Genuine faith is tested and comes through as pure and valuable as gold in a fire. The butterfly during metamorphasis speaks truth to this. Without the struggle of getting free of the chrysalis, the beautiful butterfly dies. I received a science kit in the 4th grade containing butterfly larvae in their respective cocoons. Unfortunately, I was so anxious to see the beauty of the butterflies that I opened them all before their time to emerge, robbing them of tbeir chance at survival. Although we have not seen him (our Savior), we love him! This is part of our “faith walk”-to reconcile struggles with the beauty of His hand on us. – Teresa #struggling #purelove #hetrulysaves #histimingisperfect

1Peter 1:3-12 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time[a] the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

The more grace God gives is in direct proportion to the humility endowed to those who submit to God. Do you know of someone like Moses who actually is in fellowship with God and doesn’t realize his/her face is shining? It’s not about selling books or saying words smoothly. It is about a heart for God which is acted out in faith with compassion for others. This is “ministry” -full of God’s grace and truth. – Teresa #Jesusfollowers

James 4:6-8 (ESV)

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

There is a type of pseudo wisdom that originates in the demonic influence of negativity. It shows up as jealousy and selfish ambition. Those who are under the influence of the “god” of this age (2 Cor 4:4) may be prone to this. Wisdom from above, however, is: pure, peacable, gentle, open to reason full of mercy and good fruits. – Teresa

James 2: 13-18 (ESV)

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

This past month, we were blessed to find a camera to play our old VHS home videos. It reminded me of precious years gone by during child-rearing. This clip of Berit’s second birthday is precious, giving us a glimpse into the Lord’s steadfast love for us! Throughout Psalm 107, I read this phrase and considered the wisdom in recognizing His steadfast love. – Teresa #grateful

Psalm 107:8 (NIV)

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Prepping for a sermon on John 8, I was pondering Walvoord & Zuck’s assertion that Jesus’ words at the Feast of Tabernacles pointed to the pillar of fire. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12 (ESV). This morning, I read Psalm 105:37-45 English Standard Version (ESV)

“37 Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,

and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.

38 Egypt was glad when they departed,

for dread of them had fallen upon it.

39 He spread a cloud for a covering,

and fire to give light by night.

40 They asked, and he brought quail,

and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.

41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;

it flowed through the desert like a river.

42 For he remembered his holy promise,

and Abraham, his servant.

43 So he brought his people out with joy,

his chosen ones with singing.

44 And he gave them the lands of the nations,

and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,

45 that they might keep his statutes

and observe his laws.

Praise the Lord!”

Bring us out of bondage, Lord, with the emphasis on fearing you (not the people who would like to keep us enslaved)!!

You truly do bring light to a dark place.- Teresa #shineonme

Swearing on oath means you are good for your word. When God swore on oath by His own greatness, He was making an emphasized point. God’s unchangeable purpose (our salvation through Christ) can be trusted (since He’s good for His word) plus His swearing by His own name makes it final (no accusation will overturn it since there is no one greater than God to swear by). Abraham believed and it was counted to Him as righteousness. He served as the “father” of our faith, showing us the possibility of believing God! Abraham was blessed and his family multiplied, against all odds. We also have this hope as an anchor for our soul that God’s blessing will draw others (multiply) when we trust God’s provision for sin. This goes against all odds (our sin accuses us and is meant to separate us from God, eternally). – Teresa

#watchNetflixGospelofJohn #Faithmakesitpossible #Melchizadekorderofpriesthood=greaterthanAbraham #beforeAbrahamwas-IAM

Hebrews 6: 13-20 (ESV)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,[b] having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Even when we may feel like everything is desolate, our worst day of desolation is better than a day of prosperity without Him. When this passage speaks about God knowing us, I’m encouraged that He has created us uniquely for His glory (from dust)! When we feel like the troubled waters are uncrossable, He shines His glory through the cracks of our humble frame and amazes us with His glory. -Teresa #BlesstheLord #renewedyouth #”Bridgeovertroubledwaters” #castingcaresonHim #Heisable

Psalm 103 English Standard Version (ESV)

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Of David.

103

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

2

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

3

who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

4

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5

who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6

The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

7

He made known his ways to Moses,

his acts to the people of Israel.

8

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9

He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

10

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

12

as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

13

As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

14

For he knows our frame;[a]

he remembers that we are dust.

15

As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16

for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

and its place knows it no more.

17

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

and his righteousness to children’s children,

18

to those who keep his covenant

and remember to do his commandments.

19

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,

and his kingdom rules over all.

20

Bless the Lord, O you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his word,

obeying the voice of his word!

21

Bless the Lord, all his hosts,

his ministers, who do his will!

22

Bless the Lord, all his works,

in all places of his dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

I was praying and meditating in my car at lunch time last Wednesday and looked up. In the clouds I saw a beautiful white borse. This is very similar to the pic I keep at my desk to remind me that God sees the finished product not the mess in the making! He knows that “in Christ” we are perfect but while we are hindered by our earthly natures there will be moments when we don’t always reflect Him. It is a blessing to have people who are on “our team” who are truthful with us. It may not be easy but to speak the truth in love is the best way to influence each other for growth. Deception and lies only serve those who are on the enemy’s side. Lord, give us grace to discern truth from lies, what is self- seeking from what is God-honoring. – Teresa #whenthetruthurts #itisnotalwaysaboutyou #teamformingispainful

Proverbs 26:18-19 English Standard Version (ESV)

18

Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death

19

is the man who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I am only joking!”

Sharing in the suffering of Christ may mean we are ok with the messy things of life getting near us. Reaching out to those who grieve, empathizing with those in the sweet stages of childrearing, crying with those who have been wrecked by another’s sin are all ways God uses us for His honor and glory. We are presenting ourselves to God as one approved when we enter into real life with those around us. With confidence, we offer our grace-filled humanity in order to show the difference He has made in our own story based on His overwhelming love. He is asking us to follow Him into the suffering of others. The comfort with which He comforts us is enough to bring soothing to the afflicted. – Teresa #soothingsalvebindsthebrokenhearted #Heseesu #IamnotalonebyKariJobe #Hecleansesusfromearthlyambition

2 Timothy 2:1-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,[a] who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

12

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

13

if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

A Worker Approved by God

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God[b] not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[c] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[d] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

Footnotes:

a 2 Timothy 2:2 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context

b 2 Timothy 2:14 Some manuscripts the Lord

c 2 Timothy 2:15 That is, one approved after being tested

d 2 Timothy 2:21 Greek from these things

I’ve been reading this book, recommended by someone much younger than me. The beauty of counting ourselves “dead” to what the world would love to entrap us with, is that we can gradually become aware of life springing up in other areas that mean the most to us. The statement of being hidden with Christ in God brings much comfort. According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary, being hidden implies both concealment and protection. Who would have thought that the way to a most satisfying, abundant life is to be out of the limelight. -Teresa #Hisgloryshinesinewlife #putonChrist #eyesonHim #taketimetoseethestars

Colossians 3:1-17 (ESV)

3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self4 with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,5 free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.