When Jacob had the dream of angels ascending and descending on the stairway to heaven at Bethel, he was in pursuit of a place to call home (Gen 28:17). His deceit had separated him from his birth family. When Jesus proclaimed to Nathanael (a pure Istraelite who harbored no deceit) that heaven would open and angels would be ascending and descending on the Son of Man, He was assuring this new believer of His provision for an eternal home (Jesus is the gate to heaven). Even those who act righteously through and through need a Savior.- Teresa #judgmentalattitude #LambofGod #Hetakesawaythesinoftheworld

John 1: 35-51 (ESV)

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,

36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” http://esv.to/John1.35-51

When we trust Creator God, we wait patiently for His deliverance. There are many proud falsehoods that seek our attention and allegiance but the Savior provides deliverance from our sinful nature. The requirement for burnt offerings and sin offerings was satisfied in the Son of Man, our suffering servant/substitute (see Is. 52 and 53). His declaration over us is that the Father’s love will joyfully provide eternal life for all. -Teresa #Youheardmyneed #Youdeliveredmefrombondage #mysoulwaitsfortheLORD

Psalm 40: 1-10 (ESV)

1.

I waited patiently for the Lord;

he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 

He drew me up from the pit of destruction,

out of the miry bog,

and set my feet upon a rock,

making my steps secure.

3 

He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear,

and put their trust in the Lord.

4

Blessed is the man who makes

the Lord his trust,

who does not turn to the proud,

to those who go astray after a lie!

5 

You have multiplied, O Lord my God,

your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;

none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,

yet they are more than can be told.

6 

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.[a]

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

7 

Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8 

I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

9 

I have told the glad news of deliverance[b]

in the great congregation;

behold, I have not restrained my lips,

as you know, O Lord.

10 

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;

I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness

from the great congregation.

There was none more willing than Jesus in obeying the Father’s will. Moses and the people of Israel responded to God’s radiant presence with extravagant offerings. Even David acknowledged a willing heart to worship God, resulting in the angel of the LORD encamping around him. Our willingness to respond to God’s promises can take different paths: the road of giving financially to His work, the climb of giving ourselves to our family to further His kingdom or the sacrifice of praise that brings about deliverance from the darkness of our personal struggles. Are we willing?- Teresa

Exodus 35: 20-23 (ESV)

20 Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats’ hair or tanned rams’ skins or goatskins brought them.

Matthew 27: 45-50 (ESV)

45 Now from the sixth hour[a] there was darkness over all the land[b] until the ninth hour.[c] 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

Psalm 34: 4-7 (ESV)

4I sought the Lord, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

5 

Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

6 

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 

The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Although we don’t escape sin’s effect, when God’s name is lavishly revealed and His loyal love understood personally, we are changed. Hiking this trail upwards, I felt the strain on my heart and lungs. Coming back down, I was nearly running with delight at how good my cardiovascular felt. Unfortunately, my knee bursa was not too happy with me. It made the climb up seem like paradise. In comparison with the slippery slope of our sin, the climb on the narrow way is extremely blessed. – Teresa #hardbutgood

Exodus 34: 5-7 (ESV)

5 Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh.[a] 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh![b] The Lord!

The God of compassion and mercy!

I am slow to anger

and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

7 

I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.[c]

I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.

But I do not excuse the guilty.

I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;

the entire family is affected—

even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Where is your hiding place? Who surrounds you with the promise of deliverance? For King David, he knew his humble beginnings and understood the greatness of his God. Don’t be afraid to reach out to Jesus before the great quaking and final judgment of the world… (one of my seminary professors referred to this as D day with a capital “D” since there is also a warning “d” day or “day of the LORD” that is not the end of perishable things). God is patient toward us not wanting any to perish. The writings about the flood in Noah’s day remind us that God promised with a rainbow 🌈 His care for mankind that will never cease (in spite of our sin). He made a way through the ark of Jesus Christ to deliver us from the final “Day” of the Lord.- Teresa #it’snotaboutoursin #that’sbeentakencareof #whatwillwedowiththeSavior?

Psalm 27: 6,7 (ESV)

When it seems too steep and the climb is great just remember that without the struggle there is no growth. He has both mother (like a hen with its wings around her chicks) and father (like Dick Hoyt who pushed his son, Rick, cerebral palsy victim-in multiple marathon races) love for us. He works abundantly on our behalf with His divine protection and inclusiveness. When it seems impossible, He is the “way” maker. – Teresa #Heisable #Godisgood

Psalm 31:19-20 English Standard Version (ESV)

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,

which you have stored up for those who fear you

and worked for those who take refuge in you,

in the sight of the children of mankind!

20 In the cover of your presence you hide them

from the plots of men;

you store them in your shelter

from the strife of tongues.

At times, a sign will appear that reminds us of who He is!! This glorious king we worship deserves thanks for His wonderful works to the children of men (Psalms 107:8). I remembered this verse, three times over the past seven days: First, waking up one morning with it on my tongue and the impression that it was for my own children. Second, I was being humbled at work and my husband text it to me, reminding me that it was all for a greater purpose than myself. Lastly, when messaging one of the professors who impacted me greatly from seminary. She wrote a book called, “Shepherding Women” by Bev Hislop. Her life story amazes me at how God can move people into key positions to impact the world for Him. This may happen suddenly and without preparation but knowing all along He has prepared us for this task. Jesus was annointed in this passage, an authentically aromatic ritual. In that cuture, He was announcing His kingship to the world*. As one could smell the entourage of a king before it arrived. Even so, the onlookers would smell these precious oils as He suffered shortly afterward for the sins of the world*. In turn, His annointing on us is not counterfeit but very real (1John 2:27). How else would we stand unashamed at His coming?- Teresa #grateful #formyKing

*Sitting at the feet of Rabbi, Jesus by Spangler & Tverberg

Matthew 26:6-13 (ESV)

6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,[b] 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”