Troublemakers earn their reputation because they are no longer riding the fence. They actually jumped over, in order to conjure up evil plans.
Those riding the fence have a limited life. The act of balancing on a 1/2-inch surface takes all their energy.
How wonderful for those who choose the side of love, caring for themselves and others with wisdom.
I took a leadership class in seminary that emphasized the importance of leading our own self first by following God’s wisdom. Then, as we are entrusted with children, responsibility over others, even entrusted with our spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, only then can we use it for good (not evil).
Don’t be a troublemaker. Don’t even get the reputation of one (by instigating evil plans with others.)
Instead, stay on the side of God’s wisdom, goodness and most of all…love ❤️. -Teresa
#everyleadermustfirstlearntofollowtrue❤️
Proverbs 24:8New Living Translation
8 A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.
Doing what the Word of God reveals means that I truly heard its meaning and allowed it to take root in my heart.
Receiving it with meekness because of its power to save me, I have a whole different attitude toward listening to its timeless wisdom.
For a few years now, I have been working through a desperate struggle from my past, namely not feeling part of the “in” crowd. Maybe it started in grade school when I was always last to be picked for PE games. 🧐
Wherever this “inability to measure up” came from, I know that it’s driven me to strive extra hard in developing a team camaraderie wherever I am (at home, at work, in ministry). At times, I still feel left out. It becomes more than just a feeling when it affects my health, both physically and mentally. (aka perfectionist)
Ultimately, negative feelings may cause a cascade of bad emotion such as anger turned inward. “Why did I make that mistake”? or “I should not have listened to …”.
The passage below helped me to “hear” God’s heart. That is, if I take “right actions” vs. walk away and forget the truth, then I will be saved from self-anger. Lord, I realize that how you see me is pure love!! Help me to align my actions based on the truth in your Word.
I experienced three amazing blessings yesterday, yet I was surprised to wake up again today, “just not sure”. #amIlovedbytheFather
Your righteousness, Lord, is fully shining…my challenge is…letting the warmth of your love in! -Teresa #whatactionwillsetmefree? #listenup
James 1: 19-25 (ESV) 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
When the sky lights up, we are amazed at His glory. With the going out of the morning and the evening, we shout for joy!
Praise is due our God. Not only has Zion been the hope of the nation of Israel but it is the spiritual hope of the world. Israel has helped to point us to the glory of YHWH.
How has this great God-the Creator, Sustainer and Deliverer chosen to pursue a world determined to ignore Zion?
Those who trust in the God of Zion receive this refreshing rain and joyful harvest. In the Old Testament, this was represented physically as a suzerain vassal treaty.
In the New Testament, Paul describes the blessing of God as being grafted into the Olive Tree. This is only possible through the Messiah, Christ Jesus the LORD.
Our spiritual rest is beyond complete as the LORD has accomplished His amazing work for us to be born in Zion. Praise is due YOU, O LORD! – Teresa #bornagain #Nicodemus
Psalm 65:1-13 (ESV) (bold added for emphasis)
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
65 Praise is due to you,[a] O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. 2 O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. 3 When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. 4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; 6 the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; 7 who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, 8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.
9 You visit the earth and water it;[b] you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. 11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.Read full chapter
The church was persecuted from the start, by Judaizers. Even Saul (whose name would be changed to Paul) was responsible for imprisoning those who believed that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah).
What a beautiful transformation to see one who was so angered by this teaching becoming a preacher of truth.
There are times when it is required to “ride the waves”, although it involves being buffeted around. We have no idea what God is doing in the lives of those who are being drawn to God. #Stephen
Through the process, we may be molded by the turbulence into a more caring and compassionate individual. When Christ taught His disciples to carry the soldier’s gear “more than” the required mile, He was emphasizing that those equipped for cruelty are disarmed by genuine kindness.
The kingdom of God is not intuitive to our worldly culture or natural human desires, it is decisively greater than.
Lord, give us the courage to live our lives with YOU foremost in our mind’s eye. You are great and deserve all the glory. -Teresa
Galatians 1:22-24 (ESV)
22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.
Love is strong, love is fierce, love is a fire that burns through many waters.
A heart in love cannot be bought, instead it is sealed for life- for richer or for poorer.
I was thinking about the importance of faith this week. After watching “The Chosen” season 4, episode 4, we were impacted by the faith of the centurion (Gaius) in Jesus. How beautiful our simple faith is to God.
Then, I was reading I Corinthians 13 reminding me of that which is greater than faith…love. If I have enough faith to move a mountain but have not love, I am nothing.
I Corinthians 13: 2b (NIV)
…and if I have a faith
that can move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
Christ Jesus alone has the power to save us from the sin nature of our flesh but why would He pay the penalty owed for our sin? It had to be love!
The love of the Father flowed to the Son. Through the Holy Spirit we too have been empowered to love as He has loved.
It is not our faith that is the greatest but the gift of God through His Son, Christ Jesus that allows His love to be spread abroad in our hearts.- Teresa #brideofChrist #thechurch
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (ESV)
6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy[m] is fierce as the grave.[n] Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he[o] would be utterly despised.
Reconnection 