How can I have God’s kingdom influence my life? Although it may seem small or insignificant, I can exercise my faith (aka trust) in God’s word.
As small as a mustard seed is, I am amazed at how pervasive it is. We drove to Morro Bay a while back and there was a mudslide that blocked the 2-lane highway ahead. Our 2-hour trip turned into 5 hours. I had way too much time to study the mustard in the fields, beautiful and bright. We also listened to a Louis L’Amour book on tape . The story describing the early American landscape only served to accent the beauty out the car window.
When I start feeling insecure about the kingdom of this world, I think of the mustard field. Just remember that the more seeds of faith that are planted in our lives, the more established God’s kingdom becomes.
– Teresa # beautifulandbright
Luke 13:18-21 (ESV)
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven
18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
Although it’s my birthday this week, I am reminded of a very sweet gift given to me when I was around 5 years old.
My mom prayed with me to receive Jesus as the Savior of my life. You may ask what does a child need to be saved from? They are usually pretty amazing and cute!!
So I’m told that I was an easy baby and loved to watch my older brother and sister. But on Easter Sunday, I was caught crawling across the room in order to uncover their hidden chocolate bunnies, and proceeded to devour them!! I was probably about one-year old.
Truly, I still love to eat sweets and if I wish to take something from another, may try to do it “under cover” or at least in my mind make up a good reason it should be mine. (Not outright stealing, only a good amount of rationalizing, especially re: left-over dessert)
Nevertheless, one thing I do know is that we are all born with a sin nature (thanks to Adam). Nobody is perfect!
The sweetest part of the Bible’s message is that God knows us. The curse of the law reminds us that we have a sin nature and no one can keep the law perfectly. (Romans 3:23)
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord, to take the penalty of the law’s death sentence for sin. (Romans 6:23) He also reminded us that this is a gift that must be received. (John 1:12)
Yes, being made right with God is beyond our human condition. But humbling ourselves to receive His gift is well within our ability. (Mark 10:15)
Happy spiritual Birthday to anyone who took a moment to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior today. You are now redeemed or bought back for God’s purpose.
-Teresa #kingdomofGod #Romans5:8 #newcreation
Deuteronomy 21: 22,23 (ESV)
A Man Hanged on a Tree Is Cursed
22 “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
Galations 3:13 (KJV)
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14
Mark 10:15 (NIV)
15 “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Our baptism is a witness to the One who is Lord of our hearts. Another witness is the passing of faith to our children and children’s children. Each child must make a personal decision but blessed are those who see/hear their parents and grandparents live out their faith.
Our promised land may look different than what the children of Israel experienced, but it is no less miraculous! #newheartoflesh #oldheartofstone
What makes the difference in our lives? Why are shy people willing to take a stand for Jesus Christ the LORD and feel a bit uncomfortable? #baptism
What is it that you cannot stop talking about? That is where your heart is! For out of the heart, our mouth speaks. The passionate heart wants others to know how wonderful “HE” is. #love #witness
By staying true to God Almighty, we acknowledge Jesus, His Son, who was sent to deliver us from the curse of sin. I cannot tell you how beautiful it is to know that when others speak anger, God speaks the language of love. #valueandworth
When we are passionately in love, we are jealous for that relationship. That is how much God loves you. – Teresa #staytrue #Heisjealousforyou
Deutoronomy 6: 4-9 (ESV)
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[g]5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
10 “And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build,11 and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, 12 then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 13 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— 15 for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
Matthew 15: 3-20 (NIV)
3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
16 “Are you still so dull?”Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts-murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
As we look for solid ground to stand on: remember not to look to a “living” person or thing (everything that has breath).
And definitely don’t look to a delusion of grandeur: everything that can change on a whim.
Instead, look to that which is steady and unchanging. When God weighs our worth, He reminds us that we are valuable. His glory and image is within each and every human creation. It is up to us to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ the LORD and to receive Him onto the throne of our lives.
Did we somehow forget who it is that makes us stand on solid ground? Is it easier to care more about what “people” say or what others portray as images of a high estate? #throwingawaymyheart
Steadfast love is a gift not easily replicated. It must be substantiated to be authentic. We can easily see through those who speak a bunch of BS, but God’s gift speaks louder than mere words. #Love
His supreme action was giving His Son for the sin of the world (John 3:16). This truth is greater than any other evidence of our worth.
