I wanted to blog a follow-up to yesterday’s thoughts.

Really, we were so surprised to see the “sentinel” (hawk) show up about halfway through our walk today.

We were talking about some of the feedback received yesterday and prayed for those reading, when “boom” there he was! He let us take his photograph. Just as quickly as he came, he silently left.

God does encourage us with the most unusual moments. It’s a wonderful time to give thanks or sing some praise.

Even at church, there were about 5 spontaneous baptisms after the first service. Our daughter was at the second service and she said about half the church went up to get baptized. What a mighty movement of God’s Spirit.- Teresa #grateful

While we walked the track (a few weeks ago), I noticed this large bird. It did not flinch when we rounded the far side.

Even while at Lake Tahoe the last two summers, whenever I saw the crows 🐦‍⬛ trying to pull a fast one…the hawk seemed to appear out of nowhere and put them back “in line”.

Dirty birds are my symbolism for raucous people (trying to stir the pot) because they have no good intention. The sentinel keeps everyone from self-destruction.

This passage reminds me of the important role of God’s word to us. It not only helps us to understand God’s ways but gives us life itself. (the word of God is another name for Christ Jesus our Lord -see John 1: 1-5).

My personal sentinel is God’s word, The Holy Bible. At 9 years old, our pastor challenged us to read it daily (even if it was only for 5 minutes). His rationale was: “it could only benefit your life so why wouldn’t you?” That made sense to me, so I began this lifelong habit.

As much as reading the Bible has only benefited my life (53 years later), the Word of God (Christ Jesus the Lord) has changed my life.

This stake in the ground, (of taking myself off the throne and asking Him to reign there) was only made possible through the gift of His grace.

He offers it to everyone but intentionally many have rejected it. Rejecting His gift is the one thing that keeps us from a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father (aka hell, which is defined by… separation from God).

God’s Son, our Savior, is the hope of the world. The Bible points to it throughout its entirety. Today, if you want to place a stake in the ground that will stand guard over your life then make a commitment to the Word of God that will benefit/change you from the inside out.

Restoration of a relationship with our Heavenly Father keeps us from self-destruction and turns us toward God’s ways, embracing His love for the world. -Teresa ❤️

Psalm 119:33-48English Standard Version

He

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
    and I will keep it to the end.^[a]
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
    and observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments,
    for I delight in it.
³⁶ Incline my heart to your testimonies,
    and not to selfish gain!
³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
    and give me life in your ways.
³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise,
    that you may be feared.
³⁹ Turn away the reproach that I dread,
    for your rules are good.
⁴⁰ Behold, I long for your precepts;
    in your righteousness give me life!

John 1:1-5 (ESV)

The Word Became Flesh

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:12

[12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

We actually had frost on the rooftops this morning! A real dip in temperature. It was in the 30’s.

The seasons come and go according to God’s faithfulness but it’s His steadfast love that allows me to give glory today.

Consider this passage from Romans:

Romans 6:9-11 (ESV)

[9] We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. [10] For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. [11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

When I choose this way of living, I am aware of God’s steadfast love for me and constrained to give glory to God.

Instead of allowing the “rain and clouds” of our world to get me down, I can look heavenwards at the promise, aka “rainbow”.

God promised to be our help and shield when we fear Him and trust Him.

He gave us His Son to be our Savior. He made a way for us to experience God’s steadfast love at every moment of every day. Why do we try to find it in our own way?

Do you know this as true? You are the object of His great love!! -Teresa ❤️#help #shield #inChristJesus #forGod’s glory

Psalm 115:1-11 (ESV)

To Your Name Give Glory

115 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

² Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
³ Our God is in the heavens;
    he does all that he pleases.

⁴ Their idols are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but do not speak;
    eyes, but do not see.
⁶ They have ears, but do not hear;
    noses, but do not smell.
⁷ They have hands, but do not feel;
    feet, but do not walk;
    and they do not make a sound in their throat.
⁸ Those who make them become like them;
    so do all who trust in them.

⁹ O Israel,^[a] trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.
¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.
¹¹ You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.

