My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still.

For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets

    and the roar of their battle cries.

20 Waves of destruction roll over the land,

    until it lies in complete desolation.

Suddenly my tents are destroyed;

    in a moment my shelters are crushed.

21 How long must I see the battle flags

    and hear the trumpets of war?

22 “My people are foolish

    and do not know me,” says the Lord.

“They are stupid children

    who have no understanding.

They are clever enough at doing wrong,

    but they have no idea how to do right!”