If I haven’t floated away on a breeze of anonymity, then I am securely weighted with the valuable truth of God’s love for me. -Teresa
Imagine all the worries of your daily life as boulders piled into a dump truck. When you dump it and drive away there is a significant savings in fuel costs aka brain space, not to mention wear and tear on the suspension and tires aka health/wellness.
Last fall, my husband and I did a “clean- up” of our backyard. This involved shoveling the fallow soil from our old planter boxes into a U-haul trailer rental. We worked hard and our reward was to get the lower price (4-hour rate vs. 8-hour rate).
When we released the lever at the DUMP, we felt so much relief. Going back to weigh the vehicles, we were given a price for disposal and realized the extreme weight of our load- 3.6 TONS!
In this Psalm, King David is speaking about a very low time in His life. He experienced the betrayal of one of his closest advisers and friends (Ahithophel)- read 2 Samuel 15-17. This was weighty!!
I encountered this Psalm shortly after the untimely death of my younger brother. My question to God was: “Why, Lord, did my brother take his own life”?
Verse 22 jumped off the page as I realized that we are all at risk of being overburdened and failing to cast on God what is not ours to bear (i.e. it could be a spouse’s infidelity or other relationship, it could be financial troubles or pressures that may cause a downcast soul). The answer is to “cast our cares upon the LORD”. If He is able to sustain His creation daily in this galaxy- where everything is spinning delicately in space, then He is able to sustain us- who are part of His creation.
Our job is to keep casting every crushing burden onto His capable shoulders. Casting does not mean just thinking it through but applying an energetic, purposeful explosion of spiritual muscle contractions (faith). In other words, this burden does not belong here so let me exercise my faith in the Almighty. He is telling the truth about us through His Word so we are not doomed to be held captive by another’s lies.
I burned so many calories the day we shoveled 3.6 tons of dirt in 4 hours. We were intentional in our job and God provided the strength. Of course,physical activity is much better than stewing in emotional duress. Let this remind us to exercise our faith, not just ponder it.
Sometimes we need to trust God for an extra oomph of strength to take our next step of faith. He promises to sustain us! -Teresa #turningtoGodnotdealersofalsesolutions #trustintheONEwhokeepsmefromfalling
Psalm 55:22 (ESV)
22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Those who don’t believe in the resurrection are sad (“Sad you see”- as the old saying goes)!
In this passage, their lack of faith was evident as they focused on earthly semantics (whose wife will she be?) vs. the heart of God (love for each individual and a desire to be united with each one of them). #eternalife
Knowing the Scriptures and God’s power to change a heart imbues wisdom. Coming up out of deep darkness, the darkness of having a driving need to be right or to appear clever to others, only happens when we are in the presence of Christ Jesus our Lord. #humbledandunashamed
He is the Father’s evidence to us of a love that never ends. No wonder God (YHWH) introduced himself to Moses as “I am” (not I was).
Jesus (God’s Son) also introduced himself to the crowds with 7 different “I am” statements (see the gospel of John). #IAM #thewaythereuthandthelife #thegoodshepherd #thevine #thebreadoflife #thelightoftheworld #theresurrectionandthelife #thegateforthesheep
If Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the patriarchs of our faith, then my faith is in God’s resurrection powers. -Teresa #Godoftheliving
Mark 12:18-27 (ESV)
The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
18 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying,19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man[a] must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”
24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”
Remembering is helpful to a point. When it brings to light those who have served faithfully as parents, grandparents and great grandparents, we rejoice. When it brings us down and we can’t move forward, it is better to “pray through it” (like the Psalmist) or at times simply leave it behind.
The Psalmist (Sons of Korah) struggled with being physically removed from that which meant most to them. The songs of ascent (Psalms 120-134) referred to here were normally sung on the way to worship together as a community in Jerusalem. Yet, this description shows the Psalmist is in a very dry place (spiritually, like a famine). It appears the cause for the famine was a result of being physically displaced and much farther north in the country of Israel near the great Mount Hermon (described as Mt. Mizar- insignificant and small in comparison to the greatness of God’s presence -Kidner, p. 166). The Psalmist was separated from his spiritual community.
