There are times when we are so focused on learning a new skill that we have to forget about everything else around us. This concentration makes us appear inward (like Paul when he was blinded by the light). In the end, Saul changed his whole character (and name), he took a 180 degree turn and started praising the One who handpicked him! #Jesus -My heart will sing no other name*. – Teresa

*Forever Reign, by The Hillsong Worship Team

 Acts 9:10-19 (ESV)
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

The stagecouch came to Yosemite Valley in the 1870’s- a Wells Fargo office was set up by 1913 to bring in more stages, send telegraphs and even provide telephone services. The early settlers recognized Wells Fargo as a source of communication with the outside world. Nineteen hundred years before that, Peter and John spent time with Jesus. Being in His presence for three years, they were changed. Those in charge recognized Jesus in them and could not dispute the mighty miracle done for this man who had been lame for over 40 years.  When we spend time with Him- we are changed. – Teresa #healedbyHim

Acts 4: 13-22 (ESV)

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

It’s supposed to be 102 degrees tomorrow! The Santa Rosa plums sure love this heat but I’m not a plum 🙃. How comforting to know that when the stress of life gets turned up, the Lord keeps us and shades us from the deadly heat. -Teresa #wheredoesyourhelpcomefrom?

Psalm 121:5,6 ( ESV)

5 The Lord is your keeper;    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.6 The sun shall not strike you by day,   nor the moon by night.

Fishing lines or nets are cast with the intent of bringing in something heavy or substantial. Our burdens are cast with the  intent of getting rid of something heavy or substantial. David was grieving over his situation, he not only felt dethroned but that God’s favor had left him. After all, his trusted advisor, Ahithophel, joined the conspirators. David remembered that if God could sustain this spinning cosmos, He would sustain this part of life that was spinning out of control! – Teresa #throwitupOnHim #Heisable

2 Samuel 15: 30, 31 ( ESV)

30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. 31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

Psalm 55: 13-22 (NIV) bold added for emphasis

13 “But it is you, a man like myself,  my companion, my close friend,14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship  at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;  let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,  for evil finds lodging among them.16 As for me, I call to God,and the Lord saves me.17 Evening, morning and noon  I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.18 He rescues me unharmed  from the battle waged against me,  even though many oppose me.19 God, who is enthroned from of old,who does not change- he will hear them and humble them,  because they have no fear of God.20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.21 His talk is smooth as butter,  yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil,  yet they are drawn swords.22 Cast your cares on the Lordand he will sustain you;he will never let  the righteous be shaken.”

By storing up God’s Word in our hearts, we have truth hidden inside us. This is a safeguard from sin. – Teresa #puregold

 Psalm 119:9-11 (ESV)

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?

    By guarding it according to your word.

10 With my whole heart I seek you;

    let me not wander from your commandments!

11 I have stored up your word in my heart,

    that I might not sin against you.

When Mary decided to give up her hope of ever marrying, she gave her most valued possession- the anointing perfume. She poured out her love on the One who had raised Lazarus to life. This one act allowed Jesus to remember why He chose to endure the cross – for the joy set before Him. The aroma of being anointed as King hung in the air as the cruelty against the Messiah ensued. Lord, You are the epitome of great. – Teresa #allthingsnew

John 12:1-8 (ESV)

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound[b] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[c] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[d] for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Barbie dog is either a trash collector or a Starbucks lover first thing this morning! Dogs are man’s best friend…in a world where we cannot choose our family or our coworkers (well not all of them), we can still choose our friends! Jonathon chose to be David’s friend rather than be envious of God’s favor on his life. David wept the most when he had to go away  from Jonathon. Who is our friend? #stickscloserthanabrother- Teresa
I Samuel 20: 40-42 (ESV)

40 “And Jonathon gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.” 41 And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap[f] and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. 42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.[g]”

Have you ever been thirsty- really thirsty?  If you watch the netflix documentary, “Tracks”, you will know that our degree of thirst does not compare to this young woman’s feat in the Australian desert. How encouraging to know that there is a source of water that fully satisfies. Jesus provided us with living water. He alone can sate our soul.-Teresa #Spiritflows

 John 7:37-39 (ESV)

37 “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as[a] the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

When the crowd sought out Jesus, they were not as interested in his fellowship as his food. Jesus did not disappoint but let them know that he was food! To know him was to have the most satisfying foodie experience yet. God the Father even set His seal of approval on the Son of Man to authenticate him as a supernatural miracle from heaven. Not only was Jesus sent from God but he is God, able to save all who look to Him for propitiation from sin!!- Teresa

John 6:25-34 (ESV) bold added for emphasis

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

The stone which helps us is sometimes a memorial stone. It reminds us that we are more than the sum total of our accomplishments. We are more than the record of our mistakes. We are more than the fears projected on us from others, subtly absorbed into our psyche. We are the repentant ones, appalled that we would consider our own efforts as good enough to save us. Here I raise my Ebenezer, tied by God’s mercy (through His son, Jesus) to God’s heart of love. Thank you Father. I set you apart to be my dad, with all the goodness that one word was meant to convey!!- Teresa

1 Samuel 7: 12-14 (ESV)

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen[b] and called its name Ebenezer;[c] for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.