The flood, in Noah’s day, cleared the earth of people whose hearts were hardened by unbelief. Today, we are able to have a cleared conscience because of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ our Lord over death (sin’s curse). He resets our hard drive, bringing us back to a better place where God was able to fellowship with mankind (prior to sin’s curse). He became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him(2 Cor 5:21). No wonder we are thankful!!- Teresa

1 Peter 3:18-22 (ESV)

18 For Christ also suffered[a] once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which[b] he went and proclaimed[c] to the spirits in prison, 20 because[d] they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

When I started the medical weight management program at Kaiser last June I had an epiphany on the meaning of gluttony! What I used to think was sustenance has now moved to a different category. It really will be Thanksgiving on a diet this year but my heart is fully feasting on thankfulness to be off of medications, to be thinking more clearly and best of all, to play on the jungle gym with my grandson!  As I pray each morning and confess the 7 deadly sins- when I get to gluttony, it has a whole new meaning!- Teresa

Proverbs 28: 6-7 (ESV)

6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

    than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,

    but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

When idol worship takes over a nation, God chooses a spiritual heart transplant. Likened to a heart of stone, the nation of Israel was in a vacuum of unbelief. How much easier is it to trust in our own creations (or superstitions) than to truly give credit to our Creator? God as the surgeon can remove our hard hearted delusions and replace them with the warmth of His Spirit. Only under His hand are we healed from unclean motives and restored as being truly His.- Teresa

 Ezekiel 37: 26-29 (ESV)

 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.[a] 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29 And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. 

 Although the road is not always paved with gold, we see the beauty of a disciplined life. God, our heavenly father disciplines those He loves so that we may share in His holiness. It takes more than letting go to follow Christ, we must also focus on Him so that running and carrying our “survival pack” is as easy as lifting a feather. Finish the race, don’t wimp out because Christ our healer is able to transform our stubborn hearts.

 Hebrews 12 (ESV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

    and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

When we see the album artwork there is a sense of excitement anticipating the good feelings we will encounter when listening to the music. Jesus Christ our Lord opened the curtain of holiness that separated us from God- giving us front row seats, back stages passes and a chance to fly on the family jet- a relationship with our heavenly Father!  Sprinkled on the mercy seat, the blood of a lamb without blemish was applied by the high priest to make himself and the people acceptable before God. Jesus provides all holiness requirements for us to gain access to a new and living way.- Teresa

 Hebrews 10:19-25 (ESV)

19 Therefore, brothers,[a] since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

When a baby learns about his or her world, parents recognize they are tender. Providing life lessons in measured doses, the parents ensure their child is able to grow and develop without feeling overwhelmed. Similarly, God chooses us when our hearts are tender and places us in learning situations that will try our character. Those who are malleable like gold  will become noble to the glory of God.- Teresa 

 Ezekiel 17: 22-24 (ESV)

22 Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”

The healing we need is so much more than medical. The Lord not only pays our debt but applies healing compassion to the root of our problem. When we understand His healing is available 24/7, granting us access to these benefits through a relationship with Him, our youth will be renewed!!- Teresa

Psalm 103: 1-5 (ESV)

1Bless 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.

 When the walls came down on Jerusalem, Nebuzaradan left vinedressers and plowmen as a remnant to care for the city. If we stay within God’s protection (not relying on city walls), He provides in mysterious ways that we may not recognize until later. His banner for the cause He loves is righteousness.-Teresa #familyofGod

Jeremiah 52: 14-16 (ESV)

14 And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. 15 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poorest of the people and the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the artisans. 16 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen.

There are times when natural beauty reassures us of the reality of God’s presence…aka freedom from the curse of sin. Although the Law was given to show us what sin entailed, it also provided opportunities for sin to abound. If we die to sin and are given new life through the resurrection power of Christ, then we are free to live a life of love. Living in love really means fulfilling all law…we live love because the old system of law no longer has the power to bind us in an awkward way to sin! – Teresa #deadtosinbutalivetoChrist

Romans 7: 1-3 (NLT)

Now, dear brothers and sisters[a]—you who are familiar with the law—don’t you know that the law applies only while a person is living? 2 For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. 3 So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.

  

I was vacillating between cranky and woe is me for two days. Then, we had an impromptu “listening” party for Hans’s first professional record. All the energy he poured into an expert album converted into a celebration for us! Likewise, knowing God’s name or character is like listening for the first time to some beautiful music. Understanding His loving character helps us also to respond in love, meeting needs from a cup that’s overflowing. – Teresa

Psalm 91: 14-16 (ESV)

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;    I will protect him, because he knows my name.

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;

    I will be with him in trouble;

    I will rescue him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him

    and show him my salvation.”