Even in a black and white photo you can see many nuances of shading or gray areas. So in the complexity of life, we can’t always discern what is or is not a “smoke screen”. God, however, keeps watch over knowledge, overthrowing a traitor’s words. In the midst of political rhetoric, those who love purity of heart and who use gracious words will find themselves trusted and in friendship with those in authority. Lastly, those who bring strife through their words, by inflicting quarreling and abuse, ask to be driven away. – Teresa #byyourfruityouareknown

Proverbs 22:10-12 (ESV)

10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,

and quarreling and abuse will cease.

11 He who loves purity of heart,

and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the traitor.

 There are no second chances when it comes to getting too close to the edge of a slippery waterfall. Likewise, we have no second chance to obtain salvation of our spiritual body if on earth we have rejected the life giving spirit of the last Adam (Jesus Christ the Lord). The natural body is first and sown perishable, the spiritual body is second and raised to glory. It is easy to trust that Adam preceded us as a living being. Why then is it difficult to trust that Jesus Christ has made us in His image to be raised to glory? – Teresa #trustHim Romans10:9,10 #confesswithyourmouth  #believeinyourheart

1 Corinthians 15: 35-49 (ESV)

35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”;[b] the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall[c] also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Hearst castle is opulence at its finest. The indoor pool looks as beautiful as King Xerxe’s extravagant banquet was described in this passage. Although the banquet was fit for a queen, Xerxes’ party entertained only the men in his kingdom. His furious anger resulted in the fact that he was now without a queen, aroused at his own inability to impress those attending. – Teresa #angerleadstoisolation 

 Esther 1: 5-12 (NLT)

5 When it was all over, the king gave a banquet for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were in the fortress of Susa. It lasted for seven days and was held in the courtyard of the palace garden. 6 The courtyard was beautifully decorated with white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened with white linen cords and purple ribbons to silver rings embedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

7 Drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs, and there was an abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king’s generosity. 8 By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king had instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted.
9 At the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

Queen Vashti Deposed

10 On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine, he told the seven eunuchs who attended him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas— 11 to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman. 12 But when they conveyed the king’s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious, and he burned with anger.

Ranger was like a “work horse” dog, strong and capable- he earned his keep!  This reminds me of a Biblical principle…those who preach the gospel have a right to share in the offerings of the church. Paul gave up that right so there would be no obstacle before the seeker’s heart to God. Being a tentmaker applies to many in full-time positions who not only earn their living but in addition minister the gospel as God leads. By giving up the right for monetary recompense, they trust God to love through them (beyond their natural human strength). – Teresa #nostringsattached

1 Corinthians 9: 8-14 (ESV)

8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

As the bride of Christ, we are washed, justified and sanctified in His name to be made one with God in spirit.  Although we began as unrighteous, we now have become righteous based on the wisdom and power of God- Christ Jesus our Lord. He even clothes us so we are ready for the wedding! – Teresa #templeoftheHS 

I Corinthians 6: 9- 20 (ESV)

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous[b] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[c] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Flee Sexual Immorality
12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined[d] to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin[e] a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Has God moved your heart to return to the place of His desire? When we take that step of faith, His gracious hand is able to turn kings and authorities in our favor. Ezra faithfully studied and taught the people God’s laws. When the time came to restore the place of worship in Jerusalem, he was instrumental in managing the effort and overseeing the king’s instructions that all be educated in God’s ways. – Teresa #God’sgracioushandonme

 Ezra 7: 27-28 (ESV)

27 Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem! 28 And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.

What is the one thing we seek after more than anything else? To be home 🏡. Concealed under the cover of his tent, we have security like none other.  His beauty is our melody. – Teresa #daysofmylife 

Psalm 25: 4-6 (ESV)

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,    that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

    all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

    and to inquire[c] in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter

    in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

    he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up

    above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

    sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the Lord.