Does the thought of going on a road trip make you happy? I remember going on an 8-hour drive, with my niece driving. Her commentary on the way (along with her expressiveness) had me laughing almost the entire time. Sometimes, the mundane or boring events can bring about our best memories.

In this passage, Jesus wanted to be with Cleopas and his fellow traveler. Neither the walk nor the road were as important as the company he was with and the teaching experience it provided.

Jesus wants to be near us when we doubt. He wants to fill our hearts with the passion of His love burning brightly. When was the last time you knew that Jesus wanted to show you something, teach you a new concept from the Bible or to help you believe the Father’s love for you in a way that you never thought possible?

Listen to this song to begin opening your heart to Him as Savior and Lord of your life. https://youtu.be/pKF_nNh4n8c (CeCe Winans- Goodness of God). I had to listen twice- first time in “face down” prayer, confessing all the hurts in my life (things that keep me from singing about God’s goodness right now). Second time, with hands raised and knowing His peace that passes all understanding, thanking Him for His presence and comfort.

Lord, help us to “recognize” you as we rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give you thanks. (I Thessalonians 5:16-18) #Hiswill

-Teresa #joyisbetterthanhappy

Luke 21:13-33 (ESV)

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.²² Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,²³ and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” ²⁵ And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

²⁸ So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,²⁹ but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

My father was a good man, he left an inheritance of faith and responsibility to his children’s children (through his kids). He worked faithfully to care for all his needs and the needs of his family.

As a yearling, a young buck may feel that he doesn’t have much to give. Not my father, even in his younger years, he was handling the responsibility of his father’s land, property and the needs of his mother. (Since my grandfather died at a young age).

This type of faithful work, which some may consider boring or not very “Spirit-led”, is actually a difficult task. If we are faithful in these difficult things, God blesses us with more. The little things include how to manage money well and the application turns into having enough left over to share in community with others (i.e. not putting it on credit).

The heart to share with others comes through the impact of the good news of the gospel. As God changes us from the inside out, we are transformed to see His gifts as a blessing.

I’m not talking about robbing from Peter to pay Paul or being a “Robin Hood” (stealing from the rich to give to the poor). I’m talking about doing the hard work over many years even when it’s boring. God honors this when it is done through faith.

There will always be a few trying to scam others, or hoping to get something for nothing. In the end, God metes out justice…as the writer of Proverbs says, “The sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous”.

There are times when injustice prevails in our world, we are called to help during those times as Christ’s church. Lord, please open our eyes to the needs you see around us. Please give us your faith to reach out and touch them for your sake. – Teresa #responsibility #faith

Proverbs 13:20-23English Standard Version

²⁰ Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
²¹ Disaster^[a] pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.
²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
²³ The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.

Although the kingdom of God was not recognized by the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, it was in their midst. He became a “gate”way for the sheep to enter in. (John 10:7)

In much the same way, when this current period of time known as the “church age” (that we live in now) is over, “the way into God’s kingdom” will not be found again. The gate will be shut and sealed. Think of the time when Noah shut the door of the ark and God sealed it.

That same time is when the revelation of the Son of Man will be Mighty and Awesome! That day will be astoundingly apparent (as much as the kingdom of God was hidden in Jesus’ day).

Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Are you part of God’s kingdom? It may not be outwardly evident to others in relation to the world’s standards of success. The good news is that God sees the heart. He knows those who are His.

Where will the revelation of the Son of Man happen? It will be known by the gathering of vultures.

You may ask, “what died in order for all these vultures to be gathered”? It may be that the fleshly man has been put to death in order to be joined to His life-giving spirit. #resurrection

-Teresa

#whoeverseekstoperservehislifewilloseit #whoeverloseshislifewillkeepit

Luke 17: 20-37 (ESV)

The Coming of the Kingdom

²⁰ Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, ²¹ nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”^[c]

²² And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. ²³ And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. ²⁴ For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.^{[d] 25} But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. ²⁶ Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. ²⁷ They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.²⁸ Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, ²⁹ but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— ³⁰ so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. ³¹ On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. ³² Remember Lot’s wife.³³ Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. ³⁴ I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. ³⁵ There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”^[e]37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse^[f] is, there the vultures^[g] will gather.”

How can I have God’s kingdom influence my life? Although it may seem small or insignificant, I can exercise my faith (aka trust) in God’s word.

As small as a mustard seed is, I am amazed at how pervasive it is. We drove to Morro Bay a while back and there was a mudslide that blocked the 2-lane highway ahead. Our 2-hour trip turned into 5 hours. I had way too much time to study the mustard in the fields, beautiful and bright. We also listened to a Louis L’Amour book on tape . The story describing the early American landscape only served to accent the beauty out the car window.

When I start feeling insecure about the kingdom of this world, I think of the mustard field. Just remember that the more seeds of faith that are planted in our lives, the more established God’s kingdom becomes.

– Teresa # beautifulandbright

Luke 13:18-21 (ESV)

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

¹⁸ He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

²⁰ And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? ²¹ It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Although it’s my birthday this week, I am reminded of a very sweet gift given to me when I was around 5 years old.

My mom prayed with me to receive Jesus as the Savior of my life. You may ask what does a child need to be saved from? They are usually pretty amazing and cute!!

So I’m told that I was an easy baby and loved to watch my older brother and sister. But on Easter Sunday, I was caught crawling across the room in order to uncover their hidden chocolate bunnies, and proceeded to devour them!! I was probably about one-year old.

Truly, I still love to eat sweets and if I wish to take something from another, may try to do it “under cover” or at least in my mind make up a good reason it should be mine. (Not outright stealing, only a good amount of rationalizing, especially re: left-over dessert)

Nevertheless, one thing I do know is that we are all born with a sin nature (thanks to Adam). Nobody is perfect!

The sweetest part of the Bible’s message is that God knows us. The curse of the law reminds us that we have a sin nature and no one can keep the law perfectly. (Romans 3:23)

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord, to take the penalty of the law’s death sentence for sin. (Romans 6:23) He also reminded us that this is a gift that must be received. (John 1:12)

Yes, being made right with God is beyond our human condition. But humbling ourselves to receive His gift is well within our ability. (Mark 10:15)

Happy spiritual Birthday to anyone who took a moment to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior today. You are now redeemed or bought back for God’s purpose.

-Teresa #kingdomofGod #Romans5:8 #newcreation

Deuteronomy 21: 22,23 (ESV)

A Man Hanged on a Tree Is Cursed

²² “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, ²³ his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.

Galations 3:13 (KJV)

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14

Mark 10:15 (NIV)

15 “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”