We enjoyed this beautiful moon early on today. How can it reflect this much of the sun’s light?

The passage below states that honest work with our own hands brings about the ability to share with others in need. #stealnomore

When the Lord Jesus Christ breaks the chain of our sin nature, it may feel like a struggle. Then, the light of His life shines through us. Our faith must be securely in Christ alone.

When a father disciplines the child he loves, we are reminded it is for their good. Part of that spiritual discipline involves being “dead” to the things that once ruled us. That means we don’t react to them as before. We have a choice.

When our Lord broke the chain (of our family of origin- aka Adam), He also adopted us into a new family. Being part of His heavenly family means that God is also our father.

How does this look? It may be as practical as falling asleep at night remembering “I am united to Christ (not to bitter thinking).” Renewed minds can change our emotions: i. e. kindness, tender hearted, forgiving.

Futile thinking, on the other hand, is doing the same thing over and over with no power over the flesh. It leads to more of the same old thing: bitterness, wrath, anger, slander.

Remember that when Christ is your Savior, His love can change the inner climate of your heart.

How do we forgive others? …remembering how much we have been forgiven. -Teresa #reflectGod’s image #putofftheold #putonthenew

Ephesians 4:17-32 (ESV)*

The New Life

¹⁷ Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. ¹⁹ They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ But that is not the way you learned Christ!— ²¹ assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to put off your old self,^[f] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵ Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ²⁹ Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.Read full chapter

*Bible gateway.com

I was walking on these river rocks with my new barefoot shoes (which are supposed to help strengthen my foot muscles for balancing). Then, I realized the rocks were slick because the water was so low.

The slippery slope of religion is not always easy to navigate. Paul’s term for it is “a yoke of slavery”. We will lose our balance trying to navigate man-made rules or religious laws.

In this passage, Paul equates the practice of circumcision (plus all the laws of Judaism) to a yoke of bondage. This kept many of the new believers in Christ from experiencing righteousness through faith alone.

Is there something hindering you from walking by the Spirit or trusting Christ’s righteousness alone?

It may be the success of worldly wisdom, or the pride of following a code of ethics.

Whatever causes you to work hard so that others are proud of you or to do without so that you are proud of yourself may be the very thing holding you captive.

In the end, true freedom comes when we rest in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone can set us free from self-condemnation or the need for religious man-made approval.

When Job said he came into the world naked and would return the same way, he reminds us not to trust our earthly status, reputation or wealth. We can, however, trust our Savior (aka Redeemer) who lives eternally. He alone has bought us with His blood. His life was offered up willingly to bring us all to glory.

My Redeemer Lives Nicole C Mullen

Listening to this beautiful recording, I was reminded of our powerful Creator. Lord, please pour your Spirit out. I trust you to keep my foot from slipping. -Teresa #manmade vs. #createdforHisglory

Galatians 5:1-12English Standard Version

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified^[a] by the law; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

⁷ You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from him who calls you. ⁹ A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰ I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹ But if I, brothers,^[b] still preach^[c]circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Galatians 5:4 Or counted righteous
2. Galatians 5:11 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 13
3. Galatians 5:11 Greek proclaim

We only used 3 logs for this fire, but the wood was a type of hardwood (maybe a fruit tree of some kind).

When the darkness encroaches, it does not take a “bonfire” to keep it at bay. In fact, the Yosemite forest rangers prefer a low lying fire.

When Christ came, it was during a “kairos” moment of time (not chronos or chronological in meaning- notice our son’s watch in this picture). This means that it was just the right moment in time, for the thoughts and distance of the human heart to know God’s perspective.

This was prophesied by Isaiah. The “root of Jesse” foreshadowed the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, when Jesus gave the sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-6), he proposed a new way. Not the old covenant of law and order (so to speak), enforced by religious leaders. The old way had involved big buildings and mandatory offerings (in order to be accepted by God and community).

In the Psalm below, David (Jesse’s son), echoed this sentiment of needing a community to belong to. Although he was anointed as king of Israel, Saul as the “sitting” king, continued to pursue him. Would David succumb to fear or faith?

In The BibleHub.com description of Psalm 56 it is stated so well:

“1. Trust in God Over Fear
In Psalm 56, David reminds us that when fear grips our hearts, we should place our trust in God. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You” (Psalm 56:3). This is a powerful lesson for our daily lives, encouraging us to lean on God’s strength rather than succumbing to anxiety. Trusting in God transforms our fear into faith, allowing us to face challenges with confidence.”

The world today seems to be in another moment of “time”, different than our ability to measure it chronologically. Perhaps the light that God has put in us should not be hid under a bushel.

The righteous branch that Jesus planted in our lives can be described in emotional terms: love, compassion, peace. All the fruit of the Spirit is reflected when our lives unite with the Savior through the vine.

If something or someone needs to change, Lord, help it be me.

When your community starts with God as your Heavenly Father, then you have nothing to fear. -Teresa #chooselife #trinity

Isaiah 11:1-5 (ESV)

The Righteous Reign of the Branch

11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
² And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and might,
    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
³ And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
⁴ but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
    and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Psalm 56English Standard Version

In God I Trust

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam^[a] of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
    all day long an attacker oppresses me;
² my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many attack me proudly.
³ When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
⁴ In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

⁵ All day long they injure my cause;^[b]
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
⁶ They stir up strife, they lurk;
    they watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my life.
⁷ For their crime will they escape?
    In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

⁸ You have kept count of my tossings;^[c]
    put my tears in your bottle.
    Are they not in your book?
⁹ Then my enemies will turn back
    in the day when I call.
    This I know, that^[d] God is for me.
¹⁰ In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
¹¹ in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?

¹² I must perform my vows to you, O God;
    I will render thank offerings to you.
¹³ For you have delivered my soul from death,
    yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Psalm 56:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
2. Psalm 56:5 Or they twist my words
3. Psalm 56:8 Or wanderings
4. Psalm 56:9 Or because

After enjoying three days in Yosemite, we reflected and remembered how amazing our Creator is.

In the days of my youth, I was focused on the Creator, thanks to the beauty of Wilderness Road! The 40 acres of wild UP pines and birch that my father bought from his mom (after Grandpa Rivers died) became our childhood stomping grounds.

It was the basis for my love of nature, respect for the elements and driving need to always plan ahead. (If you don’t plan and prep for winter, there is no surviving until the snow melt in late spring).

There is wonder and joy in God’s creation. Please enjoy the photos my husband and I captured this past week. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!! -Teresa

Ecclesiastes 12:1 (ESV)

Remember Your Creator in Your Youth

12 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;