As the children (who were still living at home), we posed for this picture. I was a young adult and commuting to the local university and working in town.

Our parents allowed me to use the car once per week to pick up my friends (for a car pool), where we spent full days at Northern~3 x per week.

Of course, parents are a type of stronghold as their children grow and spread their wings. We have experienced that with all four of ours.

There comes a time when we experience the Lord as our stronghold. He shelters and protects us in a way that our parents cannot.

Like David, who wrote this Psalm, we can practice verse 4.

Psalm 37:4[ESV] Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Truly, our delight in God’s ways means having a relationship with our Heavenly Father. This is only possible through His Son and our Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ came through the line of King David. He was the One who made it possible to heal our ancestral wounds (whether wickedness or ruthlessness).

Taking refuge in God means trusting His way for salvation. He makes all things new.

It seems like foolishness and weakness to the world system, but in God’s economy it stands strong forevermore.

At Star Camp (aka Vacation Bible School) last week, we discussed the Revelation 21 vision of Heaven as recorded by the Apostle John.

Each of the children painted a picture on their easel afterward. My rendition of the passage focused on the colors and light described. (I asked AI for an image of each gemstone named in the foundation).

During the story time, I made this statement: “I believe the precious stones and gold in Heaven represent all the lives of the people there. It’s beautiful because the light of God is shining through us.” -Teresa (See Pic 👇)

Psalm 37: 34-40 (ESV)

³⁴ Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

³⁵ I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
    spreading himself like a green laurel tree.^[a]
36 But he passed away,^[b] and behold, he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.

³⁷ Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of peace.
³⁸ But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

³⁹ The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
⁴⁰ The Lord helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.Read full chapter

1 Corinthians 1:21-25 (ESV)

[21] For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. [22] For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, [24] but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Revelation 21:22-24 (ESV)

[22] And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. [23] And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. [24] By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,

*photo credit-Calvary Baptist Church directory

You may think that standing (in your mind) is enough to keep you from falling. Think again!

When I take heed to my position, (recognizing that I am not as steady as I may think), then any needed adjustments can be made.

For example, hiking from our campsite earlier this month meant I would need to adjust my rate of return. It was steep enough for me to have to push on my quads to keep them climbing at such an angle. By the end of our stay, my stance was much stronger.

Just because I was able to conquer physical challenges in my young adult days, does not mean I am still able to.

In terms of the temptation of idolatry, Paul was admonishing the Corinthian church to avoid “thinking” they were able to stand strong.

Instead, even “knowing” the way of escape was provided for them by God’s faithfulness was not enough…they still had to keep taking it. (Jesus is the way, the truth and the life).

In our Christian walk, we may start strong but the years of familiarity can wear us down or the weight of more responsibility.

Are we alert to the possibility of falling? Are we watching for the way of escape to help us endure?

Idolatry can take on many forms: addiction, compromise, forgetting who God is or just plain boredom.

Jesus saved us initially from the bondage of our sin nature. He continues to save us from the temptation to think we can now save ourselves. Becoming complacent is more than inactivity, it is the temptation to stop seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness.

When the Lord is our shepherd, He guides in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. -Teresa

#highaltitude #wayofescape

I Corinthians 10:12,13 (ESV)

¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Have you ever stopped to consider that the struggle you feel now may later help you make the right decision?

We don’t always value what is best for our “future” life. In fact, there are times when some distraction “freezes” us from getting out from the hot sun (like this baby lizard). Eventually, we develop the tough skin and tender heart we will need down the road of life.

Starting school does not seem easy, but when we graduate it seems best.

Starting a job may not feel comfortable, but gaining experiences may bring expertise later, when we have to lead others.

Even David said he would sing thanks forever because God turned his mourning and weeping into joy. (Passage below)

How many times have you taken a small step of faith and later realize that it turned into a mountain moved, for God’s glorious outcome?

We may not always recognize it until years later, but having a 20/20 “hindsight” view can help reformat our thinking.

Rather than relive difficult people or experiences, I challenge you to transform your thinking into mountains moved for God’s glory.

I actually journaled a comparison of years suffered to lessons learned and was amazed at God’s economy. He does not give a year of discomfort for a year of joy.

He gives more like a 100:1 yield. His joy is eternal, His intentions are more than we can ask or imagine! -Teresa #stay tender hearted #endure the heat

Psalm 30English Standard Version*

Joy Comes with the Morning

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.

30 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
² O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
³ O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.^[a]

⁴ Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.^[b]
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.^[c]
Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

⁶ As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”
⁷ By your favor, O Lord,
    you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.

⁸ To you, O Lord, I cry,
    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
⁹ “What profit is there in my death,^[d]
    if I go down to the pit?^[e]
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
¹⁰ Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”

¹¹ You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
¹² that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Psalm 30:3 Or to life, that I should not go down to the pit
2. Psalm 30:4 Hebrew to the memorial of his holiness (see Exodus 3:15)
3. Psalm 30:5 Or and in his favor is life
4. Psalm 30:9 Hebrew in my blood
5. Psalm 30:9 Or to corruption

*The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.

We learned this week that if you “over” fertilize your tomatoes with nitrogen based nutrients, they may develop a calcium deficiency. This causes fruit rot!

I compared this year’s plants to the garden under our son’s care (pictured above). He knew what he was doing!

Even so, the root of Jesse (aka Christ Jesus our Lord), causes great rejoicing amongst the people. He knows what he is doing!

The prophecies in the Old Testament spoke of this “church age”, when both Jew and Gentile would live in harmony. When we glorify God the Father for truthfully fulfilling His promises and for showing His mercy to all, then we welcome one another (in spite of our differences).

Together, we can even have such harmony that our praises comes together with one voice.

Miracles abound when the root is healthy!!

This causes great hope, powerfully brought to us by the Holy Spirit (filled with joy and peace).

The weaknesses of our family roots are not as important as the opportunity to trust God’s root, when we are grafted into His olive tree. This may be something like God-ordained “miracle grow”.

Lord, help me to look past my own failings and those of others (who may not think like me). Strengthen me with the Holy Spirit’s presence to understand your peace and joy anew. In Jesus’ name. -Teresa #hopeforme

Romans 15:1-13 (ESV)*

The Example of Christ

15 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ² Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³ For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” ⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles

⁸ For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
    and sing to your name.”

¹⁰ And again it says,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

¹¹ And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
    and let all the peoples extol him.”

¹² And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,
    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

*The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.