When you are loved and love others (because He first loved us), I propose that healing begins. The sermon that God put on my heart for the church in Uganda was about blessings and wounds from our ancestors. By His stripes we can be healed from sin sickness. By trusting Jesus Christ in faith, we can leave our “ancestral father’s” house to have a new identity. Forgiving can only happen when we understand how much we have been forgiven. In the midst of sharing, I realized that God was healing my heart by allowing me to authentically express my struggle with those whose hearts had been prepared for this message. They understood and identified, embraced me in love in spite of my differences. My personal experience of healing in Uganda made it the trip of a lifetime! – Teresa

1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sisteris a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Isaiah 53:5,6 (NIV)

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

  he was crushed for our iniquities;

 the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

  and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

  each of us has turned to our own way;

 and the Lord has laid on him

  the iniquity of us all.

Psalm 45: 10,11 (NIV)

10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:

  Forget your people and your father’s house.

11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;

honor him, for he is your lord.

• Although the country of Uganda is desperately poor, their faith is unstoppable.
• They live together in community with great joy and participation.
• Even the smallest of them has a job to do (obeying their parents or aunties or grandparents).
• They share everything (one bite or one sip with friends is better than the whole thing alone) and they show respect and honor to those older than they are.
• As they rebuild their country from years of being under a ruthless dictatorship, they have tremendous hope in the next generation rising. #passingonthetorchofaith #bringingeducation

• Uganda is known as the pearl of Africa. It’s because the people here are soooo precious.
• I have smiled, danced, worshipped and touched more people in the past two weeks than I have in the past year combined.
• Although this is a physically exhausting climate, it is spiritually invigorating.
• Thanks, everyone, for the prayers and for the community support.
• I can’t wait to share with you bits and pieces in the next few day!
• Meeting my sponsored student was the highlight!! He captured my heart and touched my soul.

We spent 16 hours in close quarters on Emirates airlines- beautiful 2 level plane! Thanks for your prayers as I had a few health issues the night before departure!! Thanks to KP, I had meds started and toted along with 2 L of water. We are now experiencing Dubai after our flight (since the hotel reservation fell through)- beach at night, marina mall at midnight….lounging in the airport for tomorrow’s flight to Uganda. Miracles are already happening (like a team member forgetting their passport in a taxi and still able to locate the right driver amidst the crazy traffic). Trusting Him for all we need. – Teresa

#travellingwithmillenialsgenz #Lordhelpmestayup!

I found a prayer journal today from last March when I was seriously praying about a trip to Uganda. Every “requirement” that I asked God for has been fulfilled. Along the way, I forgot what I asked for but God remembered and is blessing me. Pray for this young student to be blessed as well!www.facebook.com/1224903919/posts/10218437544309641

It is interesting to note that in verse 9, the Psalmist denotes the idea of being covered by God (in the Hebrew). This passage was part of my memory verse challenge in 2012. Everyday, as I walked from my car to the hospital and watched the sun rise, I would repeat David’s inspired words. Even now, I find so much comfort from these words. As I head to Uganda in three days, I’m praying for God’s covering or refuge from my own self doubts and whatever fiery darts Satan has in store. Please pray with me for the city of Kampala. – Teresa #runningtoYou #thelifterofmyhead #tradingsorrowandshameforthejoyoftheLord

Psalm 143: 8-12 (ESV)

8

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,

for in you I trust.

Make me know the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul.

9

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!

I have fled to you for refuge.[a]

10

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God!

Let your good Spirit lead me

on level ground!

11

For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!

In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!

12

And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,

and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,

for I am your servant.

Footnotes:

a Psalm 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered

As Zerubbabel was re-building the temple, (although not as magnificent as Solomon’s temple), he was empowered for this great task by God’s Spirit. According to Matthew Henry, Jesus is our Zerubbabel in building His church. No mountain of man-made opposition will stand in the way. The grace of God is a powerful tool to tear down mountains of unbelief #notgoodenough. It heals our ancestoral wounds and binds us up with the balm of Gilead. – Teresa #yourlovesatisfies#awakenedtoyourperspective #letyourpowerfulSpiritflowoutofclayvessels

Zechariah 4:6,7 (ESV)

6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

In the day of battle, David trusted that God had his head “covered”. Priscilla Shirer shared a delightful devotional reminder on one of her teaching CD’s… when the crows are dive bombing you on the running trail of life, just raise a tree branch over your head!! Jesus is our protection from attack and brings a new identity to our life in the spiritual realm (the crows no longer see us but Him). When you need protection, raise up His provision for you. – Teresa #thehelmetofsalvation #Hewasraisedonatree #mydebtpaid #deliverancefromshame

Psalm 140: 1-8 (ESV)

Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;

preserve me from violent men,

2

who plan evil things in their heart

and stir up wars continually.

3

They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,

and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

4

Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;

preserve me from violent men,

who have planned to trip up my feet.

5

The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,

and with cords they have spread a net;[a]

beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah

6

I say to the Lord, You are my God;

give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!

7

O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,

you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;

do not further their[b] evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

Zechariah 1:7-11 (ESV)

A Vision of a Horseman

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, 8 “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 9 Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ 10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’ 11 And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’

Those who are born again know that Jesus has made a highway to Zion- a way to the Father through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. The trinity is the mystery of One God (or being) with three persons. Nabeel Qureshi wrote about this from a Muslim perspective in his book, “No God but One: Allah or Jesus“. The two passages below describe God’s joy at the people of earth coming to Him. The difficulties of our earthly existence cannot compare to the powerful sweep of love that quiets us when we are forgiven of our sin. The tears of injustice are wiped away as we hear His loud exultation and singing rejoicing over the life of Christ moving in us. God does not forsake but fulfills the purpose He has for us. It is a time to sing! – Teresa #Hesingsoverus

Zechariah 1:14-20 (ESV)

14

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

15

The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;

he has cleared away your enemies.

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;

you shall never again fear evil.

16

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

“Fear not, O Zion;

let not your hands grow weak.

17

The Lord your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

18

I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,

so that you will no longer suffer reproach.[m]

19

Behold, at that time I will deal

with all your oppressors.

And I will save the lame

and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

and renown in all the earth.

20

At that time I will bring you in,

at the time when I gather you together;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes,” says the Lord.

Psalm 138: 4-8 (ESV)

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,

for they have heard the words of your mouth,

5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

for great is the glory of the Lord.

6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,

but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

and your right hand delivers me.

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.

God’s salvation brings us out of the depths of selfishness into a place of beauty. When our own bitterness keeps us from seeing opposing views, we must trust God to resurrect us in Christ’s power. Jonah eperienced God’s salvation from the root of bitterness in his heart. Those Assyrians from Ninevah were viscious and had done countless evils to the Jewish nation. Why would Jonah want them to experience God’s mercy? Only by experiencing God’s heart of mercy for himself was Jonah able to extend this grace to his enemies. – Teresa

Jonah 2: 2-9 (ESV)

2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,

and he answered me;

out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

and you heard my voice.

3

For you cast me into the deep,

into the heart of the seas,

and the flood surrounded me;

all your waves and your billows

passed over me.

4

Then I said, ‘I am driven away

from your sight;

yet I shall again look

upon your holy temple.’

5

The waters closed in over me to take my life;

the deep surrounded me;

weeds were wrapped about my head

6

at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land

whose bars closed upon me forever;

yet you brought up my life from the pit,

O Lord my God.

7

When my life was fainting away,

I remembered the Lord,

and my prayer came to you,

into your holy temple.

8

Those who pay regard to vain idols

forsake their hope of steadfast love.

9

But I with the voice of thanksgiving

will sacrifice to you;

what I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.