When Governor PorciusFestus accused the Apostle Paul of being out of his mind from all his learning, Paul was not offended but addressed him as “most excellent Festus”.

King Herod Agrippa II was invited by Festus to hear Paul’s case. Agrippa understood the complex political climate of that region. But it was Paul’s words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which delivered truth with convincing power. #almostpersuaded

If being out of my mind from too much learning means restoring God’s perspective, then I am fully persuaded to embrace Paul’s example and also witness about Jesus Christ the Lord, (v. 18) “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Jesus).

I am grateful for the great portion of the New Testament penned by the Apostle Paul while he was under house arrest in Rome. Because of this, I am persuaded that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:39)- God loved and inspired Paul’s words to us. When the great mind of Paul was used to bring the simple gospel message to those in his company (guards, governors, kings, and now to us), I am inspired to also be a witness throughout the challenges of circumstantial suffering.

I may not be under lock and key, but there are pokes and jabs from those who purport friendship but do not hesitate to slander/spread untruths.

By yielding our perspective to God’s love, we can restore our mind. His purpose is amazingly intertwined with our heart, soul, mind and strength (Deut 6:5).

The Essence of the Covenant Principles
Listen, Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!5You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength.

. -Teresa #strengthfortoday #brighthopefortomorrow greatisthyfaithfulnesshymn

Acts 26English Standard Version*

Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa

26 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

² “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. ⁵ They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, ⁷ to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! ⁸ Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

⁹ “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.¹⁰ And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

¹² “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.¹³ At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. ¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language,^[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, ¹⁷ delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you ¹⁸ to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

¹⁹ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. ²¹ For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. ²² To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:²³ that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” (Bold added)

²⁴ And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” ²⁵ But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. ²⁶ For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”^{[b] 29} And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

³⁰ Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.³¹ And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Acts 26:14 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
2. Acts 26:28 Or In a short time you would persuade me to act like a Christian!

*Oneyearbibleonline

Do you need a new direction in life? Please watch this inspiring YouTube by Geoff Krieger.

*🚀 https://youtu.be/UTFMCEuykQs

Enjoy! Happy 4th of July.

-Teresa #liftoff #beautifulbeginnings

In our technological age of VR and AI, the possibilities are endless when it comes to communicating a powerful message. It reaches all our senses, but is their fruit?

This passage (below) illustrates that those who humbled themselves before God became the remnant. First the root (of God’s love reaching them) and then the fruit (of trusting the Messiah to save them). #JesusChristtheLord

There are times when we may feel like a remnant of cloth. Left behind after the garment is completed. Not quite big enough for much more than the scrap bag. God’s remnant, however, is referred to throughout the Old Testament in the context of humble people but symbolic of new beginnings. When all seemed lost, God’s remnant was left in the land to re-populate and carry on with a fresh start.

We too can represent this fresh mindset today in a world which is sometimes at odds with God’s values. With humility and faithfulness, our actions can reflect the One we worship. Like a fragrant aroma, the Holy Spirit moves in and through us for that very purpose.#fruit

It may take on a different form than we ever envisioned, alive with God’s vibrant color and love. Staying humble means we can try a creative approach. Being faithful means we can trust the results to God who is able to exponentially bless lives for His glory.

Just this week, I was challenged to think outside the box. When I felt my back was up against the wall, God surprised me with a new way to see the situation. Just like King Hezekiah who heard God’s heart for Israel’s future, I asked God to give me a “picture” of how things would look from His viewpoint. This brought me hope and even more surprising, it gave me a sense of deep-seated joy!

-Teresa #fruitoftheSpirit #love #joy #peace

2 Kings 18:14-37 (ESV)* bold added vv. 30,31

Hezekiah’s Prayer

¹⁴ Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. ¹⁵ And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: “O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. ¹⁶ Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. ¹⁷ Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands ¹⁸ and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. ¹⁹ So now, O Lordour God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”

Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib’s Fall

²⁰ Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. ²¹ This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him:

“She despises you, she scorns you—
the virgin daughter of Zion;
she wags her head behind you—
the daughter of Jerusalem.

