Where the tree was cut down, another is sure to grow. Israel was cut down for a season and we as Gentiles are allowed to flourish in the life giving source of Christ’s blood. Overall, we are part of the same tree- some of us grafted in or adopted as sons and daughters. Jesus Christ our Lord made peace for us once and for all. – Teresa #goodnews

Romans 10: 1-13 (ESV)

10 Dear brothers and sisters,[h] the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.[i] As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Salvation Is for Everyone

5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.[j] 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,

“The message is very close at hand;

    it is on your lips and in your heart.”[k]

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[l] 12 Jew and Gentile[m] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[n]

Asa started out strong and enthusiastic for the things of God. In the end, He veered from the course. Who do we rely on? Is it our own strength or the help of powerful allies? When we rely on the Lord, we have His attention. – Teresa #devotedheartscryout

2 Chronicles 16: 7-14 (ESV)

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless[f] toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time.
11 The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 They buried him in the tomb that he had cut for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer’s art, and they made a very great fire in his honor.

Love is a basic need of mankind- Jesus Christ  demonstrated what true love looks like. When politicians lie to make a name for themselves, they give money more credence than a loving character… how much better off or well off is the poor person who is honest. To sum it up, fearing God (aka obeying Him) leads us to contentment and protection from poverty. – Teresa #Omniscient#Omnipotent#Omnipresent.

Proverbs 19: 22,23 ( ESV)

22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,

    and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,

    and whoever has it rests satisfied;

    he will not be visited by harm.

Swimming at the point refreshes this weary camper after a hot and dusty hike. Being immersed into Christ (see Romans 6: 3-5), we are born again. Not of water and blood like a natural childbirth but we are born of the Spirit of God. Justification means “just as if I never did it”. Through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus for me, I am made right with God. That’s some powerful obedience on the part of Jesus Christ our Lord. -Teresa #Hisrighteousness #I’mforevergrateful

Romans 5:12-21 (ESV)

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Swimming at the point refreshes this weary camper after a hot and dusty hike. Being immersed into Christ (see Romans 6: 3-5), we are born again. Not of water and blood like a natural childbirth but we are born of the Spirit of God. Justification means “just as if I never did it”. Through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus for me, I am made right with God. That’s some powerful obedience on the part of Jesus Christ our Lord. -Teresa #Hisrighteousness #I’mforevergrateful

Romans 5:12-21 (ESV)

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When we repent of our sin or turn 180 degrees the other way, I don’t believe we are just committing to a goal. Repentance involves a change of heart! When we see our sin in light of God’s love, we exchange wanderlust for a fulfilling truth that we are accepted by our heavenly father.* Our appetite for sin is sated with something better, a true understanding of the father’s love for us.* In this passage, David no longer wanted the cheap thrill of power or position (the adoration of people) because God’s powerful protection made him tremble in awe. -Teresa #Heisjealousforme #allforHim #eventhatwhichcostly

*HeadtoHeart, Dr. David Eckman, BecomingWhatGodIntendedMinistries

1 Chronicles 21: 18-27 (ESV)
18 Now the angel of the Lord had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 So David went up at Gad’s word, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 20 Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. 22 And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” 23 Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” 24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 25 So David paid Ornan 600 shekels[f] of gold by weight for the site. 26 And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord[g] answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.

Although we are fragile and here for but a moment, we are encouraged by His promise: He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.  Through a knowledge of God’s name (or character) we place our trust in the unchanging One! – Teresa #AvengerinZion

Psalm 9: 9-12 ( ESV)

9The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,

    a stronghold in times of trouble.

10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,

    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!

    Tell among the peoples his deeds!

12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;

    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

Although David’s world was coming unglued….His Son, Absalom, had conspired against him…even drove him out of the palace. David remembered that the One who sustains the universe in all its glory would also sustain His life and purpose.  “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, both now and forevermore.” (see Psalm 125:2).- Teresa

 Psalm 3:3-5 (ESV)

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,

    my glory, and the lifter of my head.

4 I cried aloud to the Lord,

    and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

5 I lay down and slept;

    I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.