We left this morning, walking toward our favorite coffee shop. Hearing them first, we looked to the tallest tree and sure enough, their sharp morning cry assured us that they were watching out for any snakes.

How do you defeat a predator who is wily or deceptive? This passage teaches us through a messianic prophecy. Jesus Christ our Savior provided a real life examples of how to act in a hate-filled world.

Trusting His Father’s purpose for His life, the Messiah gave Himself fully as Savior of the world.

We are not the Savior but we can be Christ’s followers and allow the Father’s sovereignty to be over our lives.

Are we trusting the Father? Are we fully giving ourselves to His purpose? What discernment do we put in place, ensuring we are not getting sidetracked by worldly wisdom?

Isaiah 55:1-3 (NIV)

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.

As our day begins, we can learn from the example of Jesus Christ the Lord, who is the sentinel of our soul. This exercise of trust gives us energy to focus on who we are, purposely living out why we were created. – Teresa #awakenedears #taughtinthenight

Isaiah 50:4-11(ESV)

4 The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
5 The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
6 I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.
7 But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord God helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.
10 Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who equip yourselves with burning torches!
Walk by the light of your fire,
and by the torches that you have kindled!
This you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.

Does my soul cling to God while His right hand upholds me? Like King David calling out with joyful lips to the One who brought satisfaction to his soul, we can also meditate on God’s help and protection.

The first step is to hunger and thirst for a spiritual relationship with Him. (We must be intentional with our time spent with God and express our desires for Him in honest prayer!)

The second step is to actually go to His sanctuary in order to witness His power and glory. (Nature aka -His creation, does this best for me)!

Lastly, give Him full allegiance by offering your praises. (It’s because your steadfast love, Lord, is better than life itself, that I can sing!). We can even sing the words of this Psalm, remembering specific ways that God has delivered us just this week, protected those we love and helped us in our weakness.

The result of this exercise to seek God earnestly will be: an exultant people, a rejoicing king and no more power to liars- since they will be stopped from their nonsense. – Teresa #liftedhands

My Soul Thirsts for You Psalm 63: 1-11 (ESV)

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

63 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

You cannot overfill this fountain because the fullness lends to an artistic illusion of flexible glass curtains. Even so, the root of Jesse is a signal for the peoples. Knowing Him, the nations will be given rest. Overflowing and abundant, the Savior also known as “the lion of the tribe of Judah” brings peace with His finished work.

Jesus Christ the Lord (from the lineage of David, Jesse’s son) did the hard work of salvation for every nation, tribe and people group. When His work was finished, He was given a place at the right hand of tbe Father. The holy trinity (ONE being, three persons), brings love to mankind through the redemption of sin. Are you being drawn to a right relationship with the Father today? The Holy Spirit (or comforter) is working to reveal spiritual truths to those who will call Jesus, Lord.

As we rest in this good news, we are also freed of our striving for good works. Knowing Him, keeps us aligned with His values so we can live Christlike. -Teresa #Sabbathrest #enterHisrest

Isaiah 11: 9, 10 (ESV) 9They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations enquire, and his resting-place shall be glorious.

Going new car shopping, I did NOT realize how much joy I’d get from the bells and whistles. My husband said that my smile got bigger and bigger as the sales associate showed me all the things this car was programmed to do.

The passage below, thought to be written by Solomon, has some wisdom for us today. We are living in uncertain times. Those things that used to be “auto sensored” are no longer automatic. Many of the rules have changed. My exhortation is that we should “keep it steady”!

If we become distracted by watching the wind and clouds, then the important work (of sowing the seed and reaping the harvest) is lost. Keep it steady! I’m speaking of investing in our children and grandchildren for the sake of the kingdom. Money is an answer to many things temporally but love answers with an eternal impact.

If what is happening in high places becomes hysteria, then we should exercise our right to vote. Too much time spent brewing about it does not change the direction in which the tree will fall but it does affect how much bread we will cast (praying about it). Keep it steady!

Those who stay steady will be ready for that which is most important: to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself!- Teresa #rememberyourCreator #inthedaysofyouryouth #bewise

Ecclesiastes 10:16-20 and 11:1-4 (ESV)

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
19 Bread is made for laughter,
and wine gladdens life,
and money answers everything.
20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.

Cast Your Bread upon the Waters

Chapter 11

1 Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.