²² “Whom have you mocked and reviled?
Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes to the heights?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
²³ By your messengers you have mocked the Lord,
and you have said, ‘With my many chariots
I have gone up the heights of the mountains,
to the far recesses of Lebanon;
I felled its tallest cedars,
its choicest cypresses;
I entered its farthest lodging place,
its most fruitful forest.
²⁴ I dug wells
and drank foreign waters,
and I dried up with the sole of my foot
all the streams of Egypt.’

²⁵ “Have you not heard
that I determined it long ago?
I planned from days of old
what now I bring to pass,
that you should turn fortified cities
into heaps of ruins,
²⁶ while their inhabitants, shorn of strength,
are dismayed and confounded,
and have become like plants of the field
and like tender grass,
like grass on the housetops,
blighted before it is grown.

²⁷ “But I know your sitting down
and your going out and coming in,
and your raging against me.
²⁸ Because you have raged against me
and your complacency has come into my ears,
I will put my hook in your nose
and my bit in your mouth,
and I will turn you back on the way
by which you came.

²⁹ “And this shall be the sign for you: this year eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs of the same. Then in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. ³⁰ And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.³¹ For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord will do this.

³² “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. ³³ By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, declares the Lord.³⁴ For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”

³⁵ And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.³⁶ Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went home and lived at Nineveh. ³⁷ And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

Footnotes

1. 2 Kings 18:14 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
2. 2 Kings 18:29 Hebrew his
3. 2 Kings 18:31 Hebrew Make a blessing with me

*OneYearBibleonline

My first experience telling others about Jesus was traveling to various neighborhoods in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where our church members lived, teaching 5-day clubs to children. It was the summer I turned 12 years old and I had trained through Child Evangelism Fellowship.

My second, third and fourth journeys were also in the summertime, two with Teen Missions, International and the last with New Tribes Mission. These trips took me to Oahu, HI; Palmer, AK; and the hollers of Kentucky with wonderful teams of Christian believers from all around the country.

After my husband and I were married, we went on a cross-cultural journey together. With our first daughter, who was still a baby, we headed to Europe and North Africa for a year with a multinational group of single adults and married couples. Our daughter was adored by many “aunties and uncles”.

Reading about Paul’s second missionary journey (see the passage below), I was caught up in the travel involved and the way he met with people whose hearts were being called by God.

The generosity they experienced was a result of hearts being changed. The churches supported Paul and Silas as well as young Timothy (Paul’s “trainee”). Along the way, the old and new converts opened their hearts and homes to the love that God showed them through His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Those who were changed were also encouraged to remain faithful. Although the church of that day did not promote women leaders (due to lack of education), Lydia may have been an exception as she eventually opened up her home as the hub for the growing church. #Philippians

Philippi was a great trade city in the province of Macedonia where Paul and his partners were “called” to minister. Lydia was a wealthy business owner involved in trading purple cloth there and her heart was touched by the gospel message as Paul preached the good news. She was used by God because she recognized in herself the desire to be faithful to Him and left it up to Paul to judge her authenticity and accept her generosity.

My prayer is to always be faithful wherever God leads me. His grace through me is sufficient even for the difficult tasks that seem too much. (I’ve been quoting Paul’s words all this week, 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”). -Teresa #faithful #fruithatwillast

Acts 16:11-15 (ESV)

The Conversion of Lydia

¹¹ So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, ¹² and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the^[d] district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.¹³ And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. ¹⁴ One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. ¹⁵ And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

Also…Please enjoy this informative paper (below), I found it on Regent University, http://www.regent.edu site (see this excerpt from “Lydia’s Story” written by Peter Foxwell) :

“Peter Foxwell serves as the lead pastor of the Cornerstone Church of Clyde, MI (www.FamousGod.com). He is also a student in the Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership program at Liberty University. “

“Lydia’s Story”

“THE ROMAN COLONY OF PHILIPPI”

“Lydia was the first convert to the Christian faith in the colonial Roman city of Philippi (Acts 16:11-15), located in the district of Macedonia. In that Roman administrative region, Thessalonica was larger, and Amphipolis was the capital; nevertheless, Philippi is described as a leading or principal city (Bock, 2007), perhaps because it was considered a crossroads between Europe and Asia (Calpino, 2012).”

