Thanks, Jessica, for this precious pic from your wedding! I am reminded of the importance of surrounding our lives with love. So many layers of His protection around our heart nurtures the seeds of righteousness. Out of the one, many! – Teresa #family,friends,community

Is 61:3

…and provide for those who grieve in Zion-

 to bestow on them a crown of beauty

  instead of ashes,

 the oil of joy

  instead of mourning,

 and a garment of praise

  instead of a spirit of despair.

 They will be called oaks of righteousness,

  a planting of the Lord

  for the display of his splendor.

Will we use this gift of life to thank Him? In a world where life is deemed casual, we have this unique understanding of God the Father’s precious love toward us. At a wedding in Littleton, CO, I was struck by the extreme contrast of a high school with so much sadness (following the anti-Christ shooting many years ago) and the wedding venue with the joy of life being celebrated. The father of the flower girl seized the moment on the dance floor to swing her around and dance with skill and joy. The girl’s face was beaming. She was so proud of being in the loving presence of her father, with her beautiful wedding clothes on. She radiated her father’s glory. We too can radiate our Father’s glory as we are clothed for the wedding of the lamb and fully enjoy the fellowship of the trinity. – Teresa #livegrateful

Psalm 30:8-12 (ESV)

8

To you, O Lord, I cry,

    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

9 

“What profit is there in my death,[d]

    if I go down to the pit?[e]

Will the dust praise you?

    Will it tell of your faithfulness?

10 

Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!

    O Lord, be my helper!”

11 

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

    you have loosed my sackcloth

    and clothed me with gladness,

12 

that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Holding on to friendship means we are exhibiting God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. In verse 14 below, God’s friendship is characterized by His desire to share with us His covenant. Our posture with God requires an awesome respect for who He is. He is willing to share with us His faithful covenant of love. Let’s keep our eyes on the LORD, who is the source of true friendship- Teresa #spaceneedle

Psalm 25 

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2 

O my God, in you I trust;

    let me not be put to shame;

    let not my enemies exult over me.

3 

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

    teach me your paths.

5 

Lead me in your truth and teach me,

    for you are the God of my salvation;

    for you I wait all the day long.

6 

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

    for they have been from of old.

7 

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

    according to your steadfast love remember me,

    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

8 

Good and upright is the Lord;

    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 

He leads the humble in what is right,

    and teaches the humble his way.

10 

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 

For your name’s sake, O Lord,

    pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12 

Who is the man who fears the Lord?

    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

13 

His soul shall abide in well-being,

    and his offspring shall inherit the land.

14 

The friendship[b] of the Lord is for those who fear him,

    and he makes known to them his covenant.

15 

My eyes are ever toward the Lord,

    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Footnotes:

a Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

b Psalm 25:14 Or The secret counsel

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Is it a fulfillment of prophecy, a blinding of their eyes by the evil one or the glory of man being more important than the glory of God? For various reasons, the people continued in unbelief despite numerous miracles (signs). The seventh sign (in the gospel written by John the Apostle), was bringing Lazarus back to life. Mary, Lazarus’s sister, poured a pint of ointment made from pure nard onto Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. What a beautiful expression understood by those who smelled the aroma as announcing the arrival of a king, “the King of the Jews”. During the triumphal entry, the people recognized His role and shouted Hosanna. To believe in Jesus as King means to believe in God the Father as the One who provided a way for us to be part of His heavenly family. Jesus is the light of the world, whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Jesus said these words while in the women’s court of the temple with all the candles burning along the wall perimeter. He provides visual examples of an eternal message. Just as YHWH guided and guarded the children of Israel with a pillar of fire while escaping from slavery in Egypt, Jesus is bringing us safely to eternal life (He rescues us from slavery to sin). – Teresa #KingoftheJewsisKINGOFTHEWHOLEWORLD #read”SitingathefeetofRabbiJesus” #bookbyAnnSpangler

John 12:36-50 (ESV)

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,

38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.

42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;

43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.

45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.

46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment-what to say and what to speak.

50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” – John 12:36-50

There are times when we may feel imprisoned by our fleshly response to thorns along our journey. The law blesses us with a knowledge of what sin looks like but has no power to change our response to the “needs” in our life. Who has the key to set us free from this viscious cycle? God has provided us the key through the body of Christ- after trusting the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior (as payment for our sin debt). Jesus restores our relationship with the Father. This powerful realization that we are loved (even while in our sin) gives us courage to repent, responding to His kindness. As a result of walking in step with His Holy Spirit, we are never again separated or isolated from God. He longs for communication with us in prayer. Our heavenly Father also longs to hear our need. Our recognition of His care for us is also a sign that our heart is being transformed for His glory. -Teresa

Romans 7:1-13 English Standard Version

7 Or do you not know, brothers[a]—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.[b] 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.[c]

