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 †
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Ave, verum corpus…Hail, true body
This beautiful “Ave Verum” is sung by Sir Bryn Terfel (Welsh) and Simon Keenlyside (English). It is written by Sir Karl Jenkins (Welsh).
It is as beautiful piece to hear to start the morning as it is to hear at the end of the day. It awakens my soul. I hope it will do the same for all in the branches of our bless-ed Tree.
Nadolig Llawen (Merry Christmas), my friends.
It is quite lovely, and kind of refreshing to hear a baritone-bass duet.
I was a chorister for over 60 years, and have sung probably 50 different AVEs. My favorites are still Byrd and Mozart, but I think it has something to do with having sung each part in turn from soprano to bass as I got older and my voice got lower in range.
I did manage to perform, record and tour with a Welsh-singing choir for a year once, the one based in Los Angeles whose earlier members sang for the 1941 film of “How Green Was My Valley”. Grand experience for the most part, but the director was unfortunately one of those “shouty” types. Too triggering for my mental health. However, I learned about 200 traditional Welsh hymns, including the original versions of same that people in the US sing in English (Suo Gan, Cwm Rhonnda etc.). When my wife and I traveled to Wales and would sing Hen Wlad enthusiastically along with the audiences at events, we got a lot of smiles and hugs. I think this is the only YouTube post from the album I sang on:
I do thank you, Invisible Mikey, for your sharing your experiences with Welsh choirs, and especially for those links.
I have always loved the Tallis Scholars; and the second, I am unfamiliar with and found it beautiful, especially the Welsh lilt which I heard immediately. I miss it, having lived in North Wales for two life changing decades. Given past (and still occasional) strong feelings between the Welsh and the English (especially in rugby), I always smile when I listen to this Ave Verum Corpus with these two magnificent voices. I am so glad you found it as I did.
I have always been extremely partial to a baritone/bass voice. What pleasure you must have had with your Welsh choir, especially one with such a grand history of singing for that beautiful film, one of my favourites. I found that fascinating. And it is a rotten shame that the director’s unfortunate approach was as it was. I am sorry your experience, otherwise wonderful, had that little splinter in it.
Welsh is a very difficult language. I knew quite a few phrases but never mastered it; nevertheless I became accepted as a “local” by my friends there, for which I was exceedingly grateful. That you were able to sing Hen Wlad, and with confident vigour? I’m surprised they didn’t adopt you on the spot!
What an amazing post. You have inadvertently given me a great gift as I miss so much the home of my heart. Thank you for taking the time to reply. And once again, Nadolig Llawen, sir.
So glad you enjoyed my response. Yes, a very challenging language. I certainly can’t speak it beyond phrasebook-provided sentences, but when one is in a good choir it’s common to learn it all phonetically from a native speaker. Getting that “ll” (as in Llangollen) right is uniquely difficult. And when visiting, it’s useful to understand being BRITISH, and yet not ENGLISH. My ancient family was from Harlech. Diolch, and Nadolig Llawen to you!
I worked in Llangollen, lived in the small village of Glyndyfrdwy about 6 miles out. There was never a time I drove into town that I didn’t understand just how fortunate I was to have landed there, something that “stick to home” me could ever imagine.
And it did take me a little while to be able to get those double “lls” just right…after a couple of social disasters😉
We always looked forward to The International Eisteddfod every year in Llangollen, where on the Sunday night, A great musical personage would perform in the Pavilion (which was opened by the Queen). It was possible , if one wasn’t lucky enough to secure a ticket to these great events, to sit on the banks of the canal which ran behind the venue, with a picnic basket and libation, and listen to whatever great voice was performing ring across the hills. The weather always seemed to cooperate. What an experience.
This event was where Pavarotti and his small Italian choir won the prestigious “Choir of the Year” in 1950-something. He returned 50 years later to give that Sunday concert. Tickets were sold out the minute we knew he’d accepted the invitation.
I am so glad you gave me the opportunity to reply to your gracious answer to mine. Diolch, Invisible Mikey. Lots of mental cocktails for me, and I sure speed you as well.😌
…and I’m sure with you as well (my fingers have betrayed me😉)
And this…I bet you could belt out Men of Harlech with the best of them.
Ahhh, sorry, Bets! I thought you were native born Welsh. My apologies. Love your stories, dear.
