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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Posted in Uncategorized
A bless-ed Happy New Year I wish for all the precious souls who have found their way into these branches.
May Almighty God shine His Face on each one of you this day, His day. And may His peace which passeth all understanding rest with you all. Be well, my friends.
Good morning dear Bet, and a blessed Happy New Year to you and yours! ❤️😘
Gracious Sunday morning, G.😘 I wish for you and all in your beautiful family a calmer, more healthful, healing New Year. Covered with every blessing He can possibly bestow, my dearest friend…with much love…🙏💕
PS…my New Year’s resolution is simply to write 2023 instead of 2022.
and…
The biggest lie I tell myself is …
“I don’t need to write that down. I’ll remember it.”
😉
A few years back I decided to stop making New Years resolutions since I never kept them anyway.
Happy New Year Betsy! I hope all your days are blessed this year!
Thank you so much, TexasTrumper😊 And for you, I wish the very same. Happy New Year in every way.
And also with you, Betsy. You are such a blessing as are the regulars who seek shelter on this limb.
Love to you all and HAPPY New Year!!! They can’t steal our JOY!
Good morning dear JWoo and to your beautiful “inside and out” daughter (as I now always think of your beloved child).
Our joy is ours and not for anyone’s taking. There seems to be a clear misunderstanding or ignorance from those who try as to the origin of our joy. They are perfectly free to discover their own of course, but as they continue to deny the Source, theirs will be a fruitless search. We will hold onto ours and praise that Holy Source from which it comes.
Wishing both you girls a peaceful, beautiful New Year with all the goodness it can bring, my friend. 🙏😘
Good afternoon JWoo and Happy New Year! No, they can’t steal anything that comes from the Lord! Blessings!
Afternoon, Bet. 🙂
There you are, dear sir! And a good afternoon to you on (I can’t believe it) the first day of another year.🤗
Genesis is the reformation of man, God creating a human not a beast. Each biblical day is a step towards our salvation. It’s a beautiful book to behold in that manner.
Genesis 1:1 reads scientifically that God, created time (beginning), space (heavens) and matter (Earth).
Not only are they the fundamental axes of reality, but they are even in the correct order of creation.
Einstein connected time and space.
The new physics revolution beyond Einstein, and one that I’m aware of, explains many seemingly unconnected things we have measured for decades with precision but have no idea of their connection to fundamentals. In fact, all past attempts may explain some aspects but have failed to explain others.
This theory connects space and matter and among other things unites the well-known physics of the very small with the equally well-known physics of the very large, currently in conflict under the existing orthodoxy.
The theory of a holographic universe in which all matter is connected. This theory explains among other things the fundamentals of how quantum computing works along with many other questions.
What is so profound is the solution is so elegant an explanation. Geometry and some algebra are that is required, but nothing too difficult. For example, the ancient civilizations of the past could have figured it out if they only knew what we know now. In fact some very profound geometric symbols actually point the way, like the Star of David.
Thus this seemingly simple Passage in Genesis 1:1 is the current foundation of all science well before anything I wrote above was even known. It sounds to most, even until now, like just poetry.
Tell me how primarily hunter-gathers, most of which couldn’t read or write, could transcribe something so scientifically correct without God’s inspiration.
If God is the creator of the universe, how would he not know these things and why would he make it so complicated that his own creation couldn’t figure it out, eventually? Frankly, the solution is so simple and elegant it’s amazing how long it took us to figure it out.
The last time we advanced physics this much in a generation we created nuclear weapons and energy. One that can destroy us and one that can save us at the same time.
Thank you, spaul! Very much appreciate your explanation! Wishing you a very Happy New Year.
1.1.2023 – It’s a New Year! Let’s revisit ‘In The Beginning’!
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Period! No date provided, but clearly stated as “the beginning”. Ten words so far. GOD uses ‘and‘ 5,000 more times! He wants us to not only read, but learn. Five in Biblical numerics is ‘GOD‘s Goodness’ or ‘Grace’. Thousand is ‘GOD‘s Glory’ or ‘Divine Completeness’. Exactly 5,000, hmmm!
[‘and‘ = polysyndeton. poly Gr. Much, many. Gr. syndetos bound together – conjunction = joining together There is much more than one thought, and it will all mesh perfectly, like a huge tapestry in our brain. Revelation 22:4 “In their foreheads“.
If we read: “We went to a beach, and swam out to an island, and found gold.” There are many things implied, yet much more needs further explanation to truly understand all that happened in this single event; We know there was more than 1 person, and there was water, and there was an island, and at least two swam to the island, and they found gold. Sweet!
What we don’t know; 1. Who went? 2. When was this? 3. Where was this? 4. How many swam? 5. What was found? {Gold ore, a coin, jewelry?} 6. Is there more gold? 7. Are they going back? 8. And the selfish question, “Can we go too“?!
The same thing applies to essentially every Verse in GOD‘s Word. More is implied, more must be understood, and much more must be read to learn those things. GOD has every right to expect us to do exactly that, to complete His tapestry.
GOD created heaven and earth millions of years ago. Science declares it, Father’s Word confirms it, and GOD explains it!
Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void…” Only 8 more words that tell us so much, IF we understand!
“was” = Strong’s #1961 O.T. hayah (haw-yaw); to exist. i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic…)
This would indicate GOD did not create the earth without form, but it became without form. What does that expression “without form” mean? Again, we need an accurate definition to understand what GOD wants us to know.
“without form” = Strong’s 8414 tohuw (to’-hoo); to lie waste, a desolation, a worthless thing, in vain.
GOD created a desolation, in vain? A worthless thing? Doesn’t sound at all like the GOD we love and serve! When we understand that Verse with better translations, it presents a much different image! We should check out “void” too.
“void” = Strong’s #922 O.T. bohuw (bo’-hoo); …to be empty, an indistinguishable ruin. Let’s write this out completely;
Genesis 1:2 “And the earth became a desolation, a waste, worthless, empty, and an indistinguishable ruin.” How does something GOD is ‘creating’ become a worthless, empty, ruin? There is much more explanation in GOD‘s Word.
Isaiah 45:18 “...thus saith the LORD…GOD…created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited...” Well that more closely aligns with the revised version of Genesis 1:2 And we know GOD never leaves us wanting, if we look for additional clarity.
The earth was not ‘created’ tohuw, it ‘became‘ tohuw [a desolation, vain, a worthless thing].
Isaiah 45:19 “I have not spoken in secret…I said not…Seek ye Me in vain, I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.” GOD promises He explains it all! Everything He states is truthful! We need to understand Him! GOD didn’t ‘create‘ a desolation, a waste, worthless, empty, and an indistinguishable ruin, but it became that way. GOD said it! He never lies, we need to study all of this further, for GOD‘s truthful explanations elsewhere in His Word.
WWJS? Jesus always spoke the Truth! He used parables, because He said not everyone can fully grasp His message.
Matthew 13:13 “Therefore speak I…in parables: because they…see not…they hear not, neither do they understand.”
Matthew 13:35 “That it might be fulfilled…things which have been kept secret from the foundation…”
‘fulfilled’ always means Prophecy that’s been foretold, and HE is fulfilling it right in our ears, if we hear & understand!
‘Foundation‘ was added by the translators to assist the reader [us] in understanding. We have to ask, how do we know for certain, it belongs here? It’s a fair question and this is where deeper study for oneself has to come into play. It requires looking at many Verses describing the same or similar events, by various Scribes [authors], and cross referencing all, to determine the continuity of thought[s]. Here is a brief list for perusal later: John 17:24, Ephesians 1:4, 1st Peter 1:20, Luke 11:50, Matthew 13:35, 25:34, Hebrews 1:10, 4:3, 9:26, Revelation 13:8, 17:8… We can never study too much!
‘foundation‘ = Webster’s College Edition (foun da’shen); being founded, the base upon which something is built, the fundamental principle on which something is founded. 1st built is the foundation. foundation is always “in the ‘beginning”.
‘foundation’ = Strong’s #2602 N.T. katabole (kat-ab-ol-ay’); founding / foundation; figuratively, conception. From kataballo #2598 N.T. = to throw down (overthrow). Origin ballo = violent or intense. KJV – to throw (down).
Having established ‘foundation’ refers to a Prophecy that Jesus said was ‘fulfilled’, we need to learn where it was foretold.
Psalms 78:2 “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.” Jesus fulfilled this particular Prophecy through His teachings using parables. ‘of old’ means ancient, or antiquity, from before. Jesus spoke this 2,000 years ago.
A violent ‘overthrow‘ ? What was thrown down ‘violently’ or ‘intensely’ ? This is really important if Jesus was fulfilling Prophecy when speaking “kept secret from the foundation“. Jesus would never mention it and not elaborate.
Mark 4:22 “...there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret.” Things that were not understood in an earlier age [the foundation], are revealed by GOD‘s own words! He knew people wouldn’t understand in times past. Just as many things are misunderstood over time, many things can be understood in present time.
