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
✝️ DAILY DEVOTIONAL, February 13, 2023
Thank you, DD. Good reminder.🙏🏻
Thank you, DD! Pastor Chuck had an interesting story about Spurgeon in his devotional today.
https://www.insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/spurgeon's-channel-of-encouragement1
It was great, G. Read it twice.
Morning, Della. Coffee-ing up, then off to read Pastor Swindoll. Spurgeon speaks to me as no other. I positively devour anything he wrote. Be blessed, my Southern friend.💕
Blessed morn to you, Betsy – and all day long!
Think I need more coffee, too – ended up on Pres. Thread this a.m. before I realized my mistake. 😅
Love Spurgeon – can’t wait to meet him one day up yonder…
Hahaha!!! I’ve done that! Checked another thread first and been sucked in so that my arrival here is well late. Live and learn…which I never seem to do😉.
Coffee…the mother’s milk of adulthood. Have drunk and am ready to go!😎
Good morning, Betsy and Della.
It’s afternoon, JWoo, where did morning go!!
Blessings on you and your girl today…
Afternoon, JWoo!😘 Second over caffeinated cuppa in hand. Its just one of those days when more coffee is required.😘
Betsy be tremblin! LOL Hee hee
😂
Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Morning, G! Thanks to you, I keep him in my faves. As the Britspeak say, I like his face. Hope its a less go go week for you. Sun shining here and the birds are chattering to themselves. First cup of coffee now to get the juices flowing…😘
Afternoon Bet! Kinda semi busy Monday. Workout, then did the steaks shopping for tomorrow, together with flowers and cards. the checkout lady at HEB asked me how many girlfriends did I have. LOL! The answer was none. Just a bride, mom, and a SIL. Tomorrow night it will be just 4 of us. Will have a glass of good red with the steaks.
Got some chopped steaks also, chicken fried them, ate 2 and now I’m vegging until it gets time for my men’s small group tonight. Heart emoji here. 🙂
You’re a good egg, GrandpaM. Taking excellent care of your women. Knew I liked you.
🙂
Good morning, GrandpaM,
Enjoyed the Insight article, too. I have 1 Peter 4:12-19 posted right in front of my face at my home office. It’s a great reminder along the same veins.
Afternoon JWoo, glad you did. I’ve been listening to Pastor Chuck on the radio since 97.
Grandpa, did you know Pastor Swindoll has been out of pulpit for last two Sundays with Covid.
Don’t know any other news about him, but he’s going on eighty-nine years of age this year.. 🙏🏻
I love his guest pastor, Dr. Jonathan Murphy, filling in these past two weeks. He’s from Northern Ireland and his accent is grand! He even jokes about it. A listen to Dr. Murphy’s messages is time well spent…
(link if interested: http://www.Stonebriar.org.)
Oh no, my bride and I were very upset when he initially took the jab but so many were deceived. Will be praying for him. Always wanted to go listen to him at Stonebriar church but life happens. Will try and find some time to hear Dr. Murphy, need a refresher on my Irish accent. 🙂
Recently I’ve listened to Dr. Murphy’s series, “Kindness,” from book of Ruth last July at Stonebriar.
He actually lives in Dallas now, a local pastor there; also a professor at Dallas Theological Institute.
He’s brilliant – and busy!
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A whole new dimension to the phrase “cat call”! 🐱📱
That is a kool kitty.
“Let’s see…where is my Facebook app…”
My cats would be looking for food delivery…… 😺😺😺
Hahaha!!! Maybe that’s what he’s looking for, GB. I could have gotten that wrong, but then I am looking at that phone upside down.😂
I can think of one use of a dead idol if it’s made out of wood. You can start a fire in the fireplace. Our pastor in his sermon yesterday spoke of the increasing and open worship of Baal and Ashera today.
He chose his topic well, my dear brother. That worship of Baal is in our faces, boldly and unapologetically.
And suddenly, if you’ve noticed. I am shocked by the appalling and open celebration of it. Not just here and there, but everywhere one looks.
