This morning, our walk after coffee ended up at Home Depot where we found this treasure. I prayed about what plant to buy (since they are all part of my prayer garden and represent something amazing).

The reason “breath of heaven” was significant is not only because my husband loved it but because it represents God’s work on my emotions this week. I’ve been attending a Theology of Emotions course through BWGI institute .

If you listen to this wonderful song that I added to my playlist today, by Amy Grant, you may gain a small glimpse into my feelings of God’s greatness in sending such a refreshing breath of heaven, our Savior and Redeemer, through a teenage girl.

When we realize how much rejection our Savior experienced for us, then we can be grateful for His ability to not just hold us together (like Mary’s song and prayer) but to redeem us from the curse of a sin-sick world.

Thank you, Father, for giving us a most precious gift- Your Son, so that we could be healed. He is worthy of so much honor. “All glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

If you are feeling that you may not make it safely home, savor this thought…He has issued a welcome invitation that will always be open for those who need healing from Him. -Teresa

Isaiah 53:3-5 (NLT)

³ He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

⁴ Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows^[m] that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!
⁵ But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.

This memory from when our kids were in high school reminds me of my husband’s passion for mountain climbing.

There were several adventures that he embarked on with various athletic people. On one particular excursion, he was reminded how even one misstep by anyone in the party could mean demise for everyone.

In the body of Christ (the church), we are part of a living and breathing organism, dependent on the head (Christ Jesus the Lord). The Holy Spirit indwells each believer in the body, sealing them for the day of redemption.

By keeping in step with the Spirit, we are united in the advance of God’s kingdom and purpose on earth. Lord, help us to avoid conceit and anything that breaks our unity with You.

The desires of the flesh are opposed to those of the Spirit. Whenever the law is at the helm, we are emboldening the flesh and plenty of missteps can happen.

Whenever our Lord, Christ Jesus, is at the helm we are reminded of the crucifixion. Yes, His suffering for our forgiveness puts it all in perspective. It is not my puny works of righteousness but His death, burial and resurrection that seal my salvation.

How willing am I to yield myself to such a selfless love? Which begs the question, how will the world know we are Christians? They will know it by our love for one another in the church, worldwide.

Let’s keep in step today (with the Spirit) because the watching “world” is waiting for a reason more compelling than law bound, intellectual arguments to be saved. -Teresa #heartofGod #John3:16

Galatians 5: 16-26 (ESV)

Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy,^[a]drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do^[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Galatians 5:21 Some manuscripts add murder
2. Galatians 5:21 Or make a practice of doing

We saw the rabbit on our way to coffee but there was no sign of him on the walk back, only a coyote on the hunt!

While visiting mom this past week, she asked me this, “how do I know who to trust?” My answer was: “you raised us right, mom. Your children are not criminals.”

Those who trust the Lord with all their hearts by acknowledging him -will be given direction.

Ask someone you trust when unsure of life’s direction. Those who listen to wily coyotes (aka those who tickle their ears), may end up as a choice morsel.

Many of us learned this from Saturday morning cartoons. Anymore, the professors and teachers of the highly intelligent are winning over those with a deeper need. This need to “belong” is so great that it woos them into a web of lies.

Human understanding can get us so far but the leap of faith is what decides our eternal destiny. (Read C.S.Lewis’s first book after his conversion to illustrate this point, “The Pilgrim’s Regress”)- be sure to get the annotated version to explain some of his complex language describing various worldviews. #scholar

All week I had to ask God for strength, direction and His love to guide me. The culmination of His answer came when I prayed in my hotel room (the last morning at the Marriott), listening to Chris Tomlin’s “Good, good Father”. God the Father gave me an understanding of how much I was loved. The amazing “turn around” I experienced brought me out of heart-wrenching grief to joy and peace, making me grateful beyond all measure.

We may not always understand why things happen the way they do but we can trust our Father’s heart of love. – Teresa

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. [6] In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Sometimes we must partake in a bountiful feast to remember that refreshing comes from God.

He created us, He understands that our constitution is fragile (but dust), yet He has loved mankind in an amazing way. Even the spirit world is in awe of God’s treatment of mankind, allowing redemption for His eternal home (Isaiah 52: 13-15).

What brings God glory? Have you ever heard someone praise God when they just found out they have terminal cancer? Their brokenness and desire to weep as David did, fully drenching their bed with their tears brings glory to God.

Why? Because they know how valuable their life is to Him. Their faith buoys my soul with grateful longing to also value my life.

Maybe what you are facing this week is hard, to the point of death. Remember to value the gift of life you’ve been given. Without it, you would not have an opportunity for eternal redemption.

His love pursues us in amazing ways. It is pure and from the heart of desire- buying us back for His glory. -Teresa

Song of Solomon 2:16,17 (NLT)

¹⁶ My lover is mine, and I am his.
    He browses among the lilies.
¹⁷ Before the dawn breezes blow
    and the night shadows flee,
return to me, my love, like a gazelle
    or a young stag on the rugged mountains.^[f]

Isaiah 52:13-15 (ESV)

He Was Pierced for Our Transgressions[13] Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. [14] As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— [15] so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.