“manifested” Strong’s #5319 phaneroo (fan-er-o’-o); to render apparent, appear, manifestly declare, shew.
Mark 13:23 “…behold, I have foretold you all things.” Jesus always tells us what is crucial to understanding GOD‘s Word! Jesus was stating for our edification, [paraphrasing]; ‘You who read this [well after the Prophetic writings], will be able to understand these things that others couldn’t begin to grasp.’ Those who came before you weren’t dummies, many events just didn’t fit their times! Jesus referencing a ‘violent overthrow‘, is big news to most, and really important to all of us!
Jeremiah 4:22 “...My people is foolish…they have none understanding…” Many of GOD‘s people don’t try to understand.
Jeremiah 4:23 “I beheld the earth…it was without form and void…and had no light…” We’ve already learned what ‘without form’ and ‘void’ means in Genesis 1:2. We need to use that new knowledge. If we rewrite that verse:
Jeremiah 4:23 “I beheld the earth…it became a desolation, an indistinguishable ruin, and had no light.“ Had “no light“? Something is still missing. Noah’s flood didn’t extinguish the Sun or make the stars go away. GOD is talking about a different event here, and He is using His exact choice of words from Genesis 1:2. GOD doesn’t do coincidence…
Jeremiah 4:24 “...the mountains…trembled and all the hills moved lightly.” Floods don’t make mountains tremble.
Jeremiah 4:25 “...there was no man, all the birds…were fled.” NO man? At least 8 people on the ark, this is wa-ay different.
Jeremiah 4:26 “…the fruitful place was a wilderness…the cities…broken down…by His fierce anger…” GOD was pi**ed!!
Jeremiah 4:27 “...The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end…” He wasn’t, & still isn’t done!
Jeremiah penned all this around 500 B.C. but that’s 3,500 years after Genesis 1:2, as scribed by Moses’ Divine inspiration!
2nd Peter 3:6 “...the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:” That’s all past tense! At some point of time in ‘the beginning’ the earth was wiped clean and then GOD began again. Why? GOD explains His ‘violent overthrow’ for us of course, but continuing in Genesis builds better understanding. After learning what Verses 1 & 2 really mean, we can continue learning from GOD‘s own words. Afterall, He did choose them for our edification!
Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light…” He made all light spectrums, providing infinite detail. Starting over again.
Genesis 1:6 “And God said, Let there be a firmament in…the waters…” He divided the land [continents], so we in our flesh bodies, and no longer in our spirit bodies, could grow food, and multiply across the globe.
Genesis 1:14 “And God said, Let there be lights…“He made the Sun, the Stars, even the Moon to reflect the Sun, all for us!
Genesis 1:28 “...and GOD said…replenish the earth…” RE-plenish! We can’t replenish something that wasn’t plenished in the first place! Did GOD make a mistake? More likely some men translated poorly, and still others, teach incorrectly.
We know the rest, GOD created new animals, new plants, new everything! And a new period of time began in the earth!
2nd Peter 3:5 “For this they willingly are ignorant of…of old…the earth…out of the water and in the water.” “Ignorant of”?
That couldn’t be Noah’s flood so clearly described in Genesis 6-8 by GOD. It’s has to be a different event. Practically everyone has heard of the flood of Noah’s time. Islamists know and also teach of Noah [Nuh in the Qur’an (Koran)].
Qur’an 71:1 “…sent forth Nuh [Noah] to his people, saying: “Give warning…”
Qur’an 71:23 “…they were overwhelmed by the Flood…”
Qur’an 71:25 “...Nuh said: Lord, do not leave a single unbeliever on the earth…”
Ref: The Koran by N.J. Dawood; ISBN 0-140-44920-5 / Copyright – Original translation 1956 / Rev. ’59,’66,’68…’03…
2nd Peter 3:7 “...the heavens and earth which are now...reserved unto…the day of judgment…” ‘Are now‘! A new age.
Proverbs 8:1 “Doth not wisdom cry? And understanding put forth her voice?” Wisdom [GOD‘s Spirit] explains everything.
Proverbs 8:22 “The Lord possessed me in the beginning…Before His works of old.” Even before GOD‘s 1st earth age. We clearly live in a different time than when dinosaurs roamed, and GOD told us about it! Same old earth, but a 2nd earth age.
The earth didn’t exist until GOD created it. We didn’t exist until GOD created us. Nothing that exists is going to remain, unless GOD deems it [us] worthy to spend the eternity with Him. It’s HIS Plan! He explained it. He expects us to learn it!
This seed, “In the Beginning”, may require more depth of understanding to take root. It is forthcoming. At times, brevity is the better path. If one is taken aback by any Verse analysis, place it on a ‘back burner’, we can let it simmer in our brain. No pressure, there’s still time, not a lot, but some. Wisdom speaks, to any who will listen. But that day draws close where it may be too late to absorb the depth of GOD‘s teachings. Don’t ignore information, rather absorb it, save it, stew over it, wait until the ‘latter rain’ assists it’s blossoming. Our Heavenly Father always provides spiritual nourishment for all that seek Him.
James 5:7 “Be patient therefore…unto the coming of the LORD…the husbandman waiteth…until he receive the early and latter rain.” It takes more than one watering to grow a mature plant. He always provides, trust Him!
Proverbs 8:17 “I love them that love me; And those that seek me early shall find me.” Seek is action by us; e.g. studying.
Mark 12:30 “...love the LORD thy God with all thy heart…all thy soul…all thy mind…and with all thy strength…”
The TRANSLATORS (letter) To The Reader – 1611 KJV BIBLE
“The translation of the Seventie [Septuagint] dissentith from the Original in many places, neither do it come neere it, for perspiscuitie, gravitie, majestie; yet which of the Apostles did Condemne it? Nay, they used it, (as is apparent, and as Saint Hierome and most learned men do confess) which they would not have done, nor by their example of using it, so grace commend it to the Church, if it had been unworthy the appellation and name of the word of God.” [King’s English]
“So hard a thing it is to please all, even when we please GOD best…”
The early english translators cautioned, students would need to study further for proper understanding.
Matthew 11:15 “He that has ears to hear, let him hear.”
GOD has explained for us, He destroyed one earth age and began an entirely new earth age. Jesus described it all as ‘the foundation‘. Should we suppose GOD explained why he violently overthrew that 1st earth age? Never bet against GOD! The event that GOD has explained is both different, and much more important to Him, than even Noah’s Flood, will be studied in an upcoming Bible Study Help [ #9 ‘Violent Overthrow‘ ]. First though, we need to revisit one of the oldest lies ever concocted by Satan, and practically everyone believes it! That’s our next topic in:
Bible Study Help #7. ‘Apples & Figs‘ Part 1, Publish date; 1.15.2023
Bible Study Help #8. ‘Apples & Figs‘ Part 2, Publish date; 1.16.2023
Happy New Year!
What a hodgepodge of nonsense.
Why in this day, when people are trying to come closer, trying to understand and grasp what is probably UN-graspable, do we gather like surgeons, scalpel at the ready, to dissect and cut apart every and any opinion or understanding that does not measure up to OUR view (as if any one of us of holds the truth). Everybody by their own environment/tradition/exposure will develop a certain “understanding” in accordance with their personal experience. Yes, we must adhere to the wisdom of righteous and blessed souls through the ages who have helped to clarify and explain, but at the end of the day, everyone of us MUST be comfortable and enjoy a sense of understanding that is “right” for that individual. Please I am not suggesting everybody have their own version of events and meanings willy nilly, but I do feel that ALL of us who are on this journey of coming closer to the Creator, need to support and help each other – not with judgement and criticism, but with love and guidence. Much of what is written by KP is deserved of at least honest “argument” – how else are we learn and progress. This is one of the main things I have against the so called “established” churches – They believe/preach ONLY they hold the truth and ONLY they hold the the solution – Well, they’re wrong.
I have come to believe and understand for myself that our journeys to Christ are many and individual. We all travel different roads to get to the ultimate destination, please God… each using the same map, but at different times and under vastly different circumstances. Some take a little longer, some shorter.
We do not march in unison down the same highway. The signposts are clear, but sometimes there are detours. Each one of us, made in His image, must find his or her own way, often through some pretty rough territory.
But there is that Light and love which remains enduring and thankfully patient. It is to be hoped that through others’ different journeys we can find the markers which they have encountered which have led them out of their darkness into that bless-ed Light which is unchanging. God willing.🙏
A bless-ed New and Happier New Year to you all, Oldspeak and WP and KP.
Very well stated Betsy. Blessings
Thank you, Kevin, so much. I hope you’ll have a kind New Year with blessings every day, both large and small.
(I’ve come to really appreciate those smaller ones, no matter what they are.😉)
Before my visit here–I listened to “The Bible in 365 Days”, Day 1. I’ll let you know at Day 365 how it went. HNY to all.
