In spite of our information-based society, I am amazed at the perceptiveness of the younger generations.

In the passage below, young Ruth perceived that her mother-in-law was worth following after. She followed Naomi from Moab all the way home to Bethlehem. Ruth clung to her and refused to be separated, claiming that she would not leave her and that Naomi’s God would by her God.

When Naomi rejoiced at the good fortune of Ruth finding a safe place to work in Boaz’s fields, she slowly forgot her bitterness of grief and loss, restoring her hope in the LORD.

Boaz was one of their redeemers. Following a beautiful tradition of saving the widows and remnant of God’s people, the kinsman-redeemer ensured a promised heir for their fellow Israelite.

Ruth trusted Naomi’s tradition implicitly and followed her instructions on how to approach the man who could protect their future and hope.

Today, young people have to make a choice as Ruth did. They must decide between Moab (their homeland), which teaches the theology of atheism in the schools, and Bethlehem (the house of bread), which relies on the Savior’s coming to change our hearts forever.

When we have the courage to ask our Savior to spread His wings over us, then we are redeemed. This means “to buy back”. Boaz bought back Naomi’s family line (although her husband and sons had died). He gave provision and protection to her family. Most of all he provided an heir through Ruth that would carry on Naomi’s family name.

We are redeemed when Jesus becomes our Savior. He not only provides eternal life and protects us from death (separation from God) but he bought us back for a purpose -to be part of the family business. #loveoneanother

The intimacy of this passage is not lost on us. We can perceive God’s personal invitation to mankind. He has touched us ever so lightly with profound effect. -Teresa #metamorphosis

Ruth 2:19-3:13 (ESV)*

¹⁹ And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” ²⁰ And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” ²¹ And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” ²² And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” ²³ So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

3 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? ² Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.³ Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” ⁵ And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

⁶ So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.⁷ And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. ⁸ At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! ⁹ He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings^[c] over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” ¹⁰ And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. ¹² And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. ¹³ Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

Footnotes

1. Ruth 2:7 Compare Septuagint, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain
2. Ruth 2:17 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
3. Ruth 3:9 Compare 2:12; the word for wings can also mean corners of a garment
4. Ruth 4:4 Hebrew he
5. Ruth 4:5 Masoretic Text you also buy it from Ruth

*theOneYearBibleonline

…repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations…Luke 24:47

On the road to Emmaus, Cleopas and his companion were taken by surprise. Their LORD walked with them for seven miles and after all their conversation, they did not recognize his resurrected body.

During the breaking of bread, Jesus opened their eyes and it all became clear. It became evident to them that throughout the scriptures it was prophesied. Jesus had come to their specific time and place to suffer, to die, to be resurrected and to ascend into heaven before their very eyes. #waitforthepromise

While spending time at the lake today, my son and I put together an alpine sunshade. The breeze was beautiful, making the lightweight material respond with soft fluttering. At one point, I positioned my phone to capture a picture of a mist “rainbow” and realized that God was shining down on us. #promiserealized

Although many times our eyes get distracted by frustrating events of our day, discouraged by the ways of our world, He can capture our attention like none other. #light #life

Not only do His words shed light on confusion but they bring life to our hearts. #didnotourheartsburnwithinus

Perfect timing means someday all nations will have had an opportunity to respond with repentance in order to receive His amazing forgiveness. Lord, we trust your promises. Help us to live in your light. -Teresa #witnessprotection=God’spromiseuponyou #HolySpiritpower

Luke 24:13-53English Standard Version *

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.²² Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,²³ and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” ²⁵ And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

²⁸ So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,²⁹ but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” ³³ And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, ³⁴ saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

³⁶ As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish,^{[b] 43} and he took it and ate before them.

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for^[c] the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension

⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple blessing God.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Luke 24:13 Greek sixty stadia; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters
2. Luke 24:42 Some manuscripts add and some honeycomb
3. Luke 24:47 Some manuscripts and

*One Year Bible Online

When Joshua died, he left a legacy of leadership, which carried on to the nation of Israel through those he had known and worked with.

How often do we meet someone whose life is so rock solid that after being around them we are changed for our entire lifetime?

