We are currently living under a shadow of death. We need a light to provide the knowledge of salvation. Who can prepare the way for us? Who can turn the crooked routes into a straight-albeit narrow way (called unity)?

John the Baptist was chosen before birth to make straight the way for Jesus’ coming. How did he do this? He prepared the way for salvation by bringing knowledge of what it meant to be saved =the forgiveness of sin. When John preached, people were changed and their hearts were soft to God’s message. They received the baptism of repentance.

Even now, as we humble ourselves before God, he will lift us up. His mercy and forgiveness are what pursues us. King David (in Psalm 23) spoke about his experience with God. Do you recognize God’s goodness in the midst of the terror?

When we realize the gift in this moment: to slow down, repent of our wayward, self-focused lives and bask in the knowledge of God’s goodness, then we will be saved from fear. More importantly, He is able to save our Spirit and soul from eternal death (separation from God because of sin) through redemption – or forgiveness of sin. What was sold to pay our sin debt (our relationship with God) has been bought back or redeemed through Jesus, His Son.

Powerfully, Jesus brought us more than John’s water baptism of repentance by baptizing with fire (the promised Holy Spirit). In John 17, Jesus prays for all of us who would believe in Him through the apostle’s ministry. His prayer was for unity. Just as God the Father was in Jesus the Son, so is Jesus our Saviour in every believer through the promised Holy Spirit. The unity of the Godhead (or trinity- one being with three persons) invites us to also live in unity through the precious blood of Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior. Jesus prayed,”I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. – John 17:23”.

We may not have all the answers yet for the CoVID-19 pandemic, but we do have more important answers to our underlying sin nature. If we pursued Jesus in the way we are pursuing viral answers, I am convinced that our love for one another would bring deeper healing than has ever been known.- Teresa #Istillbelieve #inspirationalmovieaboutJeremyCamp

Luke 1:67-80 (ESV)

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us[a] from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

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Footnotes

Luke 1:78 Or when the sunrise shall dawn upon us; some manuscripts since the sunrise has visited us

I cried for my brother, yesterday. It was not something I tried to make happen, it just flowed out of me. It happened when I thought about what was important to us as young people, growing up in an amazing time of God’s fire touching our hearts. Our church youth group had this “touch” from heaven, loving the world around us. George and Marlys McFall, our missionary leaders, found a way to bring reality to our passion of spreading the joy we had found in Christ. (Teen Missions, International). These summer missions put feet to our love for the Savior and it poured back into us miraculous experiences that would be remembered for life. Before Jesus poured out His life for mankind, Mary poured out her love for the LORD. She did a beautiful thing to Jesus, recognizing Him as her Saviour. This costly act of service involved her whole retirement income and her reputation (with more than likely chances of being scolded by the religious leaders of her group, “the Way”). Why would she choose this? It appeared to be a lose-lose decision. It was because Jesus brought her brother back to life (after being in the tomb for three days). She had experienced the resurrection power of God, personally. Only HIS personal touch will give us the courage to go out on a limb. Faith brings about beautiful things! – Teresa #notmanipulative #trulyobedient #readtheCaseforMiraclesbyLeeStrobel

Mark 14:1-9 (ESV)

14 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,[a] as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

When I feel guilty for taking “me” time, I am reminded to be still and know who God is in my life. (Vs. 10) He who multiplies resources for His glory can take care of my cares. Have you been accused of being a pushover? Remember that we are protected by an unmoveable fortress of love (not easily moved but capable of flexing as a bruised reed that cannot be crushed). Have you been targeted by the bully of the playground?Remember that God will be honored among tbe nations (not the bullies). Are the “fires” of others preventing you from your own responsibilities? Remember vs. 1 below (who is our ready help in time of trouble?). Overall, we can rest and be still because we truly know who is God.- Teresa

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude
4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel[b] is our fortress. Interlude
8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude
Footnotes:

46:Title Hebrew according to alamoth.
46:7 Hebrew of Jacob; also in 46:11. See note on 44:4.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

