Psalm 223:6 We are grafted into the promises of God to Abraham!

 Psalm 27:4–6

One thing I have desired of the LORD,

That will I seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD

All the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LORD,

And to inquire in His temple.

For in the time of trouble

He shall hide me in His pavilion;

In the secret place of His tabernacle

He shall hide me;

He shall set me high upon a rock…

When we place our trust in God alone He will direct our path! As His adopted children we are grafted into all the promises made to His covenant people. Praise be to our triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Carla

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever. NKJV

The use of both goodness and mercy to describe God’s loyal love intensifies the meaning of the two words. What is described in verse 5 is God’s overabundant mercy—love that is in no way deserved. The Hebrew verb follow describes an animal in pursuit. When the Lord is our Shepherd, instead of being stalked by wild beasts we are pursued by the loving care of the Lord. God’s promise for the Israelites was not just for the enjoyment of this life in the land of promise it was also for the full enjoyment of the life to come in His blessed presence (16:9–11; 17:15; 49:15). The NKJV Study Bible

With Yahweh as his shepherd and host, the psalmist is confident that he will be protected by Yahweh’s unfailing covenantal love (Exodus 34:6). Faithlife Study Bible

Psalm 25:7

Do not remember the sins of my youth, 

nor my transgressions;

According to Your mercy remember me,

For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.

Psalm 25:10

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth,

To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Psalm 21:4

He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—Length of days forever and ever.

God’s promise to the Gentiles is rooted in the Abrahamic Covenant, ensuring that all families of the earth would be blessed through Abraham's offspring (Genesis 12:3, 22:18). Through faith in Jesus Christ, Gentiles are "grafted in," becoming joint heirs with Israel and receiving the Holy Spirit, breaking down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. 

Key Aspects of God's Promise to Gentiles:

• Universal Blessing: Before forming Israel, God promised to bless all nations through Abraham.
• Access Through Faith: Gentiles gain access to God’s promises not through the Law or circumcision, but through faith in Jesus Christ, making them co-heirs and members of one body.
• The Holy Spirit: Gentile believers receive the Holy Spirit just as Jewish believers did, marking them as God's people.
• Grafted In: In Romans 11, Paul describes Gentile believers as "wild olive branches" grafted into the natural root (Israel), sharing in the covenant blessings.
• A "Mystery" Revealed: God's plan to save Gentiles and make them part of the same family was a "mystery" not fully understood until the New Testament (Romans 11:25).
• No Distinction: The gospel guarantees that there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile in Christ.

The promises signify that Gentile salvation was always part of God's plan, culminating in a redeemed community from every nation. 

• The Promise to All Nations: God promised Abraham that "in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3), which is a foundational promise for Gentile inclusion.
• Justification by Faith: Paul explains in Galatians 3:8-9 that the gospel was preached to Abraham in advance and that Gentiles who believe are justified and blessed along with faithful Abraham.
• Spiritual Adoption: Gentiles become the "seed of Abraham" and heirs to the spiritual promises through union with Christ, regardless of their physical lineage.
• Distinct Roles: While spiritual blessings are shared, some theologians distinguish between the physical covenant promises specific to Israel and the spiritual blessings extended to the church. 

The New Testament makes it clear that the ultimate fulfillment of the promise to bless "all families" is found in the spread of the gospel to the entire world

1 John 4:7-11 We are able to love because God first loved us!

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

In a world that wants to divide us we can be that beacon of hope that brings all of us, as creations of God, together. We can respect and honor that spark of our Creator that is in every human being that comes into this world. We can  shine His light in the darkness exposing the evil that wants to kill, steal and destroy us. We bring  hope  to the marginalized and the oppressed by showing our neighbors God’s love for them. Be the light and let it shine, don’t hide it under a basket. it is meant to be shared. Carla

1 John 4:7-11

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Know God here refers to an intimate, experiential knowledge of God, rather than just information about God. John never says that those who do not love are not born of God (verse 7). Yet it is impossible to know God intimately without loving others, for God is love. Anyone in whom God dwells reflects His character. To claim to know God while failing to love others is to make a false claim (1:6). The love of God for His children was visibly demonstrated through Jesus’ work on the Cross on our behalf. Only begotten Son expresses the sense of uniqueness, not a literal birth (Hebrews 11:17). John is the only New Testament author who calls Jesus this (John 1:18; 3:16, 18). In other words, Jesus is the unique Son of God; no other person is God’s Son in the way He is. The NKJV Study Bible

As Father, God provides His children with guidance through the Spirit. John’s use of this language reflects God’s act of making people one with Him and restoring the image that God intended for humanity in the beginning (Genesis 1:27). God is love. Although love is an essential attribute of God, John is not making an abstract statement about God’s character. John’s point is that God can be known only through His demonstration of His love, most profoundly seen in sending His Son in the flesh as a sacrifice for humanity. God demonstrated His love for humanity and creation by sending His only Son to die as a means of atonement for sin (1 John 4:9; John 3:16). Since the incarnation represents God’s ultimate expression of love, those who deny that Jesus came in the flesh reject God’s love for them. The propitiation refers  to the reconciliatory significance of Christ’s death and resurrection. 