Joshua influenced the children of Jacob (Israel) to continue following God (YHWH). They set up a stone at Shechem to remind them what their mouths professed (to only follow God).

Those who did not want to follow God’s way were free to leave. #freewill The nation remained as one in their commitment to God as long as Joshua’s legacy was alive.

While I live, I want to also take a stand to live as a person of the book (God’s word). Since I have been touched by the “word” of God (Jesus Christ the Lord), I have the desire to emulate Him throughout my lifetime.

This week in particular, I am moved by the power of God as I reminisce about the life and death of a co-worker who came to Christ on her deathbed.

Her conversion happened on 4/21 and every year I pray for her daughter and grandchildren to also know this security of the Savior’s love for them.

Our inheritance may seem a long way off but remember that the legacy we live out for others to see may be the most influential part of eternity. -Teresa #kindnessislouderthanwords

John 1:1-14 (NET)

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it. 6
A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children 13 – children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God. 14
Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory – the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.

Joshua 24:25-33 ESV)

²⁵ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem.

²⁶ And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. ²⁷ And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” ²⁸ So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.

Joshua’s Death and Burial

²⁹ After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being 110 years old.³⁰ And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.

³¹ Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel.

³² As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money.^[c] It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.

³³ And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Joshua 24:2 Hebrew the River
2. Joshua 24:3 That is, the Euphrates; also verses 14, 15
3. Joshua 24:32 Hebrew for a hundred qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value

Jesus was blessing the people with healings and teachings that were amazing. The Pharisees, however, could not see the “God” component but instead asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come.

Why couldn’t they observe it? What kept it hidden from them? Was it their unwillingness to believe? Hardening of the heart can be a fatal medical condition but even more so a fatal spiritual condition.

We watched the intense true story last night, On a Wing and a Prayer. It made me ask, “to what extent will God pursue us until we truly believe His purpose for our lives?”

Although God’s discipline seems harsh in the moment we must keep in mind that He disciplines us for our good. By exercising our faith in the Savior, we will be ready for the revelation of the Son of Man. How then should we live? #God’spurpose

Open my eyes, Lord. I want to see Jesus.

When I focus on self’s accomplishment (aka -for me it is-meeting goals) my eyes are blinded to God’s merciful discipline (aka allowing me to pursue His values- maybe even taking better care of myself). #detour

I can see those things in my journey that I perceived as defeat were actually His discipline, allowing me time to be devoted to God’s purpose. It is not so much a ‘holier than thou’ mentality but moreso a ‘posture of surrender’.

His purpose then re-appears like a majestic mountain, always there and never changing. I failed to see it was there when shrouded by the fog of society’s illusions and my ambition. #beauty

By losing our life, we actually keep it. In other words trust that God’s word (the Bible) is true. When a seed is planted in the ground it dies, the new plant grows and spreads because the seed was willing to give up itself.- Teresa #alltoJesusIsurrender #Noah’sarkwasbuiltinfaith

Luke 17:20-37 (ESV)

The Coming of the Kingdom

²⁰ Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, ²¹ nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”^[c]

²² And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. ²³ And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. ²⁴ For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.^{[d] 25} But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. ²⁶ Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.²⁷ They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, ²⁹ but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— ³⁰ so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. ³¹ On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. ³² Remember Lot’s wife. ³³ Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. ³⁴ I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. ³⁵ There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”^{[e] 37} And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse^[f] is, there the vultures^[g] will gather.”Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Luke 17:12 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
2. Luke 17:19 Or has saved you
3. Luke 17:21 Or within you, or within your grasp
4. Luke 17:24 Some manuscripts omit in his day
5. Luke 17:35 Some manuscripts add verse 36: Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left
6. Luke 17:37 Greek body
7. Luke 17:37 Or eagles

I had an honest question this morning…”Do you think about God more now, since we are older (and wiser)?”

My sage conversation partner replied thoughtfully and I was stunned to realize how much time is spent thinking about, praising and sharing our problems with….the LORD.

If it represents how ready we are for His return, then that’s a good thing (see the passage below). However, I suddenly thought…we are like a weathered old Eucalyptus tree. The young saplings would not have the capacity to take on the storms of life, if they were not surrounded by the others.