When we are most weary (because the demand is great), remember that we have a lover of our soul who desires to indulge us. He sees our faithful offering of praise and service but mostly He understands that we are but dust. Trusting Him, we are amazed at the way He can multiply the resources needed. In His presence, our joy is full. Take time for devoted moments of rest and restoration. – Teresa #Blushparty@Adventure #lovelydaughtertolaughwith

Mark 6:30 -44 (ESV)

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii[a] worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Early in the morning, we like to walk or exercise, sometimes before the sun rises- #nauticaldawn. We can feel the goodness stored up for a new day when the first rays breakthrough. Our job is to fear God more than the world system and to take refuge in His truth, thereby setting our nautical compass on true north. We can then reset our hasty assumption that meddlers and plotters will have the final say. Not so, God almighty has already stored up something great for those who love Him. We will see it in wonderful ways when under attack (in the besieged city) even if those who scoff feel they are getting the upper hand. Because we cry for His mercy, He hears and more than ever will work out our deliverance. -Teresa #trustHiscoverandshelter #Godgoodnessisabundant #resistplottingbutdopray #Godspaybackisabundant #captivatedwithHisgloriouspresence

Psalm 31:19-34 (ESV)

19

Oh, how abundant is your goodness,

    which you have stored up for those who fear you

and worked for those who take refuge in you,

    in the sight of the children of mankind!

20 

In the cover of your presence you hide them

    from the plots of men;

you store them in your shelter

    from the strife of tongues.

21 

Blessed be the Lord,

    for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me

    when I was in a besieged city.

22 

I had said in my alarm,[a]

    “I am cut off from your sight.”

But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy

    when I cried to you for help.

23 

Love the Lord, all you his saints!

    The Lord preserves the faithful

    but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.

24 

Be strong, and let your heart take courage,

    all you who wait for the Lord!

Footnotes:

a Psalm 31:22 Or in my haste

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Proverbs 7 exalts wisdom as the way to navigate the seduction of a wily woman. There are also wily men out there, so as we teach our children about successfully entering and staying in healthy relationships, we must remind them to cling to wisdom. To protect the heart is most important because it protects the life of our existence (Proverbs 4:23). Foolishly giving our hearts to fakery (outward glitter with no depth of character) or smooth words (promising love and material comfort with no grit on their resume) may lead down a slippery slope of no return. Wisdom teaches us to build the house carefully, until each room is filled with expensive treasure. (Proverbs 24: 3 -By wisdom a house is built,and through understanding it is established;4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasure.) In other words, don’t be hoodwinked! If you give up your heart to someone, ensure that both you and they have developed character and grit to go the distance. Protect that relationship by nurturing your intimacy. Most importantly, does the love of our Savior lead the way as an ultimate example of laying down our lives for one another? This type of love may not be glitzy but it is gritty and extremely fulfilling.- Teresa

#keepingurselfromredlightakesGodstrength

#alwaysaskGodforwisdom

#revelationandiscoverybringsintimacy-keepgrowingtogether #greenlight

Proverbs 7: 24-27 (ESV)

24 And now, O sons, listen to me,

    and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

25 

Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;

    do not stray into her paths,

26 

for many a victim has she laid low,

    and all her slain are a mighty throng.

27 

Her house is the way to Sheol,

    going down to the chambers of death.

Have you ever been called to a task that you are certain you cannot accomplish? Moses experienced that feeling and convinced God to have someone else be his spokesman (Aaron). Praise God for brothers and sisters who are obedient to God. They help us when we are unable to trust God’s ability for ourselves. Moses relied on Aaron and on his wife (to abate God’s anger at Moses’s disobedience). Together, as those who follow God and His Son, Jesus Christ the LORD, we are able to be part of God’s will on earth. It is no wonder the mystery of being one with the saints reveals such great riches, spoken of in Ephesians 1:18 “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints”. Truly, in our flesh we are humbled before Him and certain that we are inadequate. In Christ, we are aware of His glorious inheritance, more valuable than money, fame or riches- a right standing with our righteous judge. Do you understand the love of the Father for you?- Teresa #awe #wonder #Mercyandgrace #truth #readCaseforMiraclesbyLeeStrobel