Yes, it’s great to eat out with my husband. We have fun trying quality restaurants. The day after this, we ate at Seasons 52 in Sacramento (a farm to fork restaurant). Yum!

The passage below caught my eye because of the reference to “changing of the guard” so to speak.

In one instance, the finality of death brings about the reading of the will. #significant

Another illustration shows the importance of the initiation of the first covenant. #shedblood #forgivenessofsin

The most important illustration is referring to Christ Jesus the Lord who offered his own life for the mediation of the new covenant (prophesied in Jeremiah 31). #eternalinheritance

But, when is the torch actually passed on?

With the reading of the will, it gets passed on after the person who owns the assets has died.

With the first covenant, it was passed on after the people agreed to follow all that was written in the book of the law, followed by the sacrificial offering of calves and goats.

With the new covenant, it is received upon acknowledgement of God’s son as Savior. #Hisbloodshed #paidfortheguiltofoursin

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for making a way to partake of your eternal inheritance even while on earth. You planned well for your kingdom come and your will be done. -Teresa #trustingYou #resurrection

Hebrews 9:15-22 (ESV)

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^[d]16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.¹⁹ For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” ²¹ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. ²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Combining the message of God’s word with faith brings about rest for our souls.

We are resting this weekend in the Bay Area. There is something very refreshing about getting away from the daily routine for the purpose of resting our earthly bodies.

It usually takes us a good 20 minutes to accept this gift (which seems too good to be true)! Then, we are off and running with rich conversation, great food, etc. There is an ease and comfort, especially when we revisit familiar vacay spots.

This passage speaks about being known by God. Expressed with the phrase “no creature is hidden from his sight”, refers to the One to whom we must give an account.

There is an urgency for us not to harden our hearts. In fact, “today”, seems about the right time to allow the word of God to pierce us. #notlater

Some wounds require lancing to heal properly. Similarly, our spiritual lethargy may need to be drained of an infectious festering splinter or old numbed up scar.

In other words, rest is not indifference. On the contrary, rest must be entered actively. We have to first reach out for it, be united through the Holy Spirit when we obey it through faith.

By pursuing it in faith, we will successfully see God accomplish His purpose for us. The “gospel” means good news. – Teresa #rest #inChrist #forGodsglory

Hebrews 4: 1-13 (ESV)

4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. ² For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.^[a] 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”⁵ And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

⁶ Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, ⁷ again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, God^[b] would not have spoken of another day later on. ⁹ So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, ¹⁰ for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

¹¹ Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Teaching is a wonderful gift. Those who teach as a professional (or even homeschool) should be most honored. They establish our next generation like this very old tree, resistant to drought and disease.

Paul started the letter to Titus with an exhortation to silence “empty talkers and deceivers.” No doubt, there were some in the early church who failed to produce the fruit of a good life and instead wanted to prey on others (those with generous hearts) to their own advantage. #shamefulgain

While the majority of people in the church developed themselves and their walk with God to bless others, there were a few (even today) who look for the silver spoon.

How can we have discernment between those who are working their hearts out and those who are “working the crowd?”

I believe it used to be much easier to know people’s character. In today’s culture of mega-churches, we are at a disadvantage and must trust those in leadership. Can we know that those in charge are truly “practicing” good character qualities?

As we walk by faith, the fruit of those around us can be recognized (or not). Most importantly, when we see the fruit of our lives blessing others with a desire for honest improvement, we are properly humbled.

See the passage from I Corinthians below. Surprisingly, God chooses “foolish” things. But they are only foolish in the eyes of our “worldly” economy. -Teresa

#JesusourSavior #Hisglory #shinesthrough #the-weak #valuabletoHim

Titus 1:10-16 (ESV)

¹⁰ For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.^[h]11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. ¹² One of the Cretans,^[i] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”^[j]13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. ¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

I Corinthians 1:24-31 (KJV)

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

During the huge waves of a storm, who brings peace?

God is awesome, mighty and feared. His work brings awestruck wonder.

Yes, He is faithful!!

More than anything else, God’s faithfulness teaches us WHO we can trust.

My dad used to advise us, when we were kids, “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see!” (When it comes to mankind and the world)

Those things that God accomplishes, however, have always been nothing short of miraculous. #ChristJesusourbridegroom

People may fall short: companies fail employees, employees fail companies but what never fails is God’s faithfulness.

