When you wake up outdoors and see a new day beginning with the activity of many creatures, rejoice! It is through the beauty of creation that we understand God’s love. He is great and greatly to be praised. The one question you can ask about your life activity is: Is it righteous? Choosing the path that is straight will make a bigger mark on your community than choosing what is trending or popular for the hour. Only through our Creator God do we have an opportunity to be righteous. – Teresa #trendsofhistorydistractusfromrealpurpose #ScrewtapeLettersbyCSLewis #readch.25 #loonsmateforlife

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Footnotes:

a 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature

b 2 Corinthians 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling

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.

Have you ever developed a dream board with images of what it is you’re working toward? By adopting this practice, I have prioritized my medical weight management goals to be in the forefront of my vision. No matter what the ups and downs of the metrics are, I am seeing the slow transformation of building lean muscle and strength- one day at a time. In this passage, Paul expresses the miracle of our resurrection body.

When we visualize the promise of being “in Christ” and allowing His resurrection power to transform us, we are filled with new determination to live out verse 58. -Teresa

#steadfast #immoveable #alwaysaboundingintheworkoftheLord #knowingthatourlaborisnotinvain #intheLord

I Corinthians 15: 35-58 (ESV)

The Resurrection Body

35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”;[b] the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall[c] also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Mystery and Victory

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 

“O death, where is your victory?

    O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Footnotes:

a 1 Corinthians 15:33 Probably from Menander’s comedy Thais

b 1 Corinthians 15:45 Greek a living soul

c 1 Corinthians 15:49 Some manuscripts let us

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.

The Father of lights bestows on us gifts in keeping with His unchanging nature (James 1:17). When Job’s gifts were taken away, he recognized their origin and worshiped God. Job recognized God’s position in the universe as source of unchanging, steadfast love. Job grieved and mourned his loss but was blameless in his theology. There was not a moment when Job would curse God although there was plenty of time when he struggled with his own painful existence. Was the testing of Job a lesson for all time? A timeless truth about God’s understanding of how each of us respond to life’s trials? – Teresa #trustHim #creatorGod#morethanenough #Godssteadfastlovegivesbackabundantly #readch14ScrewtapelettersCSLewis

Job 1:20-22 (ESV)

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Thanks, Jessica, for this precious pic from your wedding! I am reminded of the importance of surrounding our lives with love. So many layers of His protection around our heart nurtures the seeds of righteousness. Out of the one, many! -Teresa #family,friends,community

Is 61:3 (NIV)

…and provide for those who grieve in Zion-

 to bestow on them a crown of beauty

  instead of ashes,

 the oil of joy

  instead of mourning,

 and a garment of praise

  instead of a spirit of despair.

 They will be called oaks of righteousness,

  a planting of the Lord

  for the display of his splendor.

Will we use this gift of life to thank Him? In a world where life is deemed casual, we have this unique understanding of God the Father’s precious love toward us. At a wedding in Littleton, CO, I was struck by the extreme contrast of a high school with so much sadness (following the anti-Christ shooting many years ago) and the wedding venue with the joy of life being celebrated. The father of the flower girl seized the moment on the dance floor to swing her around and dance with skill and joy. The girl’s face was beaming. She was so proud of being in the loving presence of her father, with her beautiful wedding clothes on. She radiated her father’s glory. We too can radiate our Father’s glory as we are clothed for the wedding of the lamb and fully enjoy the fellowship of the trinity. – Teresa #livegrateful

Psalm 30:8-12 (ESV)

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!

Holding on to friendship means we are exhibiting God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. In verse 14 below, God’s friendship is characterized by His desire to share with us His covenant. Our posture with God requires an awesome respect for who He is. He is willing to share with us His faithful covenant of love. Let’s keep our eyes on the LORD, who is the source of true friendship- Teresa #spaceneedle

Psalm 25 

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2 

O my God, in you I trust;

    let me not be put to shame;

    let not my enemies exult over me.

3 

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

    teach me your paths.

5 

Lead me in your truth and teach me,

    for you are the God of my salvation;

    for you I wait all the day long.

6 

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

    for they have been from of old.

7 

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

    according to your steadfast love remember me,

    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

8 

Good and upright is the Lord;

    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 

He leads the humble in what is right,

    and teaches the humble his way.

10 

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 

For your name’s sake, O Lord,

    pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12 

Who is the man who fears the Lord?

    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

13 

His soul shall abide in well-being,

    and his offspring shall inherit the land.