John links together the two main issues that the false teachers have misconstrued: love of God and love of neighbor. For John, the two expressions of love are inextricably tied together. Faithlife Study Bible

John 3:16–18

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved…

1 John 3:10–11

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

1 John 5:11

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

Let us unpack our two invitations. To live awake, and to squeeze life. Both allow us to choose. Both allow us to honor what really matters. And the good news? From that place, we are tethered and grounded.
So, it’s paradigm shift time.

“Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.” Robin Wall Kimmerer

If I were giving a talk, I would say “Let’s read that again. Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy.”
This takes me back to my garden: It’s the dirt that really matters.
When we focus only on the “flowers”, what really matters—the dirt they grow in—gets lost, hidden, unseen, so we don’t draw on it.
It is the same with the world we live in. When we embrace the gift of “squeezing” the “dirt,” we gratefully honor that hope, renewal, rebuilding, kindness, connection, forgiveness, reconciliation, integrity, and human dignity still exist. Sabbath Moments

“When you desire to see the beauty and joy in everyday life; something magical happens; ordinary life becomes extraordinary, and the very process of life begins to nourish your soul.” Jill Alman-Bernstein

If you are experiencing fiery trials right now, take heart. Because Jesus is alive, our hope for the future is as well! A resurrected Savior means we have "living hope" (1 Peter 1:3) and certain confidence in what's to come. No matter how heavy life gets, we look forward to an inheritance that will never change and never end. First5

Proverbs 3:5-6 God directs our path as we trust in Him alone!

 Jeremiah 9:23–24

Thus says the LORD:

“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,

Let not the mighty man glory in his might,

Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

But let him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight,” says the LORD

When we trust God in the process of reconciliation through  the sacrifice of Jesus we commit our lives into His care. We may not fully know the path but we know that He does. We can hear the whispers of Holy Spirit as He guides us along our path. We know that He will make all things work out for our good. To God be all glory!!! Carla 

Proverbs 3:5-6 

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths. 

The words trust in the Lord echo the command of Deuteronomy 6:5 to love God with all our being. The verb trust is complemented by the verb “lean.” Trusting in God is a conscious dependence on God, much like leaning on a tree for support. The idea is reinforced here by the command to acknowledge Him, which means to observe Him and get to know Him in the process of living. In doing so, a person finds time and time again that God smoothes out paths. The NKJV Study Bible 

Since wisdom comes from Yahweh (Proverbs 2:6), He must be trusted. This often involves relying on God’s wisdom rather than human wisdom (verse 7). Faithlife Study Bible

Psalm 37:3

Trust in the LORD, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

1 Chronicles 28:9

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. 

Proverbs 16:3

Commit your works to the LORD,

And your thoughts will be established.

This I know; living with cynicism, mistrust, and fomenting rage is not a good way to live. I cannot—and will not—shut down my heart.

I need to hear the same voice that invited Peter (full of fear) out of the boat, onto a stormy sea, “Be not afraid. Look at me. Now take one step.” Jesus didn't ask Peter to wait until he was “unafraid,” or had it all figured out. He invited him to risk, and embrace this life, even with the imperfections and limitations, even knowing sooner or later, he may sink.
Now, more than ever, we need sustenance—places of sanity and restoration.
Places and people we trust, that allow us to take a step. Will you join me? You are gifted with the permission, to let the list (of expectations) go. And when you do, you make space, and receive gifts to savor.

The gardener in me thinks of that created space as soil. Because it is the dirt that matters. And this I know: in the good dirt, the good stuff grows. Like honoring and savoring, paying attention and groundedness, tenderheartedness and self-care, restoration and forgiveness.

All of it, wrapped in gratitude.

And every single one of those gifts is fortified by hope.

“When you desire to see the beauty and joy in everyday life; something magical happens; ordinary life becomes extraordinary, and the very process of life begins to nourish your soul.” (Jill Alman-Bernstein) Sabbath Moments

James 1:12 (ESV) "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

James wrote that believers who endure will receive the crown of life.

