Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †
Posted in Uncategorized
Thinking of “today”, thinking of “now”:
2 Cor. 6:2 (cf. Isaiah 49:8)
“For He says: “In the acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Isaiah 55:6-7
“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
Hebrews 3:15a (cf. Psalms 95:7-8)
“As it has been said: “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts…”
Revelation 22:17 (cf. Isaiah 55:1)
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.”
—
Thinking of why:
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 3:16
“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.”
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
John 5:24
“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.”
—
Thinking of how:
Luke 18:13
“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’”
James 4:8a
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
John 6:28-29
“Therefore they said to Him, “What must we do, that we may be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you should believe in Him whom He has sent.””
Mark 9:24b
“‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.'”
Acts 16:30-31
“Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.””
So glad you’re on here.
Your spiritual wisdom and proper interpretion of the Scriptures is very refreshing!
.
.
.
Leon, your cat pictures just kill us in the best way!
As always, spiritually invigorating.
Please don’t slow down!
I LOVE THESE DEVOTIONS FROM EPHESIANS!
Powerful post. Thanks
O Holy Night by The Piano Guys, featuring Lexi Walker….
🤗
Wonderful.
She is another Haley Westenra.
Beautiful!!!
How can we not like these ethereal, angelic sounding voices?
Wow!!
The Staging (Stagecraft?) and the vocals are breathtaking (marvelous).
Ich…: Beautiful voice, wet dress.
Platero y yo is a classic, much admired, Spanish poem by Juan Ramon Jimenez. It tells a captivating story of a man’s travels with his beloved donkey, Platero. Italian composer, Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco composed companion pieces for the poem which were intended to be performed with readings of the poem. The great Andres Segovia, instead, chose to record the Tedesco compositions as stand-alone music, thereby cementing them in the classical guitar lexicon where they have been performed and recorded countless times.
I first heard them on this Segovia recording. I was just getting started and, living in a obscure little Texas town, where there were no other classical guitarists, I was captivated when I found a recording like this one. Since the recording was made in ’62 we can assume that Segovia was playing his famous 30’s Herman Hauser. Segovia’s recordings from this period were greatly assisted by producer/sound man Israel Horowitz who probably used 35mm tape to get such wonderful analog sound clarity. What we’re hearing is musical history . . . musical magic. This is Andres Segovia at his best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W8KFUnIPMo&ab_channel=%EB%B0%B1%EC%88%98%EC%84%B1
Sorry for the odd posting. Formatting got the best of me, tonight. Enjoy . . .
Are you admitting a little bit of mortal failure with the rest of us?! 😁
🙂
OK. We’ll let it go this time, but going forward, watch the oddities and formatting! You set a very high bar, Mr. Hall and we can’t let you slip up too much! (Haha. I’m kidding, you know. You made me laugh with your comment!)
What a great reply!
🙂
Garrison, guessed I missed your point about an odd posting and formatting.
Don’t think you missed the target!
You did good!
As always brother of music.
So here is another you have probably seen or heard.
Garrison, as a music brother telling you, awesome music history you presented here.
I know Segovia’s works.
Argument or not, just a reminder…sure you’ve seen this…I appreciate it learning on such…
Solomon, you and Garrison are determined to make me pull out my Martin. Haven’t touched it in 3-4 years. But maybe the time has come to praise Him on the strings again.
Yeah, just do it brother.
So what if the fingers fumble a little here and there while getting back to speed.
I have severe nerve damage and cannot play guitar, piano or violin (which was my first instrument as a kid) anymore.
Music was my #1 mistress of all time. Still is.
Most beautiful guitar in the world. An entity I am closely associated with have 3 of these. It is a Martin D100 Deluxe commemorating Martin’s 1 millionth guitar.
You can get a used one for about $92k. They started out at $110k and went up the second year.
Alas, I don’t have fingers calm enough to play one.
But I have the faith God will heal what He has to so I can pick it up and play it. Just faith, but nothing is impossible with God. It’s His call…….
“…praise Him on the strings again”
Love your heart and spirit!
I know Who is most important to you.
Yea and Amen!
Very kind words. Thank you!
See my reply to Sarah below for an update.
