Setting our hearts toward the entreaty of God, some may choose to fast or abstain from food, frivolous activity, or anything that would compete with devotion to God. For those who choose a liquid fast, the body may feel discomfort, craving the usual routine of three solid meals. In those times of “hunger” our hearts and desires can focus more intensely on God receiving that which satisfies more completely than food. A praise chorus “Hungry for You” by Bonnie Low- says it well… “needing your touch, just the touch of your hand…shower down Your sweet, sweet rain on my thirsty land.” Ezra was from the priestly line of Aaron. God chose him to lead the people in restoring the temple at Jerusalem. He first assembled the people (about 1500 men) to return with him. Upon discovering that there were no Levites to assist the priests, he recruited Levitical support to be part of this huge undertaking. Proclaiming a fast, they humbled themselves before God. Best of all, God listened to their entreaty for protection. When we see God’s hand at work, our lives are a witness to Him. – Teresa #Hisgreatwork #Ourgreatneed #recognizingthestrengthofcommunity

Ezra 8:21-9:15 and vv.31-34 English Standard Version (ESV)

Fasting and Prayer for Protection

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way. 32 We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days. 33 On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui. 34 The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded.

As I get older, I realize that my husband and I although united on our values can still see some things completely the opposite. There is wisdom in this book, “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus” by John Gray. For example, I read the Bible passage below this morning and heard the subsequent sermon on “waiting”. Immediately, I thought that one day in heaven all would be glorious- its worth the wait. Whereas my husband visualized the good things in store for us here on the earth. If hormones are clouding my vision, then I may even construe a heartfelt martyr scenario requiring me to lay down my life for everyone else #codependent. Deep down, I knew my huband was right I have history with the Psalmist’s reference here to the land of the living since this is what gave me courage to keep going after the tragic death of my brother. The important truth is to take time to cry out and wait for God. When we trust His deliverance, no matter what planet we’re from, we will see His goodness in the right time. -Teresa #thankfulforMartianlove

Psalm 27:7-14 (ESV)

7 

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;

be gracious to me and answer me!

8 

You have said, “Seek[a] my face.”

My heart says to you,

“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”[b]

9 

Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,

O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,

O God of my salvation!

10 

For my father and my mother have forsaken me,

but the Lord will take me in.

11 

Teach me your way, O Lord,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

12 

Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they breathe out violence.

13 

I believe that I shall look[c] upon the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living!

14 

Wait for the Lord;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!

God’s great salvation was given but not without price. Do we recognize the gift poured into our lives through His suffering and death? For to whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:48 KJV). Our heart’s test is to see what we do in response to His grace and mercy. The beauty of blessing the next generation is to leave a legacy of wisdom and gratefulness. In humility our boasting ceases and God is glorified. – Teresa #faithfulwithlittle #entrustedwithmuch #Hemakesallthingsnew #HezekiahsdetrimentalFBboast

2 Chronicles 32: 24-31 (ESV)

24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. 30 This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

Upon arriving at the mission to bring God’s word to the women last week, I was overcome with emotion at one song on our playlist, “I can only Imagine”. Broken and spilled out at the memory of my brother’s anniversary to glory, I wondered if I had the strength to fulfill my entrusted ministry. After texting my prayer sisters, they surrounded me with encouragements and prayer. One of the text describes this beautiful Psalm 23 passage better than I could, “God restores the things in our lives we think are forever gone. He restores your soul. He leads you down the right path. He prepares a table to partake of Him even in the presence of your enemies. Your cup overflows because His goodness and love will pursue you all the days of your life.❤️”- Teresa #Hepursuesusforgood #faithnotsight #comfortedbyrodandstaff

A Psalm of David. (ESV)

23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.[a]

3

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]

for his name’s sake.

4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[c]

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6

Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell[f] in the house of the Lord

forever.[g]

Footnotes:

a Psalm 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest

b Psalm 23:3 Or in right paths

c Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness

d Psalm 23:6 Or Only

e Psalm 23:6 Or steadfast love

f Psalm 23:6 Or shall return to dwell

g Psalm 23:6 Hebrew for length of days

Proverbs 20:7 English Standard Version (ESV)

7 The righteous who walks in his integrity—

blessed are his children after him!