Let's say you're making a cake. After going to the store, you set out all the ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. But then you feel too tired to mix it all together, so instead, you decide to enjoy the cake one ingredient at a time.

Of course, there are some you'd rather leave out. The flour is too dry, and the raw eggs are gross. But sugar, butter, and vanilla are all good. Leave them in! Still, without the mixing of all the ingredients, your cake would never really become a cake. As James might say, it would never be "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:4).

Our key verse today is James 1:12, but first let's back up a few verses to James 1:2-4 for context: "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Understanding how to "count it all joy" rises and falls on whether we truly trust God in the middle of what our human minds can't see as good at all.

We are so quick to judge the quality of our lives and the reliability of God based on individual events rather than the eventual good God is putting together. Yet just like the master baker allows the flour and eggs, in right measure, into his recipe, Jesus will do the same with dry times and hard times in our lives. We may have to go through some chaos in the mixing and some heat in the baking, but soon we will rise and live lives that are a sweet offering of hope, grace, peace, and comfort to others. First5

Psalm 105:1-4 Give thanks to God…He is so, so good!

 1 Chronicles 16:34

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

In our weakness He is strong. In our weakness we can admit that we do not always know the answers but we know that He does. In our weakness we can remember how faithful He has been to us and trust Him, the rock of our salvation. Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness. No  place on earth is beyond His claim. To borrow from my favorite song…All my life You have been faithful. All my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able I will tell of the goodness of God! Carla

Psalm 105:1-4

1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord!

Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works!

3 Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

4 Seek the Lord and His strength;

Seek His face evermore! NKJV

Psalm 105, a psalm of praise, focuses on the positive experiences of Israel in their early history. Contrast Psalm 106, which reviews the same period of history but with an emphasis on the faithlessness of the people. This poem celebrates God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham in the lives of His people. The people needed to remember to be faithful to God, who had never forgotten to be faithful to them. 

The psalmist calls to memory what God did for His people in fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham. Remember is the key idea of the psalm: the psalmist wanted to remind God’s people of His goodness. The NKJV Study Bible

Give thanks refers to glad remembrance of Yahweh’s actions. Tell of all his wonderful works focuses on Yahweh’s excellence and moral goodness displayed in His actions. Faithlife Study Bible

Psalm 145:11–12

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,

And talk of Your power,

To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,

And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

Isaiah 12:4

And in that day you will say:

“Praise the LORD, call upon His name;

Declare His deeds among the peoples,

Make mention that His name is exalted.

1 Chronicles 16:8–22

Oh, give thanks to the LORD!

Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!

Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works…

Psalm 27:8

When You said, “Seek My face,

“My heart said to You, 

“Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

In a world were life feels dismaying, and yes, unnerving, emotional armor is tempting, even consoling. I can tell you that my heart gives way to tears, anger, exasperation. And too often, I do not have the words.

It is no surprise that we easily forget that we still do have the power of choice. We are not “at the mercy of”.

Where to begin? Today, I needed a story to say “no” to the armor, and reconnect with my heart. And yet. Our world worships and venerates power.

It is paradigm shift time.
Let us listen to Jesus’ reminder, “Blessed are the meek.” (Matthew 5:5)
Blessed are the humble, and the gentle. (One writer referred to meekness as "strength under control". It is not weakness, it is not cowardice; meekness is a conscious decision to refrain from arrogance, vengeance, or violence.) Who knew? Humility is a profound strength—the gift of being at home in our own skin, because our contentment and self-worth is not dependent on validation. (I heard someone say, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”) Plato’s reminder, “What is honored will be cultivated.” Excerpts from “Sabbath Moments”

“Strong people don't put others down. They lift them up.” Michael P. Watson

The hope of the gospel goes beyond freedom from sin in this life; it extends even beyond our current reconciliation to God and our empowerment by the Holy Spirit. God's glorious promise sustains us in our pain today and stretches to someday "wipe away every tear" (Revelation 21:4). The Greek verb for "wipe away" doesn't just describe consolation for tears that will inevitably return. It means "cancel" or "erase." More than just drying our eyes, God will abolish sorrow itself. The Topical Lexicon explains that the cross of Jesus is "both the pen that signs our pardon and the eraser that removes our guilt" and our grief forever.

Because there's no death in eternity, we will overflow with life. Because no sorrow exists, our gladness will be unimaginable. Our laughter must abound if our tears are absent. Where pain once was as prevalent as oxygen, joy will become the air we breathe.

When He lived on earth, even Jesus wept in grief (John 11:35; Luke 19:41) ... but His tears were not the end of His story. He has risen victorious over sorrow and death, never to mourn again. And one day we will join Him in that joy, our tears forever wiped away. First5