While visiting my mom in MN this week, I grew fond of the elliptical machine for my daily workout. You can see it in the photo on the far left.

Eight years ago, I participated in a program called “Medical Weight Management”. I used their food and sat under the guidance of their dietitians. My weight loss was supervised by a medical doctor. The best thing that I learned throughout the program was to remain committed. We all transitioned from a 1200 cal/day diet to eating the individual number of calories that were allowed (as calculated by a resting metabolic weight test).

The graph that inspired me most in the first 6 months of the program was the steady weight loss as seen on each participants chart. Usually at week 12-15 (or so) many people noted a plateau or even a 5 pound weight gain, while doing the program correctly.

This is the point in the program, where a few people dropped out. They decided that they can do this on their own (less money) because obviously “it’s not working for me”. One such graph was displayed of a member who was on the verge of quitting but then stayed (remained in the program). This particular person dropped another 30 pounds, in addition to the 20 lost prior to their plateau.

What if they just gave up and quit when the graph went up instead of down? Would they have ever seen the joyful ending of hanging in there. They would have failed to get what they were hoping for and had committed to. They would not have remained long enough to see the desired result.

We don’t always see the end of the graph from where we are now standing. That doesn’t mean that a bump in the road will turn us away from our desired destination.

Sure, it’s discouraging, but what’s worse than struggling? I would have to say quitting on yourself is worse than struggling. Wouldn’t you rather continue on and abide in the investment made? #urworthit

In the passage below, John the apostle captures Jesus’ important message to his closest disciples. Jesus knew that there was suffering ahead for all of them. He encourages them to abide in the relationship that had changed their lives and would change the world.

The Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Why? Because He loved the world…he saw us as worthwhile.

Like the early disciples,the fruit that results from God’s love in us (as His sons and daughters) comes from abiding in Christ Jesus. Without Him, we are nothing and with Him we are “home”. Have you ever wanted to belong somewhere safe and beautiful -accepted as you are?

Have I asked the Father in Jesus’ name for the thing I desire most?-Teresa #fullnessofJoy #abide

John 15:1-17 (ESV)*

I Am the True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants,^[a]for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.¹⁷ These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

*OneYearBibleOnline

I heard a simple, yet touching story of a wife praying this earnest prayer for her husband (named James). “Mercy, Lord, for James” (repeated over and over). Then, he happened to walk in the door one day after work and heard her in prayer and it touched him. It changed him.

There may be times in our own lives when we must pray for ourself. I said it this week, “mercy, Lord, for Teresa”. It touched me, it changed me.

In fact, there’s is a song by John Michael Talbot that never ceases to makes me happy. The key phrase is, “and I ask you- all of my brothers and sisters…to pray for me”. We Shall Stand Forgiven

Being brought low may be the first step of our salvation. “Death” to self may come in a variety of ways: overwhelming circumstances, difficult people or too many balls flying from every direction (some that we should not even attempt to catch).

He inclines His ear to us. How wonderful to know that His Salvation is on the way. By lifting up the cup of salvation, we are praising the One who poured out His life so we could know God as our loving Father. #theLordJesusChrist

Walking before the Lord in the land of the living means we continue to honor Him with our lives. Even when it’s challenging, He shows up and carries us on His shoulders.

I love you, Lord, for without you, I am nothing. – Teresa #thanksgiving

Psalm 116: 1-19 (ESV) *

116 I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
² Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
³ The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

⁵ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
⁶ The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
⁷ Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

⁸ For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
⁹ I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

¹⁰ I believed, even when^[a] I spoke:
“I am greatly afflicted”;
¹¹ I said in my alarm,
“All mankind are liars.”

¹² What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
¹⁴ I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
¹⁶ O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
¹⁷ I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
¹⁸ I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Psalm 116:10 Or believed, indeed; Septuagint believed, therefore

*OneYearBibleOnline

David’s love and loyalty to King Saul was returned with hate and lies.

Jesus’ ministry, filled with loving miracles to those in need ,“appeared to end” with the religious people of the day determining to crucify Him.

Lies and accusations were not far from attacking the ONE who worked in opposition to the “father of lies”.

Following David’s example and Jesus’ example, we can also give ourselves to prayer.

In so doing, we may gain wisdom, beauty and grace to help when accusations fly.

The description of Christ, as the suffering servant (in Isaiah), portrayed him as a bruised reed. Unbreakable!

There are times when we must flex and bend but remember that the grace of God in our lives means that we are also unbreakable.

On this Mother’s Day weekend, we think of those who serve sacrificially. I think of my hero in the faith, Mother Teresa. The story of her life (dramatized in 2014) was very impactful to me. Called “The Letters”, this movie evidenced the struggle and depth of her work.

Yet, she persevered. We must also take time to do the small things that others overlook as distasteful or not valuable.

Even if the very ones you love and serve produce lies and accusations (like King Saul did to David)- give yourself to prayer.

God is faithful to finish His work in us and in the world. – Teresa #remember #KingDavid #KingJesus #wearechildrenofGod #ransomedforHisglory

Psalm 109:1-5 (ESV)*

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

109 Be not silent, O God of my praise!
² For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
³ They encircle me with words of hate,
and attack me without cause.
⁴ In return for my love they accuse me,
but I give myself to prayer.^[a]
5 So they reward me evil for good,
and hatred for my love.

*OneYearBibleOnline

In spite of our information-based society, I am amazed at the perceptiveness of the younger generations.

In the passage below, young Ruth perceived that her mother-in-law was worth following after. She followed Naomi from Moab all the way home to Bethlehem. Ruth clung to her and refused to be separated, claiming that she would not leave her and that Naomi’s God would by her God.

When Naomi rejoiced at the good fortune of Ruth finding a safe place to work in Boaz’s fields, she slowly forgot her bitterness of grief and loss, restoring her hope in the LORD.

Boaz was one of their redeemers. Following a beautiful tradition of saving the widows and remnant of God’s people, the kinsman-redeemer ensured a promised heir for their fellow Israelite.

Ruth trusted Naomi’s tradition implicitly and followed her instructions on how to approach the man who could protect their future and hope.

Today, young people have to make a choice as Ruth did. They must decide between Moab (their homeland), which teaches the theology of atheism in the schools, and Bethlehem (the house of bread), which relies on the Savior’s coming to change our hearts forever.

When we have the courage to ask our Savior to spread His wings over us, then we are redeemed. This means “to buy back”. Boaz bought back Naomi’s family line (although her husband and sons had died). He gave provision and protection to her family. Most of all he provided an heir through Ruth that would carry on Naomi’s family name.

We are redeemed when Jesus becomes our Savior. He not only provides eternal life and protects us from death (separation from God) but he bought us back for a purpose -to be part of the family business. #loveoneanother

The intimacy of this passage is not lost on us. We can perceive God’s personal invitation to mankind. He has touched us ever so lightly with profound effect. -Teresa #metamorphosis

Ruth 2:19-3:13 (ESV)*

¹⁹ And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” ²⁰ And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” ²¹ And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” ²² And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” ²³ So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

3 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? ² Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.³ Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” ⁵ And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

⁶ So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.⁷ And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. ⁸ At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! ⁹ He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings^[c] over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” ¹⁰ And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. ¹² And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. ¹³ Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

Footnotes

1. Ruth 2:7 Compare Septuagint, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain
2. Ruth 2:17 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
3. Ruth 3:9 Compare 2:12; the word for wings can also mean corners of a garment
4. Ruth 4:4 Hebrew he
5. Ruth 4:5 Masoretic Text you also buy it from Ruth

*theOneYearBibleonline