I don’t want to spoil the ending, Joe, but pretty sure I know. All blessings to you, sir, for a better year coming.
Bless Your Heart..
We need a delete button, to rid the board of the likes of WP, who has nothing of value to share, but come here to ridicule. Obviously, an unhappy person; Most likely a democrat
Actually, WP shares things of value every day here. May be should visit more often. 🙂
Amen!!
Thank you! Been prayerfully sharing carefully exposited (“rightly divided”) Biblical truth here for five years. Christian maturity is supposed to result. Yet the continuing inability even of some long time readers to distinguish truth from error, to understand the importance of “contending for the faith” is, to say the least, disheartening. The lack of discernment is dismaying.
Discernment
In its simplest definition, discernment is … the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think Biblically.
Discernment in the Bible
First Thessalonians 5:21-22 teaches that it is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning: “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.”
The apostle John issues a similar warning when he says, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
According to the New Testament, discernment is not optional for the believer, it is required.
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ ~ Philippians 1:9-10
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. ~ Hebrews 5:14
Without it, Christians are at risk of being “tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).
The Importance of Discernment
… failure to distinguish between truth and error leaves the Christian subject to all manner of false teaching. False teaching then leads to an unbiblical mindset, which results in unfruitful and disobedient living, a certain recipe for compromise.
Unfortunately, discernment is an area where most Christians stumble.
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-biblical-discernment-and-why-is-it-important-11532182.html
Yup.
Sola Scritura
I think I understand Sola Scritura. It’s a Protestant belief that posits the Bible as the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice. Okay, but what about the hundreds of millions of us who follow the Douay-Rheims Bible??? Understandably we would disagree. But that would return me to Betsy jones posts. It’s more important that we love and work together to to get everyone to heaven and reject the enemies of God.
Verbose comes to mind.💕
The scripture is never nonsense.
In fact, when you read the text in ancient Hebrew or Greek you can find many more profound concepts in it when the translation is changed to an equally likely word they many have intended in our more modern language.
Keep in mind that modern languages have expanded upon the meaning of various words that at one time only had one way of being written down. Context and even the mindset of those reading it were equally important.
Beyond that, there are so many connections between the Old and New Testimates that people have forgotten regardless of translation.
https://www.youtube.com/@jonathancahn-official/videos
Happy New Year, Fellow Treepers!
“A Breath of Fresh Air” … snow flurries dance among ice-covered branches, with sunshine to the side in a blue clear sky. This was the scene from out my window in Northeast Ohio. Photo taken last winter.
Wishing all here a year that’s bright and beautiful with God’s blessings! 🙂
So beautiful!
Thank you very much, Liz! 🙂
You’re welcome.
I bet you were glad to be inside😉
In this new year may the blessings of each day be the blessings you need most, phoenix.
If you really bet I was glad to be inside, you don’t know me very well. 🙂
No….reflecting on all your wonderful photos. I really spoke before I thought. It was early when I posted…that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.😉
8th grade. Next year, high school. 2 years until drivers license.
9th grade for me.
I graduate high school.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, pattyinporterville!
And thank you for posting this!
Because I was trying to watch the ball drop in Times Square, when at the stroke of midnight, my computer glitched and froze. But meanwhile, I saw some local fire works out my window. Anyways, really appreciate this traditional music! 🙂
The “official” Happy New Year song. Without a doubt!
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Hysterical! A most Happy New Year, Leon! And to all the other tree sitters, too!
Happy New Year, Mary…I think he’s still enjoying the fumes. 😉
MeeeeOW!
God bless everyone in this spanking, fresh New Year!
Best of health to you!
Be safe. Be happy!
Experience your very best life! ❤️🙏❤️
And to you, Lorrie. Love to you and yours, sister.
All the absolute, very best, Lorrie, for your year to be full of everything that you need for a peaceful, prosperous, and healthful one. May all His blessings find their way to you.🙏💕
💕
The Translantic Sessions was a BBC production that brought together Celtic and US Country performers for some legendary performances. Here are a few featuring Emmylou Harris . . .
One more . . .
A Happy New Year to you, Garrison, and a prayer that 2023 is better than 2022.
Peace & good health to you.
Thank you for the kind words. Be well and be blessed during the coming year. 🙂
Good morning Garrison! Happy New Year!
Afternoon Gramps! 🙂
Happy New Year, my friend. What a find! Back home I go in my mind and heart…
Here is another performance of Hard Times, Come Again No More…this one with visual reminders of what hard times were like long ago.
Be well, Garrison, as we welcome a hopefully brighter year and one filled with His mercies and grace unremitting, for which we offer unending thanks.🙏💕
Growing up the privations and outright dangers of the Great Depression continued to inform my father’s life. I grew up listening to his stories which, looking back, now seem almost cinematic—he once told me of a late-night poker game which included outlaw Pretty Boy Floyd . . . and the local sheriff!
Another time night fishing in outlaw country often included visits from armed men who, standing just outside the light of the campfire, would inquire about my father’s intentions. Over time the unnamed visitors would sometimes sit and share a cup of coffee, all the while never introducing themselves or volunteering any personal information . . . and then silently slip away into the night.
Poignant. Desperate, desperate times. And it’s stories like your father’s that bring home just how much.
Blessings to you, Garrison. May our good Lord continue to look after you always.
And blessings to you too, love. Our Lord’s love in boundless and can be shared with all of accept Him. 🙂
Happy New Years Fellow Treepers! Have a Wonderful Day. Blessings
To everyone in our Treeper community, and to our benevelont and all-seeing host, and to our blessed admins, I love you all and I wish you the best tidings for the coming year. I’m adopting a certain mentality for the ride ahead, and I’ll let the late great R. Lee Ermey and Matthew Modine sum it up for me:
Back atcha jeff!
Oorah!
Have blessed Sunday, Treeper friends. Always know that our dear Lord watches over us and cares for us. All we have to do is accept his divine reality. A simple “Now I lay me down to sleep” will do the trick. He’s waiting for you to reach out. Do it now.
Best regards, Garrison.
And thanks for the music.
🙂
You too. 🙂
. . . but deliver us from the Evil One.
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
Amen!
Happy New Year, Grandpa M.. with blessings of peace and joy that surpasses all understanding.
Can’t say it too many times, Happy New Year! Left you a reply up thread. ;0
That was supposed to be a smiley face 🙂
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)
Sunday Before the Nativity of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ
Sunday of the Holy and Righteous Ones of the Old Covenant
December 1oth – Patristic Calendar of the Orthodox Christian Church
January 1st – civil or commercial calendar
ALLELUIA! SING TO JESUS
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:9-14
Wishing you all the Lord’s blessings for a wonderful 2023
Amen, 1530 and best wishes to you in the New Year!
01 January 2021 Misty Morgan, American country keyboardist (duo with Jack Blanchard – “Tennessee Bird Walk”), dies of cancer at 75
01 January 2015 Jeff Golub, American jazz guitarist (Avenue Blue; Rod Stewart), dies of a rare brain disease at 59
01 January Patti Page
(1927-2013)
American pop singer (“With My Eyes Wide Open, I’m Dreaming”; “Tennessee Waltz”), dies at 85
01 January 2012 Fred Milano, American doo-wop singer, member of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, dies from lung cancer at 72
01 January 2007 Del Reeves, American country music singer, dies at 74
01 January 1997 Townes Van Zandt, American singer-songwriter (“Pancho and Lefty”), dies of a heart attack at 52
01 January 1997 Hagood Hardy, American-Canadian jazz and easy listening pianist, vibraphonist and film score composer (“The Homecoming”), dies from lymphoma at 59
01 January 1995 Ted Hawkins, American singer & guitarist (The Next Hundred Years), dies of a stroke at 58
01 January 1995 Jess Stacy, American jazz pianist (Great Gatsby), dies at 90
01 January 1993 “Georgia” Tom [Dorsey], American blues and gospel pianist, songwriter (“Peace In The Valley”), and evangelist, dies at 93
January 1 Oswald Chambers
Let Us Keep to the Point
“…my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.” —Philippians 1:20
My Utmost for His Highest. “…my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed….” We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It’s as if Paul were saying, “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest— my best for His glory.” To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point. An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn’t know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point— He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only— my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone.
My Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness. “Whether it means life or death-it makes no difference!” (see Philippians 1:21). Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted. But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide— for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Am I learning how to use my Bible? The way to become complete for the Master’s service is to be well soaked in the Bible; some of us only exploit certain passages. Our Lord wants to give us continuous instruction out of His word; continuous instruction turns hearers into disciples.
https://utmost.org/let-us-keep-to-the-point/
Way too much hoopla on the “New Year.” Pardon me if I stick with Psalm 118:24, which states: This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
//// rant on ///
Got my first fowl taste of East California tonight AKA Colorado.
