Turkey Day is full of love and feasting. Giving thanks is part of this!

I was having an attitude with someone in the extended family as we got ready. In turn, they had an attitude with me. We hoped by not addressing the elephant in the room, we could still pull this feast day off.

Good news, we had a mediator to help this process of resolution. Prayers and wisdom preceded a miraculous turn around just 1.5 hours prior to guest arrival. #T-1.5

It was obvious that my heart was moved by God Himself to offer repentance, which helped turn the tide in favor of resolution and joy. Who said that it would be easy?

Truly, we felt so blessed to have this relationship restored for God’s glory and just in time to give God thanks for all our blessings.

What will it take for you to understand things, God’s way? Ask Him for wisdom and ask those you trust for prayers. He will not disappoint as He is patient beyond measure. -Teresa #Godshowedup #intime #reflectHim

2 Peter 3:8-11 (ESV)

⁸ But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,^[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies^[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.^[c]

¹¹ Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, ¹² waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! ¹³ But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Footnotes

1. 2 Peter 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account
2. 2 Peter 3:10 Or elements; also verse 12
3. 2 Peter 3:10 Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up

There are times when we celebrate (like the picture above, at the wedding of my niece). Then, there are times we grieve (like the pic👇 at my brother’s grave).

My mom has experienced both the grief of a child going to heaven before her and the glory of celebrating at the wedding of her granddaughter, 23 years apart.

Without Christ, we would be hopeless but with Christ Jesus our Lord we have been born again to a living hope.

It’s described as imperishable, undefiled and unfading (because our inheritance is kept in heaven) and we are being guarded through faith until we see the salvation of our souls.

A faith that is being tested -as to whether or not it is genuine-for the praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

If our Savior experienced suffering and then glory, if the prophets who longed to look into what we see in the Scriptures and those who have preached this good news have done so faithfully under great duress for our glory, how much more should we persevere in the grievous trials we experience.

It may be for a future generation as well- our grandchildren!

Being born again to a living hope means that we also can go through our griefs as those who are secure in our eternal inheritance. -Teresa #filledwithglory #inexpressiblejoy #Heisrisenindeed

I Peter 1:3-12 ESV

Born Again to a Living Hope

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, ¹¹ inquiring what person or time^[a] the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. 1 Peter 1:11 Or what time or circumstances

These beautiful evergreens have come to bring me so much joy. We sometimes call them the “Dr. Seuss“ trees.

I was talking about one thing that I would change about myself. Spotting those trees, I decided I would not change that thing at all- it’s where my joy comes from.

What society may see as a flaw or imperfection, God has allowed in me for His good pleasure.

Don’t refuse God, the ONE who speaks truth into your life. Instead, put some joy into it.

Do you have a quality about yourself that others may want to change? Be sure to check with God first to see if He put it there for a reason.

If our faith is childlike, then we will see things more clearly than the most learned scholar.

Be certain you are trusting the ONE who has authority over creation. His kingdom (and rationale) is unshakable! -Teresa

Hebrews 12:22-29 (NLT)

²² No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. ²³ You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.²⁴ You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

²⁵ Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! ²⁶ When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”^[d] 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

²⁸ Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. ²⁹ For our God is a devouring fire.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. 12:18 Greek to something that can be touched.
2. 12:20 Exod 19:13.
3. 12:21 Deut 9:19.
4. 12:26 Hag 2:6.

The ritualistic sacrifices of Judaism (in the Old Testament) pointed to something much greater. Even the specification of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies were followed up to the minute details of the tent materials and vessels of bronze.

They may not have seen Christ Jesus the Lord as clearly as those in the “Church Age”, but the shadow of things to come was being illuminated by God the Father.

Even so, in our day and age, the fog may descend on us and keep us from seeing clearly the central role of our Savior. Ultimately, the truth will shine on us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we understand the powerful work of redemption on our behalf, then we will rejoice at our great high priest who has mediated this eternal inheritance established for us through the new covenant.

As the fog of a sin sick world descends around us, may we look to our Heavenly Father to purify our hearts and minds as we trust His Son to cleanse and redeem. -Teresa #powerinthebloodofthelamb

Hebrews 9: 11-22 (ESV)

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come,^[e] then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹² he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[f] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our^[g] conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

¹⁵ Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^[h] 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.¹⁹ For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” ²¹ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. ²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

It’s fun for kids to dress up and trick-or-treat. Back in the day, we would make up our own costumes. Many times they ended up being a combination of favorite T-shirts and something impressive.

There’s wisdom in the Proverb that speaks about hatred cloaking itself (like a Halloween costume). It tries to impress outwardly but is truly unimpressive, morally.

The good news, is that it will all be revealed in the end.

With deceit, the hate-filled person may try to cover up their motives, but those who look at the “fruit” of said life will not be duped.

Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7, KJV)

Corruption is the result of not yielding to the Spirit of God. Life everlasting is the promise to every believer under the Holy Spirit’s control. (Galatians 6:8)

You may wonder how to come under God’s influence. First, you must believe that Christ Jesus is God’s Son who is able to pay for the salvation of everyone born under sin’s curse=death spiritually (includes all descendants of Adam).

When you receive Christ as Savior and LORD, you are born into God’s family (and given a new start).

To whom will you yield your life today? Is it to your own fleshly desires or to the Spirit of God who is in you? (upon spiritual rebirth, we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit of God).

Even so-called “Christians” (i.e. in name only) can be given over to hatred. In the end, corruption will be their reward.

Lord, may I be quick to yield myself to Your Spirit. Please reveal those around me who may sound gracious but in actuality have abominably tricky lips. -Teresa

Proverbs 26:24-26English Standard Version

²⁴ Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
    and harbors deceit in his heart;
²⁵ when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
    for there are seven abominations in his heart;
²⁶ though his hatred be covered with deception,
    his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

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