I can see why you would think so, JWoo. Sometimes, as Somerset Maugham wrote, a person is born in the wrong place…and if he is fortunate eventually discovers where he is most at home. Or in this case, “she”😉 Nope, Texas born, Welsh adopted, bless those dear people always…and you, my friend
Mornin’ JWoo 🙂
Big Howdy, Garrison!
Thanks for posting these. Just beautiful.
It’s 9 AM here, been working for a while and took a pause to brew a cuppa Cafe du Monde with half & half and give my morning Salutations to you. Paired nicely with Ave Verum, Besty Beasty Betsy.
Nadolig Llawen to you my sweet new Welsh sister from another mister.
Wish you were here. Would be glad to share a cup of coffee… along with the plate of Spritz, Peanut Butter Blossoms, and Triple the Ginger “biscuits” I made the other day. Biscuits was totally a nod to you… we call them cookies, but I enjoy practicing a little cultural misappropriation now and again. I make a mean Carnitas and Escabeche for a gringa… and can drop a little Italian and Mediterranean here and there. LOL
Made enough cookies for the office building foyer, four families, and enough leftovers to take us into the New Year. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
My goodness!!! I now say biscuits, not cookies. The looks I get😁 How generous, JWoo, for you to do all that baking. And I know you get so much pleasure from doing it for your friends and colleagues. As I know they enjoy eating them. That’s your Christian soul giving of yourself in such a beautiful way.
I wish I could sit down with you and some of those delicacies and a cuppa as well. Imagine! We’d talk forever, and go through them all…like a hot knife through butter. I can’t imagine anything I’d enjoy more, my sister. What a delightful thought!!😘
I am pretty sure there’s going to be an awesome campfire circle in Heaven for us treepers to commune around. What a day that will be!
How wonderful would that be??💕
Good morning dear Bet! What a beautiful music. Thank you and Nadolig Llawen.
Oh good morning, G!!! I know you’ve been occupied, but I’ve missed you, my brother. That one went straight to my heart with two of my favourite artists. I am so glad you liked it. Helped by the wonderful photos. Beautiful.
Are you prepared for what apparently is coming? At least for us it is…not certain about your part of Big T. Stay warm, stay safe🙏💕
Got my 7.5 kW generator ready. The new large that we ordered Toruń the whole house will probably get here when winter is over. 😁 Still need to fill up the kerosene heater and let it burn outside for an hour to burn all the oils on it before using it indoors.
Had a God happening yesterday at HEB. We are having a family celebration on Christmas Eve. It will be in the afternoon so that we can go to church for Christmas Eve service and to hear the 3 youngest grands sing in the children’s choir. We may have up to 25 people and decided to have Prime Rib cause it’s easy to make. Everyone is pitching in with the meal and my bride and I were tasked with providing the meat. I am in San Antonio today but was hoping to avoid going to Costco so I went to HEB yesterday, our in Fredericksburg and went to the meat stand. The way the meat prices are this year I had been mentally preparing for 2 days.
There was a lady there that I’ve never seen before and she asked how she could help me. I explained what I was trying to accomplish and at the same time hoping not to break the bank. She asked me to wait and after 2-3 minutes came back with a 17 lbs chunk of meat wrapped in plastic. When I looked at the sticker I couldn’t believe my eyes. The price was under 11 bucks a pound.
‘I thanked her from th bottom of my heart, we exchanged Merry Christmas and I left. But then I started thinking, did God send a meat department angel or did she become an angel unwittingly. Either way, Glory do God! It made my day.
we recruited our oldest son to cook the Prime rib since it’s also someone that you know’s birthday and I ain’t cooking. ❤️😍😘
WOW!!I am inclined to think whichever scenario, G, there may have indeed be a “works in mysterious ways” element to it. My goodness! These days? BARGAIN! Those fortuitous meetings we’ve experienced a few times, but never in a Kroger’s meat department. And that sort of experience carries with you for days after. Bless that angel lady. Seeing what I see today in terms of gratitude and more often not, your effusive thanks probably made her day as well.
People I’ve found have forgotten how to be thankful and gracious in their thanks, which is a shame. I’m sure she knew you meant every single word of yours to her. I bet it will be absolutely delicious.😁
Someone else’s birthday?? You, my dear friend?? On Christmas Day?? Did I get that hint correctly? If so, I hope it will be one for the memory cocktail cabinet. How wonderful of your precious, sweet mother to choose such a wonderful day! If I have that right, then of course you shouldn’t cook. Glorious🌲😘
Christmas Eve.