Beauty! 🙂
Sorry about your nerve damage, I’ll be saying and extra prayer for you. I played a little bit of guitar as a teenager, then about 20 years ago while recovering after a car wreck I started driving my youngest son to guitar lessons, and began taking them, too. Praising the Lord playing music helped me heal so much faster. As I got more into it I bought a Martin (love the sound) but mine was only $950.00 at the time.
The Martin that you linked is indeed a gorgeous guitar.
That is some serious artwork. Jeesh
Amazing!!!
Be sure to change the strings. . . 🙂
I’m going to have to 😁.
Garrison, see my reply to Sarah below.
Yes!
See below for an update.
Sending words of encouragement to you and look forward to, perhaps, a post or two here or there about what it felt like to pull out the Martin and just begin……
Sarah, I did it. And it tuned just fine and quick with the old strings. On my music stands the top two sheets were Awesome God and Open the eyes of my heart. It was a good start but the stiff fingers will need a long break in period. But with everyone encouragement here it has begun.
Cool
Ah, and it felt like sitting with a long lost friend.
How lovely for you!!! A joy for your beautiful soul💓
Very COOL
Dec 8…. Severe reduction in Medicaid commercials 🔚
Or Medicare Advantage, promising you things nationwide that for some reason aren’t available in your zip code.
Guess some are more equal than others.
And, bait and switch.
But hey, why should our government and its contractors obey laws or the scrap of paper called the constitution.
Thanks Joe N. and Jimmy and all the celebrity hacks who profited from used car salesman tactics.
“…scrap of paper…”
Agreed
Christmas for cowboys.
So enjoyable. Thanks for posting. 🙂
Here’s another . . .
Crystal clear and clean as the new fallen snow! What a sleigh ride that is! Thank you for the joy.
Yes.
As a kid, having been birthed to 2 active TB parents, they sent me to up to Wyoming to my uncle who was an Army Colonel doctor to treat me.
I hated the shots in the butt every week.
They never had kids, so they took me on.
Shots and all, that still remains 2 of the best years of my childhood.
Even losing control of my sled and running up under a parked car and skinning my leg.
Oh yeah, they spoiled me. Lose a tooth and get silver dollars under my pillow. (I faked them out and pretended I was asleep.)
So going to the cowboy thing, they had money since he was a neurosurgeon and she was a RN.
They dressed me western and cowboy style.
First real western rodeo in Wyoming. Real rodeo.
Late 50s.
It was wild and the real thing.
I remember when they took me to shoot a gun for the first time.
I can remember the picture in my mind driving out to the wilds in their new 1959 Cadillac with those big fins and bullet tail lights. That famous green.
I saw 2 pistols in the front seat.
My aunt’s was a .38. My uncle’s was a long barrel Colt .45.
He said, you don’t get to shoot mine. But I got to shoot the .38.
That was my beginning with guns as a 6 year old.
I miss them!
They taught me that young what a real cowboy was.
Btw, I saw a -54 with windchill of -80. Even then, they wouldn’t let us go to school.
Such is life for all us, right?
I’m sure you have your stories too.
Us mortals are a common thread.
Great story
Good morning, Frank!
Good evening!
Despite health issues, it was a grand ride for a kid. And I certainly lacked nothing for Christmas.
I should have clarified that I didn’t have TB despite being birthed by parents who did. I had severe rheumatic fever. I got it again 3 years later. Got over it, but it was the root of current health issues including heart issues.
They kinda spoiled me, but make no mistake, when discipline was necessary, I got the brunt end of it which was earned and deserved.
They were good to me and wanted to keep much longer, but parents said it was time to come home.
Some best memories ever.
They never had their own kids.
It must have broken their hearts to see you go, Solomon. They were lucky to have you in their lives, and you them.
Did you end up a god son?
Good morning, Solomon! I second Frank, what a great story
Mornin’ back to you!
See my clarification of health issues to Frank.
Have a great day and again, get that Martin back out and start playing it again. 🙂
Liked this a lot.
Bet you have your stories too! 🙂
I can picture you as the guitarist in a tuba skinny in the French Quarter!
See my clarification about health issues in my reply to Frank.