“Philippi was administered according to the laws and constitution of the city of Rome (Bruce, 1980) and enjoyed the highest status a provincial town could have (Bock, 2007). All in all, it would have felt very Roman. The city’s religious life followed the imperial cult and was a center for the worship of a variety of gods.”

“THE JEWISH PLACE OF PRAYER IN PHILIPPI”

“Paul’s missionary strategy included visiting local synagogues (cf., Acts 13:14; 14:1; 17:1), but there was no synagogue in Philippi, perhaps due to a lack of Jewish men there (Bruce, 1980). However, there was an informal place of prayer (Gk. proseuchen, sometimes means a synagogue, but not in this case, Bruce, 1980) attended, it seems, exclusively by women (Acts 16:13). Among the worshippers was Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth.”

“LYDIA, A WOMAN OF STATUS”

“Lydia was from the city of Thyatira, located in Asia Minor in the region known as Lydia (Peterson, 2009). It was known for its “purple dye and textiles” (p. 460). Possibly Lydia sold cloth to wealthy clients in Philippi, and she should be considered a woman of status (Bock, 2007). Inscriptional evidence recovered from Philippi demonstrates that women undertook many leadership roles, such as offices in various religions (Calpino, 2012). They also paid for public works, such as statues on which they inscribed their names and status.”

“In the first-century Roman world, women owned and managed businesses, both large and small (Calpino, 2012). Mowczko (2018) notes that members of the senatorial (aristocratic) class were independently wealthy and did not engage in business, but members of the wealthy equestrian class did run businesses. Lydia sold a luxury item that would have required access to significant capital investment, which means she belonged to the equestrian class’s provincial equivalent, or she was “a relatively wealthy commoner” (p. 4). Lydia was very likely an independent business owner since women occupied “a prominent place in Macedonian life” (Fee, 1995, p. 27).”

“THE CONVERSION OF LYDIA”

“When Paul first met Lydia, she was a “worshipper of God” or a God-fearer (Acts 16:14). Her Greek background would suggest that Lydia was a former polytheist.”

“Now, she was “believing and behaving as a Jew without having become one” (Stott, 1990, p. 263). When Paul spoke, the Lord worked through his message to open her heart to believe in Jesus (Acts 16:14). Stott remarks that “the message was Paul’s, the saving initiative was God’s (p. 263). Acts 16:15 mentions her conversion to the Christian faith. There, she claims to be a true believer in the Lord, and she and her household were baptized. She then persuades Paul and his companions to stay at her home. Paul and his entourage remain based at Lydia’s house for the duration of their ministry in Philippi. The infant church also gathers there (Acts 16:40).”

“LYDIA’S HOME AND HOUSEHOLD”

“Details about Lydia’s marital status and home life are scarce (Barnes, 1995). We do not know if she was married, single, divorced, or widowed. However, it is possible to glean some helpful insights from the biblical text. Notably, the author of Acts does not associate Lydia with a man. In ancient Roman culture, women were known through their men (Barnes, 1995). Luke may be communicating “that the God of the Gospel is not interested in traditional social barriers of this world, particularly those associated with the pivotal value, honor/shame” (p. 181).”

“In Acts 16:15, the word translated household and home is the same Greek term, oikos. It does not refer to a building but an extended family under Lydia’s leadership and care. Spouses, children, household servants/slaves, laborers, even business associates, and tenants were considered members of an ancient Roman household (Towner, 1993). The house was held together through a bond based on “common economic, social, psychological, and religious factors” (p. 417). Belonging to the household gave its members “a sense of security and identity” (p. 417). Lydia’s offer to accommodate and support Paul and his companions within her household, “suggests she owned a villa” (Fee, 1995, p. 26).”