Went to Wally World and found that as of Jan 1 (big sign @ front door), they only offer selling you a reusable bag to put your purchases in, as Colorado has instituted a bag fee of 10 cents per bag for large retailers anyway so not affecting me for now.
I can see how complicated life would be to oversee individual bag fees, especially in self check.
They had already cleared out all plastic bags so I had a bunch of stuff rolling around in my front seat … sigh.
However read into same law is Jan 1 of 2024 no more Styrofoam serving boxes, which I use for wings / salads / breadsticks & more.
I see a coming issue to move to paper boxes when wing sauce and breadstick butter seeps through paper and without a plastic bag will be a very large downside for a tourist customer economy that said customer will not prepared for such an issue of leakage.
Could move to the “reusable” plastic boxes but those things are not very price friendly for a add on charge of about 1 buck a piece last I saw on amazon, that are big enough for my needs and it will not get any cheaper once the food service providers start offering them, it is usually double.
Further complicating matters is that bag charges are not subject to sales tax, that also goes along with the delivery tax of .27 cents that they added July 1 of 2021, also not subject to tax and must be stated separately on receipts.
Example: Sam’s sells the big Styrofoam boxes for about 10 cents each, 20 cents each if the food service provides them.
Nor do I wish to wash them I doubt that it is realistically allowable either for health code, but have the capacity to do so if I must. SMH
BYOB ??? Bring your own bag now, was wondering as Subway has been asking for the last couple of months if I wanted a bag for my sandwich to go in, it will be interesting if they want a dime now, shall see soon enough.
With the new year as well someone thought is was a good time to go for cage free only eggs being sold / farmed here in CO, as if the price was not enough currently …. lets add 1 dollar or so to that price to make em all cage free (good job state reps, pat yourselves on the back).
Wally world had already cleared out all their eggs, as I was going to buy some before the price goes up even further, wonder what price eggs will be tomorrow?
/// rant off ///
I’ve had a lot of Texans want a location in their town, may have to think about that one when the lease expires in 28.
That or a food truck version pizza….. hum.
Who would have thought that anything emanating from a chicken’s butt would generate so much conversation?
Forget the 10 cents, you can get your own. Sellers on ebay have the t-shirt bags for about $26 a thousand including shipping. Not long ago they were under $20.
Foam take out boxes are a bit higher, $70 for 200.
Free ship if you have the business plan or the individual plus membership
https://www.samsclub.com/p/t-shirt-carry-out-bags-1000-count/170094?xid=plp_product_2
https://www.samsclub.com/p/hefty-supreme-foam-1-compartment-container-125-count/prod20654319?xid=plp_product_2
They do not have the reusable containers, yet anyway.
Much cheaper than amazon. AMZ still cheaper than food service provider… usually.
Costco may have as well, they copied sams for delivery.
Before plastic came into widespread use in the fast food and food packaging industries, waxed cardboard and paper worked just fine in almost all situations. Cardboard (paper) cups were the norm long before plastic cups. Cardboard cups could be made in any size normally used for carry-out food and drinks, were leak proof (if structurally undamaged) and could even be fitted with cardboard lids that inserted into a inside-circumference groove about 1/2″ down from the top. Dixie Cups are a prime example of that packaging, but deli salads such as cole slaw, potato salad and other prepared cold foods were sold in similar containers.
No, the cardboard containers weren’t equally as durable under rough handling as the plastics, but people knew that and handled them accordingly. The beautiful benefit – they decomposed quickly in landfills or even out in the weather when littered along highways. You wont find cardboard / paper cups or plates from even 10 years ago in any direct burial landfills. They are now, essentially, dirt.
IMHO we also should eliminate plastic bottles and return to aluminum cans or glass bottles for beverages, or waxed cardboard such as was used for retail milk and juice sales in stores (up to a half-gallon) and carry-out restaurants. Aluminum and glass can easily be recycled and waxed cardboard decomposes into “dirt” over time. Plastic is fine for a personal reusable beverage bottle or thermos, but not as a single-use container.
And eggs are a no-brainer. Eliminate all plastic containers and use 100% the recycled cardboard egg containers that are still in use by some sellers today. They work fine for both 12 and 18 count retail packages.
When you see how backwards it is, do you ever stop and think? We exchanged paper for plastic and say our world is being polluted but use the same plastic?
Exactly. That is my point – we survived just fine using paper-based containers, metal, and glass for decades. Plastic is more durable and convenient on the front end but a nightmare to dispose since nature does not break it down.
We did, but as I recall, it was the greenies that wanted to stop the “rape of the forests” to force change from paper to plastic and here they are again wanting change from petroleum to what…… unicorn farts.
I guess the cycle begins again…. lets go back to paper, at least it changes to dirt.
I see a future opportunity for some conglomerate to start mining for plastics in old landfills, was on my brothers list for avenues for raw materials as he had a process to convert plastic to essentially Aviation Gas only even higher octane, wouldn’t burn unless diluted.
Didn’t keep someone from burning down his prototype facility tho, wonder who didn’t like that Idea?
That’s proof that the Green movement is a fraud. It’s a communist creation just intended to keep obstructing economic stability by screwing with stable industries, accusing them of environmental “crimes.”
Plastic trash is a serious problem all over the earth. I’m no greenie by any measure but common sense tells us that the unending accumulation of plastic trash doesn’t end well.
Exchange a plastic straw in a paper wrapper to a paper straw in a plastic wrapper, I eagerly away the day that happens here so I can LMAO.
Hi GB, I remember the cardboard containers very well. There was nothing wrong with them. The glass bottles were great because you got money for returning them to the store. I lived close to a school and night welding class shop so found lots of bottles to take to store. Bought lots of penny candy with the 2 cent bottle refunds.
👍 👍
The only question for me is, will they start making waxed cardboard stuff again that is realistically priced.
I know someone will, whether or not it is realistically priced, only time will tell. Perhaps this is just another scheme to “help” put small business under.
McD’s was forced back to cardboard containers years ago, but they basically keep someones plant busy making them. Much like one of my old forklift customers had 2 plants locally that only made Budweiser packaging 24/7/365.
As for egg containers, the old paper machete containers were fine, but as for the cage free part, that is what will cost and its a misnomer anyway, they are still in a cage just larger / less dense … much like last Jan 1 in CA for pigs / hogs… but it added 30% to the cost of pork everywhere.
McD’s salads went to being put in a 16 oz drink / shake glass. not sure it they still do that.
Ultimately, for me anyway, it comes down to what is the real reason for making these changes because it isn’t for the environment or back when we used glass and steel / aluminum, it was still littered all over the roads, at least there was an incentive for cleanup for kids (and retired) to make money at it … I know I sure did.
Did any of these “environmentalists” clean up after themselves at any of the oil pipeline protests…. NO.
Did they not throw their mandatory masks around that someone else had to clean up, not to mention the disinfecting wipes to go along with it….. NO! My parking lot was littered with masks and wipes from WuFlu times via the Kroger next door.
This all comes down to money, my costs go up more, then I am forced to collect (from customers) some petty bag fee and remit to the GVT and what do they do with it??? Send it to Ukriane??? cause it sure does not get spent for anything helpful that I know of, unless you consider a politicians buddies to his back pocket helpful.
At least for these bag fees, unlike the pittance I get for collecting sales tax, I get to keep 40% of the bag fees, apparently even that is not enough for Walmart to collect them. That right there is at least coercion for business to collect the fee.
Bring Your Own Botulism or other dangerous bacterial growth.
And stop by the bank after to put those atrociously expensive eggs in a safety deposit box. It will soon be eggs, not gold or dollars, as our currency the way things are going…
LOL.. new bank service… refrigerated safety deposit boxes.
Already had that scare for WuFlu didn’t we?
I give it less that 5-years for it being a bigger problem than plastic bags, I would rather go back to paper bags but I believe that is what took us to plastic from paper the first time ….. the same type people back then.
My Magic Wand: I live in West Colorado (aka, California) and, after taking a closer look at buying a place in East California (aka, Colorado), decided to look elsewhere. Love the mountains of CO, but I’ve got more than enough nuttiness, here in CA.
Well I came here for my sinuses, one of the few places I found that helped, some people suggested Scottsdale AZ.
Or a food truck is mobile…. to anywhere until I find somewhere to land.
I to this point have not been affected by the crazies in Denver until now, when it starts affecting my already thin bottom line …. is my line in the sand. I do not have the luxury of being able to make a small price increase because of volume of sales like the chains do, perhaps the only chain to survive will be Taco Bell? Where did I see they won the food wars…..LOL
Verse of the Day for Sunday, January 1, 2023
✟
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:24 (KJV)
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered!!!
BE MY VOICE
BABY LIVES MATTER
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
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.
PLEASE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
Wishing you a Happy New Year, duchess. Thank you for these uplifting and hopeful poems💕
Mornin’ all!
