Taking care of plants, developing landscape art, or enjoying nature are all ways to keep our mind on things other than politics, when necessary.

I’ve been listening to two excellent books on Audible, “The Case for Trump” by Victor Davis Hanson and “The Truths We Hold” by Kamala Harris. Both are excellent reads and very enlightening.

God asks us to have a right relationship with those considered to be “enemies”. See Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV)

Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Whether we have a strong political persuasion or have actually crossed over to believing the other side is an enemy, one can always remember to be a decent human being.

Proverbs 24:17-20 (ESV)

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not envious of the wicked,
20 for the evil man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Being perfect can mean only one thing (being Christlike). As we die to self, we live because of Christ in us!!- Teresa #caringisbeauty

We left this morning, walking toward our favorite coffee shop. Hearing them first, we looked to the tallest tree and sure enough, their sharp morning cry assured us that they were watching out for any snakes.

How do you defeat a predator who is wily or deceptive? This passage teaches us through a messianic prophecy. Jesus Christ our Savior provided a real life examples of how to act in a hate-filled world.

Trusting His Father’s purpose for His life, the Messiah gave Himself fully as Savior of the world.

We are not the Savior but we can be Christ’s followers and allow the Father’s sovereignty to be over our lives.

Are we trusting the Father? Are we fully giving ourselves to His purpose? What discernment do we put in place, ensuring we are not getting sidetracked by worldly wisdom?

Isaiah 55:1-3 (NIV)

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.

As our day begins, we can learn from the example of Jesus Christ the Lord, who is the sentinel of our soul. This exercise of trust gives us energy to focus on who we are, purposely living out why we were created. – Teresa #awakenedears #taughtinthenight

Isaiah 50:4-11(ESV)

4 The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
5 The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
6 I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.
7 But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord God helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.
10 Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who equip yourselves with burning torches!
Walk by the light of your fire,
and by the torches that you have kindled!
This you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.

Does my soul cling to God while His right hand upholds me? Like King David calling out with joyful lips to the One who brought satisfaction to his soul, we can also meditate on God’s help and protection.

The first step is to hunger and thirst for a spiritual relationship with Him. (We must be intentional with our time spent with God and express our desires for Him in honest prayer!)

The second step is to actually go to His sanctuary in order to witness His power and glory. (Nature aka -His creation, does this best for me)!

Lastly, give Him full allegiance by offering your praises. (It’s because your steadfast love, Lord, is better than life itself, that I can sing!). We can even sing the words of this Psalm, remembering specific ways that God has delivered us just this week, protected those we love and helped us in our weakness.

The result of this exercise to seek God earnestly will be: an exultant people, a rejoicing king and no more power to liars- since they will be stopped from their nonsense. – Teresa #liftedhands

My Soul Thirsts for You Psalm 63: 1-11 (ESV)

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

63 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

You cannot overfill this fountain because the fullness lends to an artistic illusion of flexible glass curtains. Even so, the root of Jesse is a signal for the peoples. Knowing Him, the nations will be given rest. Overflowing and abundant, the Savior also known as “the lion of the tribe of Judah” brings peace with His finished work.

Jesus Christ the Lord (from the lineage of David, Jesse’s son) did the hard work of salvation for every nation, tribe and people group. When His work was finished, He was given a place at the right hand of tbe Father. The holy trinity (ONE being, three persons), brings love to mankind through the redemption of sin. Are you being drawn to a right relationship with the Father today? The Holy Spirit (or comforter) is working to reveal spiritual truths to those who will call Jesus, Lord.

As we rest in this good news, we are also freed of our striving for good works. Knowing Him, keeps us aligned with His values so we can live Christlike. -Teresa #Sabbathrest #enterHisrest

Isaiah 11: 9, 10 (ESV) 9They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations enquire, and his resting-place shall be glorious.

Going new car shopping, I did NOT realize how much joy I’d get from the bells and whistles. My husband said that my smile got bigger and bigger as the sales associate showed me all the things this car was programmed to do.

The passage below, thought to be written by Solomon, has some wisdom for us today. We are living in uncertain times. Those things that used to be “auto sensored” are no longer automatic. Many of the rules have changed. My exhortation is that we should “keep it steady”!

If we become distracted by watching the wind and clouds, then the important work (of sowing the seed and reaping the harvest) is lost. Keep it steady! I’m speaking of investing in our children and grandchildren for the sake of the kingdom. Money is an answer to many things temporally but love answers with an eternal impact.

If what is happening in high places becomes hysteria, then we should exercise our right to vote. Too much time spent brewing about it does not change the direction in which the tree will fall but it does affect how much bread we will cast (praying about it). Keep it steady!

Those who stay steady will be ready for that which is most important: to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself!- Teresa #rememberyourCreator #inthedaysofyouryouth #bewise

Ecclesiastes 10:16-20 and 11:1-4 (ESV)

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
19 Bread is made for laughter,
and wine gladdens life,
and money answers everything.
20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.

Cast Your Bread upon the Waters

Chapter 11

1 Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

I transplanted one of my “houseplants” last spring to our new front yard landscape. Amazingly, it survived the heatwaves in July and August. This morning, I noticed its glowing orange petals in the early dawn.

New hope makes us bold. Bold enough to share it with others. Rather than hide behind a veil of religious works, hardened in our hearts, we can turn to Christ Jesus the Lord and know His glory. He allows the veil to drop and starts to heal us from the inside out.

In the OR, the surgical staff drapes a patient to ensure no germ will enter the sterile field. In the same way, our Lord provides something better than a veil (of religious works). He actually drapes His love around us when He asks us to be devoted to His kingdom come and His will to be done. It is a new life with a glorious purpose.

“From glory to glory” is a phrase used in David Crowder’s song, Everything Glorious. It’s also used in this passage. When we reflect God’s glory, we are transformed. – Teresa #Christlike #caringforothers #vulnerabilitybringschange #freedomfromtheveil

P. S. Most importantly, the Spirit of the LORD brings freedom. His Spirit seals us with a deposit of God’s promise for redemption (buying us back to himself in the here and now) and resurrection (raising us up after death, not to be unclothed but clothed with a new body) Ephesians 1:13,14.

2 Corinthians 3:4 (ESV) 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God

2 Corinthians 3:18-22 (ESV). 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one[c] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[d] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

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Footnotes

2 Corinthians 3:2 Some manuscripts your
2 Corinthians 3:3 Greek fleshly hearts
2 Corinthians 3:16 Greek he
2 Corinthians 3:17 Or this Lord
2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflecting the glory of the Lord
2 Corinthians 3:18 Greek from glory to glory

Hiking to Vikingsholm on Emerald Bay yesterday, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the surroundings and of the structure there. Although my body is now a bit achy from the Rubicon Trail hike, my thoughts are reverberating with the brilliance of it. When asked if I would live there, I was sure of it!

In our wildest dreams, we cannot imagine the beauty and worth God sees in us. He provides a way for us to reconnect with Himself, on a strenuous hike called life. He provides a stronghold of protection for those who need a break from the storms, His one and only Son. He provides salvation from our sinful nature through the blood of Jesus Christ the LORD. When asked if you could live as a Christ follower, my prayer for all is to say “yes”!

Abiding in Christ leads to an abundant life and provides a place of refuge from the squalls. -Teresa #I’dratherhaveJesus #ashelterinthetimesofstorm #thepilgrim’sregressbyCSLewis

Psalm 37:34-40 (ESV). 34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.[a]
36 But he passed away,[b] and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

I heard a statistic that 25% of young people (under 25 years of age) are feeling hopeless during this time of social isolation -hopeless enough to end their life. If this is you, I encourage you to reach out! Reach out to a medical professional (suicide hotline). Reach out to anyone on your phone contact who is a trusted friend (a friend who is worth their salt will spend quality time when asked). Reach out to your Creator (“soon to be King” David gives us an example in this passage below of how to approach God when life is bleak).

I’d like to share a personal story with the hope of encouraging some young person, somewhere. Shortly after I turned 15, I prayed a prayer that changed my life. Feeling hopeless about how I fit in socially, I asked God for His help. I said, “Lord, you know I will always trust you as my Savior and Lord (even if you don’t answer this request). What I’m asking, though, is that you show me (in a tangible way), that you are as involved today as you were in Bible-writing days. I mean, You appeared to those people in miraculous ways for a purpose- does this still apply today? If so, please show me. If you are indifferent to what we do now, I’m planning to look for closer friendships with those in the “world” vs. the church since I feel pretty hopeless. I would like to fit in somewhere- even if it means disobeying my parents. Amen.”

God answered my prayer with not only ONE miracle that summer (I had signed up for a summer project to tell other teenagers about Christ Jesus the LORD, through Teen Missions, INTL), but He showed up with THREE miracles. Each miracle was more convincing than the one before. I was fully assured, by the end of the summer, that God was working in my life at that moment, just as strongly as He did back in Bible times. I was also convinced that He knew me and my situation, personally. He spoke directly to the underlying need of my heart and filled it.

I implore you to remember that your life is not only precious but chosen by God. When you receive His Son, you are made holy through Christ’s provision on the cross. Do you “know” that He sees you-as one who is dearly loved? (Colossians 3:12)- Teresa ❤️

Psalm 34: 1-10. (ESV)

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I 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.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

FootnotesPsalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

While we worry and pray for those struggling with illness or pain, we are also blessed with daily joys along this path called life.

Just a few weeks ago, I was burned out and weeping. When the demands upon us are great (along with grieving the loss of those once loved), our emotions can be accentuated. We also realize we have limited resources to help those in need.

Then, we receive the kindness of a co-worker and a believer- those who can make us laugh even as we cry under the load we bear. Just knowing we have been heard or are worthwhile enough to speak to with compassion, will make the difference between weeping and joy.

Gaining courage from the human touch of others is what God uses to change our weeping to joy.

Because we are not perfect, we are free to rejoice in God’s mysterious loving ways. -Teresa

#cryforhelp #Hehearsandanswers #joyfullyaware

Psalm 30: 1-9 ( ESV)

Joy Comes with the Morning

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.

30 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.[a]
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.[b]
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.[c]
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.

Romans 15:13 (ESV) 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Have you ever had a chance to experience the silver lining in a dark moment of life? For example, a young mom may dread the pains of labor. Yet afterwards, she looks back with pride on the ability to endure this agonizing feat. Once her baby is placed into her arms, she holds on with newfound strength surging throughout her body. It’s the promise of hope in a brand new life. Hope arises when God includes us in something great. His creation is always great!

Today, when we come to our Creator, we can hold onto the hope of His plan and purpose. When we embrace life, we have a joyful peace that the ONE who loves us will include us. -Teresa #morethanwecaouldaskorimagine