When my husband and I were engaged and planning our wedding, my dad was laid off (along with many other employees of the largest industry in our region).

Although my husband and I (as college students) had to pay for our wedding photographer, bouquets, invitations and clothes…our families and church community provided so much more toward our beautiful celebration. #food #wildlilacs #fountaincake #musicians #venue #rehearsaldinner #candidphotos #lovelygifts

We were blessed by all those who showed up from out of town, all the people who provided lodging for our guests (especially my mom who worked wonders) and the meaningful spiritual fellowship that occurred that weekend. #priceless- Teresa

Here are a few old photos/ memories

Psalm 89:5-9 (ESV)

⁵ Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
⁶ For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
    Who among the heavenly beings^[b] is like the Lord,
⁷ a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
    and awesome above all who are around him?
⁸ O Lord God of hosts,
    who is mighty as you are, O Lord,
    with your faithfulness all around you?
⁹ You rule the raging of the sea;
    when its waves rise, you still them.

During my time in MN, I was encouraged by the many prayers of family and friends. Not only was I juggling my own needs but also the physical and psychological needs of mom. Those who are caregivers understand the weight of wanting to deliver reasonably on “their wishes” but staying in our own lane of health (by not overdoing it).

In helping the weak, we can see our own weakness reflected. Patience is key! When the challenges begin to block God’s love in our hearts, we must “let go and let God” have His way.

It’s not easy to see our loved ones choose paths that are hard. On the other hand, God is still there in the midst of even that.

Taking it one step further (to those in the world), how can we seek to do good for those who dish out evil? It means we are not bound up by revenge. Rejoicing under dire circumstances means we are trusting the ONE to whom our ceaseless prayers are directed. #grateful

It’s not the circumstances we find ourselves in that teach about God’s love but our heart’s response to those circumstances.

By holding fast to those things that are good, we can discern truth from the deceiver’s flute trying desperately to allure us from it.

I am grateful for each of our children as they speak truth even when my ideals want to draw a bold line. My ideals try separating out what “should be” from my what “should not be”. #wealwaysdoithisway

Holding fast to good means that we are not blocking God from having space in our own hearts. – Teresa #Hiswayisbest

1 Thessalonians 5:4-20 (ESV)

¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,^[b] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. ¹⁵ See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

Paul struggles for the new believers to be rooted and grounded in the love of God.

Why is this the basis of our faith? Without Christ Jesus the Lord, we would have no truly accurate picture of God’s love on earth.

Every other man, woman or child gives a flawed performance.

Truly, we have been forgiven but have we forgotten the sinful nature by refusing to cling to it?

Freedom means literally to be set free. That must occur at the deepest level of our identity.

I’ve been enjoying the Power of the Rings season 2 this month. As a fan of Tolkien, I find those who produced this series have done a great job (although a bit gory at times).

The symbolic “Lord” of the Rings, truly is a deceiver. How often do we fall prey to the lies? Even the youngest, the strongest and the bravest learned through the struggle that it was worthwhile to cling to the truth.

“God loves you” is the truth! Don’t forget His amazing gift to mankind. -Teresa

Colossians 2:1-6 (ESV)

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Alive in Christ

⁶ Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Troublemakers earn their reputation because they are no longer riding the fence. They actually jumped over, in order to conjure up evil plans.

Those riding the fence have a limited life. The act of balancing on a 1/2-inch surface takes all their energy.

How wonderful for those who choose the side of love, caring for themselves and others with wisdom.

I took a leadership class in seminary that emphasized the importance of leading our own self first by following God’s wisdom. Then, as we are entrusted with children, responsibility over others, even entrusted with our spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, only then can we use it for good (not evil).

Don’t be a troublemaker. Don’t even get the reputation of one (by instigating evil plans with others.)

Instead, stay on the side of God’s wisdom, goodness and most of all…love ❤️. -Teresa

#everyleadermustfirstlearntofollowtrue❤️

Proverbs 24:8New Living Translation

⁸ A person who plans evil
    will get a reputation as a troublemaker.

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