It is plain disgusting, Bet. That’s what our pastor was saying. We are in the midst of severe spiritual warfare and some so called preachers devote whole sermons on “leaves”.
https://citizenfreepress.com/breaking/christ-the-redeemer-struck-by-lightning/
I thought you’d like to see this, my friend.
Wow!
Slowcobra posted a link to Archbishop Vigano’s homily below. I think you’d find it extremely interesting and very powerful.
I saw the link earlier, just settling for the night now. 🙂 Thank you, dear sis!
This seems fitting (idols?)
Morning Ya’ll 🙂
Mornin’ jay 🙂
Howdy Garrison Blessings upon your house 🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
There is something so serenely beautiful about snow cover unmarked by human footsteps or snow shovels!
🇺🇸😁🇺🇸
Hello, Jay. 😎
-What a gazebo
Good morning Patience ❤️! Indeed a lovely day.
From the great Irving Berlin…………………….many crooners/lounge acts cover this song………………
One of my favorite dance couples 😁
I spy with my little eye a selection of benches fit for sitting and contemplating.
Good morning. Mr jay.😊
A picnic place for a Tree reunion. Dan does it with Intellectual Froglegs!
I like it!!😁
Maidin Mhaith Betsy, one could definitely spend a day in reflection there 🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
😊 Harder and harder to find such a spot. That one would be perfect🤗
Good afternoon Jay, Great pictures every time! Every one, you wanna just keep looking; so relaxing and satisfying! The quiet, the lovely white softly over everything, the shining gold and silver lightly on the horizon, and then blue . . . Thank you Lord for Your kindness to let us see beauty and have peace.
Good morning jay and blessings!
Blessing’s upon your house Gramps “Howdy “
2/12/2023
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (Textus Receptus) “Now we beseech you, brethren, for the sake of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, for you not to be quickly shaken away from the understanding, nor to be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle as if through us, as that the day of the Christ is present. Not anyone should deceive you in no way, because if not shall have come the apostasy first, and the man of sin shall have been revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself above all called God or objects of veneration (religious worship): so as for him to sit down as God in the temple of God, putting forth himself as God. Do you not remember, that still being with you, I said these things to you? And just now you know that which restrains, for him to be revealed in his own set time. Truly then the mystery of lawlessness is already working; only [there is] He who restrains until he become from out of the midst, and then will be revealed the lawless one; (whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth, and render [utterly] useless by the appearance of His coming); whose coming is according to the working of Satan in every power and lying signs and wonders, and in every deceit of unrighteousness in them that perish, instead of while the love of the truth they received not for them to be saved; and on account of this God will send to them a working of error, for them to believe what is false, that all who believed not the truth but delighted in unrighteousness, may be judged.”
In the Revelation chapter 13 the appearance of the beast is as coming up from out of the sea, and again, as coming up from out of the earth. This, I believe, indicates that God brings forth this evil life form from out of its own natural environment, out of its own kind. As He formed every living creature in the waters, and from out of the earth, everything after his kind; so it is, from out of the “mystery of lawlessness already working” shall its bad, rotten, corrupt fruit be borne. This was what the LORD found the people doing, when He came down to see the city and the tower that they were building; and said, “Behold the people is one, and all have one lip; and this they begin to do! Now nothing shall be restrained from them, of all that they have imagined to do.” (Genesis 11). Confusing the language, and scattering them by families over the whole face of the earth, only curtailed and restrained them from their purposes. The evil was not driven out of their hearts, but is still in them to this day; and only waits for God to let go His hand of restraint from before them.
How has the Lord Himself, and all His servants through the centuries, all taught and warned of these days! How has God implored His true and faithful, and driven this word, as His last word to us! Why do we think that is? God knows well how weak and stupid and easily deceived we are in this world without His Spirit and His Word to guide us and instruct us how to go safely through. So He has seen to it, that His last words to us, are for us not to let slip away, or be shaken off, of our knowledge of the truth; so that we don’t know what must be done first for Jesus to come. Jesus’ last words to His apostles was about the meaning of the days, and what our purpose is for being in the world. The last words of the apostles, were all about the end of the age, and the kind of times we must expect; so that we keep in mind and live by the prophetic word, taking heed to the word, as unto a lamp in an obscure place.