And if you can, have some fun with a guitar today. 🙂
That is one fabulous story so beautifully told. You’re a talented writer and story-teller. Look forward to reading more whenever you are so inclined and inspired to share.
Another cowboy singing a Christmas song…
I would just like to say thanks to those of you that forfilled my musical requests.
Thankyou.
I’ll give you all some trivia on the AC/DC music clip.
The road they travel down is the same road you see in the in the Dictator Dan protests ( Swanston st).
Mungrel was working the that day.
Absolutely no permits of any kind were obtained.
The person in the pith helmet is a traffic cop.
Mungrel is looking at girl with long dark hair.
The girls caused a scandal at the time as they were on a field trip from one of Australia’s most prestigious girls schools and decided to not follow orders, as ruffians like us were off-limits.
AC/DC started doing “gigs” on the pub rock scene and it didn’t take long for word to spread resulting in thousands of young crazy blokes like me spilling into the streets, lots of drinking and fighting ensured and believe me it was wild.
The cops would turn up but then the crowd would turn on them !
The “good girls” would sneak out their windows to hook up with us “ratbags” but it must be remembered that schools were segregated at that time boys/girls , well that didn’t work out well 😁 !
I grew up in a war veteran repatuation area a stone’s throw from the said clip.
In them days fighting the establishment was just normal and AC/DC gave us the outlet to stamp our feet and announce our generation.
I hope now that you good people reading this understand my posts with a little more clarity , besides it’s not very often that you get to hear from somebody that was there.
Acadaca being played at Trump rallys is bonus plus for me.
Cheers .
I was working on the building site you see in the clip, my mistake I forgot to say 😞
Always like to read your stories.
Sounds pretty real to me. 👍
Hope you got my 2 links to the AC/DC yesterday per your request.
Was my link from last night the right one?
The original is black an white, they coloured it in, there are frames missing but essentially the clip is correct.
We have been using music as code, no I’m not giving away any secrets, it’s simply music right ! Now if I mention or send you a song you would know my situation, as an example I give you this :
https/youtu.be/g8xScxmekQk
The glory is they don’t get it because they can’t , even defies their AI , I hope you mob take notice.
Hey and by the way has Betsy been round these parts ? Haven’t seen, hope she’s O’K.
Cheers.
Good morning, Mungrel (it’s morning in Texas, anyway). Now I have to find the time in a busy day to go back to that clip and look again. BTW, yesterday I had the AC/DC tune stuck in my head the whole day, which I didn’t mind at all.
Cheers
Here I am, dear friend. I left you an explanatory message on MP1. A bit under the weather for a couple of days as was hubby as were an assortment of grands both here and in Midland (Texas). My brain stops thinking in straight lines when that happens, which thankfully is not often. But nothing keeps me down so I’m officially up to speed once again😊
I’ll look for you manana if I don’t see you this evening. Thank you for asking after me, which I’ll tell you touched my heart in a big way. Your friend in spirit and affection. LBT. 🤗
I love me some Bet too.
Glad you’re up and running.
Thank you, dear Frank. What a treasure you are.
8 December 1956
Marty Robbins releases ‘Singing The Blues’
8 December 1979
A Chicago quintet called Styx racked up their third of eight US Top Ten hits and their only number one with “Babe”
8 December 1984
“Out Of Touch” becomes Hall And Oates‘ sixth US number one single, confirming their status as the most successful duo in Rock history.
Styx was always played here , Marty Robbins cool.
Lennon was and is still a household name.
His death was a “Hit” by the usual suspects, Dylan history is the key to that one.
8 December 1980
Just two months after his 40th birthday, John Lennon was murdered outside his home at the Dakota Apartment building on the northwestern corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West in New York.
My fav author!
As the leaves continue to fall, great reminder, every fall of our lives.
Leaves get it. We keep forgetting it.
Leaves let go, and feed the tree.
Trees know, ‘far, far better things ahead….’
God loves us.
💪
Ever try Jonathan Edwards?
He’s one of my favorite dead guys
THE IMPARTIAL POWER OF GOD
“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Heb. x. 14
We trample the blood of the Son of God under foot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only explanation of the forgiveness of God and of the unfathomable depth of His forgetting is the Death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the outcome of our personal realization of the Atonement which He has worked out for us. “Christ Jesus…is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” When we realize that Christ is made all this to us, the boundless joy of God begins; wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is at work.