Exodus 4:10-14 (ESV)

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

For those who hear the word of God’s kingdom without understanding, they are left in a fog. Just as a bird snatches a seed off the trail, the evil one snatches the word right from their heart. The path of worldly wisdom is hard like packed dirt. When we walk on this way with the multitudes, we will have little chance to bring forth fruit for the kingdom. In order to absorb God’s word and receive His wisdom into our hearts, we must prepare the soil of our hearts. Our first step of faith is pure obedience which grows into love for the Savior and flourishes with gratefulness as we give thanks for His will being done in our lives. – Teresa #enduringthetribulation #castingourcares #eyeswideopentoriches #hear&understand

Matthew 14: 18-23 (ESV)

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.[d] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Footnotes

a Matthew 12:46 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 48, 49

b Matthew 12:46 Some manuscripts insert verse 47: Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you”

c Matthew 13:9 Some manuscripts add here and in verse 43 to hear

d Matthew 13:21 Or stumbles

Rebekah obeyed God’s direction for her. She was willing to move to a strange land in order to marry Isaac. Isaac was comforted by Rebekah (after the death of his mom, Sarah, four years prior). I imagine that Rebekah ran their household as Sarah did. She knew the customs of Isaac’s parents and this was comforting to Isaac. After 20 years (along with the prayers of her husband) she gave birth to twin boys! The legacy Rebekah bore in her womb consisted of two nations who would be divided, The younger (Jacob) would be stronger and the older (Esau) would serve him (Jacob’s new name would be Israel). Similarly, we also bear two natures- the fleshly and the spiritual. That part of us which desires to nurture the flesh is divided against that which desires to follow the Spirit. Let us not despise that great gift God gives to us (our spiritual inheritance through Jesus Christ the LORD). – Teresa #livethelegacy #loveGodandothers #sellallforthepearlofgreatprice #choosethebestnotheeasiest

Genesis 25: 19-24 (ESV)

19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?”[c] So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,

    and two peoples from within you[d] shall be divided;

the one shall be stronger than the other,

    the older shall serve the younger.”

24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob.[e] Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau Sells His Birthright

29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.[f]) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Footnotes

a Genesis 24:60 Or hate them

b Genesis 25:18 Hebrew fell

c Genesis 25:22 Or why do I live?

d Genesis 25:23 Or from birth

e Genesis 25:26 Jacob means He takes by the heel, or He cheats

f Genesis 25:30 Edom sounds like the Hebrew for red

g Genesis 26:8 Hebrew may suggest an intimate relationship

“Screwtape” was the name C.S.Lewis gave his character depicting a senior demon in his 1942 book, “Screwtape Letters”. Notice how God foreshadowed His plan for redemption from sin in the passage below, He outlined mankind’s original sin and the resulting curse, while alluding to the Savior who would be born (offspring of the woman) to crush Satan’s head. In the midst of deception and disobedience, God brings us good news of His mercy and justice. – Teresa #JesusChristheLord

Genesis 3: 1-19 ( ESV)

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool[c] of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”[d] 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 The Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,

    cursed are you above all livestock

    and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,

    and dust you shall eat

    all the days of your life.

15 

I will put enmity between you and the woman,

    and between your offspring[e] and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

    and you shall bruise his heel.”

16 To the woman he said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;

    in pain you shall bring forth children.

Your desire shall be contrary to[f] your husband,

    but he shall rule over you.”

17 And to Adam he said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife

    and have eaten of the tree

of which I commanded you,

    ‘You shall not eat of it,’

cursed is the ground because of you;

    in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

18 

thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;

    and you shall eat the plants of the field.

19 

By the sweat of your face

    you shall eat bread,

till you return to the ground,

    for out of it you were taken;

for you are dust,

    and to dust you shall return.”