Lembert Dome is a welcome sight for hikers coming out of the back country. There are times when our psyche is saturated with adjusting to shifting trends/mores of our culture. We can always look to God and His word to provide direction and solid ground. As refreshing as the sight of the Dome is to hikers, God’s word is to those who are weary. – Teresa #God’speaceamidsthestorm

Psalm 56: 3,4 ( ESV)

3 

When I am afraid,

    I put my trust in you.

4 

In God, whose word I praise,

    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

    What can flesh do to me?

A sacrifice of praise and worship flows from those whose hope is in God. David lived on the run, being hunted down by King Saul and associates. In time, his own elevation to king would not change David’s passion for worship. Whether in a high place or lowly, we can worship-thankful for God’s mercy and grace. When our teacher (Rabboni) and Lord (Jesus Christ) washed the feet of his disciples, He displayed a new way to love one another. Not out of powerful status or position but out of pouring His life forth confidently in service to those called His. – Teresa #givingoutofullness #confidentinhisidentity #wearecalledsonsandaughtersofourfather #loveoneanother

Psalm 54: 4-7 (ESV)

Behold, God is my helper;

    the Lord is the upholder of my life.

5 

He will return the evil to my enemies;

    in your faithfulness put an end to them.

6 

With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;

    I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.

7 

For he has delivered me from every trouble,

    and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Who is it that you are close to? Is there a time when you were against all odds but someone was there to help pull you through? The book of Ecclesiastes, which speaks of “vanity”-or that which is short-lived, messages the importance of our hope for eternity. Phil Wickham’s song, Til I Found You, speaks of our need to have a relationship that will last or count for more than just a vain moment. When your relationship has Christ as the center, you have a threefold cord- not easily broken. – Teresa #toiltogether #staywarm #withstandopposition #rewardofwisdom #buildthehouse #filltheroomswithtreasure

Ecclesistes 4:6-9 (ESV)

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Proverbs 15:6 (NIV)

6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,

  but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

Proverbs 24:3,4 (NIV)

3 By wisdom a house is built,

  and through understanding it is established;

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled

  with rare and beautiful treasures.

When you wake up outdoors and see a new day beginning with the activity of many creatures, rejoice! It is through the beauty of creation that we understand God’s love. He is great and greatly to be praised. The one question you can ask about your life activity is: Is it righteous? Choosing the path that is straight will make a bigger mark on your community than choosing what is trending or popular for the hour. Only through our Creator God do we have an opportunity to be righteous. – Teresa #trendsofhistorydistractusfromrealpurpose #ScrewtapeLettersbyCSLewis #readch.25 #loonsmateforlife

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Footnotes:

a 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature

b 2 Corinthians 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Have you ever developed a dream board with images of what it is you’re working toward? By adopting this practice, I have prioritized my medical weight management goals to be in the forefront of my vision. No matter what the ups and downs of the metrics are, I am seeing the slow transformation of building lean muscle and strength- one day at a time. In this passage, Paul expresses the miracle of our resurrection body. When we visualize the promise of being “in Christ” and allowing His resurrection power to transform us, we are filled with new determination to live out verse 58. – Teresa #steadfast #immoveable #alwaysaboundingintheworkoftheLord #knowingthatourlaborisnotinvain #intheLord

I Corinthians 15: 35-58 (ESV)

The Resurrection Body

35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”;[b] the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall[c] also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Mystery and Victory

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 

“O death, where is your victory?

    O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Footnotes:

a 1 Corinthians 15:33 Probably from Menander’s comedy Thais

b 1 Corinthians 15:45 Greek a living soul

c 1 Corinthians 15:49 Some manuscripts let us

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

The Father of lights bestows on us gifts in keeping with His unchanging nature (James 1:17). When Job’s gifts were taken away, he recognized their origin and worshiped God. Job recognized God’s position in the universe as source of unchanging, steadfast love. Job grieved and mourned his loss but was blameless in his theology. There was not a moment when Job would curse God although there was plenty of time when he struggled with his own painful existence. Was the testing of Job a lesson for all time? A timeless truth about God’s understanding of how each of us respond to life’s trials? – Teresa #trustHim #creatorGod#morethanenough #Godssteadfastlovegivesbackabundantly #readch14ScrewtapelettersCSLewis

Job 1:20-22 (ESV)

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Thanks, Jessica, for this precious pic from your wedding! I am reminded of the importance of surrounding our lives with love. So many layers of His protection around our heart nurtures the seeds of righteousness. Out of the one, many! – Teresa #family,friends,community

Is 61:3

…and provide for those who grieve in Zion-

 to bestow on them a crown of beauty

  instead of ashes,

 the oil of joy

  instead of mourning,

 and a garment of praise

  instead of a spirit of despair.

