Although this chapter in Lamentations is not about a traditional marriage, the punch line is about what every bride and groom longs for…that their love will never end.

God’s love is faithful because He is faithful. When circumstances are tedious, heavy or even hurtful, His mercy is renewed every morning towards mankind. The closer each person gets to God, the closer both bride and groom are moved toward each other- better together.

My husband and I just finished watching the docuseries, “Aftershock”. It covered the 2015 earthquake in Nepal from three different angles. Some were trapped on the mountain (Everest). Others escaped from a village (Langtang Valley) that was entirely wiped out. Yet, most of the devastation took place in the capital city of Kathmandu, where close to 9 thousand people died.

What an authentic representation of how people respond in times of disaster. It was also a reminder of how precious life is-as we know it. Clearly, life can change in a moment.

On the great “Day” of the Lord, when God shakes the earth one last time, it will result in final judgment against sin’s curse and the end of life on this earth (before the new heavens and earth are established). This could be today or it could be 5,000 years from now (as the Bible informs us that no one knows the day or the hour.)

The main truth to remember is that we continue to live in such a way as to bring glory to God. Although our mortal life will someday end, God draws us by His steadfast love into a relationship that is truly “eternal”. His gift to us is called eternal life and is defined in John 17- to know God and His Son, Jesus Christ. This relationship empowers us to live meaningfully.-Teresa #hopeinhim #rejoice #newmercy #newday

Lamentations 3: 22-27 (ESV)

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;^[b]
his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

I Thessalonians 5:1-12 (NET)

1Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night. 3 Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. 6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation. 9 For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.10 He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.

Revelation 16:18-20 (NET)

18 Then there were flashes of lightning, roaring, and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake – an earthquake unequaled since humanity has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts and the cities of the nations collapsed. So Babylon the great was remembered before God, and was given the cup filled with the wine made of God’s furious wrath. 20 Every island fled away and no mountains could be found.

John 17:1-5 (NET)

1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you – 2 just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life – that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created. 6

Mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD’s strength is majestic. From everlasting to everlasting, God’s “word” is as deafening as a mighty roar (when we believe, or have faith). Decreed as trustworthy, He is holy and I am in awe (love is an action word, demonstrated by God’s provision for mankind).

Who is the “word” of God written by the apostle in John 1? Is it not Jesus Christ, God’s Son? He desires us to receive Him as Savior and Lord and thus become the children of God.

Who is this anointed King, bringing salvation to mankind? It is the One who was also present at creation. An astounding voice, He spoke the water into existence and He became the Word of God to speak newness into my life.

I once was lost and confused about what I should think about myself. In fact, other people’s words often influenced me more than God’s truth.

After being challenged by my pastor to read the Bible daily (when I was 9 years old), I have been helped beyond all measure by the truth of His powerful word and message. It is the same throughout the Old and New Testament, a message of His deliverance from sin and self. It’s a message of receiving His way, the gift of eternal life through faith.

When the floods roar (as in the day of Noah to destroy creation and mankind), remember that God is mightier still. He has provided an ark of rescue for those who look to God for grace and mercy. – Teresa #receiveHim #today

John 1:1-12 (NET)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it. 6
A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children 13 – children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.

Psalm 93:1-5 (ESV)

93 The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
² Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.

³ The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
⁴ Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the Lord on high is mighty!

⁵ Your decrees are very trustworthy;
holiness befits your house,
O Lord, forevermore.

John 3:16-18 (NET)

For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

https://youtu.be/APx3t8HNK0E

Listen to the above link … Second Chapter of Acts rendition of Psalm 93 (start at 2:00 minutes for the best part)!!

Psalm 64: 10-12 (ESV)

¹⁰ For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
¹² O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Who has experienced God’s goodness? Knowing that… would you say it’s true that one day as the most insignificant servant in God’s household is better than a whole lifetime of dwelling amongst wickedness?

Trusting God means experiencing favor and honor. That alone is enough goodness to help us walk uprightly. Sure there are times we would like to have our cake and eat it too. Choosing what God says is best for us may seem like we are getting the short end of “riches” or fewer friends but when we go to sleep at night we have His peace that surpasses understanding (Phil 4:6,7).

Philippians 4:6,7 (NET)

Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When the people flying first class are crude and rude (I heard one passenger this past week laughing hysterically and repeating three times while talking on her phone “ did you just call me a f..ng b.?” And those flying economy are the students with no carryons but polite. I’ll tell you right now that I prefer to stay in economy class, sitting at the back of the plane.

It’s not always about wealth but it sure seems that the tents of wickedness can’t get enough of swindling. Just one day, Lord, in your courts. You satisfy me and I am grateful.- Teresa #withYou #Iamsatisfied #lifetimelearner

At 10 years old, I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up. Watching the Apollo astronauts on TV (during school) was certainly part of the reason for my excitement. Also, I developed a love for traveling (like my mom) that was fueled by discovering new places.

While I consider this passage, I find great comfort in knowing that my “fleshly nature” has died and my “spiritual life” has been awakened. Even more secure, it is hidden with Christ in God.

That is because God chose me, called me holy and beloved. This knowledge alone can cause my compassionate heart to overflow. Do I feel chosen? For those who have a question on whether or not they are chosen, I challenge you to ask God for His confirmation in your life. The Holy Spirit comforts us in this. But I must warn you that an honest, humble petition will result in something you never thought possible. Be prepared to be amazed!

What am I struggling with today? Maybe it’s part of my “earthly life”. Remembering that Christ, (who “is all and in all“ ) will help me solve many issues involving those who think “differently” than me.

Forgiveness means letting God’s plan of peace pervade my thoughts. I can focus on the truth of God’s word or I can focus on the “white noise” of the world’s system (which is opposed to God).

He is our peace and He is love. (We love because He first loved us – I John 3:16). In that, there is much earthly good to be reaped. – Teresa #beheavenlyminded #sowtheseedonearth

Colossians 3:1-17. English Standard Version

Put On the New Self

3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your^[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:^[b]sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming.^{[c] 7} In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self^[d] with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. ¹¹ Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,^[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all.

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our
2. Colossians 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth
3. Colossians 3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience
4. Colossians 3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10
5. Colossians 3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22