I’ve been working very hard to help someone, even devoted the past year of my life to this daily commitment. In return, I have been smeared, talked about behind my back and to my face swallowed down rude remarks. Why? Isn’t it easier to say “bugger off”?

When the person was put in my care, I accepted this difficult task. At times it reminds me of rearing children. There are always moments, hours, even days of wondering why I got myself into this. #worthit

This passage describes the prophet Elisha’s response to those who were set on destroying God’s people. Preparing a great feast does not seem like the best way to get rid of a problem but it worked.

At what point will others truly believe you are there to help? Maybe never! God’s intervention, however, is pretty miraculous when He restores love in my exhausted heart at the point of no return.#gotofailure

This is the point where my spiritual muscle starts to grow. #faith Take time to fast and pray about the people in your life who require this type of commitment. It may surprise you. -Teresa #surprisedbyJoy

2 Kings 6: 8-23 (ESV)

⁸ Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” ⁹ But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” ¹⁰ And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.

¹¹ And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” ¹² And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” ¹³ And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” ¹⁴ So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”¹⁶ He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” ¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ¹⁸ And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. ¹⁹ And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.

²⁰ As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. ²¹ As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” ²² He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”²³ So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.

Elijah should have been nervous about the gathering on Mt. Carmel, surrounded by the enemy. After all, he had been in hiding from Ahab and Jezebel for 3 years. Yet, he trusted that God was about to show up in a mighty way, with a purifying fire.

The sin of the false prophets went beyond defying the Ten Commandments, it had consumed the hearts of the people- God’s people. Elijah served the LORD God and was moved to pray for a purifying fire and for healing rain after the drought.

It was with a great display of God’s power that Israel’s spiritual adultery ended and the moment was emphasized with the slaughter of all 450 false prophets. This served to remind King Ahab of the death of God’s prophets he was responsible for when Jezebel had them cut down throughout the land (only 100 were left because Obadiah hid them in 2 caves).

Have I experienced a terrible enemy that has put me into hiding? If so, the time has come to face it. The enemy of lies, manipulation and “control” have been knocking for a long time- has it been 3 years now? Time to let God get the glory and put an end to the “space jam monsters” that in reality were only a bunch of hot air.

Give me strength, Lord, to allow your purifying work to be effective and to enjoy the time of new rain. -Teresa #droughtbuster #turnbacktoHim #listentoHealingRainbyMichaelWSmith

I Kings 18: 17-40 (ESV)

¹⁷ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” ¹⁸ And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. ¹⁹ Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

The Prophets of Baal Defeated

²⁰ So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.²¹ And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. ²² Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. ²³ Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. ²⁴ And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” ²⁵ Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” ²⁶ And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. ²⁷ And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” ²⁸ And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.²⁹ And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

³⁰ Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. ³¹ Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” ³² and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs^[a] of seed. ³³ And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” ³⁴ And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. ³⁵ And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

³⁶ And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. ³⁷ Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”³⁸ Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.³⁹ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” ⁴⁰ And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

He who spoke to Moses directed him to make the tabernacle (while in the wilderness). My blueprint of how to worship (aka knowing the Bible) comes from God no matter which stage of life I’m in.

God drove out the nations to give the house of Jacob a new home. My idea of what home looks like may not embrace a whole new homeland but God can make it happen (leave your people and your Father’s house, honor Him for He is your Lord- Ps.45).

David asked God, “may I build a dwelling place for you”? God sees my desire to have Him near even though my sinful past may prevent it (David was a warrior with blood on his hands).

David’s son, Solomon, actually built the house for God (aka temple). I am amazed at the way the next generation carries on the desires of our heart to create with fresh eyes and reflect the amazing fruit of God’s Spirit (set apart for Him).

The prophets remind us of God’s declaration…”did not my hands make all these things?” (v. 50) I am amazed at how God’s “creator mode” prepared for everything, even for a place of ultimate rest- peace with God.

I cannot out-create God, yet He placed a desire for creativity inside of me, as part of His image. Just as Stephen was moved by the Holy Spirit to speak powerfully these words that would bring the apostle Paul to saving faith and write most of the New Testament, I too would like to honor the Creator of all things with my life.

– Teresa #creative #outsidethebox #honorHim

Acts 7: 44-50 (ESV)

⁴⁴ “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. ⁴⁵ Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, ⁴⁶ who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.^{[a] 47} But it was Solomon who built a house for him. ⁴⁸ Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

⁴⁹ “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?
⁵⁰ Did not my hand make all these things?’Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Acts 7:46 Some manuscripts for the house of Jacob

Whether I’m coming in or going out, God keeps me.

Whether I’m an injured soul or an energetic body, God keeps me.

Whether I slumber or sleep, God keeps me.

He made the heavens and the earth. He shades me from the striking rays of daytime sun and the eery moonbeams of night.

He keeps me from evil. He keeps me alive. He keeps me going out and coming in not just today but forever.

I was awakened at 3 a.m to pray by my bedside last Sunday. Although I wasn’t sure why, I responded by bending my knees to the maker of heaven and earth.

The next day, I knew it was for a dear sister in Christ. She told her story to my mom and me. We were both moved to care for her, spiritually.

Although I have heard many life stories, (some more impactful and dramatic than others), I am never the less moved every time (when told by a genuine soul). This is because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. He comforts and faithfully guides each of us when the path is not clear.

Will He do less for me today?

I lift my eyes to you, Lord, past the idols of pride and knowledge lined up on the hillside. You have helped me with this complex problem(s). You alone are my help!

-Teresa #humbled #separated #fearofnotbelonging #meanslivingsimplyforHim

Psalm 121English Standard Version

My Help Comes from the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
⁸ The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.