David’s life was filled with persecution. His words spoke prophetically of the Son of Man’s experience as well.

In my life, when it appears that the worst will happen I am faced with an important decision- to keep trusting the LORD. Mocking or scorn may make this difficult, especially from an earthly perspective.

From a heavenly perspective, however, I am encouraged to see the “porch view” of my heavenly mansion. Jesus promised us a heavenly home. A dwelling place that He is preparing for us. (John 14: 1-4)

Being “in Christ” means that I am already dwelling in the realization of His atonement for me. One day, where He is- there I will be also. The dwelling of God will be the believer’s home as well.

Who alone can break the curse of sin? Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Thank you, Lord, for enduring persecution. – Teresa #focusontheFather #yourwillbedone

Psalm 22:1-18 (ESV)

22 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
² O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.

³ Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises^[a] of Israel.
⁴ In you our fathers trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
⁵ To you they cried and were rescued;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

⁶ But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
⁷ All who see me mock me;
they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
⁸ “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him;
let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

⁹ Yet you are he who took me from the womb;
you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts.
¹⁰ On you was I cast from my birth,
and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
¹¹ Be not far from me,
for trouble is near,
and there is none to help.

¹² Many bulls encompass me;
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
¹³ they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.

¹⁴ I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
¹⁵ my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.

¹⁶ For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet^[b]—
¹⁷ I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
¹⁸ they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Psalm 22:3 Or dwelling in the praises
2. Psalm 22:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts like a lion [they are at] my hands and feet

It’s been hot here in Northern CA. You can see from this photo I took last Saturday that only the plants near the water are really green. #staynearthesource

The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom, yet how much time do I spend, showing Him reverence? #natureisHisanctuary

If I truly believed that harm would not visit me but rather I would rest satisfied, surely I would cultivate this time spent with Him.

In my second coping skills class, I learned about “unhealthy” ways to deal with stress, that actually bring harm to the individual. We talked about everything from ruminating to hostility. By acknowledging the way I deal with stress, I can understand myself better. #acknowledgetheHolyOnetoUnderstandbetter

What I desire is steadfast love, which is not always given in family relationships. Truth is important (especially being honest with myself). What do I truly need? Finding those needs met in the LORD, I can rest in faith.

It takes faith to let go of my desires and take hold of God’s word. – Teresa #faithfultoHim

Proverbs 19:22-23English Standard Version

²² What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
²³ The fear of the Lord leads to life,
and whoever has it rests satisfied;
he will not be visited by harm.

Proverbs 9:10 NET
The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord,
and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.

Have you heard of someone who is a law unto themselves? This may apply to the passage below, in Romans 2. In other words, the law does not make us righteous (those who have it or know it) but those who act in a way that is consistent with God’s law whether or not they hold a copy of it or can recite it, they are justified.

I attended a workshop this week on coping skills. The topic was values. My take away was (since I am goal-oriented), I can confuse a goal with a value. In the process of meeting my timeline goals, I can forget my values (which are not time-limited). This was an insightful introspection since negative, unwanted emotions may at times reflect unmet goals vs. cherished values.

Upon this discovery, I am challenged to re-write my goals to reflect my values. The goals which cannot align with my values must be re-written.

For example, since I enjoy helping others and being a caregiver, I must evaluate whether my care for another is impeding my value of taking care of myself. Am I giving too much (monetarily, time, energy wise)? When the one cared for is neither grateful nor willing to use the gift, I must decrease my investment. This protects me from feeling “used”, “burned out” and “devalued”. #nurse #RN

Strangely enough, I find it difficult to do this. When I look to “people” to find approval, it is especially difficult. Going back to the passage, I see the conflict of one under obligation being judged by societal standards, a Christianity that is based on norms (maybe even our parent’s interpretation of scripture) vs. true freedom to be loved by God and to love others in a healthy manner.

I find that looking to the Savior for acceptance, (not presuming on His kindness but understanding His kindness) has made me repentant. #askanduwillreceive

When I stop judging others and take a look upward, I am urged towards a change in my actions. These are actions that meet my new goals and reflect the values of God’s truth about me (not people’s opinions/judgments).

