Author: Regalwoman@TransamEagle

His kingdom

When we sow righteousness and live with a steadfast pursuit of it, our lives will flourish for eternity (Matthew 6:33). If you consider who has earned your allegiance- then remember to offer it up to God alone! Waiting in silence, we will be shown His power and steadfast love. We are not under the thumb of earthly fear- unless we choose to live there voluntarily. Like David, we can choose to trust God’s protection and walk in a place of His secure acceptance. -Teresa

#blessedbyHispresenceamidstdifficulty

Psalm 62 English Standard Version (ESV)

My Soul Waits for God Alone

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

How long will all of you attack a man

to batter him,

like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

They take pleasure in falsehood.

They bless with their mouths,

but inwardly they curse. Selah

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

for my hope is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my salvation and my glory;

my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah

Those of low estate are but a breath;

those of high estate are a delusion;

in the balances they go up;

they are together lighter than a breath.

Put no trust in extortion;

set no vain hopes on robbery;

if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

Once God has spoken;

twice have I heard this:

that power belongs to God,

and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

For you will render to a man

according to his work.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Proverbs 11:18-19 English Standard Version (ESV)

The wicked earns deceptive wages,

but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,

but he who pursues evil will die.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Matthew 6:33 ESV

[33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Gentle beyond belief

We all need a small inner circle of friends to vent with. Beyond that, I hope to understand the power of the spoken/written word. We have the power to uphold the gentleness of our Savior. It is in this act of being gentle with those who don’t deserve it that we embrace Christ’s gentle humility and develop strength. – Teresa #biteurlip #journalurturmoil #theallureofgentlenessbyDallasWillard

Proverbs 11:12-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,

but a man of understanding remains silent.

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,

but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Hang out with a friend

In the midst of life’s heaviness, our best recourse is to cast our cares. God is capable to handle the weight of our burdens, we are not. There are people in our lives who build us up and bring about comfort as well. If your “love language” is quality time, you need to hang out with a friend. First, with the Lord and second, with those you love! 💕 – Teresa #Garychapman #thefivelovelanguages #unbitterbox

Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

Cast your burden on the Lord,

and he will sustain you;

he will never permit

the righteous to be moved.

Righteousness by faith

How are we made righteous? Truly, by refusing to walk in darkness we participate in the light of life (John 8:12). Without the light of the world, however, we are without hope. Jesus is the light of the world. Abraham was credited with righteousness when he believed God (James 2:23, Romans 4:3). We too have the opportunity to believe God’s word, Jesus Christ (John 1:14) and to be credited with His righteousness. The substitutionary atonement of our Savior for the sin of the world balances the sin debt against us (Romans 3:25). This spiritual transaction works in our favor, paying more than enough in God’s account (Is. 53:10). Have you trusted the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2)? “Today”may be the day of your salvation.- Teresa #cometoHim #repentandbebaptized #newidentity #freetoloveselfandothers

Proverbs 11:4 English Standard Version (ESV)

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

but righteousness delivers from death.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Kiss or flee

When Jesus foretold what his disciples would do (when His time had come to fulfill the plan of Scripture), they could not fathom this turn of events or the weakness of their own character when faced with loss. Those who were righteous and courageous turned devious and fearful. If you’ve been betrayed by someone close to you, I encourage you to look to our Savior’s example or that of Joan of Arc. Forgiving mankind and trusting God’s outcome becomes the ultimate goal (as He redeems everything for His glory). – Teresa #Godseesall #betrayalhurts #moldedbypain #keepitsteady #notalonebecauseHewasaloneforus

Mark 14:41-49 (ESV)

41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant[c] of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all left him and fled.

The Women’s Court

I’ve been compiling a memory album for Peter and came across so many old photos! I’m reminded of the tremendous influence moms of the world make in shaping our culture (read Katie Davis Majors new book, Daring To Hope). The Bible passage below highlights Jesus’ remarks about a woman who offered all she had to live on. This part of the temple had both the treasury and the women’s court (see The Bible Knowledge Commentary). It was where Jesus also declared himself to be the light of the world (John 8:12). He explained that his followers would not continue to walk in darkness but would have the light of life. Women are so important to the Savior. He is free to work when we are free to follow Him. – Teresa #EricMetaxes7Women #lightrules

Mark 12:38-12:44 English Standard Version (ESV)

Beware of the Scribes

38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.[a] 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Offerings

If we are only delighted with our offerings and what God is doing in us through our giving, then we may have forgotten something more important. Jesus Christ is more sacred than our gifts, He is more awesome than our personal growth. In fact, all our delight should be in Him since He has delighted to offer Himself for the sin of the world. His delight in fulfilling the Father’s will shows the unity of the trinity. – Teresa #astounded #ultimateimpact #HeisLord

Psalm 40:6-8 (ESV)

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.[a]

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

Fruitfulness

I love this parable about the sower and the destiny of each seed depending on the readiness of the soil in a person’s heart. I was challenged not to let the growth of God’s kingdom in my life be overcome by the challenges of painful thorns. Prayer for the day, “Abba” (daddy)! When God is our daddy, we are asked to cast our cares (and thorns) on Him. – Teresa #don’tgetchokedout

Mark 13-20 (ESV)

13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.[b] 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

Delight yourself in the Lord

Psalm 34:4-7 (ESV)

4 Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him, and he will act.

6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

and your justice as the noonday.

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

over the man who carries out evil devices!

Stay off me (foot of arrogance), Don’t drive me away (hand of wickedness)

David understood firsthand the temptation of pride (i.e. scandal involving Bathsheeba) and the trial of being driven away as a young man from his family by Saul. Yet he wrote this Psalm of praise to God marveling at His righteousness and His steadfast love. When we “take refuge in the shadow of His wings” our lives can also be atoned for -free to serve God “hidden with Christ in God” -Colossians 3:3. When we keep our hearts and minds on things above, only then will arrogance and wickedness not impact our end game. Jesus rewrote this story.- Teresa #goodnews #preciouslove

Psalm 36 English Standard Version (ESV)

How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love

To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the Lord.

Transgression speaks to the wicked

deep in his heart;[a]

there is no fear of God

before his eyes.

For he flatters himself in his own eyes

that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;

he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

He plots trouble while on his bed;

he sets himself in a way that is not good;

he does not reject evil.

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;

your judgments are like the great deep;

man and beast you save, O Lord.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house,

and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light do we see light.

Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,

and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,

nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

There the evildoers lie fallen;

they are thrust down, unable to rise.

Footnotes:

a Psalm 36:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Jerome (compare Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts in my heart

English Standard Version (ESV)

Colossians 3:1-6 (NIV)

Christ

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.