I was close! Quite right….no cooking. What a wonderful day for a birthday, my brother🌲💕
😘 ❤️
Happy Boythday, M!!!! Many, many happy returns and some righteous uncut horseradish to go with that slab of cow! Have a marvelous meal and time with your family!!!
Thank you. JWoo. My daughter is in charge of the horseradish. 🙂
Mornin’ Gramps 🙂
Howdy Garrison!
Afternoon, GrandpaM!
Good evening J!
Mornin’ Bet 🙂 Thanks for posting this.
I thought of you especially, my friend, and prayed you’d like it. I’m so glad. You are most welcome😘
Oh, Betsy, you have outdone yourself!
Wasn’t it breathtaking, patty? I’m so glad you loved it. 💕🌲
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Looks like a purrfect gift!
📦 Perhaps a nice box would be the ideal first step! 💡😃
I guess pattern matching is out with this one…
I don’t need no video, I can tell just from the still photo that them kittys be tusslin’
Put 2 cats and wrapping paper together and how could it be otherwise?
HAAA!! This made me think of the Griswold Christmas. “Mom, grandma wrapped her cat.” (Shake shake) (growl)
Or the wrapped jello mold? So funny. Gonna need to get my Christmas giggles on with the Gris’s and “Fred Claus”, of course.
The BLESSING!!!
I’ve always secretly wished to have been the lucky recipient of the Griswold Christmas cat, but with a “they all lived happily ever after, including the cat” ending. 🙂
It looks like his brother was sleeping. I love you bro!
^^^ this lady is one of the most beautiful souls in the world and the reason I am here amongst the tree. Couldn’t have done life without her. Love you, Eva Roark – I won’t use the name I call you for anonymity’s sake, but you happen to adore a young redhead protege of mine. LOL
LOVE IT!
Hello Fellow Treepers!
Winter Bridge — Fine art photo taken by me a few years ago at the Rocky River Nature Center in the Cleveland Metroparks of Northeast Ohio. Wishing you all a great day!
Loving these photos you’ve been posting, thanks for sharing!👍
Thank you for your kind compliments!
Good morning, phoenix. You really must open a gallery somewhere! This is gorgeous! Mercy me!
Awwww thanks, Betsy jones! That’s very kind! 🙂
😘
beautiful – the slenderest branchlets at upper center are fully white, fully iced over, whereas thicker branches are dark – you can still see the wood
reminds me of a later scene in Pushing Tin (about air-traffic controllers who get a bit crazy) where the neurotic character tracks Billy Bob Thornton’s more wild-man character out to a snowy stream somewhere in the aspens out west after he’s disappeared on vaction … I think they end up tusslin’ in the snow or the stream
Feels like I should have had popcorn to go with the movie scene you present here! Thank you! 🙂
We need to gather and go to a gallery! The depth of this group of Treepers is refreshing.
Absolutely beautiful! Winter is my favorite season, I’ve always loved the starkness and the thoughts of God’s creation and how she is so busy in getting ready for the Spring display! I’m a horticulturist and work outside every day and Winter is my happy time! NC is in full swing horticulturally! Do you have any photos of apple trees in winter with blue sky back ground? Do you sell your prints?
Thank you very much, heather! Winter is my favorite season … and not even to get ready for Spring, but just to enjoy it for itself and the beauty of ice and snow. Apple trees in winter with blue sky background … Did you see Apple Orchard in Winter which I posted here within this past week?
As for selling my prints, yes, I’ve been selling for many years. Looking for a new good venue online, used to sell on Etsy, have also participated in art shows over the years.
I did see that photo “Apple Orchard in Winter”! Loved it, yes, just enjoying winter for winter’s sake, is perfect! I’ve been buying lots of things from Etsy and really like dealing with real people and not evil/crazy globalists. Do you still have a shop on Etsy? Thank you!
My Etsy shop lasted about ten years, then came the Great Payment Processor Fiasco, (no you haven’t heard about it) which caused me to immediately go to the bank and close the business account I’d opened for Etsy. And recently I left Paypal due to their wokeness and my not feeling comfortable having my money go through them. So now, I’m still open to selling … have most recently been doing so as a vendor at in-person Christmas art shows at a local gallery.
Am still open to selling, just looking for the right venue in these crazy times … and meanwhile, posting images as morale boosters here and on Gab. At Gab, I’m known as American_Phoenix and at least they seem to have enabled private messaging there. If you’d like to get in contact you’d be most welcome!
And with the new IRS income reporting rules this coming tax season for those who sell on Etsy and other places, you have dodged a rather big bullet, phoenix. Phew…
Phoenix, another beauty, love. You make my heart sing. We will have plenty of these shows in Central IN. The real gift is being to see the beauty through what others would label “gloomy”. All God’s Creation and a gorgeous respite before the gift of Spring!
Thank you for your kind compliments, JWoo! Cool … seems you’re a kindred spirit who also appreciates the atmospheric and ethereal …
I appreciate the Lord’s Creation for sure. It reminds me who He Is and who I am to Him. Thanks for recording it for posterity. Beautiful.
Another of your great compositions. I truly hope you have the BEST coat to wear for these expeditions. I shiver just thinking of how long it takes to find the right spot and get the camera adjustments set.
Thank you very much, Mary Van Deusen! 🙂 Actually, it’s more a matter of keeping the hands warm, especially when the temptation is to take off the gloves or mittens for better camera control.
Morning Ya’ll 🙂
Morning, Mr jay. Imagine waiting in the cold for just this shot, as the sun is rising. I think the same for phoenix’s beautifully snowy pictures. Blessings to you, my friend.
It was always the exquisite quiet of midnight snow for me. I relished it so much because, living as I did in Texas, I so seldom got to experience it. I knew it existed, but always elsewhere, so I’d imagine what it was like, remembering midnight snows from my Oklahoma childhood.
What midnight snow means for me is the experience of a sense of time-out-of-time . . . You’re in quite literally in you’re own private world. When I experienced it, time simply slowed down and I felt supremely, utterly in a blissful solitude. Time was standing still in my private moment while the snow fell around me. I could be 9 years old or I could be a grownup—the sense of just being in that oh so special moment was enormously special to me. And everytime I experienced it, I absolutely knew that I could always come back when I had the opportunity. It was just that special.
Solitude is such a lovely word, Garrison. Unlike the word “alone”, it is redolent with a feeling of peace, quiet, serenity. You explained it so well. I have experienced the same feelings in the snow covered hills in rural Wales, surrounded by farmland, where not even the sheep in the neighbouring fields are making a noise. Nor, in fact, are the birds sheltering in evergreen trees.
It is something to experience. It can be overwhelming… but what it cannot be is forgotten, as you wrote about so beautifully, my friend.💕
Garrison, you brought to mind a funny memory for me.
When daughter was younger and we had our home… we had a contracted snow removal company for our homeowners association. We, and a few young hearted neighbors, had a “pact” that we would be out to mess up the driveways before the snow removal guys got there. So, no matter the time… could be midnight in the middle of a storm, we would be bundling up for the shenanigans and our neighbors always beat us to our front door. Then it was game on like Donkey Kong with the most righteous snowball fights ever. We always got there first, always. Would have been fun to hear the snow removal guys thoughts because they were fast on the scene.
😂….What fun! What neighbourliness! What memories! Marvelous😌
This is the kind of story I’ll think about and giggle about all day. Love it!
Maidin Mhaith Betsy makes me think of all the bird blinds I’ve sat in waiting for dawn. 🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
I can absolutely believe it, Mr jay. Just you (?), the world Almighty God created, and your thoughts.
I need to be THERE.
Wow! Just wow! Molten fire.
🇺🇸😎🇺🇸
Mornin’ jay 🙂
Howdy Garrison 🙂
Morning jay!
Howdy Gramps 🙂
Mornin’ jay 🙂
One more . . .
15 cent burgers contributed greatly to my undergraduate year’s survival. There was a Burger Chef across from campus and, if you showed up looking hungry at closing time, they’d give you a couple of the day’s left over burgers for free. . .
Good morning, Garrison. When I was at UT, I wish I’d known about that place.😉💕
Hi, Bet. It’s still there if you look hard enough . . . maybe. Did you ever go to the Dry Creek store up on Mt. Bonnel? They had a back deck that was perfect for watching sunsets. It being *those* times, you could always count on a joint being passed around just as the sun went down. It was a great place for gently altering your state of consciousness. Good times being so innocently and gently stoned . . .. 🙂
The building might still be there, but it is unlikely that it is still a Burger Chef, they went out of business decades ago. I know, I used to work for Burger Chef all those many decades ago. Thanks for posting the Steve Miller set of songs, they are a fantastic group.
😁…that I never did, though I know where it is. I was a sheltered, unworldly little thing, afraid of my own shadow, when I arrived in Austin. The Viet Nam war was raging, and I’d never been outside of the place I was born. Quite an experience. Of course all that changed by the time I graduated. Truth be told, what I should have gotten from my time there, I didn’t. Had to wait a couple of more decades before my education started. As I look back, I realize UT was just a pit stop for me on life’s road. This is why I enjoy reading about yours so much😉💕
“The best thing about graduating from the university was that I finally had time to sit on a log and read a good book.”
-Edward Abbey
Gracious good morning, Joe. Truth! And best of all, a book of one’s own choosing. Amen, amen.
Good morning Bet.
“Desert Solitaire” was Abbey’s masterpiece. The book did not sell for a number of years after completion, then sales boomed around 1967. He went on to write short stories, essays, and novels. I read almost everything he wrote over the years. His biography is worth reading in my opinion.
“Cactus Ed” Abbey passed away in March 1989 and was buried in an undisclosed location in the Arizona desert. The friends who buried him marked on a nearby rock the following:
Edward Paul Abbey
1927-1989
No Comment
Oh my…..how poignant. His friends must have loved him very much, Joe. That is an inscription I suspect he would have approved of.
Abbey was called both a radical and a redneck by his detractors. He was somewhere in between and did not care what others thought of him. He had a great sense of humor; had a lot to say about the industrialized world and so-called progress.
Some of his quotes are hilarious, ie this little gem:
“There is science, logic, reason. There is thought verified by experience.
Then there is California.”
30 degrees outside. Bracing for the cold front that’s coming here.
Stay warm Bet.
There is a lovely British saying, Joe.
Take me as you find me.
I have always loved that. Seems he understood it only too well.
Yes, you will get hit first. It’s the ferocious winds that concern me. The older I get the more they unnerve us. Hubby the same. Reportedly they will be in they neighbourhood of 40-50 mph, and, boy, do I hope the forecast is wrong. Bundle up, my friend, seal off any drafts you may have, keep curtains and blinds closed, lots of warm drinks. My prayers are up for you and all who are in the path of what’s coming. Makes one understand the phrase “the weather came with a vengeance.” Hoping for the best for all.🙏😘
UT for me was a revelation. Arizona hadn’t worked out at all and I came back home with my tail between my legs. Within days, I was admitted to the UT grad school. I’d already been teaching for 3 years, had an MA and, at 27, was older than most of the other grad students (usually a 21 year old who had read one book—not kidding).
Although UT was definitely The Big Time I got on well with my profs and was surprised at how well read I actually was. I had a cool little apt. on West 34 street that was a hop-and-a-skip from the shuttle. One afternoon I was up in the tower library. I was in the philosophy section. Suddenly, I realized that literally everything I needed to read, obscure titles I’d heard about but never actually seen, were all right there. Couldn’t believe I was actually there. 🙂
Rare to have that awareness at that age.
You’d found your academic home, my friend. I can imagine how, little by little as your eye fell on each title, thrilled you must have been. I remember that library very well. And of course, you couldn’t know it on arrival, but the best was yet to come…💕
Can I add one more?
!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 !!!!
I still have that LP . . . somewhere, Patty. Thanks for posting this.
Morning Garrison!
Mornin’ Gramps 🙂
20 December 2020 Fanny Waterman, English concert pianist & teacher (Leeds International Piano Competition), dies at 100
20 December 2012 Jimmy McCracklin, American pianist, dies from diabetes and hypertension at 91
20 December 2011 (Thomas) “Sean” Bonniwell, American rock guitarist and singer-songwriter (The Music Machine – “Talk, Talk”), dies of lung cancer at 71
20 December 2009 James Gurley, American rock lead guitarist (Big Brother and the Holding Company), dies of a heart attack at 69
20 December 2004 Son [Frank] Seals, American blues musician (“Nothing But the Truth”), dies from diabetes complications at 62
20 December 1999 [Clarence] Hank Snow, Canadian country singer (“I’m Moving On”; “I Went To Your Wedding”), dies of heart failure at 85
My fathers favorite artist
Magic, the Leeds International is/was one of the four worldwide piano competitions in which all aspiring pianists of great talent hoped to compete. It used to be shown in its entirety on the BBC when we lived in Britain. I looked forward to it every year.
The night of the one final, the pianists were allowed to choose from five committee selected concertos to play. And on one occasion, 4 of the 5 finalists selected the same concerto, unbeknownst to the others.
What are the statistical chances of that I wonder! So I heard Schumann’s Concerto in A Minor four times. It’s a lovely piece; however, I really was hoping to hear others. Four times was a bit much.
Sadly, I can’t remember who won on that occasion…
This is the first I had heard of it, if it was on the tele here I would probably watch.
This is a kid that played for her masterclass about 10 years ago he is very talented, has replied to posters within the past year, hope is is doing well.
Oh my, Magic!! Thank you for this link! What an astoundingly mature performance. I listened and will save the rest for later. I always adored her gentle teaching, which very likely gets more results than most.
That etude was so like those of Rachmaninov’s, I wish I knew the name of it. Delicate to start, then rising to more complexity, then a return to a serene ending. So so beautiful.
I can only imagine if Mr Wu was playing like this at 10 (!!!!), what his exquisite playing would be like today. And like you, I pray he is doing well. Such a gift given to very few.
I do thank you so much for this link. His performance will stick with me for a long time.💕
One observation of Dame Fanny in the short part I’ve watched so far.
I watched her only while he was playing. At first she sat back relaxed and simply listening. As he proceeded into his performance, I noticed she suddenly sat upright as if something caught her ear, and then she referred to the score she had on her lap.
I got the feeling she realized what a talent was playing. I’m only imagining of course, but that’s what I took away from her body language. It really was something to watch.
Yes I noticed that as well, unsure of what it meant good or bad, certainly she had instructions for some changes to his technique at the end of it, I had time to watch that far, bookmarked as well.
He has more on his tube when he is older, have not had the time to look but breifly.
She looked only at the first couple of pages I noticed. And her encouragement in her first remarks to him was well judged. He came to learn, and she offered lessons to bring more to his playing. It was lovely.
Going right now to see what else I can find on YouTube of his playing…
And an extra…
Alias, NCIS-LA, NCIS – XMAS – Two Front Teeth – Platters
Excellent!!!
Remember when it hit the airwaves and we listened to it continuously for what seemed like weeks?
Yes! Don’t know why it popped into my head last night but it did.
Another for you, patty.
This time from Sir Ralph (pronounced “Rafe”) Vaughan Williams, as sung by a lovely baritone and the Cambridge Singers.
“Fantastia on Christmas Carols”
This is quintessentially English and one of my favourites. I feel very Christmas-y whilst I am listening to it and for a long time after. It starts slowly, but you will recognize many of the carols.
One of the things about great music is that it never gets old and it never fails to inspire the listener. Thanks, Besty.
Truth….
Learned about Mannheim Steamroller from Rush. His good deeds echo down the years.
Sigh, beautiful scenery, nice video narrative . . . but they’re all a bunch of progressives up there. Makes me glad I’m in Texas. 🙂
The beauty created by God is overwhelming.
December 20 Oswald Chambers
The Right Kind of Help
And I, if I am lifted up…will draw all peoples to Myself. —John 12:32
Very few of us have any understanding of the reason why Jesus Christ died. If sympathy is all that human beings need, then the Cross of Christ is an absurdity and there is absolutely no need for it. What the world needs is not “a little bit of love,” but major surgery.
When you find yourself face to face with a person who is spiritually lost, remind yourself of Jesus Christ on the cross. If that person can get to God in any other way, then the Cross of Christ is unnecessary. If you think you are helping lost people with your sympathy and understanding, you are a traitor to Jesus Christ. You must have a right-standing relationship with Him yourself, and pour your life out in helping others in His way— not in a human way that ignores God. The theme of the world’s religion today is to serve in a pleasant, non-confrontational manner.
But our only priority must be to present Jesus Christ crucified— to lift Him up all the time (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). Every belief that is not firmly rooted in the Cross of Christ will lead people astray. If the worker himself believes in Jesus Christ and is trusting in the reality of redemption, his words will be compelling to others. What is extremely important is for the worker’s simple relationship with Jesus Christ to be strong and growing. His usefulness to God depends on that, and that alone.
The calling of a New Testament worker is to expose sin and to reveal Jesus Christ as Savior. Consequently, he cannot always be charming and friendly, but must be willing to be stern to accomplish major surgery. We are sent by God to lift up Jesus Christ, not to give wonderfully beautiful speeches. We must be willing to examine others as deeply as God has examined us. We must also be sharply intent on sensing those Scripture passages that will drive the truth home, and then not be afraid to apply them.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The great word of Jesus to His disciples is Abandon. When God has brought us into the relationship of disciples, we have to venture on His word; trust entirely to Him and watch that when He brings us to the venture, we take it.
https://utmost.org/the-right-kind-of-help/
For a little holiday cheer, shameless plug for “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer“, a 60’s staple that became timeless. It’s out there on the internet if one looks a bit. I woke up early this morning and watched it, like I have pretty much every year since it was originally broadcast in 1964.
My favorite song was sung by 15 year old Janis Orenstein who did the voice of Clarice in the film, called “There’s Always Tomorrow”.
Enjoy….
Merry Christmas
When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age? – Matthew 24:3
The religious people in Israel had refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. Christ mourned over their obstinance, knowing that judgment would come. He had made what would be His last visit to the temple and, though the disciples marveled at the temple structure – thought to be one of the wonders of the world – Christ pronounced its destruction. “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2).
It was a startling statement to the disciples. They waited until they were on the Mount of Olives before they privately asked, “When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming” (Matthew 24:3). Jesus gave no answer to the first question. His answer to the second urged the disciples to view things with caution. Rather than giving them exact events that would happen, Jesus spoke of general conditions that would occur in the world.
There would be wars and rumors of wars, nations rising up against nations, earthquakes and famines in various places, and many false prophets would lead people astray… lawlessness would increase. “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:7, 11-13). Jesus encouraged His disciples to live with a constant expectation of His return, living with hope for the future enabled by Christ in the world to come.
You may live with that same hope, no matter the circumstances of the day. Jesus is coming again! Stand firm in your faith. Then pray for the leaders in this country who follow the Savior, that they stand firm in Christlikeness and the hope of His promised return.
https://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/daily-prayer-briefing?utm_source=daily_briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_content=daily_briefing
I pray there were those in the irreligious bubble which is DC who heard this. They need to hear it.
In the meantime, we watch…and wait expectantly for this return. Come quickly, Lord Jesus🙏
December 20
MORNING
He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Eph. 1:4
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you. . . . to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Thess. 2:13
Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom. 8:29, 30
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. I Pet. 1:2
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. Ezek. 36:26
God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. I Thess. 4:7
EVENING
If the Lord would make windows in heaven might this thing be? II Kings 7:2
Have faith in God. Mark 11:22
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb. 11:6
With God all things are possible. Matt. 19:26
Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Isa. 50:2
My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isa. 55:8, 9
Prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mal. 3:10
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. Isa. 59:1
LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power. II Chron. 14:11
We should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead. II Cor. 1:9
J. Bagster
https://dailylightdevotional.org/12/1220.html
Thank you! I forwarded this to my Dad, who is in the hospital!
Heather, prayers for your dad. 🙏🏻✝️🙏🏻
Bless him, heather. Praying the hands of those who attend to him will receive the God given wisdom to bring him back to good health. And that those who watch after him will be full of compassion.🙏
II Chronicles 14:11
May we all please turn our prayers to Almighty God, merciful and full of grace, for those political prisoners in DC, abused and no doubt downhearted in their second Christmas unjustly imprisoned on the whim of a vicious amoral government. May the Holy Spirit descend to each within his foul cell and deliver to each a deep and abiding peace, so that all realize they are never forgotten.
And may Almighty God please deliver to every family of those suffering in those confines, faith that those they love and miss dreadfully will be returned to them.
This I ask in the name of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour🙏
Amen!
Mornin’ all!
Pray for the persecuted all over the world. Iran carries out second protest-related execution.
https://wng.org/opinions/is-the-iranian-regime-collapsing-1670332187
I wonder if Americans are ready?