New beginnings…
Happen everyday, everywhere…
When God lights our soul with a scripture,
Sends encouragement our way,
Answers prayer,
Provides a miracle,
Uses us to help another human being,
…not just on January 1st
We are Blessed!
Amen!
Amen and Happy New Year!
Amen.
Happy New Year in Christ!
Thank you for your very inspiring posts!
Think of this, to know God and be in his presence you must forget all your faults and sin. People think he does that to us when we are saved, maybe so. I see who I am and realize I’m filth and dirt but love my lord and know he loves me and allll that filth means nothing, just him.
“as far as the east is from the west is how far your sin is from him.” It’s about us forgiving ourselves as well as others.
And without faith it is impossible to please him. – Hebrews 11:6
Faith is more than mental assent. You can acknowledge that a chair is stable. However, when you actually sit on it, that is faith acting on what you claim to be true. You can say you believe God answers prayer but, unless you actually pray, you are not living by faith.
Throughout the Bible, it is evident that prayer is important. But with so many needs, how do you go about it? Prayer comes in many forms, one of which is “practicing God’s presence” – when you talk with God throughout the day, quietly within, and worship Him with thanksgiving and praise. In prayers of petition, you ask God to meet specific needs, great and small.
Another type of prayer is intercession on behalf of those who do not know the Lord or for the needs of others. Prayer intensifies with fasting. Corporate prayer is praying with other Christians in unity, the way the believers did when Peter was jailed (Acts 12:5).
There are also “no-matter-how-long-it-takes” prayers, which may take days, weeks, months, or even longer. Daniel spent three weeks mourning, abstaining from delicacies, praying, and neglecting personal comfort until an angel was able to bring the answer, though God had heard him on the very first day (Daniel 10:2-3, 12).
As you begin the new year today, examine and practice the prayers of the Bible. Direct your concern about what you see happening in the United States to God and ask Him to intervene. Pray for wayward souls to repent and turn to God and receive His will and blessings in their lives.
Pray, believing that, like the sturdy chair, He will hold you up and work His purpose in this nation.
https://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/daily-prayer-briefing?utm_source=daily_briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_content=daily_briefing
Archbishop Vigano has asked for three days of fasting for the J6 political prisoners. His message is simple, as the Department of (In)justice seeks to persecute and ruin thousands of others in their relentless maniacal hunting of anyone who opposes tyranny, corruption, and despotism.
https://humanevents.com/2022/12/31/archbishop-vigano-calls-for-3-day-fast-for-jan-6-detainees
The dark inhuman nightmare for these men and women is neverending.
Lord, please make Your Holy Presence known, and that of the Holy Spirit, to all who are being tortured for their rightful expression of political opposition, which was done peacefully. Please be with the families whose loved ones have been unjustly kept in prison, some in solitary. Strengthen their faith in You, and please provide them with the honest and righteous legal help from those who will not abandon efforts to help them, as You will not abandon them. I ask in the Name of your beloved Son, who Himself endured persecution and death for our sake and for the redemption of our souls. Amen.
Amen 🙏🙏🙏
January 1
MORNING
This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind…. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13, 14
Father, I will that they … whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me. John 17:24
I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. II Tim. 1:12
He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1:6
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I Cor. 9:24, 25
Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus. Heb 12:1, 2
EVENING
The Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee. Deut. 31:8
If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Ex. 33:15
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jer. 10:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psa. 37:23, 24
I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Psa. 73:23, 24
I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38, 39
J. Bagster
https://dailylightdevotional.org/01/0101.html
Jeremiah 2 has this statement from God near the beginning of the accusation against the people for their sins:
5 Thus says the Lord:“What wrong did your fathers find in me
that they went far from me,
and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
The profound nature of this accusation has caught me quite off guard. As I started my teaching through Jeremiah, I was quite prepared for complex and difficult passages, but I have been struck by its abject simplicity. This is but one example of the sinful nature of man and its consistency across all time.
The lesson is simple and will be repeated often in different ways:
You rejected the perfection you possessed and sought an impurity which you became.
Is that not always how it is? The person becomes defiled by that which they seek. It is a problem of desire and often our innate desires are destructive. We follow them to our peril when all along there was a pure path that we rejected. People desire to be something impure and become the personification of impurity. The did not simply seek out that which is worthless, they make themselves worthless in the process.
Bottom line, our worth is determined by our desire and alignment with the perfection of God. It is not necessarily what we are as we remain imperfect, it is the direction we desire. The people were being condemned not for a specific act or sin. They were condemned for the direction they chose, rejection of that which is perfect, that led to that sin.
Scripture below is God’s blessing upon the Israelites:
“But the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks in the rain from heaven. 11
It is a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning to the end of the year.” 12
Deuteronomy 11:11-12
Several verses beyond describe His blessings “removed.”
At times I wonder if that’s what has happened to U.S., but only God knows the plan.
However, these Words give me comfort that – no matter what – this land is His, He cares for it, and His eyes are always on it…
Blessed New Year to all!
(Faint not.)
Happy New Year, Della. Scriptural smelling salts always at hand. 🙏💕
Happy New Year, Betsy!
Yes, I keep steady supply of those “salts” to revive me!
🤗…of those there are no, and never will be, shortages.
Happy New Year Fellow Treepers…..
Good Sunday, to all❣️
What an appropriate day:
-the first day of the week
-the first day of a new year
While every day
is a day from our Lord,
Today, The Lord’s Day
is truly
a blessed beginning.
Happy & Bless-ed Sunday !
Happy & blessed New Year
✝️❤️🇺🇸
Good morning Patience! Happy Blessed New Year to you and your Mom!
Hello there, Pa🥰❣️❣️❣️
Thank you for your salutation and prayer.
May this new year bring
too many blessings to list to you
and all of your loves, Pa.
-💖
🙂
Good morning, Patience and Ma💕💕 and Happy New Year to you both, two beautiful ladies.
The Lord’s day to start a more hopeful year. May He make His Face to shine on us all, and be gracious unto us.
Blessings always…🙏
Nice
Happy new Year, all.
Happy New Year Liz! 🙂
I can’t believe our resident music aficionado’s haven’t remembered this one – What? U2. I ‘d love to wish a happy new year, but sadly old reality is busy reminding me that it can and WILL get worse – before………., but in any case let’s at least kick this off on a positive. We ARE already victorious.
Have a blessed Sunday all!
Here I am going to post a little piece I wrote about the Lockheed P-38 Lightning service early in the war. This WW II twin engine fighter and reconnaissance aircraft was the only US fighter that was in front line operational service (starting July of 1941) in the US Army Air Corp/Army Airforce from before Pearl Harbor until after the end of WW II.
It’s unconventional twin engine, twin boom, design was primarily the product of the genius of Clarance “Kelly” Johnson to meet an Army Air Corp specification for an interceptor with a rate of climb and top speed beyond the capability of any fighter with a single engine at that time (Feb, 1937).
“Kelly” Johonson would go on to be the chief designer of the F-104, U-2, and SR-71 among other great aircraft.
The P-38 was essential for the support of the Allied invasion of N. Africa and the bane of the Japanese in the war in the Pacific. It was the aircraft used to ambush Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander of the Combined fleet of the Japanese Imperial Navy and chief architect of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
In 1944 it had been decided to end production of the P-38 to free up production capacity to produce more of the newer designed aircraft. But Gen. George Kenny, Commander of the Allied Air Forces in the South West Pacific, convinced Bill Knudsen, the “Great Dane” chiefly responsible for getting US production on track early in the war, that the P-38 was the aircraft they needed. The pilots Loved the aircraft. It was tough, fast, had concentrated fire power in the nose, the range needed, and knowing the aircraft could fly on one engine was of great comfort to the pilots who flew long distances over water and trackless jungle.
And so the production and ongoing development of the P-38 continued and it was the aircraft that the two highest scoring American aces of WW II, Dick Bong, and Tommy McGuire, got their kills in.
Today out of 10,037 P-38s produced there are currently only 10 flying with several more being restored to flyable condition. Some of these aircraft have been recovered from the jungles of New Guinea and one, Glacier Girl, from under almost 300 feet of glacial ice in Greenland. Here is a link to the story of how Glacier Girl ended up under all of that ice and it’s recovery and restoration.
Glacier Girl: Recovery | P-38 Assn (p38assn.org)
Why did Glacier Girl end up under all that ice is the story I will tell.
Much The following information is extracted from: Fork-Tailed Devil; The P-38 Lightning by Martin Caidin (goodreads.com)
Considered the definitive history of the P-38.
The Glacier Girl was there because of the effectiveness of the German U-boats and the lack of Allied shipping in 1942. At that time the U-boats were sinking Allied shipping faster than new construction was being launched. The Allies were losing what Churchill had named “The Battle of the Atlantic”.
