When I graduated from High School, I thought that adulthood was a gift bestowed on me by my community.  Truly feeling a responsibility to be wise, hardworking and understanding, I sought a college degree at NMU. It was there that I first engaged in a regular exercise program- swimming, raquetball, ice skating. Similarly, when we choose moral routines (behaviors that free us from the lust of the flesh) we affirm that we understand at an emotional level our worth to God which in turn will honor the Holy Spirit who lives in us. God bought us at a high price so living honestly in fellowship with Him brings glory to His name (aka His character). Father, help us not to be legalistic and rule bound but to live in the light of Your loving presence, knowing how much we are worth to You.-Teresa

1 Corinthians 6: 15-20 ( NLT)

15 Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! 16 And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.”[d] 17 But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.

18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

  
If you like ketchup and pickles, then you might  like the main course tonight….can u guess what I made?

 There are times when I feel very small trying to unbury my life from a thousand tasks as if I were the lone ant. When God chooses to reveal how important a person is to Him, it may come as a surprise that He actually chooses the weak, the foolish, the powerless even the despised people of the world. This is because the sooner we rid ourselves of self, the better it is for the birth of His kingdom in our hearts! So, the next time we feel small or like our impact is not so great, remember that God’s weakest moment is greater than the most powerful human strength. Amazingly, He chooses to include us in His great plan for the world. – Teresa

 I Corinthians 1: 24-31 (NLT)

24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles,[b] Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy[c] when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world,[d] things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”[e]

  
The light is brightest when darkness is all around.  Although David’s enemies surrounded him, the Lord was his fortress. Hidden, out of reach- David could not be touched by danger. This was his reality, not because darkness was absent but because the light was present. (God is light and in him there is no darkness at all- see I John 1:5). The Lord deserves our adoration-His righteousness is perfected through one act. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16 (NIV). Father, you are not only light but you provided salvation. Thank you! – Teresa

Psalm 27: 1-6 ( NLT)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—

    so why should I be afraid?

The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,

    so why should I tremble?

2 When evil people come to devour me,

    when my enemies and foes attack me,

    they will stumble and fall.

3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,

    my heart will not be afraid.

Even if I am attacked,

    I will remain confident.

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—

    the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

    delighting in the Lord’s perfections

    and meditating in his Temple.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

    he will hide me in his sanctuary.

    He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

6 Then I will hold my head high

    above my enemies who surround me.

At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

    singing and praising the Lord with music.

  
When the cream pitcher is almost as tall as the coffee carafe, I’m pleased- especially when the sugar looks so inviting. In the Finnish culture, children are introduced to coffee like this at an early age. Many years later, when I had an opportunity to drink coffee with milk in North Africa, I enjoyed it very much! Reading about the Psalmist approach to being in God’s presence catapulted me back to a very pleasant childhood memory. Since my father owned 40 acres of land, there were no visible neighbors on either side of our house. The Lord Jesus Christ captured my heart the summer of my 15th year. I later realized, to my delight, that I knew Him as my first love. We  would spend hours in sweet fellowship as I walked amongst the evergreen and birch trees. This was a sacred time for me- praying and meditating on His word. What a sanctuary of God’s presence that fully satiated my thirsty soul. We can bare our soul to those we trust and I found that He is fully trustworthy!

#transparencyinworship-Teresa

Psalm 26:1-8 (NLT)

1 Declare me innocent, O Lord,

    for I have acted with integrity;

    I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

2 Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.

    Test my motives and my heart.

3 For I am always aware of your unfailing love,

    and I have lived according to your truth.

4 I do not spend time with liars

    or go along with hypocrites.

5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,

    and I refuse to join in with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence.

    I come to your altar, O Lord,

7 singing a song of thanksgiving

    and telling of all your wonders.

8 I love your sanctuary, Lord,

    the place where your glorious presence dwells.

 
Loved this performance by a truly magical musician, Hans Anderson!! Combining reggae with folk and unique rhythmical combinations, he really wowed the crowd… Especially his parents- Teresa 

 

How hard is it to open an ancient door or an ancient gate? It may be impossible if they have been closed for thousands of years. What about the doors and gates of the human heart?  The Lord of glory is being invited to enter a place of worship that had been closed off. Just as the ark of the covenant was brought into the Temple with great glory when thousands of offerings were offered to cleanse for sin. Even so, only one offering is needed to purify our hands and hearts in God’s sight, to make us ready for worship-Jesus Christ, the sinless One. Thank you, Father, for sending the Lord of glory at just the right time into human history.- Teresa

Psalm 24 (NLT)

A psalm of David.

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.

    The world and all its people belong to him.

2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas

    and built it on the ocean depths.

3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?

    Who may stand in his holy place?

4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,

    who do not worship idols

    and never tell lies.

5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing

    and have a right relationship with God their savior.

6 Such people may seek you

    and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.[a] Interlude

7 Open up, ancient gates!

    Open up, ancient doors,

    and let the King of glory enter.

8 Who is the King of glory?

    The Lord, strong and mighty;

    the Lord, invincible in battle.

9 Open up, ancient gates!

    Open up, ancient doors,

    and let the King of glory enter.

10 Who is the King of glory?

    The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—

    he is the King of glory. Interlude

  

 
     

When we “know” God, it does not mean we’ve only been introduced, worked in the same office or even laughed together over a meal. To know God means that we understand His Word; we know what He approves of and does not approve of. Knowing Him gives us a recourse, an option, to say no to sin’s powerful bondage. Yet, it’s not always about our willpower but about His kindness and acceptance that encourages us to put aside our old ways of selfish behavior (see Colossians 3: 8-11) and to put on our new self that exudes gratitude toward God (see Col 3: 12-17). Because He has placed extreme value over our lives, we are called holy, chosen and dearly loved. -Teresa

I John 2: 1-6 (NLT)
1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.  

If you have ever been rescued from deep waters, you understand the joy of the psalmist. When things look impossible, God Almighty will work upstream on our behalf. He requires a heart of repentance and humility. He alone can turn dire circumstances into a place of rejoicing and praise to His name. How does He do this? Read 1 John chapter 1….in a very tangible, hands on solution, God provided a way for us to have fellowship with Him through The Word of Life. In this way, our joy is made complete!! -Teresa

Psalm 18: 16-19 (NLT)

16 “He reached down from heaven and rescued me;

    he drew me out of deep waters.

17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies,

    from those who hated me and were too strong for me.

18 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,

    but the Lord supported me.

19 He led me to a place of safety;

    he rescued me because he delights in me.”

  

  

There are times when the beautiful things near us reassure of God’s loving presence. The law provided us with a knowledge of sin but sin took the opportunity to control us through it. If we die to sin and become alive in Christ, we no longer have the Law keeping us near God but we have the authentic love relationship of Jesus Christ our Lord. What does it mean to walk in this new life of love? The apostle John described it well in his letter, I John, to the churches. He writes this letter for four reasons: so that their joy may be complete (see 1:4), so that they would live a life free from sin’s bondage (see 2:1), so that they would discern false teaching (see 2:26), and so they would be confident of the eternal life in them (see 5:23). This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters (I John 3:16, NIV). 

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.