Mistreatment of children is a grave sin, punishable by drowning or worse. Despising new believers does not go unnoticed but is shared with the Father, by their angels.

Jesus, our shepherd, will search for that one who was mistreated as a child or despised as a new believer, knowing how deep the scars can go when formative self-image pictures are being developed incorrectly. He understands the feeling from “group rejection”, when trying to become part of a religious entity that is based on rules, not love. Both are devastating. Both require a Savior’s transformation of the heart, healing based on His truth.

When the “lost sheep” understands and believes he/she is cherished, cared for as precious and loved with generosity and kindness, they will truly be “found”.

Repentance means turning around 180 degrees, or walking exactly in the opposite direction you were headed. Repentance sometimes means forgiving those who mistreated us as children or forgiving ourselves for believing what those who despised us said, turning back to the truth of God’s word.

The shepherd rejoices over the “lost sheep” being found, not just a bit but even more than he rejoices over the 99 who never strayed from the truth. (100 fold)

How do I capture the urgency of our Savior’s desire “to seek and to save the lost”?

He is honed in, he is diligent, he was able to endure the beatings, humiliation and scorn. He was able to take up the cross. He despised the shame. He was obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Why? So that we should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Entering the kingdom of heaven with childlike faith means we are not depending on our status, education, title or good looks. It means we are depending on the One who saved us once and for all with His obedient sacrifice as the sinless, Son of God who took the penalty for the sin of the world and provided us with His righteousness.

I listened to an amazing audible book called, “Finding Tess” by Beth Macy. Those who ensnare young people into addictive substances have overrun certain parts of our country.

Although we may not be able to take on the opioid crisis single-handedly, we can be aware of what is happening and take steps towards sharing God’s love in our own family and neighborhood communities.- Teresa #providingsafealternatives #volunteer

Matthew 18:1-6 (ESV), 10-14 (ESV)*

Who Is the Greatest?

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ⁶ but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,^[a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.^{[d] 12} What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.¹⁴ So it is not the will of my^[e] Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

*OneyearBibleonline http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/?version=47&startmmdd=0101

There are times in life, when the only thing that helps is a simple cry to someone who can help. When I say “simple cry” -I mean there is no energy for a complex explanation, no words for the emotions that overcome all thought processes. Just plain, “Help me, Lord”, asked or pleaded in faith.

Who can help us the most or who is the best at sorting this out or should I say the most effective in providing a solution? The Lord God Almighty is not only our strong warrior who stands His ground on our behalf but is also our great deliverer.

That means He is able to handle this daunting task that is too hard for everyone else, even myself. I can’t figure myself out at times. The spaghetti is too complex to unravel. For those who are blessed with a waffle mentality, you may not understand this conundrum.

The good news is that there is someone who is able to “Get it Done”!

Yes, that means starting with the peace that comes to stand guard over us like a night watchman and even encouragement from those with this gifting of the Holy Spirit,

Ending with a solution that is much greater than we could ask for or imagine, we have been delivered. Delivered from the sinking sand of despair and given strength for a new day.

Apart from or maybe even in the midst of a medical emergency, we can cry out for help, like David did in this passage and be assured of God’s effectiveness in fighting our battles.-Teresa #greatGod #Hehears #Hedelivers #askHim

Psalm 18:1-15English Standard Version*

The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:

18 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
² The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
³ I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

⁴ The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;^[a]
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

⁶ In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.

⁷ Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
⁸ Smoke went up from his nostrils,^[b]
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
⁹ He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
¹⁰ He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
¹² Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

¹³ The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
¹⁴ And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
¹⁵ Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Psalm 18:4 Or terrified me
2. Psalm 18:8 Or in his wrath

*TheOneyearBibleonline http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/?version=47&startmmdd=0101

Yesterday, we had our second monthly school nurse presentation at “home school”. I was amazed at Kelsa’s beautiful rendition of the winter cardinal using her painted hands.

We had a presentation on how to stay safe in the cold and basic first aid. I’m not sure who loved it more, the 3 grandkids or their “gwamma”!!

In this passage, Jacob’s story warmed my heart. He was sent from his mother’s side (after deceiving his father, stealing his brother’s birthright inheritance and being threatened with murder). He would never again see his mom. In the tough yet tender way that God works upstream, Jacob was assured of his part in God’s plan, and more importantly, in His family.

When Jacob could not imagine where his provision would come from, he trusted and promised to give back a tenth should he return home in peace. Jacob’s desire was no longer to swindle but to be a part of his family.

Sure enough, after at least 14 years of hard work, Jacob returned home with a new name (character), as “Israel” with his twelve sons. He gave so many gifts to his brother, Esau, that it seems he more than fulfilled his pledge to God and found peace again amongst his family of origin.

Sometimes, we become more generous when we are forgiven much. God saw upstream, that Jacob would have a heart of repentance and used it to bless the world. Certainly, we can’t pay enough for the consequences of sin (only Jesus Christ the Lord is able to handle that debt).

However, when others are involved with our need for spiritual encouragement, it seems fitting to give back to God.

In this New Year, may we see those things that are needed most and give wholeheartedly. – Teresa

Genesis 28:10-22 (ESV)*

Jacob’s Dream

¹⁰ Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran.¹¹ And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. ¹² And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder^[b] set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! ¹³ And behold, the Lord stood above it^[c] and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. ¹⁴ Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. ¹⁵ Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” ¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” ¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

¹⁸ So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. ¹⁹ He called the name of that place Bethel,^[d] but the name of the city was Luz at the first. ²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, ²¹ so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, ²² and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

*OneyearBibleonline http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/?version=47&startmmdd=0101

Our daughter’s dog, Piper, is amazing. Not only did she survive a rough start (she was a rescue), but she loves her new owner with gusto!

I asked Carly how she did it. How did she rehabilitate a fearful dog? Carly said that she was so enamored with having her own dog that she just stared into her eyes for hours when they first met. Also, since she worked from home during the pandemic, they spent all their time together.

On the other hand, I was so nervous of little dog teeth biting my ankles that I purchased “gators” and put them on my legs whenever she came over.

Well, it also worked. I was not nervous walking around in my own home. Piper eventually lost the desire to attack my ankles and would sniff in curiosity at the gators! Eventually, her desire for “treats” was greater than her need to establish a territory.

This passage reminds us that turning to our own devices or being complacent (not trying to move past old hurts), will eventually lead to destructive habits. #fearful

Choosing to fear (have reverence) for God’s word, however, makes us dwell secure. We can be at ease, free of the dread that comes from disaster.

We watched “Society of the Snow” last night, based on the 2023 book (also notably retold in the 1974 book “Alive). These survivors had tremendous hope as they called out to God. Some of this was established during their early years of training in their faith heritage. But most of it was in the support they provided each other with their courage and self-sacrifice. The crux of this hope was revealed in a note written by their rugby mate saying, “greater love has no man than to lay down his life for a friend.”

Turning toward wisdom, we can be at ease, (rehabilitated so to speak). It may take time spent in God’s word and with wise teaching/counsel. Most of all, it is established through relationships that reflect God’s heart of wisdom.- Teresa #love❤️

Proverbs 1:29-33English Standard Version*

²⁹ Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
³⁰ would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
³¹ therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
³² For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
³³ but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

*OnryearBibleonline http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/?version=47&startmmdd=0101