It does not matter who or what we are, there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and by no other way, not because Jesus Christ pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted. All the pleading which deliberately refuses to recognize the Cross is of no avail; it is battering at another door than the one which Jesus has opened. I don’t want to come that way, it is too humiliating to be received as a sinner. “There is none other Name…” The apparent heartlessness of God is the expression of His real heart, there is boundless entrance in His way. “We have forgiveness through His blood.” Identification with the death of Jesus Christ means identification with Him to the death of everything that never was in Him.
God is justified in saving bad men only as He makes them good. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The Atonement is a propitiation whereby God through the death of Jesus makes an unholy man holy.
Oswald Chambers
December 8th Devotional
Recently I’ve had this thought….we’re all on an island of misfit toys…all of us are “misfits” and we are all Jesus R Us kids❤️🥰
Very interesting bunch, we
Misfits are😊. Jesus loves all of us✝️
Good morning everyone from a “crazy cat”!
Me too. I’ve got waaay too much murder in my heart for the scum who shit in the Face of God, then wipe their asses with our constitution.
Very rich words….thanks! 🤗
Frank, I am right there with you. Then I remind myself that the scum that do that are really surprised when they end up with a 10 foot metal rod up their a$$.
You and Frank are on a roll together.
😂
Frank, read psalms 2 it’s short, easy to read and addresses your thoughts on Gods face.
Responsibility rests all on you and I for the whole mess. When you embrace that fact you have just empowered yourself to take action to change it.
Deny it and believe it’s ‘them’ who inflict this pain and you float downstream, as they wish.
The only fear Satan, Lucifer, demons, Democrats, have of you is the truth, and that you know and understand that.
All in the manual.
Palerider:
I’m responsible for my sin(s). My sin only.
I’m not sinning with my properly placed anger.
I sin when I let profanity spew forth in an outburst of anger.
I thank God for my forgiveness.
Please forgive me if I offended you.
I call it righteous anger. I pray God understands🙏
OMG!
With you Frank…
You’re just being honest and quite frankly, frank! 😉
Love this and fully agree.
Tells me I am in really good company.
Btw, I am a long time reader of American Thinker. Are you the feral cat who commented over there?
Didn’t see your ? Till now.
No, not me on American thinker
I’m too skittish to post anywhere except on cth and cfp. Most people seem to think I’m a strange cat, so I usually stay out in the forest. And peek out here😉.
Hey Solomon… you think anyone here could throw together some lyrics to a Jesus R Us rendition of the toys r us jingle?
😎
I second the request!
C’mon man!
. . . but deliver us from the Evil One.
Amen 🙏
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
Prayer of Saint Ioannikios the Great of Bithynia (+ 846)
My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my protection the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
The Trisagion Hymn
and the
50th Psalm (Septuagint)
Since so many have posted music videos today, I thought I’d post a Christmas version of the series from THE CHOSEN. If you are not familiar with this series, it is more than worth looking into. This particular video made me cry. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to experience the birth of Jesus first hand ~ but this video portrays that emotion so that the viewer can participate in some small way, the miracle of Jesus. Enjoy!
The Shepherd – A Story of the First Christmas (24:17 mins)
What a treasure you posted here! Tears streamed out of my eyes, and an incredible release of emotions rising within me✝️
You are truly an exquisite voice, among others, in the Lord’s choir 🙏
Oh I totally agree Cat…what a treasure!!! We feel the emotion because we BELIEVE and know what the Birth of Jesus Christ truly means ~ for all mankind! 🙏✝✝✝
Good morning Stevie! I’m putting this here Thursday cause I woke up with the desire to share what touched me so much about your shared video.
All my life, I’ve come across many who resemble the shepherd in some way. Perhaps I’ve been neglectful in verbal interaction with them but they all have touched a deep part of me. My heart cries when I witness the ugly side of humanity . My heart sings whenever I see a flicker of humanity as Jesus says “go forth…and spread my teachings “. Recently, when critical thoughts about my people observations start, I’m stopped and a little voice inside says, “walk a mile in their shoes, before finishing that critical thought” or something like that🙂. Then my thoughts go to thinking of them in a more humane way 😉
I’d like to think you played an important part of reminding and reinforcing that part of me.