The Law and Sin

7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

Footnotes:

a Romans 7:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 4

b Romans 7:2 Greek law concerning the husband

c Romans 7:6 Greek of the letter

The geese were planning to swim to shore where we were having our time in the sun, reading. Their courage increased when I threw an orange peel for them to peck at. King David had courage because of God’s promise, to build David’s house and make his name great (v. 25). What started as David’s desire to build a house for God ended with David’s courage being built up to defeat all the enemies of Israel establishing a strong kingdom that God would use to reach out to the world. Our Savior and Lord came through the lineage of David. God’s plan to use a mere mortal astounds us even now. Jesus, from the line of David, provided salvation for all mankind. – Teresa #Psalm110 #theLordisgreaterthanDavid #holinessbefitsHishousefoundthroughthecleansingofsin

1 Chronicles 16: 17-27 (ESV)

The Lord’s Covenant with David

17 Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” 2 And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

3 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. 5 For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. 6 In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 7 Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, 8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, 10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. 11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’” 15 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer

16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 17 And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations,[b] O Lord God! 18 And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant. 19 For your servant’s sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. 20 There is none like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel, the one[c] nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and awesome things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 And you made your people Israel to be your people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. 23 And now, O Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have spoken, 24 and your name will be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. 26 And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for it is you, O Lord, who have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”

Nature has a song. While camping last week, I was blessed by not wearing my airpods even once. The sounds around me were so beautiful that my soul was drinking in the refreshing music of nature. The children of Israel were blessed by the presence of God in their midst with the ark of the covenant. King David appointed ministers to serve God with song at the tabernacle. With the coming of Emmanuel- God with us, we too can serve Him with our songs of praise. – Teresa #God’sdwellingwithman #JesusChrist,theOneworthsingingabout #ourbodyatemple

1 Chronicles 6: 31-48 (ESV)

31 These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. 32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. 33 These are the men who served and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer the son of Joel, son of Samuel, 34 son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, 35 son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, 36 son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, 37 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, 38 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel; 39 and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely, Asaph the son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, 40 son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchijah, 41 son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, 42 son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, 43 son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. 44 On the left hand were their brothers, the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, 45 son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, 46 son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, 47 son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi. 48 And their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

I’ve been rowing in the morning to start the day with some cardio and core work. The first 15 minutes are spent listening to a book on Audibles (I highly recommend “Atomic Habits”). For the second part of tbe row, I will turn on my playlist full of worship songs (I highly recommend Riley Clemmons’s, “Fighting for me” and Phil Wickham’s “Til I found you”). I really have a hard time smiling until I start praising!! Our offering to God makes Him smile and warms our heart with His love. – Teresa

#horn=strength V.14. #getspiritualstrengththroughpraise #naturejoinsinHispraise #onewithGod=harmonywithnature

Praise the Name of the Lord

148 

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

    praise him in the heights!

2 

Praise him, all his angels;

    praise him, all his hosts!

3 

Praise him, sun and moon,

    praise him, all you shining stars!

4 

Praise him, you highest heavens,

    and you waters above the heavens!

5 

Let them praise the name of the Lord!

    For he commanded and they were created.

6 

And he established them forever and ever;

    he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.[a]

7 

Praise the Lord from the earth,

    you great sea creatures and all deeps,

8 

fire and hail, snow and mist,

    stormy wind fulfilling his word!

9 

Mountains and all hills,

    fruit trees and all cedars!

10 

Beasts and all livestock,

    creeping things and flying birds!

11 

Kings of the earth and all peoples,

    princes and all rulers of the earth!

12 

Young men and maidens together,

    old men and children!

13 

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

    for his name alone is exalted;

    his majesty is above earth and heaven.

14 

He has raised up a horn for his people,

    praise for all his saints,

    for the people of Israel who are near to him.

Praise the Lord!

Footnotes:

a Psalm 148:6 Or it shall not be transgressed

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Naaman was healed of what was deemed incurable. Gehazi was afflicted with a greater affliction: greed. Eventually greed would manifest in a physical illness that passed down through his family’s generations. In relation to status, we have heard it said that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. When we come for spiritual healing, whether a high official or a lowly servant, we all must humble ourselves in order to be healed. Those who refuse humility refuse healing. – Teresa #profitwithgreed vs. #treasurewithumility

2 Kings 5: 15-27 (ESV)

15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. 18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.”

But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’” 23 And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” 26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.

Footnotes:

a 2 Kings 5:1 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

b 2 Kings 5:5 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms; a shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

c 2 Kings 5:12 Or Amana

This alligator lizard did a good job of ignoring the raving of our old dog, Barbie. Receiving absolutely no response, Barbie eventually walked away, and the lizard scurried back under the rocks. Is our raving for a purpose? Does it evoke a response or just dead air and wasted energy/wounds? If the Lord is God, follow Him, no need to rave about it. – Teresa #limpingaroundvs. #trustingCreator’sabilitytoseeandhear

I Kings 18:20-40 (ESV)

20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs[a] of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” 40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.