Every cubic foot and pound of freight that was being shipped was vital to keeping England in the war. While at the same time just holding the Japanese back in the Pacific demanded more shipping and at that time the threat of possible Japanese attacks against the west coast was feared and so P-38s were demanded to be deployed there though that perceived threat quickly dissipated and from that time the bulk of the P-38 production headed east and would continue to do so until well into 1943.
FDR, responding to Churchills prodding and understanding that everything must be done to bolster the moral of the American people, had demanded that American ground and air forces must be in battle against the Germans somewhere in 1942. And so the Allies were planning “Torch”, the invasion of N. Africa.
The medium and heavy bombers could fly across to Scotland and then England on their own, but the US needed fighters. At the time the P-38 was the only fighter that had the range to possibly make the trip.
Hap Arnold had wrote that the success of the North African venture depended on the presence of every possible P-38……….If the P-38’s were withdrawn, then the African invasion must be abandoned altogether.
And Hap would be proven right. The P-38 proved indispensable in N. Africa where it’s pilots learned the lessons of air warfare the hard way as they faced the Luftwaffe for the first time. Their losses initially were atrocious, but they learned and eventually got the upper hand.
It must be understood that the P-38 at this time was still a work in progress. It was a more complex aircraft than any US fighter deployed to combat in WW II. The differences between the F and G models that flew the northern route and the definitive J and L models are so great that they are almost different airplanes altogether. But still the F, G, and H models that fought in N. Africa were very capable combat aircraft.
And so was hatched the scheme to fly the P-38s over. The US Army Air Corp estimated that it would suffer operational losses of 10% in doing so and that was deemed acceptable. That’s how desperate the situation was.
They would provide a B-17 as a mother ship to do the navigation and provide long range communications leading a covey of six P-38s along a route from Presque Isle, Maine to Goose Bay, Labrador, to one of two airfields in Greenland to Reykjavik, Iceland, to Prescot, Scotland, and on to England.
The dangers were many and for the fighters to make the flights in any season but summer was out of the question. The Germans added to the difficulty by broadcasting fake radio navigation beacons from ships. But the overriding danger was the quickly changing weather. Forecasts were often wrong and airfields were often socked in very quickly. Powerful storms with strong headwinds and icing conditions would materialize very quickly. And navigation was a primitive art then compared to what we have now. So the arrangements for the rescue of downed crews were extensive.
At the end of the summer flying season along the northern route in 1942 a total of 920 aircraft of all types had made it to England. A total of 38 were lost making the operational losses 5.2%. Only 9 aircraft had been lost with no trace of the aircraft or crew. Only ONE P-38 pilot was lost.
Of the P-38s, out of 186 that attempted to trip, 179 made it to England under their own power. An astounding record considering. And plans were made to ferry four thousand fighters via the northern and southern routes in 1943.
But that proved not to be necessary. Shipping the fighters and medium bombers proved to be much more cost effective than ferrying them by air. With the efforts of Henry Kaiser and the like, the production of shipping coming out of US yards far exceeded even the most optimistic estimates of the tonnage that could be launched.
And with the advent of better tactics, better convoy procedures, hunter killer groups, escort carriers, and the Very Long Range version of the B-24 the back of the German U-boat fleet was broken by May of 1943 and the Battle of the Atlantic has been essentially won. Plus a method was devised for shipping fully or mostly assembled aircraft on the decks of tankers protected from the elements by shrink wrap plastic that greatly increased the number of aircraft that could be shipped.
A friend’s father was a P38 pilot over Italy. His squadron published a book of their history which I read. Great stories. It was here that I found out he flew the camera plane. His only weapon was his sidearm. He loved flying the P38 which was the hot rod plane of its time. I asked him if he did any flying after the war–of course not—he had work to do. In out town his name is almost synonymous with civic duty.
You might like this:
rah: Cool. I love WWII military aircraft.
I started watching Audie Murphy in “To Hell And Back” and now your making me want to finish it today! I’ll make a bet most Americans born after 1980 never heard of him. My combat wounded Army father really liked the story of John Basilone.
regards
As good as the movie is, the book is better IMO. There is much of Audie’s later combat as a Lieutenant, that is left out of the movie.
I grew up at the Air Force Academy when an f4 phantom went sonic over the base housing and cadets.
P-38 was the favorite prop and the F16 eagle still favorite.. 80k foot S curve for altitude record..
Apparently can’t edit which isn’t helpful with fat fingers and some-timers disease on the memory.
F15 Eagle could stand on its tail and go vertical. Stock version went to 80k feet. As i was looking up stuff there was a stripped down version with no paint and just AF insignia. Set records in 1974 to 108k feet.. amazing airplane..
You can edit within a certain amount of time – like 15 minutes-ish?
Another good WW2 post.
Keep them coming.
Thanks.
Rah, outstanding write up, I love these, thank you!
I was startled to see that Kelly Johnson designed the P-38, as well as my favorite, the SR-71.
Utterly fascinating history.
Prayer and 3 day fasting is suggested to support those incarcerated unconstitutionally for J6. Archbishop Vigano has supported the request. The dates are Jan 3 – Jan 5, inclusive.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/01/archbishop-vigano-calls-fasting-three-days-jan-6-political-prisoners-january-3-4-5/
I somehow knew you’d post this link, Slowcobra. A little further back up the page I posted another from Human Events on the same. These persecuted men and (I think) women have a strong ally in their corner…one with, I’m certain, a direct line to the Almighty. May it be so.🙏
Happy New Year to you, and I hope for them.
Hi betsy, good to know others are getting the word out!
A safe and blessed New Year to you, and to all my fellow treepers!
I have a prayer + $ request. It’s not in my nature to reach out like this but it isn’t about just me:
The recent freezing spell burst some pipes under my mom’s home. The damage is worse than expected. It’s an old, run down house my grandfather + his brothers built a long time ago…
—- My sister + I gave up a couple years ago trying to talk her into moving to our other family home that’s just down the road + where I’m going to retire to once mom isn’t with us any longer. It’s a short 15 minute walk down the road + in far better condition — but she’s extremely stubborn + flat out refuses to consider it… it makes her angry if we try to talk about it…
And I figured at her age, she’s earned the right to decide for herself how she wants to spend the time she has left…
But we’re about $1,000 short of the plumber’s estimate of what it will take so we can turn the water back on.
https://www.givesendgo.com/G9KNK
That’s the page I setup for the new website. We’ve appreciate any help we can get.
I have something to share, an answer for a question I have.
I realize how ignorant I am that I cannot even ask God a question without his help. Ask a better question and receive a more complete answer.
im sitting with my wife this morning and I say, “ does God want sheep if he will not watch over us as our shepherd for protection?”
First, all truth can be crossed examined by other truth it is written into all Gods work because all truth comes from God, God is truth.
Second, “why” is an open question, it has no end don’t bother asking God a why, hone down the question to a purpose not a gripe.
So a few minutes later God reveals this.
Our understanding of laws is backwards, mans construct always is. Laws were written for salvation of ourselves not protection of others, we are to forgive. The ultimate goal is heaven and laws were to prevent separation from God, not mans stuff or even his life. Murder is forbidden because the murderers will find it separates them from God. Rape, separation. Theft. The giving back of seven fold is to repent, to clear your conscience if it’s possible, to rid you of that desire. All Gods laws emitted from that principle and consequently worked. But man turned it to gain, greed. To manipulate the sheep.
Laws in the Bible seem so rigid because of the fact we see them in that light, not as salvation but our protection of our goods and life. Man has used laws to profit himself not save. It’s why laws are never ending and are so ridiculous. Laws to regulate the prosecution of crimes against our citizens, nothing to do with God. Gods law from Jesus is very simple, the Jewish laws were only acceptable as guides for salvation.
So then, God punishes his children, it’s all through Gods word, “if you do not punish a child it is hate towards that child” punish was to align a wayward child. “Spare the rod spoil the child” it in love we redirect, just as God does us. It is his example to us.
The world has that choice but chooses to not punish separation, laws are punitive towards who they deem a threat not for salvation.
The fact is separation from God is death, they will destroy themselves. Laws are meant to create responsibility, to hold people accountable for salvation purposes.
The worlds ways are not aligned with God, this is again where truth will be seen. Do we follow mans laws or Gods, Gods. Truth is that salvation is the purpose not protection from harm. The protection was written into all our ways but has since left us, it’s purposefully done to bring us to damnation away from God. Even now laws are being written to form a wall between us and God.
King Solomon followed that principle and his wisdom was Gods wisdom. We can never get away from the fact that Gods way is the only way. In salvation we are safe and restored, outside that we are open to every form of attack.
I don’t care to hear a man professing to be Christian and making laws. I want to see a man professing salvation and following Gods laws.
Romans 7 covers this in depth. The Law God gave in the Old Testament was a proof of our weakness + corrupt nature. It showed us we need a Redeemer capable of atoning for all the times we fall short of His Law.