Please don’t stop posting ever! The world needs to be reminding of the true words of our Lord✝️
Keep kindling that spark😘
Agreed on all counts.
Heartily agree!
😭😭😭
Wow. Just wow. Thanks much ✝️💪✝️
Sad!
The difference between then and now.
Hiraeth (pronounced “here-rithe”)
A homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; a nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past.
The Welsh have just the right word, Menagerie. It is a word that not only is spoken, but felt to the very depths of your soul.
I look forward to all of your “reminders”
God bless you and all who pass through here and especially the ones you haven’t “reached” yet. you’ll reach them all✝️🙏❤️🌸
I have noticed just lately the traffic on this particular daily thread seems to have increased dramatically. Glorious!!
Good morning, Betsy!
Good morning, good sir!😊
May you have a day full of God’s blessings.
And may your day is full of God’s blessings, too!
I thank you very much, GrandpaM. So many here on the branches, you included☺.
I noticed that too.
It’s my #1 go to place now.
Amazing. And gratifying. I always thought this thread was undervisited. I do wonder why all of a sudden more are reading it. Not that there needs to be a reason. It’s just wonderful to finally see it.
Really I’d compare it to a wonderful meal…a little of this, a little of that, seasoned just right with scripture, personal stories, music, reminiscences, and that marvelous camaraderie one can find nowhere else outside of our home in the branches.
I find that many of the sites I visit regularly I’ve neglected in favour of this one. It’s just a comfortable place to be.
Eloquently said Betsy🌸
Te moo
Hi (waving) Betsy. Glorious indeed! Lets hope the uptick in traffic here continues for years to come.
Everyone sing the word of the Lord Everyday 😇
Hello, Feral Cat ( of which I’ve had plenty btw😁). Thank you…you know the feeling as well I know.
Aaaaaaamen!
Menagerie: We built a bicycle jump exactly like the one at the beginning of that video. It was at the bottom of the driveway acrosss the street, where we kids would play after school, until it got dark outside. We jumped Schwinn Stingrays and anything else with two wheels. I broke a bike frame doing jumps.
Apodosis or Leavetaking of the Feast of the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple
November 25th on the Patristic Calendar of the Orthodox Christian Church
December 8th on the civil or commercial calendar
Holy Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria (+ 305)
She is commemorated today or yesterday, depending on the location or affiliation, on the Patristic Calendar of the Orthodox Christian Church, November 25th.
The ancient Mount Sinai Monastery in Egypt is dedicated in her honor.
The Life of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria is shared at the link below (which uses http but safe).
http://www.cpress.orthodoxws.com/lives_24_november
Verse of the Day for Wednesday, December 8, 2021
✟
“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”
Psalms 71:1 (KJV)
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/verse-of-day.php
BE MY VOICE
Mornin all,
Sitting here parked at my first stop in Grand Haven, MI. Drinking my first cup of coffee and munching on a donut. Don’t go in the door until 09:00.
Temp is 25 F but precip is a liquid drizzle. Going to be a day for caution when driving.
Setting in the multi pocket organizer beside is half of a pre sliced fruit cake. I like the stuff and think it’s bad rep is not deserved.
“A” donut?!?!!! You need way more than one rah. As we say in Britain, “Get em down your neck !” Be safe on those roads.😊
I have to try and avoid getting my Love handles back. Hard enough during normal times but even more difficult during the Holidays.
Did you get your new tires? I remember you saying something about needing new ones.
Not yet. I quit asking. I get stuck then so be it.
Prayers going your way.
Thank you so much. I did however get my winter wiper blades finally. Pulled into the express bay and asked for them and they had them in.
So say we all, rah. This is why when trying to lose weight, my first and hard fast rule is this!
Never EVER say you’re on a diet. That implies denial and ultimately failure. Nothing worse than saying to yourself”I can’t have that”. Then you just want it all the more.
Instead just say, “I don’t want that (whatever) at this moment”. Believe me, it was that change in verbiage that allowed me to lose a substantial amount of weight over time. A helpful tip from one who had a love handle or two to lose😉.