So although the real estate in our mind remains about the same regarding how much time is taken up by our great God (passionate for Him), we should now have more of an impact. This may be the difference of how we think of others. Certainly our influence has spread to children, grandchildren, parents and even those who fellowship with us from different parts of the world.

As an old tree, it may not be as flexible or able to change its shape but the tap root has gone deep and the lateral roots have intertwined with the other trees for more stability. We can be part of the root system surrounding the young grove of new believers. #Jesus-revolution #ChuckSmith

Being ready involves a sold-out mindset but also requires taking action steps toward preparing for our Lord’s coming. I want to always be ready and encourage others to receive Him.- Teresa #whetheryoungoroldkeepyourmindonHim #revival

Luke 12:35-59English Standard Version

You Must Be Ready

³⁵ “Stay dressed for action^[a] and keep your lamps, ³⁶ and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. ³⁷ Blessed are those servants^[b] whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. ³⁸ If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! ³⁹ But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he^[c] would not have left his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

⁴¹ Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” ⁴² And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant^[d] whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. ⁴⁷ And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. ⁴⁸ But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

During my birthday get-away, we enjoyed relaxation laced with love and vitality, new understanding and amazing discoveries.

Part of relaxing for me is healthy habits, following the routine frees my mind to discover new insights. In this Psalm, the writer is faced with struggling to understand and came to a full comprehension only after he repented of his short-sightedness during his “time away” at the sanctuary of the Lord.

Our society can fool us into thinking arrogance and riches are the way to “make it”. The way to truly arrive is a paradox however. A mixture of trusting God’s provision (not our own) and keeping our eyes on Him as refuge (not on arrogant puffs of men, strutting around and spouting off).

An important insight is that whatever has held me hostage in the past no longer has power over me. (Unless I allow it to)…for example, self-doubt has been a recurring nemesis. Instead, God-confidence would grant me victory (aka seeing myself as the Father sees me).

In order to draw on God as the strength of my heart, He must be my portion forever. A portion or inheritance in the ancient Hebrew culture had everything to do with land and provision.

The portion for believers under the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31) is our spiritual inheritance through the Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. God adopts us as sons and daughters into His glorious family and the kingdom of light and life, the moment we believe in His Son.

Certainly earthly land and provision are important and we work hard toward that end. More significant, however, is how we arrive into our spiritual abode. If it’s through His refuge and protection, then we are truly blessed. If it’s through wily coyote schemes full of arrogance and deception, then we are headed to sure destruction.

Finally, to separate the earthly from the heavenly is impossible. For how we live our earthly lives directly translates into our heavenly calling (to trust Him and His ways). #evenwhenpainful

Can one who builds a house carry on without the proper materials? Similarly, can we who desire a heavenly home build with only (man made) useless hay and stubble? No, we need the foundation to last and for that- drawing close to God will be our rock (solid and sure).

When I saw all the well cared for dogs in the town this week, I understood the good hearts of the people near our vacation place. When God sees our choice of caring for those around us, He proudly identifies that our hearts are His. – Teresa #God’sglory #reachingheaven #onmyknees #loveyourenemies #prayforthosewhodespitefullyuseyou

Psalm 73:1-28 (ESV) (bold added for emphasis)

A Psalm of Asaph

73 Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
² But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
³ For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For they have no pangs until death;
their bodies are fat and sleek.
⁵ They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
⁶ Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them as a garment.
⁷ Their eyes swell out through fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
⁸ They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
⁹ They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongue struts through the earth.
¹⁰ Therefore his people turn back to them,
and find no fault in them.^[a]
11 And they say, “How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
¹² Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
¹³ All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
¹⁴ For all the day long I have been stricken
and rebuked every morning.
¹⁵ If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

¹⁶ But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
¹⁷ until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.

¹⁸ Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
¹⁹ How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!
²⁰ Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
²¹ When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
²² I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.

²³ Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength^[b] of my heart and my portion forever.

²⁷ For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
²⁸ But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.

Footnotes

1. Psalm 73:10 Probable reading; Hebrew the waters of a full cup are drained by them
2. Psalm 73:26 Hebrew rock

The one in authority has only to give the command for the task to be accomplished.