I think the book of Job has the answer why bad things happen to God’s People — Humanity is a proof lodged against Lucifer:
Humans are lower + weaker than the Angels — in perishable bodies prone to the weaknesses of the flesh but can enjoy creation in ways the Angels envy.
But we also have something the Fallen Angels + Lucifer don’t — the capacity to Repent + receive Forgiveness.
The Angels were created first + higher — but that came with higher responsibility – which Lucifer’s crew failed to uphold.
In the book, God points Lucifer’s attention to Job to ask what he thinks of a human that worships Him as Lucifer was unwilling to maintain.
Lucifer says that the only reason Job worships God is because He gave him so many good things + an easy life – implying God had to bribe Job to worship Him.
Lucifer says he can make Job hate God if God would just remove the protective barrier surrounding him (like the Holy Spirit shields us).
Of course, God — knowing everything – knew what would happen. This was not a “contest” or “bet” between Lucifer + God. God was proving a point to his highest created Angel — that he was – ultimately – weaker than the mere humans.
Job, it seems to me, represents the whole of Humanity. — We are proof to Lucifer that God is worthy of worship + He doesn’t need to bribe us with pain-free lives.
In the book, during his horrible suffering — Job tells his friends that – when he dies – he will demand — an answer from God for why he allowed such horrible things to befall him —- when he’d done nothing wrong…
….Why does God allow His people to suffer…
but when we get to the end of the book + Job is facing God — he falls to his knees in silence + humility – overwhelmed by God’s perfection/being…. The answers Job wanted to demand are now meaningless to him…
— I think that is illustrating Humanity’s existence…. We’ll never fully understand why God created a universe in which people who trust in Him suffer…. or why He gave Lucifer dominion over the kingdoms of Earth for this time between the Garden of Eden + the 2nd coming of Jesus — but when our time in this flesh expires, He moves us to an existence in eternity that erases any need to know why…
That is why Lucifer’s Crew hates Humanity so much + seeks to destroy all they can in the hope of taking away our chance to repent + receive forgiveness…
Lucifer was God’s greatest created being before his fall. —- He was blessed with far more than a mere Human —— but it wasn’t enough. He rebelled.
A human – after the fall – was born to struggle. ““Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.” (Genesis 3)
But he was born with the capacity to experience joy + love + humility + the capacity to worship God for who He is + repent + be forgiven.
Humanity by Gods standard is a saved or reformed individual not everyone can stand in that judgement, it’s in psalms 1 “ they shall not stand in thy judgement” reformation is a process described in the first of genesis to bring us to humanity. The ancient church knew this well we have lost that knowledge.
The thing is what we call curse or hardship is a gracious gift, death is one of them. Death in a sinful life of decay is mercy. We took death upon ourselves.
if you examine all the “curses” you see they came from our sin. Guilt points to lack of responsibility. Owning or acknowledge that fault or fall removes that guilt.
The lack of our progress is directly linked to our repulsion of God. Knowledge becomes dangerous if it is not in love.
work or toil is good, it says that in the manual. Any man who works with his hands receives accomplishment.
Ive found our lack of answers to life’s misery is purposeful ignorance. How would you like to find abortion was just as much our fault as the murderers who take those lives? You have to honestly be willing to embrace that much responsibility to even begin to understand how misery and torture proliferate in our society.
most will never embrace that, “ego” will not die easily. Who is responsible God?
Therein lies the dilemma. When a “human” comes to God with questions about what we see as injustice in our world God holds no sin against us we do. And if the movie being played before our eyes is rejected because we dare be accused or convicted of the injustice we see then we see nothing. This is a picture of democrats today. They are not bad people they have rejected so much responsibility that they see nothing. Only your faults, which by the way are only visible because they are familiar with them.
This! is excellent! 🤗🙏
Amen and God bless
Climate Scam Goes SouthPosted on January 1, 2023 by tonyheller
There is more Arctic sea ice now than there was fifteen years ago when Al Gore won the Nobel Prize and predicted all the ice would be gone in seven years. So climate alarmists have turned their attention south to Antarctica.
Climate Scam Goes South | Real Climate Science
Happy New Year, rah!
Happy New Year and may this coming year surpass all your expectations.
The biggest difference imo is the females. There is no confusing a female Purple Finch from a female House Finch. I used to see them fairly regularly in the winter when I lived up north, but noticed they decreased little by little every year until they finally stopped showing up at my winter feeders for the sunflowers. I have had them a few times in my new location in the South but not the last 2 or 3 years.
I wish we had those. Delicate colours. So pretty.
There have been observations that 5G towers are decimating bird and bee populations, noted by people who are documenting declines in both in the areas of this diabolical towers. I fear the worst as time moves on…
A 5G tower was installed and is in eye range. I have seen a decline in my birds but I am in a new location and this is nothing like where I used to live in NJ. Which contrary to all the bad things about the state, some true, some not, it was a birding paradise as many southern bird ranges ended there, and many Northern bird ranges as well, and being on the Atlantic flyway. Cape May & Sandy Hook are two of the best bird watching places in the world, both in NJ.
What are your favorite birds in the area you live, Betsy jones?
Ours are so run of the mill phonix…the common Sparrow, dove,jays…
But my birds in Britain were beauties and we adored them.
Blue tits, great tits, nuthatches, kingfishers, tiny robins, wrens, finches…I could go on and on.
We had a resident peacock in our garden. He would peep in the kitchen window, which could be quite startling. I knew what he wanted. Dry cat food.
He was our garden ornament. I have a photo of him, feathers spread beautifully wide he would shake them either to show off or to warn).
Walking in front of him was one of our many cats, completely unbothered…and a squirrel behind him, also unbothered.
Our garden was a big sanctuary for all His lovely creatures. A haven. Each one living in blissful peace with one another. I certainly do miss it.
Would love to see your peacock if possible, Betsy jones!
When you say common sparrows, doves, and jays, I’m thinking House Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay … but I could well be wrong, since depending on your part of the country you might be seeing species that I would consider uncommon and would dearly love to see. Meanwhile, even the common birds have their moments and can bless an entire day. And I’ve always been a fan of Blue Jays (the bird … my grandfather was a fan of the Toronto team …). 🙂
No, you are correct, phoenix. Those are the ones. And yes, I agree. When God knows each sparrow which falls, one shouldn’t call them common.
I’m on my Kindle, but I’ll ask my computer man (aka husband) to see what he can do about a picture. It will of course be held up in moderation but hoping it will go through… a project for tomorrow.
Looking forward to it!
Only House Finches at my feeders.
House Finches are more common in my neck of the woods too. Once in a blue moon I’ll see a Purple Finch, generally during migration, but will then second guess that I’m actually seeing one.
They sometimes get a strange disease on their eyes that can completely crust over them turning them blind. I had this happen last year and it was a male that died. I had to take down my feeder for a few weeks per the birding community because of this disease.
Bird watching/feeding one of the best ‘hobbies’ in the world. Best to you rah.
We have those pretty house finches at our feeder, too.
And they’re in good company with Cardinals, tufted Titmouse, black-capped Chickadees, eastern Towhees, house wrens and Gold finches. At the suet feeder, we have downy woodpeckers and red-headed woodpeckers.
Other birds in our yard are bluebirds, brown thrasher, mockingbird, mourning doves.
We love our birds and it is not cheap to feed them lately! But they’re worth it …
You have a wonderful variety ma’am. My biggest treat of a bird was a Brown-headed Nuthatch which are not native to where I used to live. I have not seen him back again in a few years.
My big treat is my hanging Bluebird house being constantly used successfully, last year 3 broods of 5 each. Nothing better than having a cup of coffee, a scone or muffin, and watching the birds in the yard. Regards & ty for your post.
Very cool! Was blessed to see a Brown-headed Nuthatch once while on vacation in Georgia. Birding can turn any travel to a new area into a vacation!
We also have blue nuthatches, but haven’t seen a brown one. Usually see them on side of tree, upside down. They get one sunflower seed at a time and take it to the tree to eat.
… and here for your viewing pleasure, Miss.Della.B is the ever-elusive Snow-Capped Nuthatch … can only be seen in winter! 🙂 … Just kidding, it’s really a White-Breasted Nuthatch! Photo taken by me years ago in the Cleveland Metroparks.
As for your hummingbirds, once again you’re blessed. I only get to see hummingbirds come to feeders if I stay at a bed-and-breakfast inn or visit a park with a feeder, and the hummers I see aren’t at all as tame or fearless as yours. On a lucky day, I’ll see one for more than half a second as it zips by in the wild, or perches and tries to blend in with its surroundings.
Such a beautiful pic, p! They do favor the blue nuthatch, too.
Yes, our brood (sometimes a dozen) of hummers is quite entertaining – love to watch them.
Last year, we found a young one lying on the feeder, unable to move.
We guessed he had been in a fight with the older ones.
We put him in a flower basket, and misted him with water every hour.
Later that evening he came around and flew off! That was such a relief.