One pound of fat has approximately 7 MILES of capillaries.
Ewwwwww. That I did not know. So I lost 42,000 miles. Not bad👍
Make that 420…too late last night to read or compute properly. Yikes!! There would have been nothing left.
The thing is the trick is not putting on the weight in the first place. It is much easier to not put it on than to try and get rid of it. But what the heck. The same can be said about Cancer or COPD, and I still smoke far too much. So please don’t take this as preaching. It is just a truth we all recognize but many, if not most, fail to act upon. My house is made of every bit as brittle of glass as yours, and maybe, no, actually probably more so.
Age is not anyone’s friend in that department, rah, especially women. Its harder for us to take it off. Oh, I don’t know about that. We all have a house with at least room in it made of glass, and notice I said at least one. 🤗
fruit cake has a bad rep?
No WAY!
Wait with bated breath for this time of year when it is ‘special’
Drive like a demon – let everyone else drive with caution to avoid you (joking)
wave at Lk Michigan for me – haven’t been there in years
I dearly love fruit cake.
Collins Bakery makes some of the best.
In Corsicana. Agree!!
There is one also in Palestine, Texas,operated by a family for generations.
EILENBERGERS. They make a FABULOUS pecan fruitcake. So many pecans! I preferred that one. They do mail orders in case you ever decide to look into one as a gift. I can highly recommend.
Are you in East Texas?
I was once. In another life.
Made a detour to Wales after, now in the Fort Worth area, where God has placed me.
Two of mine were born at Mother Francis Hospital.
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD
Father God, I now follow your command to put on the full armor of God, because my battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world.
I first pray on the Belt of Truth that it may be buckled around my waist, may I be centered and encircled by your truth dear Lord. Hem me inside all that is true and right, and may I be protected and held up by the truth of your living word, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Breastplate of righteousness, please protect my vital organs and my inner man, cover my integrity, my spirit, and my soul. Guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life, please strengthen and guard the most vulnerable places in my life with that which is right, good, and noble that I might not receive a fatal blow from the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Gospel Shoes of Peace. I choose to stand in the shoes of your good news, and on the firm foundation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the solid eternal rock. All other ground is sinking sand, I pray that I will not slip or fall, but that my feet would be firmly fitted on your lordship, my Lord Jesus. I choose to stand on you, so that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, the eternal Rock of Ages. I receive your holy peace now my Lord, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray the Shield of Faith into my hand now. As I take up the shield of faith, I ask that you might extinguish every dart and arrow, that is launched from the enemy to take me down spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy my joy. I ask that my faith in you would make it flame out. Extinguish every flaming arrow that would come against me, my life, my family, my home, or my ministry. May my faith always be out in front of me like a shield. Give me the courage to “faith my fears” by choosing to walk by faith and not by sight, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Helmet of Salvation, that you might protect my mind from the thoughts that can lead me astray. I choose to take every thought captive, and arrest all intentioned ideas and motives that would harm others, or distract me from your holy will for me. I submit every captured thought to the Lordship of my Lord Jesus Christ, and ask that you would imprison those thoughts that are not of you my Lord. Transform my mind and renew my thinking that I may think God thoughts, and have a sober mind that is focused on your glory. Please protect me from being double minded that I may allow my mind, I reject to live an earthly life, because I choose to live a holy one, governed by you My Lord Jesus, the prince of peace, please have my mind to be saturated with the holy mind of Christ, in my Lord Jesus name.
Finally, I take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the holy word of God, I pray this powerful offensive weapon into my hand, and ask that your holy word would be fitting for every encounter I face. As the enemy gets close to me, please give me the insight, wisdom, and skill to wield the word of God to drive away the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
May the enemy and his team flee from me, upon hearing the word of God spoken by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Give me the sword of the spirit to cut through the wiles of the devil, so that I may discern the schemes of the enemy when he is near.
With all kinds of prayers, supplication, and intercession I pray to you my Lord God as the one who fights my battles. Now that I’m in your holy powerful armor, I walk away covered and ready to face my day as you go before me, and please protect me in the midst of the spiritual warfare in this unseen world, in my Lord Jesus name.
