The gift I’m referring to must be received (John 1:12). The gift also requires a giver (John 3:16). The gift comes from someone very good (James 1: 17,18). Having this gift is more valuable than having power over evil spirits (Luke 10:20). As those who are in desperate spiritual need, we are extremely blessed to be included in Christ. – Teresa #writteninheaven

Luke 10: 17-20 (ESV)

The Return of the Seventy-Two

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Although the grass frozen by frost looks crunchy, I found that in California the grass may still be supple. The woman who honored Jesus with a foot bath of tears was known as a sinner. What Simon the Pharisee missed in his judgment of her actions (and Jesus’ willingness to accept them) was the difference between knowledge and love. Knowledge puffs up but love builds up. Before passing judgment, may we ask Lord for your discernment and love.- Teresa

#welcomingthetouchof”untouchables”

#thankfulthatHepursuedme

#honoringHimwhopaidmyhell

Luke 7: 36-50 (ESV)

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[a] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The Lord is a master of time. According to the author of Ecclesiastes, there is a time to be born, a time to be given in marriage, and a time to eventually die. The physician, Luke, portrays in this passage the bleakness of mourning as the man’s time for death had arrived. Jesus showed compassion to the widow who culturally had no means to care for her physical needs. Her only son was most likely the source of her livelihood. When Jesus told her, “do not weep”, he reminds all of us that there is hope in the midst of life’s adversity. – Teresa #resurrectionpower #faithwillmovethemountain #doitagainbyElevationworship

Luke 7:11-17 (ESV)

11 Soon afterward[a] he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus[b] gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

My husband read a book about space and the blessings of gravity. Not only does gravity keep pressure on our bones to prevent osteoporosis but it keeps liquids in a bowl or cup! One of my first classes in seminary was called creative Bible teaching. My sermon included a balloon and a rock. It reminded me of this passage. Things of the world will disappear. Lighter than air, they are not important. He will always be an important part of our existence, now and eternally. -Teresa

Psalm 62: 9, 10 (ESV)

9Those of low estate are but a breath;

those of high estate are a delusion;

in the balances they go up;

they are together lighter than a breath.

10 

Put no trust in extortion;

set no vain hopes on robbery;

if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

As skeptics, we ask for all the cupboard doors to be opened to examine the evidence. The angel Gabriel only opened one door for Zecharaiah, the fact that Elizabeth would bear a son who would be filled with the power and spirit of Elijah. John the Baptist was conceived in an atmosphere of mute skepticicism or should I say dumbfounded wonder? For Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, was sent to deliver this message of hope to one who didn’t see the story as we do (with 20/20 hindsight). Zechariah, without knowing how the prophecy would end, may not have believed Gabriel’s words but he did repent and rejoice at God’s plan that included his family. – Teresa #includedinkingdomwork

Luke 1:18-25 (ESV)

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

In our backyard, the Santa Rosa plum tree is blossoming. This new life points to a joyful hope of spring. When children are given the opportunity to trust in Jesus, their childlike faith amazes the most hardened skeptic. From their fresh perspective, we see hope of springtime and refreshment in our world. Kept away from the Savior, these same young lives will only mirror the hopelessness of a culture that is self- absorbed. – Teresa #cyberbullies vs. #unhinderedtrust #theirsisthekingdomofGod

Mark 10: 13-16 (ESV)

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

When Jacob had the dream of angels ascending and descending on the stairway to heaven at Bethel, he was in pursuit of a place to call home (Gen 28:17). His deceit had separated him from his birth family. When Jesus proclaimed to Nathanael (a pure Istraelite who harbored no deceit) that heaven would open and angels would be ascending and descending on the Son of Man, He was assuring this new believer of His provision for an eternal home (Jesus is the gate to heaven). Even those who act righteously through and through need a Savior.- Teresa #judgmentalattitude #LambofGod #Hetakesawaythesinoftheworld

John 1: 35-51 (ESV)

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,

36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” http://esv.to/John1.35-51

When we trust Creator God, we wait patiently for His deliverance. There are many proud falsehoods that seek our attention and allegiance but the Savior provides deliverance from our sinful nature. The requirement for burnt offerings and sin offerings was satisfied in the Son of Man, our suffering servant/substitute (see Is. 52 and 53). His declaration over us is that the Father’s love will joyfully provide eternal life for all. -Teresa #Youheardmyneed #Youdeliveredmefrombondage #mysoulwaitsfortheLORD

Psalm 40: 1-10 (ESV)

1.

I waited patiently for the Lord;

he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 

He drew me up from the pit of destruction,

out of the miry bog,

and set my feet upon a rock,

making my steps secure.

3 

He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear,

and put their trust in the Lord.

4

Blessed is the man who makes

the Lord his trust,

who does not turn to the proud,

to those who go astray after a lie!

5 

You have multiplied, O Lord my God,

your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;

none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,

yet they are more than can be told.

6 

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.[a]

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

7 

Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8 

I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

9 

I have told the glad news of deliverance[b]

in the great congregation;

behold, I have not restrained my lips,

as you know, O Lord.

10 

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;

I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness

from the great congregation.

There was none more willing than Jesus in obeying the Father’s will. Moses and the people of Israel responded to God’s radiant presence with extravagant offerings. Even David acknowledged a willing heart to worship God, resulting in the angel of the LORD encamping around him. Our willingness to respond to God’s promises can take different paths: the road of giving financially to His work, the climb of giving ourselves to our family to further His kingdom or the sacrifice of praise that brings about deliverance from the darkness of our personal struggles. Are we willing?- Teresa

Exodus 35: 20-23 (ESV)

20 Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats’ hair or tanned rams’ skins or goatskins brought them.

Matthew 27: 45-50 (ESV)

45 Now from the sixth hour[a] there was darkness over all the land[b] until the ninth hour.[c] 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

Psalm 34: 4-7 (ESV)

4I sought the Lord, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

5 

Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

6 

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 

The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Although we don’t escape sin’s effect, when God’s name is lavishly revealed and His loyal love understood personally, we are changed. Hiking this trail upwards, I felt the strain on my heart and lungs. Coming back down, I was nearly running with delight at how good my cardiovascular felt. Unfortunately, my knee bursa was not too happy with me. It made the climb up seem like paradise. In comparison with the slippery slope of our sin, the climb on the narrow way is extremely blessed. – Teresa #hardbutgood

Exodus 34: 5-7 (ESV)

5 Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh.[a] 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh![b] The Lord!

The God of compassion and mercy!

I am slow to anger

and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

7 

I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.[c]

I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.

But I do not excuse the guilty.

I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;

the entire family is affected—

even children in the third and fourth generations.”