Both my father (with the red hunting shirt) and my husband’s father, are examples of this verse. Through the good times and bad, they have always displayed a consistent trust in God and commitment towards a life of integrity. Their children have been blessed because of it! Blessing in the Old Testament Hebrew culture carried with it a sense of abundance and tangible inheritance. Our fathers delight(ed) in the law of the Lord by reminding themselves of His law day and night. They are like trees planted by rivers of water, bringing forth their fruit in season. Their leaves won’t whither and whatever they do prospers. (See Psalm 1) There is something to be said for not walking in the counsel of the ungodly, or standing in the way of sinners or sitting in the seat of mockers. My goal is to persevere in the workplace as many years as my father did. He provided an example of “sisu”- the Finnish word for keeping on in the midst of difficulty. Through it, he provided for his family an inheritance that would help care for physical needs for many years (even up to 20 years after his death). More importantly, he displayed the character qualities that inspire me to be an example for my family as well.

Psalm 1 (NIV)

1 Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither-

whatever they do prospers.

There are times when the boundaries of our lives may feel like barbed wire. While we long for “freedom”, we are also reminded that the sweetness of success will carry a responsibility or a “cross to bear”. As we take up our cross daily to follow Him, He brings the needed support to endure and the joyful truth that we can enjoy the sweetness of fellowship with Him. The Psalmist describes it as being sweeter than honey in the honeycomb. -Teresa #Jesuscametofulfillthelaw. #fulfillmeanscomplete #Jesusisthelogos

2 Chronicles 16: 8b, 9 (ESV)

Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless[g] toward him.

Psals 19: 1-11. (ESV)

19 

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.

2 

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

3 

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

4 

Their voice[b] goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

5 

which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6 

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them,

and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 

The law of the Lord is perfect,[c]

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

8 

the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

9 

the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules[d] of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether.

10 

More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

This beautiful sunrise greeted my husband and me as we walked home from the coffee shop earlier this month. Immediately, our minds went to that word-magnify. He is so much greater and so much more capable of handling the struggles of this life than we are. Indeed, we must stop feeling indebted to the “payback” mentality which ruled our flesh by fear. Instead, we must endure suffering as those with a great hope. This hope provides freedom from fear and promises the glory of God to show up in our lives. Why? Because we are His children. “Abba, father” literally means “daddy” or “Papa”. Which of you would give a snake to their child who asks for a fish? Even so the Father will provide the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (see Matthew 7:9-11).

The trinity is God the father, Jesus the son and the promised Holy Spirit. They work together in unity to provide everything the human condition needs. We can indeed approach the Father through the atoning sacrifice of the Son. Jesus, in turn, sends the Holy Spirit (when we believe) as a deposit, assuring us of our heavenly inheritance. Together, they provide our need for “family” fellowship even while we are in our earthly bodies. – Teresa #nocondemnation #lawoftheSpiritoflifesetsusfree #freedomfromthelawofsinandeath

Romans 8: 9-25 (ESV)

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[a] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

12 So then, brothers,[b] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[c] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

When I asked God what would help with a relationship I was struggling with, I immediately knew it was this word- humility. Just as those in authority have a responsibility and weight hanging over them for us, they also have a joy of seeing our growth when we exhibit humility. Solomon took a posture of humility in this dedication prayer at the temple. On his knees with arms outstretched before the people, God answered by accepting the sacrifice and sending fire to consume it.- Teresa #Itrieditmywayandfailed #urwayisbest

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. http://esv.to/2Chron6.1-2 (ESV)

2 Chronicles 7: 1-3 (ESV)

7 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

The joy of the Lord is our strength. This mountain stream brought me joy as we hiked to Porcupine Lake last week. In God’s economy, praise is very valuable. We should be careful to implement this as a daily “sacrifice” in our lives. -Teresa #streams of livingwater

I Chronicles 15:11- 16:7 (ESV)

11Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brothers of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. 19 The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth; 21 but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, for he understood it. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, should blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. 26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.

29 And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

The Ark Placed in a Tent

16 And they brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord 3 and distributed to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat,[b] and a cake of raisins.

4 Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. 7 Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers.

When the complexities of life become confusing we only need to cry aloud to the Lord. David was heartbroken after his son, Absalom, tried to take the kingdom from him. Instead of freezing with grief, He turned to the One who sustains the universe. What prayer of faith have we offered to God? He is honored by our need of Him. Can we trust in His protection? -Teresa #trustingHimwithourkids

Psalm 3: 3-4

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

4 

I cried aloud to the Lord,

and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah