This white lily is pure and spotless, emitting a very sweet fragrance. It’s a picture of what we become as the bride of Christ. He washes us with the water of the word (Ephesians 5:26). We actually smell sweet when He transforms us by the renewing of our mind (2 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 12:2). Don’t swallow a line from random “religious” persons who come your way- you may compromise your sweetness!-Teresa

2Corinthians 11:1-4 (NLT)

11 “I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride[a] to one husband—Christ. 3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.”

 Amidst the times of deep refreshing, we must remember there is always time for God. Even when life seems too busy, too pressured with too many needs to take care of-our lives are sustained by His wisdom.  Just as He sustains the universe in its motion, He has us covered. Trust Him today! -Teresa

 Psalm 52:8,9 (NLT)

8 But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.

    I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.

9 I will praise you forever, O God,

    for what you have done.

I will trust in your good name

    in the presence of your faithful people.

  

   
    
 

 Who do I ask to sit and swing with me? It is a person I’d like to share my time and my life with. Who would you ask? When we are generous and share our lives with others, then we have the joy of reaping quality friendships and family relationships! In the same way, gifts to the poor are multiplied in God’s hands when we share our resources with Him. Our job is to share, His job is to multiply it into overflowing blessings!!-Teresa

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (NLT)
6 “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”[c] 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say,

“They share freely and give generously to the poor.

    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”[d]

10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity[e] in you.”

  Psalm 47:1-9 (NLT)

1 Come, everyone! Clap your hands!

    Shout to God with joyful praise!

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome.

    He is the great King of all the earth.

3 He subdues the nations before us,

    putting our enemies beneath our feet.

4 He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance,

    the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves. Interlude

5 God has ascended with a mighty shout.

    The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;

    sing praises to our King, sing praises!

7 For God is the King over all the earth.

    Praise him with a psalm.[a]

8 God reigns above the nations,

    sitting on his holy throne.

9 The rulers of the world have gathered together

    with the people of the God of Abraham.

For all the kings of the earth belong to God.

    He is highly honored everywhere.

 When we seek to help those who are suffering, we must remember that Job’s friends are not a good example! The thing that God points out about them is that they did not speak accurately about Him -like Job did. In our suffering, we can sometimes be irritated by those who are not wise or who may falsely think they are spiritually mature. The important thing is to hold onto your relationship with God- and not to be bowled over by “religious” people. God gives you permission to disagree because of His faithful love.

 Job 42:7-9 (NLT)

7 ‘After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.’

  Psalm 43:4,5 (NLT)

4 “There I will go to the altar of God,

    to God—the source of all my joy.

I will praise you with my harp,

    O God, my God!

5 Why am I discouraged?

    Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

    I will praise him again—

    my Savior and my God!”

What causes us to praise although there may be great sorrow attached? This is the thing that brings us close to God. His presence of joy consoles us in the place where we have given much to Him. -Teresa

   
    
   

  Psalm 42:1-3 (NLT)

1 As the deer longs for streams of water,

    so I long for you, O God.

2 I thirst for God, the living God.

    When can I go and stand before him?

3 Day and night I have only tears for food,

    while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,

   “Where is this God of yours?”
When we thirst for God, He satisfies with the Holy Spirit like a stream of water satiating our parched soul. But do we truly thirst for Him? Instead, are we satisfied with the stagnant mud puddle of the world’s pleasure? Father, you have shown yourself through Jesus Christ your Son. Once we have experienced eternal life, there is nothing else that will satisfy our thirsty soul like you. We entrust our lives to you, knowing that you love us above all. -Teresa