Undertaking the every day tasks of life requires courage but when we rejoice and give thanks to God in the midst of our struggle, we are blessed! God loves this gratefulness. By remembering and giving what is due Him, we are endorsing His sovereignty over the earth. In this place, this place of memorial in our lives (see also Psalm 70:4), we can rejoice at His greatness.- Teresa

 Deuteronomy 12: 5-7 (ESV) 

 5 “But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation[f] there. There you shall go, 6 and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. 7 And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you”.

Psalm 70English Standard Version (ESV)

O Lord, Do Not Delay
To the choirmaster. Of David, for the memorial offering

Psalm 70: 4 (ESV) 

4 “May all who seek you

    rejoice and be glad in you!

May those who love your salvation

    say evermore, “God is great!”

 
If you are entering a new place in your life, Moses’ words will remind you to practice the righteous commandments from God. By following the ten commandments, Israel set itself apart as a distinct culture that flourished in spite of the immoral and self-serving ways of the Canaanites around them. This lifestyle gave more stability for their lives than stored up wealth. (See Proverbs 11:28) The ten commandments were and still are an inheritance of righteous living worth more than a large sum of money to pass on to our children and grandchildren. – Teresa

Deuteronomy 4: 4-14 ( ESV)

4 “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules[a] that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal-peor, for the Lord your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor. 4 But you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive today. 5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— 10 how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’ 11 And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom. 12 Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice. 13 And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments,[b] and he wrote them on two tablets of stone. 14 And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess.”

 When Jesus was teaching one day, a paralyzed man was brought before Him. Jesus met his need and healed him from sin by offering forgiveness. Since the Pharisees and teachers of the law felt it was blasphemous to say such a thing, Jesus surprised them by helping their unbelief. Jesus gave them an opportunity to recognize Him for who He was- God’s Son!! At that moment, when the man walked again-Jesus displayed His authority as God-healer from sin sickness (also read Colossians 2:13-15). – Teresa

Luke 5: 17 -26 (ESV)

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.[c] 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

 This flower reminds me of nightshade, beautiful to look at but if ingested is poisonous. Although certain species have medicinal components to slow the heart rate (atropine) or dry up teething secretions (belladonna), its dangerous hallucinogenic experience is fatal even at small doses. A worldly woman can be pretty to look at (like a shiny gold ring) but if she lacks discretion (without prudence about whom to share her beauty with), she may become toxic aka “eats like a pig”…devouring unwise men for a meal (see Proverbs 30:20). Her beauty (or gold ring) ultimately gets smeared in her low quality meal (pig slop) and no longer shines.- Teresa 

Proverbs 11:22 (ESV)
22 “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout 

is a beautiful woman 

without discretion.”

 I saw the lilac bush starting to bloom this morning! It reminded me of when my husband and I were married almost 34 years ago. The altar and all the tables at the wedding reception had fresh lilacs. Whenever I see or smell a lilac, I’m reminded of the promise I made to my husband and that we made before God. God’s sacred covenant with Abraham promised him a people, land and blessing (see Genesis 12:1-7). With the birth of John the Baptist, Zechariah prophesied that the sacred covenant to Abraham was remembered because of the coming Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord.- Teresa

Luke 1: 67-80 ( ESV)

67 ‘Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,

    because he has visited and redeemed his people.

69 He has sent us a mighty Savior[a]

    from the royal line of his servant David,

70 just as he promised

    through his holy prophets long ago.

71 Now we will be saved from our enemies

    and from all who hate us.

72 He has been merciful to our ancestors

    by remembering his sacred covenant—

73 the covenant he swore with an oath

    to our ancestor Abraham.

74 We have been rescued from our enemies

    so we can serve God without fear,

75 in holiness and righteousness

    for as long as we live.

76 “And you, my little son,

    will be called the prophet of the Most High,

    because you will prepare the way for the Lord.

77 You will tell his people how to find salvation

    through forgiveness of their sins.

78 Because of God’s tender mercy,

    the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,[b]

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

    and to guide us to the path of peace.”

80 John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.’

 When we exclaim truth revealed in the inner man, we encourage another’s faith walk. Elizabeth encouraged Mary at a time when she needed extreme faith. Although it appeared scandalous, Mary knew her pregnancy was God-ordained. Even John the Baptist (still in the womb) knew this was from God. Never doubt the fulfillment of God’s word. -Teresa 

#TheWordofGod. 

 Luke 1: 39-45 (ESV)
39 “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[f] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

 The crowd perceived that Jesus was more menacing than the murderer, Barabas. Pilate perceived that the crowd was driven by envious chief priests. What is our perception of Jesus? Is it influenced by what others have said or by the Word of God, the Bible- most authenticated compilation of ancient literature in all time. – Teresa

Mark 15: 6-10 (ESV)
“6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.”

 Joshua was protective of Moses’position as lead prophet. Moses, however, was generous. He did not feel threatened by other prophets but his own priestly family- Miriam and Aaron grumbled about his position of leadership. God was the one who nipped all murmuring in the bud with the proverbial spit in Miriam’s face. Amazingly, Moses’ humility was what allowed him to foster this personal and unique relationship with God!! -Teresa

Numbers 11:28,29  and 12:1-16 (ESV)

28 “And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” 30 And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp”….

12 “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 4 And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. 5 And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.

10 When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous,[d] like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us[e] because we have done foolishly and have sinned. 12 Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” 13 And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her—please.” 14 But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.” 15 So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again. 16 After that the people set out from Hazeroth, and camped in the wilderness of Paran.”

 The Lord’s face is shining on Northern California with all the rain we’ve had! Just as we’ve had the rain put on us,  God’s name was put on the Israelites. Because He chose them as His people, God blessed them and they have blessed every nation on earth with the gift of God’s son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Moses was given this benediction from God so that Aaron and his sons would speak His blessing over the children of Israel prior to the tabernacle being consecrated. -Teresa

Numbers 6: 24-27 (ESV)

24 “The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26 the Lord lift up his countenance[c] upon you and give you peace.

27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

 What issue looms before you that seems larger than the Titanic? It may take a little time to turn it around* but God is able to not only turn the Titanic around but to also take down a mountain!! It starts with a change of our individual hearts by forgiving others and forgiving ourselves. When we truly believe that He has done this for us, that His provision is enough to cover our debt, then we walk by faith with God!-Teresa

Mark 11: 20-25 (ESV)

“As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received[c] it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”[d]

*Amy Grant song lyric, “It takes a little time”, 1998.