Jesus, referring to himself as the prophetic Son of Man, claimed to have authority over spiritual sickness and human sickness. He demonstrated this authority when the paralytic’s sins were not only forgiven but when the man was given the ability to walk again. (Luke 5:24-26)

In this passage, the centurion trusted Jesus’ word and position of divine authority to command his servant’s healing. As believed, the servant was healed.

How often do I “hope” that God will meet the need? How often do I “know” that through the struggle, He will see me through? How often is my faith in the ONE who holds all authority?

The centurion’s great faith is what Jesus marveled at. It wasn’t that a Roman would choose to embrace the Messiah (a Jewish concept), but that this man knew what authority meant and humbled himself under Jesus, the king of the Jews.

I’ve struggled over the past two weeks with the loss of something I valued. In a sense, I’ve struggled with the thought of whether or not my “usefulness” has passed me by. The danger is in societal meanings where being “useful” means being “worthwhile”.

God is helping me see it differently. It is not my “usefulness” that makes me valuable or worth spending time with (like society’s value system). It is my relationship with God.

Certainly, I want to keep growing as an individual and doing the things that my family needs. On the other hand, I can also accept the fact that without any “service”, I am still worthwhile. Just as the unborn child is worthwhile along with the elderly patient who may sit alone in a long term care home. In essence, being human makes us all important. God’s creation is all worthwhile.

Praying in faith means understanding who holds the spiritual authority over tangible objects/relationships. It is not society’s wealth or our own cleverness. Authority is held by Jesus Christ, the Lord.

He can heal us spiritually and physically. We don’t understand how the spiritual dimension intersects our limited place in time and space, but we do see the effects of this unknown dimension at work in God’s creation.

Lord, will you say the Word? “Come and Heal” seems too presumptuous as you have all authority. Who am I to even speak my request with the Lord, the One who gives life and life eternal. -Teresa #yetHeinvitesme #Cometome

Luke 7:1-10 (ESV)

7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.² Now a centurion had a servant^[b] who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. ³ When the centurion^[c] heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, ⁵ for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” ⁶ And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. ⁷ Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. ⁸ For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ⁹ When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”¹⁰ And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

Footnotes

1. Luke 6:48 Some manuscripts founded upon the rock
2. Luke 7:2 Or bondservant; also verses 3, 8, 10
3. Luke 7:3 Greek he

Although John the Baptist was imprisoned and ultimately beheaded for “truth-telling”, he lived and died for his calling- that of clearly pointing the way to the Savior.

Jesus, when baptized by John, was affirmed by God himself. The father spoke from heaven identifying Jesus as His son. Not just “a” son but his beloved son.

The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. The trinity was fully present in this moment. One being or God, with three persons (the father, son and Holy Spirit) is a mystery called the Holy Trinity. Watch Nabeel Qureshi explain this so well. God’s character of power (omnipotence) and presence (omnipresence), truly knowing everything (omniscience) is why we have a Savior.

John the Baptist never confused his role (to call the people unto repentance) with what some thought of him (is he the Christ?). The Savior’s role was prophesied as the anointed one, Christ or Messiah and was at a much higher level. (John 1:23 ESV) John said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

When our kids were young, I would oftentimes start bedtime prayers with, “Dear Father” and end, saying “in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior.” I felt the conversational tone with the Father expressed how grateful we were for the tremendous gift He gave. (John 3:16)

God’s beloved son has became Lord of all by conquering sin’s curse. Death no longer has the same sting (eternal separation).

This is truth-telling at its best. – Teresa #fireburnsupthechaff #winnowingforkgathersin

Luke 3:15-22(ESV)

¹⁵ As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, ¹⁶ John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

¹⁸ So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, ²⁰ added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

²¹ Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;^[c] with you I am well pleased.”^[d]Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Luke 3:4 Or crying, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord
2. Luke 3:11 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
3. Luke 3:22 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved
4. Luke 3:22 Some manuscripts beloved Son; today I have begotten you

Pilate was instrumental in Christ’s death and burial. As the Roman leader overseeing the rule of the people, Pilate understood the deception (caused by envy) and yet played along with the political process. #arroganceofman #fauxpower

The beatings and scornful remarks that Christ endured were from 600 men, trained in brutality. At the crucifixion site, the centurion who watched Jesus die, testified that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Who else would have had the ability to endure this treatment, forgive their enemies and still accomplish what he set out to do-to literally pay sin’s penalty for the whole world.

