Love is a basic need of mankind- Jesus Christ  demonstrated what true love looks like. When politicians lie to make a name for themselves, they give money more credence than a loving character… how much better off or well off is the poor person who is honest. To sum it up, fearing God (aka obeying Him) leads us to contentment and protection from poverty. – Teresa #Omniscient#Omnipotent#Omnipresent.

Proverbs 19: 22,23 ( ESV)

22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,

    and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,

    and whoever has it rests satisfied;

    he will not be visited by harm.

Swimming at the point refreshes this weary camper after a hot and dusty hike. Being immersed into Christ (see Romans 6: 3-5), we are born again. Not of water and blood like a natural childbirth but we are born of the Spirit of God. Justification means “just as if I never did it”. Through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus for me, I am made right with God. That’s some powerful obedience on the part of Jesus Christ our Lord. -Teresa #Hisrighteousness #I’mforevergrateful

Romans 5:12-21 (ESV)

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Swimming at the point refreshes this weary camper after a hot and dusty hike. Being immersed into Christ (see Romans 6: 3-5), we are born again. Not of water and blood like a natural childbirth but we are born of the Spirit of God. Justification means “just as if I never did it”. Through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus for me, I am made right with God. That’s some powerful obedience on the part of Jesus Christ our Lord. -Teresa #Hisrighteousness #Iamforevergrateful

Romans 5:12-21 (ESV)

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When we repent of our sin or turn 180 degrees the other way, I don’t believe we are just committing to a goal. Repentance involves a change of heart! When we see our sin in light of God’s love, we exchange wanderlust for a fulfilling truth that we are loved by our heavenly father. In this passage, David no longer wanted the cheap thrill of power or position (the adoration of people) because God’s powerful protection made him tremble in awe. -Teresa #Heisjealousforme #allforHim #eventhatwhichcostly

1 Chronicles 21: 18-27 (ESV)
18 Now the angel of the Lord had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 So David went up at Gad’s word, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 20 Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. 22 And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” 23 Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” 24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 25 So David paid Ornan 600 shekels[f] of gold by weight for the site. 26 And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord[g] answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.

Although we are fragile and here for but a moment, we are encouraged by His promise: He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.  Through a knowledge of God’s name (or character) we place our trust in the unchanging One! – Teresa #AvengerinZion

Psalm 9: 9-12 ( ESV)

9The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,

    a stronghold in times of trouble.

10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,

    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!

    Tell among the peoples his deeds!

12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;

    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

Although David’s world was coming unglued….His Son, Absalom, had conspired against him…even drove him out of the palace. David remembered that the One who sustains the universe in all its glory would also sustain His life and purpose.  “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, both now and forevermore.” (see Psalm 125:2).- Teresa

 Psalm 3:3-5 (ESV)

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

5 I lay down and slept;

    I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

Psalm 145: 17-19 (ESV)

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways

    and kind in all his works.

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,

    to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;

    he also hears their cry and saves them.

Although the enemy kept trying to infiltrate their land, Elisha could see them in the Spirit and would let the king know where they were. The enemy was fed up and came to “take out” Elisha. Instead of fearing a whole army advancing against him, Elisha trusted the reality that God had his back. He took care of the problem once and for all. – Teresa #takethemcaptive

 2 Kings 6:15-23 (ESV)

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.

20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.

Jesus Christ the Lord, resurrected…to some it may seem unbelievable but in “Evidence that demands a verdict” and “the Case for Christ” the facts clearly state what has brought some atheists to their knees. For those who fear God, our choice is to become a scoffer as the prophets predicted of those who have already perished or to become a worshiper of the true and living God. #eternalife- Teresa

Acts 13: 26-41 ( ESV)

“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

“‘You are my Son,
    today I have begotten you.’

34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,

“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed[b] from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

41 “‘Look, you scoffers,

    be astounded and perish;

for I am doing a work in your days,

    a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”

Our son, Peter, is a good example of this verse. He has an understanding mind and spirit. Intuitively, he understands what is the right thing to do. It’s not always the popular thing or the easy thing but it is what he knows is best.- Teresa #proudmom

Proverbs 17:10 (ESV)

10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding

    than a hundred blows into a fool.