How awesome you were able to rescue him! 🙂
Love your posts, Colkitto, so delightful!
For quite awhile, we’ve had two bluebird houses and husband just made a third. After installing, several days later he watched two male bluebirds fighting on the ground under the house!
Apparently, they’re ready for springtime…
There’s a bird watering station outside my kitchen window. And, like you, I love to watch them drink/bathe while sipping my coffee! There is serenity in this, especially as I’m reminded that Jesus says not to worry about anything, but to look at the birds and see how God takes care of them. So humbling…
He’s a dear friend from other threads, Della. I am so glad he found his way to this one. He really needs have so much to offer. 💕
That’s great, Betsy! I enjoy his bird-chats a lot!
Every time I try and respond to this post I either drop my computer, or my plug falls out and my comp dies as my battery is dead.
I had a nice story written out also, alas not to be.
Ty so much for your compliment and always enjoy personal stories and observations, especially of birding.
I had years and years of Birdwatcher’s Digest magazines that I donated when I moved to a Bird sanctuary that does children’s education classes on nature. If they are still around and you like to read great bird stories and pictures I highly recommend it. Regards
Technology helps us to be efficient – or not, right?!
Such a nice contribution that others, especially children, can learn about birds!
(Encouraging that some of them are interested in nature as today’s world offers many choices!)
I’m going to see about a subscription soon…husband will enjoy, too. He knows way more about birds than I do!
For many years we lived in big city and only saw four common birds. Then, we moved out to the country and now have about twenty-two varieties of birds – such a delight! This doesn’t include migrating ones, as they are only around a brief time. If one doesn’t have good eye for spotting them, you’ll miss out.
Thank you , C, for your posts here!
I have several of the white breasted Nuthatches at my feeders. They have a very distinctive warning call which I hear every time I go out to fill my feeders. They feed on the blocks, the squirrel proof feeder and on the seed I put on the ground. In each case however they grab the seed they want and take it to a tree to consume it. I love their way of walking down a tree head first. It is their method of finding food. Woodpeckers work up, Nut hatches down.
All good birds I’m familiar with, and you’re so blessed to be able to see them all right at your house! Feeding them definitely sounds worth it.
They’re definitely a blessing, phoenix. We consider them our feathered friends, and will feed them as long as we can.
We have many hummingbirds, too, but they’re migrating now. They come back every spring and stay till fall. Those little boogers are fearless. They will come very close up and check us out! They sure do fight with each other.
Wish I had a fraction of your photography skills, p.
Taking pics of all these birds would keep me busy!
You should really take up bird photography, Miss.Della.B … you’ve definitely got the perfect environment for it! And you’ve got the enthusiasm … the skills can be learned.
Thanks for encouragement, p!
Happy New Year and I wish you plenty of good birding this year, Colkitto!
Many thanks for this helpful comparison shot! Now if only they’d always show up together this way to make it easier to identify them in the field … Am familiar with the House Finch song so I can identify one immediately if I hear it. Less familiar with Purple Finches, so I tend to second guess, and really need to study their song more.
Happy New Year Phoenix! The females are much easier to tell apart. I usually try and look for the females first if I see them, than I look closer at the males. It can be difficult if there are no females.
I just saw my first of the winter Ring necked Ducks. Their are literally Hooded Mergansers in every pond that I went to this morning around me. They are beautiful too, but I do not get the variety I got up north, but I was near the ocean.
I’m not even sure if that does the female Purple Finch (lower pic) justice. When you see one you know it.
Okay, so am thinking the top one is the House Finch … I did look it up, but yeah, this species kind of confuses me! So thanks again! And great tip about looking for females first! 🙂
When you mention Ring-necked Ducks, we normally don’t get them breeding in Northeast Ohio, but one hung out alone all summer long at a certain little pond, so the local birding community thinks he may have been injured … but hopefully well enough to migrate in the fall, because now the duck is nowhere to be seen. Last time I saw Mergansers was years ago, they’re in Ohio but methinks you have to get up earlier in the morning than I typically do to actually see them!
Definitely being by the ocean is a gold mine for bird variety, and I should keep that in mind for future travel plans (put it on a wish list at least)!
The Great Lakes are decent as well. We’ve been getting some rare breeds in Ohio actually taking up residence near Lake Erie … including Yellow-headed Blackbird and Black-necked Stilt in the Toledo, Ohio area … and seeing White Pelicans fly over was stunning! People drive for hours and from out of state to see these species, hope they’ll all be back in the spring!
Always nice talking birds with you Colkitto! 🙂
@Betsy Jones,
Thank you for your kind words. I always enjoy reading your posts, which sometimes even make me laugh, and teach me new words! I have a movie, its kinda funny, has a bit of a hard edge, but is a true story of a former boxer, drinker, who found God and became a priest. It’s called “Father Stu” starring Mark Wahlberg, and Mel Gibson. Mel Gibson has some hilarious lines, and even takes a shot at Hollywood. Good movie. I wish you & yours the best, and hope your guardian angels keep a sharp eye on you all. My sincere salutations Bet.
Oh I know the name of this one! Good reviews apparently. My daughter asked if anyone had seen The Whale with Brendan Frazier… Her comment without giving anything away was “WHOA!”… all caps. We are seeing her tomorrow night for a quick bite at our favourite IHOP. We love breakfast for dinner and it’s 2 for 1 for seniors. I’ll ask her about it.
I’ve been waiting to post this which I found the other day…
” I got called ‘pretty’ the other day.
Well, the actual words were ‘pretty annoying’, but I am focusing on the positive.”
My continuing resolution, my friend…find something positive, concentrate on that, and be hopeful!
Happy New Year, Colkitto. I hope all the roads you travel this year will be smooth, with no potholes or speedbumps. Blessings as always😘
Here’s an example of what conservative, traditional Christianity can bring. The town of Saint Marys in Kansas, the first town in this video.
Listen to the stats he rattles off.
NOTE that he says the modern Vatican doesn’t recognize them. Not communist and woke enough, obviously.
THE CHRISTIAN WITHDRAWAL EXPERIMENT
Feeling out of step with the mores of contemporary life, members of a conservative-Catholic group have built a thriving community in rural Kansas. Could their flight from mainstream society be a harbinger for the nation?
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/01/retreat-christian-soldiers/603043/
I love personal stories and videos of real America. Ty Winston.
Sounds pretty cool … Have thought before that if there were some way to live more primitively like the Amish do while still being fully Catholic, that would be an awesome lifestyle!
Happy new year to all treepers! I’m not sure how Betsy isn’t on the “payroll” at CTH especially because of the grace she brings to each conversation. Admins?
2022 was hard for many. Prayers for blessings and a new beginnings as we approach this year..
Well said sir. I second that!
🤗💕
Just revisiting this thread, Robb, and saw your sweet comment. In fact, I should be paying this site for all it gives me.
Friends…so many. Conversation…scintillating
Camaraderie…loads of that.
“Landlords…none better.
Faith and scriptural support…yes, yes, yes!
Is there another place like it?
No. By the grace of Almighty God I found this site. I am grateful beyond words.
Blessings to you, good sir. I sincerely thank you😌
A different take on New Years.
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Drink a cup of kindness,
and may you all have a happy new year;
Live your best life
Praise God
Oh yea! Happy New Year!
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1609220410268356613/pu/vid/320×568/OBJI9Ll-4JyTlf9W.mp4?tag=12
Amen.
Amen.
Amen
Amen.
And may I wish you a very Happy New Year and to all whom you love.
Amen
Amen.
Amen
Amen.
Had to share this for those of us who are about to enter a season of prayer and fasting January 3rd. I am reading a book entitled “The Prophetic Warrior” by Emma Stark. This is from page 71…
“Jesus shows us how absolutely brutal you need to be with a lack of faith. You need to throw it out of the room!
When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, He said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at Him. After the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up (Matthew 9:23-25).
The same thing happens to Peter in the Book of Acts. Peter is faced with a whole group of sobbing widows around Tabitha and he throws them out in order that he can steward a faith-filled atmosphere (see Acts 9:39-40). This means there are some people that you cannot have around you because they are “faith Hoovers” – they vacuum faith. They suck up all the faith or seek to undermine it with their faithlessness and faithless words.
This faithlessness comes from the deceiver. But the devil is a seller of lies, and we are not going to buy his lies anymore! We are not going to buy into his slogans of doom and gloom and hopelessness! We are not going to hear the sound waves of hostility and believe that there is no answer. We are not going to partner with death and speak death over people and situations.
Our faith is in the God of all life!”
**** Small interjection by me (JWoo) – Isn’t it interesting how this correlates with “The Chosen – Season 3 Episode 4 that aired just this very evening!!!! Love it when God does that! Affirmations everywhere! ****
Thank you, JWoo!
Your post is definitely confirming for me.
Wishing you a Happy and Blessed New Year! 🙂
✝️ Lord, thank You for the day. Amen.