Lord, you have promised to write your law on my heart (Jer.31). -Teresa #newcovenant #realizingmyworthtoHim

Romans 2: 2-16 (ESV)

2 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. ² We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. ³ Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ⁵ But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

⁶ He will render to each one according to his works:⁷ to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; ⁸ but for those who are self-seeking^[a] and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. ⁹ There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, ¹⁰ but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. ¹¹ For God shows no partiality.

God’s Judgment and the Law

¹² For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.¹⁴ For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.¹⁵ They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them ¹⁶ on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

To me, “comfort” is synonymous with love. Those I feel comfortable with, I love; places that remind me of good times, I love; things that bring healing, I love.

As a nurse, healing is important to me because it deals with the suffering of precious people in the world, whom I love.

God’s heart of love includes comfort but even more so, pursues us as well. He has pursued men and women, boys and girls…all of the people in the world regardless of nationality, gender, age, intelligence, beauty, athleticism, status or lack of. He has loved the world with an exclamation point. He has loved us with grace, with gifts, with His assuring presence. #neveralone

Those who are of the “elect” are the ones He omnisciently knows will respond to His generous gift. #receiveit

I’ve been studying Romans using my illuminated scripture journal since our church is also going through it (spending the last 4 weeks in Romans 8). #pastor MichaelMetcalf

I dropped to my knees this morning listening to a song that brought me back to my teen years, reminding me of my “first love” encounter with the Lord. Lamb- “Comfort ye my people”.

God comforts His people, see Hosea 14:1-9.

Lord, please heal us from sin (Isaiah 53:5). – Teresa #comforted

Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)

God’s Everlasting Love

[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? [33] Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

[39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The prophet Isaiah was a trusted spokesman for God. He heard that King Sennacherib had threatened both the people and King Hezekiah of Judah. Sennacherib didn’t know it yet but Hezekiah had connections in very high places.

There are times when corporations or those who have displayed cocksure behavior will push their weight around. This may happen for a season but God has promised the remnant (those who trust in His unfailing love) that He will not fail to show up and defend the humble.

Raging against God and His Word does not go unnoticed. It can even bring about a visit from the angel of the LORD (as in this passage). Without the Lamb’s blood over the doorposts forming a cross, no one can be saved. (reference to Israel’s captivity in Egypt and God’s miraculous rescue). #lambofGod #whotakesawaythesinoftheworld

It may take time, maybe even three years to experience God’s intended harvest but today is the first step to trust His truth over the empty threats of bullies.

Remember not to give up but to trust Him. – Teresa #chipsaredown #timeforaprophet #truthrefreshes

2 Kings 18:20-37 (ESV)

²⁰ Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. ²¹ This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him:

“She despises you, she scorns you—
the virgin daughter of Zion;
she wags her head behind you—
the daughter of Jerusalem.

²² “Whom have you mocked and reviled?
Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes to the heights?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
²³ By your messengers you have mocked the Lord,
and you have said, ‘With my many chariots
I have gone up the heights of the mountains,
to the far recesses of Lebanon;
I felled its tallest cedars,
its choicest cypresses;
I entered its farthest lodging place,
its most fruitful forest.
²⁴ I dug wells
and drank foreign waters,
and I dried up with the sole of my foot
all the streams of Egypt.’

²⁵ “Have you not heard
that I determined it long ago?
I planned from days of old
what now I bring to pass,
that you should turn fortified cities
into heaps of ruins,
²⁶ while their inhabitants, shorn of strength,
are dismayed and confounded,
and have become like plants of the field
and like tender grass,
like grass on the housetops,
blighted before it is grown.

²⁷ “But I know your sitting down
and your going out and coming in,
and your raging against me.
²⁸ Because you have raged against me
and your complacency has come into my ears,
I will put my hook in your nose
and my bit in your mouth,
and I will turn you back on the way
by which you came.

²⁹ “And this shall be the sign for you: this year eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs of the same. Then in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. ³⁰ And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.³¹ For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord will do this.

³² “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. ³³ By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, declares the Lord.³⁴ For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”

³⁵ And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.³⁶ Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went home and lived at Nineveh. ³⁷ And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

Footnotes

1. 2 Kings 18:14 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
2. 2 Kings 18:29 Hebrew his
3. 2 Kings 18:31 Hebrew Make a blessing with me