Thank you my Lord, for the spiritual weapons of armor and prayer that you have given me. It is written no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses me.
Thank you Father God, my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that I am more than a conqueror in my Lord Jesus. I pray all of this in the mighty name of my Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, amen.
Greetings Treepers!
I remember coming to this open thread a few short years ago, finding great refuge. During most of that time, the day would end with fewer than 30 posts.
My daily routine typically starts at 4:30 or 5 when I brush the dust off my Bibles and read. I use the English Standard Version in the Crossway Study Bible, MacArthur SB, and the Reformation SB. Then I go to http://www.biblegateway.com where I feast on Morning and Evening Devotions by Spurgeon.
I then come here, enjoy the friendship/fellowship, then blast into my day. I love (love) this branch and each of you on it.
My beloved and I own two small businesses and I’m busy! I used to be able to read here…now I am starting to merely scan here.
This thread is wonderfully growing! I sometimes stop during the day to check in.
So? I wrote the above because I don’t feel like I engage much. It’s not that I don’t care. So if you get a thumbs up from me but super short responses, please know I care for you and this branch.
I write from a mobile phone not a computer. Love this place!
Oh my goodness, Frank! I posted my comment above before I scrolled down to yours. I’ve noticed the same. Suddenly and all at once. What do they say? Two great minds with a single thought. 😉
Count me as the “third wheel” who usually is very quiet and ☺️
Hi Frank… waving…. glad I bumped into you today🙂
Very glad you’re here!🌲🎄
Mmm hmmm 🤔
👍
Ur doin’ just fine here, Frank.
We’re always glad to read you, short or long…always a blessing either way!
Wonderful!
We had two fainting goats. Loved them but had to give them away…long story.
Was that you?
Great vid
Drizzle has turned to snow. This really is the most dangerous time of year to drive. Too many learning or relearning how to drive in intermittent slick conditions.
Your Guardian Angel is sitting beside you. 🙏🙏🙏
Modern vehicles with anti-lock brakes and traction controls have made us complacent. We used to have to work to maintain control using all of our senses to exactly throttle and guide the vehicle in slippery conditions. Now the vehicle does that for us. Until it does not. When that point is crossed from computerized control to uncontrolled instability, the ability to correct is long past. The only strategy is to point it in the right direction and hope everything stops moving without someone getting hurt.
Cars have become quite reliable. They seem to always start, they don’t randomly die, and the brakes work. There are very few blowouts even at sustained speeds of 80 MPH that I see on the Interstate highways. I learned to drive in a time that I really never knew if the car would start on a cold morning. I did not pull out in front of anyone because it just might die. I did not follow closely because I might not be able to stop. Most of those variables have become quite rare.
I do wish that people on the roads knew a bit of physics. F=MA makes that 80,000 pound rig at 70MPH and incredible force to control. The way people drive when in traffic with trucks makes me wonder how they survive.
don’t worry. there’s a bunch of us old old drivers sitting in the cab with you and hanging on the fenders keeping the truck safe
not seen, but felt, i bet
Yep, it feels great too!
Love this.
🤭🙂
What’s really fun is navigating steep grades on black ice. Can get very scary. But driving skills help.
Ha! One winter day in KC, in Kansas I was diverted by detour off I-70 east and came upon a steep down grade with cars parked on both sides of the road and multiple intersections ahead. I went over the crest under 5 mph. Once on the downgrade there was not stopping or slowing down. In fact it was all I could do to keep the rig going straight. It was not me that made it through that without bad turning to worse.
Grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your children when you wanted to.
They are, aren’t they. I have a tent in the middle of out living room, Planned to take it down this morning but then I’m picking up the little guy that made me put it up in the first place from school today and he is going to ask me what happened to his tent. So I decided to leave it for now. Maybe later today I can talk him into moving it outside. Oh well, I love it, anyway,
Our home here has been a haven for our children and Grandchildren and even my brother in law. Sherry and I were just talking about that tonight. Since we bought this house we have had someone living here other than us for far more often than we have had it to ourselves. And you know? I wouldn’t have it any other way! My son beat his alcoholism here and has not had a drink in the over 2o years since. My daughter, having lost her home lived here for 18 months until she got on her own two feet again. My brother-in-law recovered from his heart attack and double bypass here. It goes on and on. And I would not have it any other way. I and my wonderful lady believe the traces of our lives. One’s true worth, is measured not by money, but by the effect one has on others lives. That IS LIFE! That IS FAMILY! That IS the greatest and truest expression of LOVE!