14 

The friendship[b] of the Lord is for those who fear him,

    and he makes known to them his covenant.

15 

My eyes are ever toward the Lord,

    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Footnotes:

a Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

b Psalm 25:14 Or The secret counsel

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.

Is it a fulfillment of prophecy, a blinding of their eyes by the evil one or the glory of man being more important than the glory of God?

For various reasons, the people continued in unbelief despite numerous miracles (signs). The seventh sign (in the gospel written by John the Apostle), was bringing Lazarus back to life. Mary, Lazarus’s sister, poured a pint of ointment made from pure nard onto Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. What a beautiful expression understood by those who smelled the aroma as announcing the arrival of a king, “the King of the Jews”.

During the triumphal entry, the people recognized His role and shouted Hosanna. To believe in Jesus as King means to believe in God the Father as the One who provided a way for us to be part of His heavenly family.

Jesus is the light of the world, whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Jesus said these words while in the women’s court of the temple with all the candles burning along the wall perimeter.

He provided visual examples of an eternal message. Just as YHWH guided and guarded the children of Israel with a pillar of fire while escaping from slavery in Egypt, Jesus is bringing us safely to eternal life (He rescues us from slavery to sin). -Teresa

#KingoftheJews #KINGOFTHEWHOLEWORLD #read”SititngathefeetofRabbiJesus” #bookbyAnnSpangler

John 12:36-50 (ESV)

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,

38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.

42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;

43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.

45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.

46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment-what to say and what to speak.

50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” – John 12:36-50

There are times when we may feel imprisoned by our fleshly response to thorns along our journey. The law blesses us with a knowledge of what sin looks like but has no power to change our response to the “needs” in our life. Who has the key to set us free from this viscious cycle? God has provided us the key through the body of Christ- after trusting the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior (as payment for our sin debt). Jesus restores our relationship with the Father. This powerful realization that we are loved (even while in our sin) gives us courage to repent, responding to His kindness. As a result of walking in step with His Holy Spirit, we are never again separated or isolated from God. He longs for communication with us in prayer. Our heavenly Father also longs to hear our need. Our recognition of His care for us is also a sign that our heart is being transformed for His glory. -Teresa

Romans 7:1-13 English Standard Version

7 Or do you not know, brothers[a]—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.[b] 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.[c]

The Law and Sin

7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

Footnotes:

a Romans 7:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 4

b Romans 7:2 Greek law concerning the husband

c Romans 7:6 Greek of the letter

The geese were planning to swim to shore where we were having our time in the sun, reading. Their courage increased when I threw an orange peel for them to peck at. King David had courage because of God’s promise, to build David’s house and make his name great (v. 25). What started as David’s desire to build a house for God ended with David’s courage being built up to defeat all the enemies of Israel establishing a strong kingdom that God would use to reach out to the world. Our Savior and Lord came through the lineage of David. God’s plan to use a mere mortal astounds us even now. Jesus, from the line of David, provided salvation for all mankind. – Teresa #Psalm110 #theLordisgreaterthanDavid #holinessbefitsHishousefoundthroughthecleansingofsin

1 Chronicles 16: 17-27 (ESV)

The Lord’s Covenant with David

17 Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” 2 And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

3 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. 5 For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. 6 In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 7 Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, 8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, 10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. 11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’” 15 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer

16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 17 And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations,[b] O Lord God! 18 And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant. 19 For your servant’s sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. 20 There is none like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel, the one[c] nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and awesome things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 And you made your people Israel to be your people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. 23 And now, O Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have spoken, 24 and your name will be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. 26 And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for it is you, O Lord, who have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”

Nature has a song. While camping last week, I was blessed by not wearing my airpods even once. The sounds around me were so beautiful that my soul was drinking in the refreshing music of nature. The children of Israel were blessed by the presence of God in their midst with the ark of the covenant. King David appointed ministers to serve God with song at the tabernacle. With the coming of Emmanuel- God with us, we too can serve Him with our songs of praise. – Teresa #God’sdwellingwithman #JesusChrist,theOneworthsingingabout #ourbodyatemple

1 Chronicles 6: 31-48 (ESV)

31 These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. 32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. 33 These are the men who served and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer the son of Joel, son of Samuel, 34 son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, 35 son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, 36 son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, 37 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, 38 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel; 39 and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely, Asaph the son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, 40 son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchijah, 41 son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, 42 son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, 43 son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. 44 On the left hand were their brothers, the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, 45 son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, 46 son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, 47 son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi. 48 And their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.