God the Father was instrumental in Christ’s resurrection. He raised him up in power.

(Ephesians 1:1-15 NET, emphasis added) For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him, 18 – since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened – so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. 20 This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms 21 far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things.23 Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

I listened to an “older” recorded clip by Billy Graham Where did God come from? this week asking if we understood how God came into existence. He emphasized that we don’t know but we still place our faith in Him. The Bible urges us to take a step of faith in order to be transferred from death to life. (Romans 6:23)

Changed lives are the biggest witness to the power of Christ (watch Jesus Revolution). It will change your life today! -Teresa #sinsforgiven #relationshipwithGod #authenticpower

Mark 15:1-47 (ESV) emphasis added

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

15 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. ² And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” ³ And the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” ^{5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed}.

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

⁶ Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. ⁷ And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas.⁸ And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. ⁹ And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.¹² And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”¹³ And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” ¹⁴ And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” ¹⁵ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged^[a] Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked

¹⁶ And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters),^[b] and they called together the whole battalion.^{[c] 17} And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. ¹⁸ And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”¹⁹ And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. ²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

²¹ And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.²² And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). ²³ And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. ²⁵ And it was the third hour^[d] when they crucified him. ²⁶ And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” ²⁷ And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.^[e]29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,³⁰ save yourself, and come down from the cross!”³¹ So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. ³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

The Death of Jesus

³³ And when the sixth hour^[f] had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.^[g]34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”³⁵ And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” ³⁶ And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” ³⁷ And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.³⁸ And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. ³⁹ And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he^[h]breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son^[i] of God!”

⁴⁰ There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹ When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

Jesus Is Buried

⁴² And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died.^[j] And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. ⁴⁵ And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. ⁴⁶ And Joseph^[k] bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Mark 15:15 A Roman judicial penalty, consisting of a severe beating with a multi-lashed whip containing embedded pieces of bone and metal
2. Mark 15:16 Greek the praetorium
3. Mark 15:16 Greek cohort; a tenth of a Roman legion, usually about 600 men
4. Mark 15:25 That is, 9 a.m.
5. Mark 15:27 Some manuscripts insert verse 28: And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “He was numbered with the transgressors”
6. Mark 15:33 That is, noon
7. Mark 15:33 That is, 3 p.m.
8. Mark 15:39 Some manuscripts insert cried out and
9. Mark 15:39 Or a son
10. Mark 15:44 Or Pilate wondered whether he had already died
11. Mark 15:46 Greek he

God’s analogy of choosing the nation of Israel is as beautiful and nurturing as a sommelier developing their vineyard.

Unfortunately, the word picture ends up with the heartbreaking reality of those running the operation having no respect for the owner’s son (aka God’s Son, Jesus Christ the Lord).

God’s purpose, however, was not thwarted as the good news of the gospel came through the facts of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. More precisely, this good news will restore the nation of Israel to God’s kingdom as well, in His perfect time.

In the meantime, we can rejoice in the opportunity to marvel at God’s tremendous gift to the Gentile world, bringing peace with God to all peoples, tribes, tongues and nations.

Finally, don’t stress over those who try to use hypocrisy to “catch you”. In the end, God’s truth will reign supreme.

When I give my life to Him, He can “redeem” or make good come out of every negative experience.- Teresa #Godunderstands #acquaintedwithgrief #Is53:3

Mark 12:1-17 (ESV)

The Parable of the Tenants

12 And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. ² When the season came, he sent a servant^[a] to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. ³ And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. ⁵ And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed.⁶ He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’⁷ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ⁸ And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. ⁹ What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you not read this Scripture:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;^[b]
11 this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

¹² And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

¹³ And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk.¹⁴ And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances,^[c] but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” ¹⁵ But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius^[d] and let me look at it.”¹⁶ And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

Footnotes

1. Mark 12:2 Or bondservant; also verse 4
2. Mark 12:10 Greek the head of the corner
3. Mark 12:14 Greek you do not look at people’s faces
4. Mark 12:15 A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer