Pastor Albright was an example of a man of God who never tired of doing good!! Not only was his smile contagious but his energy spurred on many to love and good deeds. During our adventures in Mexico (Andrea, Jane and me)- he shined in the way that he shared the essence of God’s love toward to the people.  The one memory that endears Pastor Albright to my heart forever was when he took me under his wing to help with door to door evangelism in the new neighborhood around the church.  What senior pastor invests their time and gifts into a teenager? – Teresa

#authenticleadership #amazinglegacy

2 Thessalonians 3: 6-13 ( NLT)

6 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers[c] who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received[d] from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.”

  Proverbs 25: 11-14 (NLT)

11″Timely advice is lovely,

    like golden apples in a silver basket.

12 To one who listens, valid criticism

    is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.

    They revive the spirit of their employer.

14 A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it

    is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.”

 When we rapel down a cliff we trust as we take a backward step of faith that the rope will hold us. When we trust God’s way to heaven it also is a step of faith. We are tempted to remember all the reasons God shoud find us acceptable to enter into the pearly gates: responsible, hard working, stayed married, had children who are good people, worshipper of God, etc. God’s way to heaven, however, is not based on man’s efforts. God’s way to heaven is based on the substitutionary atonement of His Son paying our debt. As much as we would love to do payback for sin, it’s never enough. We should not underestimate how pleased God is with the obedience of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. His way to heaven is paid for by one act- He laid down His life for us!!!-Teresa

 I Thessalonians 5: 9-11 (NLT)
9 “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

  
Trusting in the Lord means making Him our hope and confidence. This leads to the appearance of green leaves and fruit- evidence that our spiritual life is flourishing even when the circumstances appear to be drought-filled!!-Teresa

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,

    with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat

    or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green,

    and they never stop producing fruit.

9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,

    and desperately wicked.

    Who really knows how bad it is?

10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts

    and examine secret motives.

I give all people their due rewards,

    according to what their actions deserve.”

 Through the lens of Christ’s love- we can freely give thanks and sing songs of worship to our God!!- Teresa

Colossians 3:16,17 (NLT) 16 “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

  The eye (as painted “graffiti-style” by miss Carly) reminds me that people are watching us as believers and “seeing” what we truly trust in. Is it a set of OT observations, rules and laws or is it Christ alone as our refuge and righteousness? Jesus Christ is the only power strong enough to combat our natural inclination toward evil. (Even those with “good” desires to put church names or seminary degrees above Christ will be caught in a self-righteous trap lacking power over evil). Thank you Father for the power of the One who acted in obedience to You, true love-that brought Christ Jesus our Lord down to the grave and back up to life again. He alone is the catalyst that brings us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Faith in the Son of God is the victory that overcomes the world’s power over our lives, helping us also to love.- Teresa

 Colosians 2:8-23 ( NLT)

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[a] of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[b] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.[c] 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed[d] the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels,[e] saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

 Twinkie minions are fun to look at, even clever in representing our foolish inclinations to join the dark side, however innocent.  Jeremiah’s heart was painfully askew over his people who could figure out many ways to do wrong but what about how to do right? How are we equipped for training in righteousness? (See 2Tim 3:16) We must hold on to God’s word- the scriptures. There is nothing else that will prepare as thoroughly or as effectively!!-Teresa

Jeremiah 4:19-22 (NLT)
My heart, my heart—I writhe in pain!

    My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still.

For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets

    and the roar of their battle cries.

20 Waves of destruction roll over the land,

    until it lies in complete desolation.

Suddenly my tents are destroyed;

    in a moment my shelters are crushed.

21 How long must I see the battle flags

    and hear the trumpets of war?

22 “My people are foolish

    and do not know me,” says the Lord.

“They are stupid children

    who have no understanding.

They are clever enough at doing wrong,

    but they have no idea how to do right!”

  This beautiful apple was more tempting than I could resist!! I washed it, polished it, sliced it into 8 pieces and then started nibbling. It was beautiful to look at, had that fresh apple tree-ripened smell but it was dry and mushy instead of crunchy and sweet. What a disappointment! 

All my hopes deflated…in the same way the temptations of life that seek to draw us away from our heavenly purpose can be disappointing (working for things that don’t last). They are not the real thing and leave a dry, mushy taste in our mouths. They can steal from us the beauty of what we already have by their distracting glitter.
Lord, help us not to be deceived by outward appearances that tempt us into cheap satisfaction but to always trust in your amazingly rich Word to understand our need of You! -Teresa 

P. S.(the Davidic Covenant referred to in this passage was God’s promise to David to establish his household. This came after David tried to build a house (temple) for God -which God did not allow) Rather than throw a tantrum about not getting to build, David was wise enough to recognize that God blessed Him with something far greater…it was a gift that reminded him to rest in His provision… Rest because this was to be the lineage of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Isaiah 55:1-3 (NIV)

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,

  come to the waters;

 and you who have no money,

  come, buy and eat!

 Come, buy wine and milk

  without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread,

  and your labor on what does not satisfy?

 Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

  and you will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me;

  listen, that you may live.

 I will make an everlasting covenantwith you,

  my faithful love promised to David.”

 Eating humble pie is one way we can live a life worthy of His calling. By being gentle and humble, making allowance for each other’s faults (even our own)-we can exemplify His love. -Teresa

Ephesians 4:1-4 (NLT)
4 “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.”

 As we consider with affliction and repentance our sinfulness and His provision during Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), we love Yeshua because of the richness of God’s mercy toward us. Not only did Yeshua provide life, eternally, for all who were dead in sin but God gives us a heavenly position because of Yeshua, His Son. This is good news! – Teresa

Ephesians 2:4-10 (NLT)

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”