Amen, brother! That is what makes a house a home.
We’ve been so blessed to have all our children and grands close. Our oldest son and family live just over the hill, our youngest son and his are 20 minutes away. Our daughter and son in law have lived all over the place (she still is an active military) but have settled down for her last 3 years before retirement 55 min from our home. And we just had lunch today with a 2 friends that both used to work for us, got married and we consider them to be our adopted son and daughter, and their 2 kids – our grand kids. that family is 35 min. away.
And my mom and step dad are less than a mile away.
My sister-in-law lives across the valley from us. I ranged her house with my rangefinder from my front porch and it is less then a mile.
A lot of happy family memories have been made that all the money in the world cannot buy,
So I picked up the little guy today (he belongs to my youngest boy), we were supposed to do some homework but he is out so we may try it in the morning or may be not.
Stay safe.
Tonight, we have my son and daughter-in-laws two dogs. They’re little things we, really Sherry, are taking care of while my hard working son and his hard working wife are taking off for a little get a way in Nashville for three days. So if it’s not humans, it’s animals. But like I said, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
🤭🤫😉
For those who may be curious about Éric Zemmour’s political popularity in France, this recent interview is excellent:
In door 6 at my first stop. Snow on the ground and no tracks to follow so as usual in such circumstances I had to pull up after the first time backing in a couple times to straighten up and be aligned. No references makes for more work.
Talked to my buddy that is driving into Muskegon. Road closed due to accident. School bus T-boned laying on its side.
Not good. Pray those kids and driver are ok.
Think the bus was done with the kids. Thank God!
When it’s Christmas Time in Texas
In a bit of a contrast, Saint Petersburg, Russia…
Christmas and New Year’s
Now think as you watch that! Under the Soviet Union the STATE was god and no other was allowed. The state wanted to own ones soul and that is why, in the end, it failed. The human soul is not something that can be taken, it is something that can only be surrendered. It must be given.
Remember going there about 50 years ago on a high school trip to the Soviet Union. It was one of the 4 cities that we visited.
Pretty lights in Russia.
They look good but we will take the freedoms in Texas.
Listening to Nelson Walters lately…..
God says persecution is a blessing. It’s an opportunity for you to show appreciation and worship of Him.
Perhaps I would be disappointed if I reached heaven after having only lived a comfortable life instead of being “proud” or happy that I was able to sacrifice for Him.
Something to contemplate 🤔
👍🌸
This is sick, I first saw it and immediately had memories of the old fashioned telephone booth, how many can fit in it?
https://iotwreport.com/switzerland-approves-new-suicide-machine-with-detachable-coffin-lets-you-kill-yourself-anytime/
Hmmm. Do they have a model to encapsulate DC?
Chernobyl?
lilbirdee12’s prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, Your children come to you tonight to ask for healing and peace throughout our country so that we may return to being One Nation Under God. Guide us to be leaders in Your Kingdom, spreading Your Love and Salvation to all. Forgive us our sins and deliver us from evil.
Lord, we ask for a blanket of protection over all our troops and law enforcement who serve to defend and protect us. Bless our representatives with the strength and wisdom they need to achieve the path You have chosen for us.
Please place Your Guardian Angels of Protection around Donald Trump and his family as they seek to lead America back to You. Also, we pray for Angels to protect and support our Sundance as he works for justice and peace.
Grant us patience, Lord, as the evil ones try to anger us and cause us to fall.
Spread blessings over Israel and Netanyahu.
We humbly ask that You please comfort those who are grieving and in pain.
Thank you Father, for Your Love and the gift of Life.
In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
Amen
Amen. And prayers for political prisoners, especially those of January 6, for their comfort and release.. and Pastor Pawlowski in Canada
Amen.
Amen!
Amen.
Finland’s PM forgets something https://nationalpost.com/news/world/furor-finlands-36-year-old-pm-goes-clubbing-despite-exposure-to-covid-case