“The head of the household had authority over its members and a duty to care for them. Lydia may have been the head (Latin, domina) of her house either because she was a widower, divorcee, or a single woman of means (Peterson, 2009). She demonstrates her authority by leading its members in Christian baptism, offering hospitality to Paul and his ministry team in her home, and making her home available as their base of operations and as a gathering place for the church (Calpino, 2012). In this way, Paul and his team, as well as the church, came under her protection (p. 285).”

“CONCLUSION”

“Lydia was likely an independent woman, the head of her household, and the owner of a business requiring significant capital. How, then, would these qualities have translated into the Christian community in Philippi? Osiek (2009) suggests that women took part in all the ministries of the house church. Is this likely? The answer may lie in the customs and practices of first-century Roman society.”…’ (see more on Regent University website)

Author(s): Peter Foxwell  

Journal: Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership

Issue: 1  

Volume: 10  

Year: 2020

On my last visit to see mom, I was rewarded with some Vitamin D after “finding” the secret patio at the hotel. the sky was glorious (although a bit hazy from the Canadian fires) with just small puffs of clouds suspended in air.

In this passage, Elijah had a “show-down” with the prophets of Ba’al, he was watching intently for a cloud. The small puff of a cloud was his sign that the famine had ended in Israel. It was Elijah’s confirmation that the years of waiting were over.

Elijah gathered up his garments and ran. He ran like no other racer has ever run. He ran in the rain from the top of Mount Carmel to Jezreel. He ran ahead of King Ahab’s chariot. He ran because the hand of the Lord was on him.

This “show-down” was also from God’s hand. It included Elijah challenging the idol called Ba’al, the fire falling from heaven in answer to Elijah’s prayer, the actions/words of the people choosing God and not fearfully “limp (ing) around” with falsehood any longer. It ended with the slaughter of the false prophets who were deceiving God’s people. Watching Elijah run before him (for 25 miles), Ahab even had a chance to repent from allowing his wife, Jezebel, rule him and the country when she frightened everyone into submission by slaughtering God’s prophets. Afterwards, Elijah ran for his life as Jezebel threatened him as well.

God’s hand was evident in Elijah’s lifetime. Even today, people who live in oppressed situations, waiting for deliverance are waiting for the evidence of God. Yet, our waiting is over once we look heavenward and remember who is truly God. It is not those who threaten and wield fear as a weapon. It is the Creator of the clouds who shows the sign of His intention for mankind.

The greatest sign of all is the rainbow, given to Noah in a covenant to never wipe out mankind again. Noah and his family were saved because they found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

We too can find grace in the eyes of the Lord when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives (John 1:12,17).

This is called good news or the gospel message. Just as Elijah spotted the sign of a small puff of cloud, he was assured that his waiting was over.

Your “secret patio” may look a bit different than mine or the sign God gives you may not be a small puff of cloud, but the reward of waiting for God’s grace to appear in your family and loved ones will be worth the investment of time spent.

We also can rejoice in God’s glorious plan to bring grace to every people, tribe, tongue and nation. The sign of God’s grace for mankind is the empty tomb. Nothing has the power to stop God’s love for us, not even death.- Teresa

I Kings 18: 20-46 (ESV)*

The Prophets of Baal Defeated

²⁰ So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.²¹ And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. ²² Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. ²³ Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. ²⁴ And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” ²⁵ Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” ²⁶ And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. ²⁷ And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” ²⁸ And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.²⁹ And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

³⁰ Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. ³¹ Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” ³² and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs^[a] of seed. ³³ And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” ³⁴ And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. ³⁵ And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

³⁶ And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. ³⁷ Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”³⁸ Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.³⁹ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” ⁴⁰ And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

The Lord Sends Rain

⁴¹ And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” ⁴² So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. ⁴³ And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. ⁴⁴ And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” ⁴⁵ And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.⁴⁶ And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. 1 Kings 18:32 A seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters

*Oneyearbibleonline.com

God’s blessing (as described in this Psalm) meant fruitful labor, children and grandchildren. It also meant a prosperous nation.

It is not wrong to assume that having peace or absence of war was an additional blessing from the God of Israel in that day.

