There are times when the boundaries of our lives may feel like barbed wire. While we long for “freedom”, we are also reminded that the sweetness of success will carry a responsibility or a “cross to bear”. As we take up our cross daily to follow Him, He brings the needed support to endure and the joyful truth that we can enjoy the sweetness of fellowship with Him. The Psalmist describes it as being sweeter than honey in the honeycomb. -Teresa #Jesuscametofulfillthelaw. #fulfillmeanscomplete #Jesusisthelogos

2 Chronicles 16: 8b, 9 (ESV)

Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless[g] toward him.

Psalms 19: 1-11. (ESV)

19 

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.

2 

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

3 

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

4 

Their voice[b] goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

5 

which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6 

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them,

and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 

The law of the Lord is perfect,[c]

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

8 

the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

9 

the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules[d] of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether.

10 

More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

This beautiful sunrise greeted my husband and me as we walked home from the coffee shop earlier this month. Immediately, our minds went to that word-magnify. He is so much greater and so much more capable of handling the struggles of this life than we are. Indeed, we must stop feeling indebted to the “payback” mentality which ruled our flesh by fear. Instead, we must endure suffering as those with a great hope. This hope provides freedom from fear and promises the glory of God to show up in our lives. Why? Because we are His children. “Abba, father” literally means “daddy” or “Papa”. Which of you would give a snake to their child who asks for a fish? Even so the Father will provide the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (see Matthew 7:9-11).

The trinity is God the father, Jesus the son and the promised Holy Spirit. They work together in unity to provide everything the human condition needs. We can indeed approach the Father through the atoning sacrifice of the Son. Jesus, in turn, sends the Holy Spirit (when we believe) as a deposit, assuring us of our heavenly inheritance. Together, they provide our need for “family” fellowship even while we are in our earthly bodies. – Teresa #nocondemnation #lawoftheSpiritoflifesetsusfree #freedomfromthelawofsinandeath

Romans 8: 9-25 (ESV)

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[a] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

12 So then, brothers,[b] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[c] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

When I asked God what would help with a relationship I was struggling with, I immediately knew it was this word- humility. Just as those in authority have a responsibility and weight hanging over them for us, they also have a joy of seeing our growth when we exhibit humility. Solomon took a posture of humility in this dedication prayer at the temple. On his knees with arms outstretched before the people, God answered by accepting the sacrifice and sending fire to consume it.- Teresa #Itrieditmywayandfailed #urwayisbest

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. http://esv.to/2Chron6.1-2 (ESV)

2 Chronicles 7: 1-3 (ESV)

7 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

The joy of the Lord is our strength. This mountain stream brought me joy as we hiked to Porcupine Lake last week. In God’s economy, praise is very valuable. We should be careful to implement this as a daily “sacrifice” in our lives. -Teresa #streams of livingwater

I Chronicles 15:11- 16:7 (ESV)

11Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brothers of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. 19 The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth; 21 but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, for he understood it. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, should blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. 26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.

29 And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

The Ark Placed in a Tent

16 And they brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord 3 and distributed to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat,[b] and a cake of raisins.

4 Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. 7 Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers.

When the complexities of life become confusing we only need to cry aloud to the Lord. David was heartbroken after his son, Absalom, tried to take the kingdom from him. Instead of freezing with grief, He turned to the One who sustains the universe. What prayer of faith have we offered to God? He is honored by our need of Him. Can we trust in His protection? -Teresa #trustingHimwithourkids

Psalm 3: 3-4

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

4 

I cried aloud to the Lord,

and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

Imagine the sound of tambourine, dance, strings, pipe, lute, trumpet and harp, clashing cymbals and every voice raised of everyone with breath- imagine the magnificent roar of this celebration of life. He is the only true source of eternal life. We can simply offer our praise and honor to the Lord of all, when we bring our sacrifice of praise.- Teresa #listentothesoundofhopethatsrising #building429 #amazingrace

Psalm 150: 1-6 (ESV)

1Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens![a]

2 

Praise him for his mighty deeds;

praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3 

Praise him with trumpet sound;

praise him with lute and harp!

4 

Praise him with tambourine and dance;

praise him with strings and pipe!

5 

Praise him with sounding cymbals;

praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

6 

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

The name of the Lord Jesus brings freedom to those bound by evil spirits. It brought freedom to many in the days of the early church and still has that power today. Although there are those seeking financial gain through the misuse of His powerful name, they will soon find out that their gain comes at a great cost- being mastered by the evil spirits of greed, power and corruption. Cling to the One who has all power in heaven and on earth- the creator and sustainer of the universe. – Teresa #helpmeseekthehealernotthehealing #NatalieGrant #morethananything

Acts 19:13-20 (ESV)

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all[a] of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

Never underestimate God’s desire for true worshipers (those who worship in spirit and truth). Elisha knew that his master, Elijah, would be brought to glory that day. This was confirmed by the sons of prophets in both Bethel and Jericho. It was not until Elisha crossed over the Jordan on dry ground (a miracle performed by Elijah) that he was given an opportunity to ask for something to assuage his grief. Elisha’s heart desire was to also be a man of God to bring glory to God on earth- with a double portion of God’s Spirit. After witnessing the chariots of fire coming for his master, Elisha was then able to perform the miracle at the Jordan using Elijah’s cloak. – Teresa #seeingisbelieving #faithofourfathers

2 Kings 2:1-14 (ESV)

2 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

When we are faced with no other option but to seek God, let’s seek him honestly. Jeroboam was called to be king by Ahijah the prophet. Jeroboam’s reign had come to an end, which was exemplified by the illness of his son prophesied to end in death. Although Jeroboam’s wife came disguised as another, the blind prophet recognized her and gave her the truth. In returning to God, we can also go back to those who are truth tellers in our lives. -Teresa #seekingHiskingdomfirst

I Kings 14:1-10 (ESV)

14 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. 3 Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”

4 Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. 5 And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.”

When she came, she pretended to be another woman. 6 But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with unbearable news for you. 7 Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: “Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over my people Israel 8 and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my eyes, 9 but you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back, 10 therefore behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will burn up the house of Jeroboam, as a man burns up dung until it is all gone.

After attending a workshop on happiness, I learned about the power of intention. Every day we wake up with an intention. The result of Solomon’s intention in this passage was: the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord when the ark of the covenant rested under the wings of the cherubim. Solomon acted wisely by giving honor to God in the assembly of the people. Solomon fulfilled his part in bringing about God’s promise to David, building a house for God- the temple. What is the intent of our hearts? Do we possess a singlehearted devotion to live our lives in light of His promises?-Teresa

I Kings 8: 8-21 (ESV)

8 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. 2 And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles. 8 And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

Solomon Blesses the Lord

12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord[a] has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. 13 I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.” 14 Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. 15 And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying, 16 ‘Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there. But I chose David to be over my people Israel.’ 17 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ 20 Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”