 They will be called oaks of righteousness,

  a planting of the Lord

  for the display of his splendor.

Will we use this gift of life to thank Him? In a world where life is deemed casual, we have this unique understanding of God the Father’s precious love toward us. At a wedding in Littleton, CO, I was struck by the extreme contrast of a high school with so much sadness (following the anti-Christ shooting many years ago) and the wedding venue with the joy of life being celebrated. The father of the flower girl seized the moment on the dance floor to swing her around and dance with skill and joy. The girl’s face was beaming. She was so proud of being in the loving presence of her father, with her beautiful wedding clothes on. She radiated her father’s glory. We too can radiate our Father’s glory as we are clothed for the wedding of the lamb and fully enjoy the fellowship of the trinity. – Teresa #livegrateful

Psalm 30:8-12 (ESV)

8

To you, O Lord, I cry,

    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

9 

“What profit is there in my death,[d]

    if I go down to the pit?[e]

Will the dust praise you?

    Will it tell of your faithfulness?

10 

Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!

    O Lord, be my helper!”

11 

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

    you have loosed my sackcloth

    and clothed me with gladness,

12 

that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Holding on to friendship means we are exhibiting God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. In verse 14 below, God’s friendship is characterized by His desire to share with us His covenant. Our posture with God requires an awesome respect for who He is. He is willing to share with us His faithful covenant of love. Let’s keep our eyes on the LORD, who is the source of true friendship- Teresa #spaceneedle

Psalm 25 

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2 

O my God, in you I trust;

    let me not be put to shame;

    let not my enemies exult over me.

3 

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

    teach me your paths.

5 

Lead me in your truth and teach me,

    for you are the God of my salvation;

    for you I wait all the day long.

6 

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

    for they have been from of old.

7 

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

    according to your steadfast love remember me,

    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

8 

Good and upright is the Lord;

    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 

He leads the humble in what is right,

    and teaches the humble his way.

10 

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 

For your name’s sake, O Lord,

    pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12 

Who is the man who fears the Lord?

    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

13 

His soul shall abide in well-being,

    and his offspring shall inherit the land.

14 

The friendship[b] of the Lord is for those who fear him,

    and he makes known to them his covenant.

15 

My eyes are ever toward the Lord,

    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Footnotes:

a Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

b Psalm 25:14 Or The secret counsel

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Is it a fulfillment of prophecy, a blinding of their eyes by the evil one or the glory of man being more important than the glory of God? For various reasons, the people continued in unbelief despite numerous miracles (signs). The seventh sign (in the gospel written by John the Apostle), was bringing Lazarus back to life. Mary, Lazarus’s sister, poured a pint of ointment made from pure nard onto Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. What a beautiful expression understood by those who smelled the aroma as announcing the arrival of a king, “the King of the Jews”. During the triumphal entry, the people recognized His role and shouted Hosanna. To believe in Jesus as King means to believe in God the Father as the One who provided a way for us to be part of His heavenly family. Jesus is the light of the world, whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Jesus said these words while in the women’s court of the temple with all the candles burning along the wall perimeter. He provides visual examples of an eternal message. Just as YHWH guided and guarded the children of Israel with a pillar of fire while escaping from slavery in Egypt, Jesus is bringing us safely to eternal life (He rescues us from slavery to sin). – Teresa #KingoftheJewsisKINGOFTHEWHOLEWORLD #read”SitingathefeetofRabbiJesus” #bookbyAnnSpangler

John 12:36-50 (ESV)

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,

38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.

42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;

43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.

45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.

46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment-what to say and what to speak.

50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” – John 12:36-50