I read an article this morning on emotional intelligence and why some people are liked more than others. (And this matters?…why?) We are social beings and rely on this safety net of social acceptance. When the Savior was despised and rejected, mankind felt it was God’s judgement against Him. In actuality, it was God’s judgement of us and our iniquities that He bore in our stead. We may reject certain personality traits but in essence our judgement is not always accurate of who truly loves us! – Teresa #whowillaydowntheirlifeforafriend

Isahiah 53: 4-6 (ESV)

4 Surely he has borne our griefs

    and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

    smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

    and with his wounds we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

    we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

When facing a cunning or crafty opponent with doctrines that are meant to divide, Paul reminds us of our choice to use mature discernment. Our voice speaking His word in love connects us in a powerful way to other believers!  Rather than debate about errors we will grow up into Christ Jesus (and be built up) when we speak His truth in a relationship of love (by meeting needs*). – Teresa #Heisheadofthebody #thechurch 

*Dr. Gil Steiglitz

Ephesians 4: 11-16 (ESV)

 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[c] and teachers,[d] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[e] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

If someone teaches that God does not keep score, they may have forgetten the Biblical outcome for the redeemed. The narrow way is called narrow for a reason- the difficulty of the journey is contrasted to the glory of the promise in the end. Those who are ransomed rejoice at their good fortune. – Teresa #everlastingjoy #wayofholiness

 Isaiah 35: 1-10 (ESV)

35 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;

    the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;

2 it shall blossom abundantly

    and rejoice with joy and singing.

The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,

    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.

They shall see the glory of the Lord,

    the majesty of our God.

3 Strengthen the weak hands,

    and make firm the feeble knees.

4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,

    “Be strong; fear not!

Behold, your God

    will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God.

    He will come and save you.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,

    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

For waters break forth in the wilderness,

    and streams in the desert;

7 the burning sand shall become a pool,

    and the thirsty ground springs of water;

in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,

    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

8 And a highway shall be there,

    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;

the unclean shall not pass over it.

    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;

    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.[g]

9 No lion shall be there,

    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;

they shall not be found there,

    but the redeemed shall walk there.

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return

    and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

    they shall obtain gladness and joy,

    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Although the desolate woman has no husband she has more children than the one under the law. The law is the ruling husband of a woman in slavery. The promise frees desolate women to bear extreme fruit!- Teresa

Galatians 4;22-26 (ESV)

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;[f] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,

“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
    break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!

For the children of the desolate one will be more

    than those of the one who has a husband.”

In the day of distress, God’s steadfast love and awesome strength made David sing! As we let His love into our lives, others will be built up as well. They will hear our life’s song as we proclaim the truth of His character. Do we reflect Him to those around us? – Teresa #thisismywhy #lovemydaughter

Psalm 59: 16,17 (ESV)

16 But I will sing of your strength;

    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.

For you have been to me a fortress

    and a refuge in the day of my distress.

17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,

    for you, O God, are my fortress,

    the God who shows me steadfast love.

If the fear of God is our delight, then righteousness and faithfulness encircles us with wisdom. Can we wrap our mind around His greatness?  Baby Savior grew up embracing Messiah’s mission, God’s “Word” not only created but redeemed mankind. He alone has the power and authority to reign righteously. – Teresa #shootingstar #heaventouchesearth

Isaiah 11:1-5 (ESV)

The Righteous Reign of the Branch

11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,

    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

    the Spirit of counsel and might,

    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

    and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Solomon’s lover was well-versed in amorous poetry. She exclaimed the longing she felt for him with beautiful similes and metaphors. In describing how enduring true love is she says, “many waters cannot quench love neither can floods drown it”.  As the bride of Christ, we also long for His presence trusting the eternal nature of His affection. – Teresa #love’spreciousgift #priceless #ComeLordJesus #maranatha

Song of Solomon 8:6-10 (ESV)

6 Set me as a seal upon your heart,

    as a seal upon your arm,

for love is strong as death,

    jealousy[m] is fierce as the grave.[n]

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

    the very flame of the Lord.

7 Many waters cannot quench love,

    neither can floods drown it.

If a man offered for love

    all the wealth of his house,

    he[o] would be utterly despised.

Because of unity with Christ, we cannot break harmonious accord by also being in bed with Belial. Christ and Belial will never be melded together. Partersnip, fellowship, portion, agreement are all descriptive words indicative of  how we live with God in our midst (aka Christ). Paul warns the Corinthian church not to lose sight of these promises (for you are worth a Son to God*). Instead, we should rid ourselves of every worthless spirit that drives us from unity with Him. – Teresa #worthlessnessisBelial

*Dr. David Eckman, BWGI ministries

2 Corinthians 6: 14-18, 7:1 (ESV)

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial?[a] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
    and I will be their God,

    and they shall be my people.

17 Therefore go out from their midst,

    and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

    then I will welcome you,

18 and I will be a father to you,

    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.”

7 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body[b] and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.