As much as we need clouds and rain, we also need comfort that there’s a silver lining provided by the light (although temporarily hidden). After sin is dealt with, Jesus Christ our Lord brings salvation to those who wait for Him. We only die once….and then we face our judgement. God is just, God is righteous so never underestimate how satisfied the Father is with His Son’s provision for us. Never underestimate how much love the Father gave us at Calvary! #trustHimtoday- Teresa

Hebrews 9: 24-27 (NLT)

24 “For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age[g] to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”

 How was the law changed with the change of priesthood from Levi to Melchizedek? The Levitical priests held authority based on their lineage but Christ holds authority based on His power over death- from the lineage of Melchizedek!  The law held power in showing us what is right and wrong by leading us to God whereas the cross holds greater power in actually changing our hearts from wrong to right through faith in Christ. -Teresa #dancingwithHim

Hebrews 7: 11-17 (NLT)
11 “So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron?[b]

12 And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it. 13 For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests. 14 What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.

15 This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared. 16 Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. 17 And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied,

“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”[c]

 Although Ezekiel saw the glory of God depart from Israel, he also received a promise of hope for those who were forced to leave their country. Even in exile, God’s sanctuary was around them like a tangible cloud of God’s glory and protection. Are you in a place of testing (like Joseph whose character was tested prior to being given a high position). Remember that His sanctuary is a reprieve from the storm. – Teresa #dancewithHim

Ezekiel 11: 16,17 (NLT)

16 “Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile. 17 I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.”

 What is it that separates us from the “rest” that God gives? It’s as though a fence keeps us apart from this gift. The fence of our pride tempts us into thinking that somehow we are able to work our way into His place of provision. It prevents us from trusting His way….it tells us at least we are better than…or more capable than…or more creative than….. There are all sorts of ways that mankind works out their heirarchy before God AND there is only ONE WAY to enter His rest! #JesusChristasLord #trustHisgoodnews

Hebrews 4: 6-16 (NLT)

“So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 7 So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:

“Today when you hear his voice,

    don’t harden your hearts.”[e]

8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9 So there is a special rest[f] still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

  Psalm 104:1-6 ( NLT)

” Let all that I am praise the Lord.

O Lord my God, how great you are!

    You are robed with honor and majesty.

2 You are dressed in a robe of light.

You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;

3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.

You make the clouds your chariot;

    you ride upon the wings of the wind.

4 The winds are your messengers;

    flames of fire are your servants.[a]

5 You placed the world on its foundation

    so it would never be moved.

6 You clothed the earth with floods of water,

    water that covered even the mountains.”

 Yesterday, the morning sky over our house reflected the sun and its brilliance. Preaching from the Word of God requires preparation, patience and perseverance, reflecting God’s heart to the world. It may not always make people laugh, draw a crowd or provide entertainment but it will always bless those who truly hear it and apply the truth to their lives.- Teresa

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (NLT)

“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”

 
While preparing my sermon for the women’s clothes closet (UGM), this realization struck me. We can oftentimes interpret truth about our circumstances through the lens of our experience. Ethan the Ezrahite wrote a song about the catastrophic experience of Israel bring invaded by a foreign country (Psalm 89). What amazed me was that he had such a healthy relationship with God. Not only did he recite all the reasons we can trust God’s loyal love but he felt comfortable enough with God to give him the true feelings of his heart. He asked God point blank….what about your loyal love that was firmly established? The last verse goes back to praise. Ethan used the lens of scripture to define his view of the current circumstances- not the lens of this bad experience. Even in the darkness of circumstances, His loyal love is firmly established!!- Teresa

  Psalm 91:14-16 (NLT)

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.  I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer;  I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

 Psalm 89:1-14 (NIV)

1 “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,I have sworn to David my servant,4 ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ “5 The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;  he is more awesome than all who surround him.8 Who is like you,Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.9 You rule over the surging sea;  when its waves mount up, you still them. 10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.12 You created the north and the south;  Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.13 Your arm is endowed with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. “

I Timothy 1: 5-11 (NLT)

5 “The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.”

8 “We know that the law is good when used correctly. 9 For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. 10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders,[c] liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching 11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.”