I was touched this week by the life and death of a beautiful saint from our home church in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Shirley Salo). Remembering when we lived near her family, I am filled with good thoughts of a time period when our lives revolved around a vibrant church community. As a child, all the adults (particularly Shirley) knew who I was (not something the children of the megachurches today can say). This makes me grateful and yet sad for my grandchildren.
Wherever we may be physically, God is near us. Nevertheless, no matter how beautiful the physical surroundings, our hearts can be even more irrestably drawn to a place in our memory where we once felt a sense of belonging.
His greatness breaks through the clouds of our doubt. His refreshment successfully satisfies us through memories or simply by moving on and seeing what we have learned through our history that will serve to nourish our future generations.
Even when others don’t “see” us or don’t seem to care, God’s presence is astounding. He is not only a rock but He is our salvation!- Teresa #hopeforfuturegenerations #fellowshipcanbe2ormoregatheredinHISname
Psalm 42:1-11 (ESV)
42 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?[b] 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation[c]6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. 8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
1. Derek Kidner, An Introduction and Commentary Psalms 1-72 (London: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 165-168.
One thing I realized about myself was that as much as I have a “Finnish” heritage and pride of “Sisu”, I crumble pretty fast when lies start to cloud my vision.
In the past, I did not see my heart as one where the birds devoured the Sower’s seed. There are certain challenges where I’m full of faith (such as resources, giving to others) but one place that hits me hard and fast is to be maligned or shown deceitful passive aggression from someone I felt to be my friend or loved one.
If my competetive conflict style has a chance to kick in, then I’m pretty sure that I fully forget God’s truths planted in the soil of my heart. “I am a dearly loved daughter” becomes “you will know why that was wrong in no uncertain terms because you just messed with the wrong person”. Precious Moments Teresa becomes Godzilla’s Grandma Teresa!
Breastplate of righteousness means their words or false accusations cannot permeate the righteousness of Christ’s work in my heart. In other words, let me check the primary source FIRST. Dear heavenly Father, is this from you? When delivered outside of love, I know it is not!
In that case, consider the secondary source of attack and who they may be influenced by. Don’t let the birds devour God’s Word meant for you. Instead, allow the seeds of His Word to go down deep and bring healing and wholeness. – Teresa #goodsoil #expectaharvest #trustandobey
Mark 4: 1-20 (ESV)
4 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Purpose of the Parables
10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that
“‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”
13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.[b]18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
When I watched the epic film, The Passion of theChrist (for the first time in 2004), I was overwhelmed with emotion. The line where Jesus tells Mary He is “making all things new” was strategically placed after He endured the scourging and mocking, and was being humiliated on the Via Dolorosa.
It made me realize how capable Jesus Christ the LORD was (is), to literally take on the penalty of sin’s curse for mankind (and continually intercede for us).
The moment in the film when my tears (more like sobs) started and would not stop was at the very end. The teardrop portrayed the Father’s grief, and made me remember that His most precious Son not only endured tremendous suffering but did it willingly for the sake of mankind.
Such love, such tenderness, such compassion from our Creator caused a ripple effect of love into my individual life. #sinoftheworld #debtpaid
I repented over and over telling God that I would no longer see my own “righteous works” as anything significant, it was only HIS provision that mattered and faith in Christ’s finished work. -Teresa
6He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without costfrom the spring of the water of life.
Matthew 27:24-31 (ESV)
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood;[a] see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged[b] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters,[c] and they gathered the whole battalion[d] before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
God’s voice thunders and as I respond and recognize His role, I am confounded by His strength and His peace.
Has the voice of social media become so loud, clamoring for my attention, that I forgot WHO is truly great? Has my pain driven me to the maker of my soul, helping me find His truth? #inplainview
My husband and I re-watched a movie this week, “The Impossible”. I was reminded of the force of nature found in the ocean waves, namely a tsunami wave.
God’s voice is powerful enough to be over many waters. As we cry “glory” to Him, He draws us to the safety net of His peace.
King David taught us how to remain humble by remembering the greatness of God. Without Him we are nothing. – Teresa “Indie Hymn”#listentoHisheartofpeace #paindrawsustoHim
Psalm 29English Standard Version
Ascribe to the Lord Glory
A Psalm of David.
29 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,[a] ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.[b]
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth[c] and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. 11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless[d] his people with peace!
Reconnection 