We can only pray that this happens. Many women have been arrested. We can only imagine the worst which has happened to them. Hideous evil resides in the halls of power in Iran.
PLEASE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
That second one is Cannon Beach in Oregon. The Great NW beauty is wasted on the loons. Found my voice and confidence in San Antonio, but found peace in the solitude of the Hoh Rainforest on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington.
Amen, amen.
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.
BE MY VOICE
BABY LIVES MATTER
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
“One unplanned pregnancy saved the world.”
Verse of the Day for Tuesday, December 20, 2022
✟
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 (KJV)
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered!!!
. . . but deliver us from the Evil One.
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
Amen!
The 50th Psalm
Septuagint
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.
Amen, Amin🙏
From Small Compline
Rejoice Virgin Theotokos, Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls. (Thrice)
Numerous prayers for various situations in life are at this link, which uses http rather than https, but is safe to click through in case the browser says otherwise.
http://www.saintgregoryoutreach.org
Thank you, dear Sepp.
A walk through the “green” insanity. The obviously have a death wish. Prepare yourselves, because they are serious.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/12/20/attention-poor-people-step-away-from-the-fuel-its-not-for-you-and-stop-using-it-anyway-thank-you/
Get ready! And don’t forget Sandra Lee’ cake to celebrate it!
I forgot… it’s not on the calendar this year, is Kwanzaa before or after Festivus?
😐
“Our book is about why George Mason’s vision of America would have been a better path, in 1787, for ordinary common American citizens than Madison’s constitutional rules,” said Vass.
For immediate release. December 20, 2022.
Contact Laurie Thomas Vass, Gabby Press. [email protected]
North Carolina Economist Article Accepted For Distribution by Social Science Research Network. (SSRN.com).
Preface to Upcoming Book About George Mason’s Vision of America.
The Social Science Research Network, a division of Elsevier, a Dutch academic publishing company specializing in scientific, technical, and medical content, announced distribution of an article by Laurie Thomas Vass, a North Carolina economist, located in Brunswick County, N. C.
In their announcement, SSRN Management said, “We are happy to have received your submission, GEORGE MASON’S AMERICA: THE STATE SOVEREIGNTY ALTERNATIVE TO MADISON’S CENTRALIZED AMERICAN RULING CLASS ARISTOCRACY (PREFACE), for inclusion on SSRN, an open platform for the sharing of early stage research. The following URL links to your abstract page on SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=4295366.
“Our book is about why George Mason’s vision of America would have been a better path, in 1787, for ordinary common American citizens than Madison’s constitutional rules,” said Vass.
“We argue that Mason’s vision, supplemented by the constitutional philosophy of James Buchanan and Joseph Schumpeter’s theory of entrepreneurial capitalism, would be a better path for middle class citizens to follow, in 2023, than trying to rehabilitate Madison’s failed representative republic.” Vass added.
The forthcoming book by Vass will be her 14th book, published at The Great American Business & Economics Press (Gabby Press dot com).
The recent article on SSRN is her 130th scholarly article on their global platform. She is currently rated in the top .006 of over 1 million scholars who publish on the SSRN platform. (7429 out of 1,097,460).
About SSRN. SSRN is a global internet platform that distributes research articles by over 1 million scholars.
file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg
About GabbyPress: GABBY is short for The Great American Business & Economics Press. GabbyPress is the publishing company of the Citizens Liberty Party News Network, (http://www.clpnewsnetwork.com.) Gabby books are about the ideology of individual liberty and entrepreneurial capitalism. file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.jpg
For those following the situation of Father Frank Pavone, he just completed this interview on Dr. Taylor Marshall’s youtube channel, 48 minutes:
Again. I don’t know why.
Long ago I had a good friend who lived a couple houses away from Warren when she was in grade school. She said he would walk her to school each day and would recite to her poems he had penned. She said he was quite the character even as a little kid.
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.
And prayers up for all political prisoners. Prayers up for Julian Assange and for all the protesters of January 6 who were or are entrapped in DC. And, thank you, Lord, for restoring Pastor Pawlowski.
Thank you Father, for Your love and the gift of Life.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Thank you, Andeclain. My cheap clock that was made in China stopped and I was on the phone. Dereliction of duty, I guess.
Can you believe that my internet went off about ten minutes after posting, and has only just gotten stable! God is with us!
Amen!
Amen
Amen.
Amen.