While camping at South Lake Tahoe, I was overwhelmed by the joy of knowing the love of my husband’s heart. We had time to hike and see breathtaking views of the lake, swim and relax on secluded white sand beaches and dream about retirement adventures ahead. In our spiritual walk, we also have the opportunity to spend time in relationship with the lover of our soul. Jesus Christ is the one who displays His love as a banner over our lives. When we see the fallen side of our nature it may terrify us. Transparent honesty nurtures the truth that He is working through our brokeness. – Teresa #claypots

Song of Solomon 2:3-4 (ESV)

3 As an apple tree among the trees of the forest,

    so is my beloved among the young men.

With great delight I sat in his shadow,

    and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

4 He brought me to the banqueting house,[d]

    and his banner over me was love.

On every side of our cracked soul we may face opposition and feel a death sentence pronounced, but in our heart of hearts Jesus Christ is exalted as Lord. This place of worship is the essence of trust. By exercising our faith each day, we are strengthened in His resolve to bring life into a dead world. – Teresa #dyingtoself

2 Cor 4: 7-12 (ESV)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

The Rubicon Point Lighthouse was built in 1919. The lamp it contained was a 70 candle powered flashing light. This navigational light could be seen for 7 miles (the highest fresh water lighthouse in the world, used for navigation). When Job was considering death, he stated a simple truth that helped him navigate the “wisdom” thrown at him from worldly friends. We are naked before God at our birth and at our death. It is only His redemption plan that gives us the courage to draw near to Him. Is it Job’s goodness or God’s mercy that decided his fate? Job saw himself as naked before this merciful redeemer.- Teresa #myRedeemerlives

 Job 19:25-29 (ESV)

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

    and at the last he will stand upon the earth.[e]

26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,

    yet in[f] my flesh I shall see God,

27 whom I shall see for myself,

    and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

    My heart faints within me!

28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!’

    and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’

29 be afraid of the sword,

    for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,

    that you may know there is a judgment.”

Honesty is the highest form of compliment you can give your parent (not perfection). -Teresa

 I Cotinthians 10: 13 (ESV)

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

For a fish, it will strike when it’s hungry. With a soul, we will respond when the Spirit draws us by the power of God. Paul, himself, did not work on polishing his eloquence when he preached-although he had a prestigious academic background. Instead, he recognized the purpose for which the Lord Jesus Christ had prepared him- to share an Olympic crown that will last (1 Cor 9:25). The gospel’s power was captured then and now through the use of every day language.- Teresa #vernacular

 1 Corinthians 1: 17 (ESV)

 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Where the tree was cut down, another is sure to grow. Israel was cut down for a season and we as Gentiles are allowed to flourish in the life giving source of Christ’s blood. Overall, we are part of the same tree- some of us grafted in or adopted as sons and daughters. Jesus Christ our Lord made peace for us once and for all. – Teresa #goodnews

Romans 10: 1-13 (ESV)

10 Dear brothers and sisters,[h] the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.[i] As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Salvation Is for Everyone

5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.[j] 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,

“The message is very close at hand;

    it is on your lips and in your heart.”[k]

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[l] 12 Jew and Gentile[m] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[n]

Asa started out strong and enthusiastic for the things of God. In the end, He veered from the course. Who do we rely on? Is it our own strength or the help of powerful allies? When we rely on the Lord, we have His attention. – Teresa #devotedheartscryout

2 Chronicles 16: 7-14 (ESV)

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? 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[f] toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time.
11 The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 They buried him in the tomb that he had cut for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer’s art, and they made a very great fire in his honor.

Love is a basic need of mankind- Jesus Christ  demonstrated what true love looks like. When politicians lie to make a name for themselves, they give money more credence than a loving character… how much better off or well off is the poor person who is honest. To sum it up, fearing God (aka obeying Him) leads us to contentment and protection from poverty. – Teresa #Omniscient#Omnipotent#Omnipresent.

Proverbs 19: 22,23 ( ESV)

22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,

    and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,

    and whoever has it rests satisfied;

    he will not be visited by harm.

Swimming at the point refreshes this weary camper after a hot and dusty hike. Being immersed into Christ (see Romans 6: 3-5), we are born again. Not of water and blood like a natural childbirth but we are born of the Spirit of God. Justification means “just as if I never did it”. Through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus for me, I am made right with God. That’s some powerful obedience on the part of Jesus Christ our Lord. -Teresa #Hisrighteousness #I’mforevergrateful

Romans 5:12-21 (ESV)

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Swimming at the point refreshes this weary camper after a hot and dusty hike. Being immersed into Christ (see Romans 6: 3-5), we are born again. Not of water and blood like a natural childbirth but we are born of the Spirit of God. Justification means “just as if I never did it”. Through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus for me, I am made right with God. That’s some powerful obedience on the part of Jesus Christ our Lord. -Teresa #Hisrighteousness #I’mforevergrateful

Romans 5:12-21 (ESV)

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.