Fear of the Lord meant reverence for Him and His word. Today, we also have an obligation to fear the Lord. The “blessing”, however, that results will not necessarily be peace from earthly war but peace with God.

We are no longer under a Suzerain-vassal treaty as the nation of Israel had with YHWH but under the new covenant agreement based on God’s promise for the anointed One (aka the Messiah or the Christ). (See Jeremiah 31)

This covenant was fulfilled when Jesus Christ the Lord took on the sins of the world. He is the Father’s way to provide redemption from sin for mankind plus to fulfill the Father’s desire to include those from every tribe, tongue, people and nation into His kingdom.

As much as I love my grandchildren, I am even more grateful for Jesus Christ, my Savior. He is my blessing. He blessed me by making peace with God on my behalf.

I can pass this great blessing on to my children and grandchildren. – Teresa #legacyofpeace

Psalm 128:1-6 (ESV) *

Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

128 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
² You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
⁴ Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.

⁵ The Lord bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
⁶ May you see your children’s children!
Peace be upon Israel!

*Oneyearbibleonline

Jeremiah 31:31-34 “Indeed, a time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.32 It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I was like a faithful husband to them,” says the Lord.33“But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the Lord. “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God and they will be my people.34
“People will no longer need to teach their neighbors and relatives to know me. For all of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,” says the Lord. “For I will forgive their sin and will no longer call to mind the wrong they have done.”

On the last visit I made to my hometown, I visited the Iron Industry Museum. My father and grandfather made their living through this industry. The state of MI and Ford Motor Company were supported for many years through these rich iron ore deposits in the Upper Peninsula.

The words on each exhibit along with the pictures, effectively told the story. Whether the words painted the picture or the picture was worth 1,000 words, I enjoyed the value of communicating this history through word pictures.

In this Psalm, I see an Old Testament word picture or poem. The words were historically recited by the people of Israel on the way to Jerusalem each year (for their three mandatory feast observations).

Rather than trusting man-made idols visible on “the hills” around Jerusalem, the Psalmist called out the truth of God (YHWH) as the creator of heaven and earth.

Even today, we should remember it is not what WE create out of iron or steel that makes us prosper but what God has created in us- a hope and a future.

The Lord “kept” the children of Israel and will “keep” us. What does He keep us from? We are kept from ALL harm when we trust Him.

The harm may include deadly physical elements of heat and sun exposure or nighttime predators. It could also be a spiritual degradation found in today’s culture to remove a life from the earth before their time (aka abortion).

Our coming and going will be kept by God when our eyes look to Him.- Teresa #keeplifesacred

Psalm 121 (ESV) *

A Song of Ascents.

121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

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.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
⁸ The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

*OneYearBibleOnlinehttps://biblegateway.comESV

While visiting my mom in MN this week, I grew fond of the elliptical machine for my daily workout. You can see it in the photo on the far left.

Eight years ago, I participated in a program called “Medical Weight Management”. I used their food and sat under the guidance of their dietitians. My weight loss was supervised by a medical doctor. The best thing that I learned throughout the program was to remain committed. We all transitioned from a 1200 cal/day diet to eating the individual number of calories that were allowed (as calculated by a resting metabolic weight test).

The graph that inspired me most in the first 6 months of the program was the steady weight loss as seen on each participants chart. Usually at week 12-15 (or so) many people noted a plateau or even a 5 pound weight gain, while doing the program correctly.

This is the point in the program, where a few people dropped out. They decided that they can do this on their own (less money) because obviously “it’s not working for me”. One such graph was displayed of a member who was on the verge of quitting but then stayed (remained in the program). This particular person dropped another 30 pounds, in addition to the 20 lost prior to their plateau.

What if they just gave up and quit when the graph went up instead of down? Would they have ever seen the joyful ending of hanging in there. They would have failed to get what they were hoping for and had committed to. They would not have remained long enough to see the desired result.

We don’t always see the end of the graph from where we are now standing. That doesn’t mean that a bump in the road will turn us away from our desired destination.

Sure, it’s discouraging, but what’s worse than struggling? I would have to say quitting on yourself is worse than struggling. Wouldn’t you rather continue on and abide in the investment made? #urworthit

In the passage below, John the apostle captures Jesus’ important message to his closest disciples. Jesus knew that there was suffering ahead for all of them. He encourages them to abide in the relationship that had changed their lives and would change the world.

The Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Why? Because He loved the world…he saw us as worthwhile.

Like the early disciples,the fruit that results from God’s love in us (as His sons and daughters) comes from abiding in Christ Jesus. Without Him, we are nothing and with Him we are “home”. Have you ever wanted to belong somewhere safe and beautiful -accepted as you are?

Have I asked the Father in Jesus’ name for the thing I desire most?-Teresa #fullnessofJoy #abide

John 15:1-17 (ESV)*

I Am the True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants,^[a]for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.¹⁷ These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

*OneYearBibleOnline

I heard a simple, yet touching story of a wife praying this earnest prayer for her husband (named James). “Mercy, Lord, for James” (repeated over and over). Then, he happened to walk in the door one day after work and heard her in prayer and it touched him. It changed him.

There may be times in our own lives when we must pray for ourself. I said it this week, “mercy, Lord, for Teresa”. It touched me, it changed me.

In fact, there’s is a song by John Michael Talbot that never ceases to makes me happy. The key phrase is, “and I ask you- all of my brothers and sisters…to pray for me”. We Shall Stand Forgiven

Being brought low may be the first step of our salvation. “Death” to self may come in a variety of ways: overwhelming circumstances, difficult people or too many balls flying from every direction (some that we should not even attempt to catch).

He inclines His ear to us. How wonderful to know that His Salvation is on the way. By lifting up the cup of salvation, we are praising the One who poured out His life so we could know God as our loving Father. #theLordJesusChrist

Walking before the Lord in the land of the living means we continue to honor Him with our lives. Even when it’s challenging, He shows up and carries us on His shoulders.

I love you, Lord, for without you, I am nothing. – Teresa #thanksgiving

Psalm 116: 1-19 (ESV) *

116 I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
² Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
³ The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

⁵ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
⁶ The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
⁷ Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

⁸ For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
⁹ I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

¹⁰ I believed, even when^[a] I spoke:
“I am greatly afflicted”;
¹¹ I said in my alarm,
“All mankind are liars.”

¹² What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
¹⁴ I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
¹⁶ O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
¹⁷ I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
¹⁸ I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Psalm 116:10 Or believed, indeed; Septuagint believed, therefore

*OneYearBibleOnline

David’s love and loyalty to King Saul was returned with hate and lies.

Jesus’ ministry, filled with loving miracles to those in need ,“appeared to end” with the religious people of the day determining to crucify Him.

Lies and accusations were not far from attacking the ONE who worked in opposition to the “father of lies”.

Following David’s example and Jesus’ example, we can also give ourselves to prayer.

In so doing, we may gain wisdom, beauty and grace to help when accusations fly.

The description of Christ, as the suffering servant (in Isaiah), portrayed him as a bruised reed. Unbreakable!

There are times when we must flex and bend but remember that the grace of God in our lives means that we are also unbreakable.

On this Mother’s Day weekend, we think of those who serve sacrificially. I think of my hero in the faith, Mother Teresa. The story of her life (dramatized in 2014) was very impactful to me. Called “The Letters”, this movie evidenced the struggle and depth of her work.

Yet, she persevered. We must also take time to do the small things that others overlook as distasteful or not valuable.

Even if the very ones you love and serve produce lies and accusations (like King Saul did to David)- give yourself to prayer.

God is faithful to finish His work in us and in the world. – Teresa #remember #KingDavid #KingJesus #wearechildrenofGod #ransomedforHisglory

Psalm 109:1-5 (ESV)*

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

109 Be not silent, O God of my praise!
² For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
³ They encircle me with words of hate,
and attack me without cause.
⁴ In return for my love they accuse me,
but I give myself to prayer.^[a]
5 So they reward me evil for good,
and hatred for my love.

*OneYearBibleOnline