The little scroll that God has put into our hand, was given to us for our certification of citizenship, and insurance of safe passage through this wilderness, till we come home to our glad welcome into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All the care and purpose we are supposed to have, and to hold in life, is that Jesus always be our First Love, and His righteous cause, our only cause in which we stand. Forasmuch then as God is commanding that all the stops be pulled out for the devil, and his last great push in war against the heavens; so it is to the same degree given us to know how we are to succeed in our mission. Our mission is to be His ambassadors, and to keep and do whatsoever Jesus has said. Our business is to do our Master’s business until He returns.
There is not going to be a worldwide revival, or any turning away the ungodly from their set course with Satan to their determined end. O Child of God, redeemed of the Lord, washed in the blood of Jesus and sanctified in the Holy Ghost; You have here no continuing city; and no home country, as long as the country belongs to others. If our kingdom and our country were of this world, we and the holy angels would fight, not to let Jesus be delivered up into the hands of His enemies. But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? This time is not our time! It is not our time for securing houses and lands, gold and silver, vineyards and olive yards, men servants and women servants. It is not a time for taking our portion in life. The LORD is our portion, and our inheritance.
We need now more than ever, to be decidedly and firmly fixed in our hearts’ allegiance, to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, to deliver us from this present evil world. For unless we remain earnest and intense in our focus on the Goal, and the things of God, to which we are called; then we put ourselves in danger of falling prey to all the forces of Satan, that will be unleashed on the world. For this cause many will become casualties of scandalized and fallen away, who will be compelled out of fear for their own lives, to betray their [former] brethren in Christ. But these most solemn words are given to us for light, to see where we’re going, to know what is the right way, and what to avoid, and to be able to read our Map, so we can make it to our Destination safe and sound. This warning and instruction from God, is given to us, so that we should come into the fullness of His grace, that is sufficient for us against this time.
We loathe and detest the evil in the world, that is increasing at a precipitous rate, and flying over the cliff. But our fight is not against the world, in the sense that we take up the causes of the world. As Christians our position is that of Christ’s Ambassadors of reconciliation, and Heralds of the Glad Tidings. “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal,” is all encompassing, and in every aspect of how we are to encounter the things of this life. Every man must be governed honestly by his own conscience towards God and men. As for me and my house; we see our place first to be, “Not to resist the evil, but to be good and perfect and give, as our Father in heaven is perfect.”
We do not behave Christ-like only when we are treated nice by other Christians; everyone loves those who love them, whether they have any religion or not. Our Christianity proves itself strong and consistent, when there’s a Judas stepping up to give us a kiss, to mark us out for the temple guards standing there with swords and staves come to arrest us. We are Christians when we do so in the face of opposition, contradiction, danger and adversity; like what the Lord first began to teach in the Beatitudes.
Walking with Jesus and following Him consists of far more than having to be always comforted and reassured and rescued from every putting to the test. What we train for is our occupation and our calling. If we don’t get it right with the little things, what’s gonna happen when its a matter of life and death, to be true to Jesus and keep God’s commandments? If we have no experience or skill to lay down our own desires, for the good of others and Jesus’ needs now; how will we expect to be able to lay down our necks in the big trials; and not cave in to fear of death, and the reproaches of the ungodly, just to save our cowardly lives?
Michael, thank you so much for your post.
I have found myself so troubled over the few months
reading sermons from venerated pastors.
I’m a failure, I’ve failed, I can’t measure up.
I’ll never be good enough.
Will my name really be in the book?
Our loving lord and savior blessed me at a young age.
Maybe 7 years old…..
I knew he was there for me,forever.
Through years of growing up and sinning.
I’m here and He’s still with me.
Embrace his saving grace and celebrate!
Spread his light.
One of them ‘ole highway places . . .
She had brand new lay down Rambler . . .
You were never mine . . .
Good morning, Garrison. Gosh, it has been a long time since I’ve heard Delbert. A good way to get myself moving today. All blessings to you for the week ahead, my friend. Be well💕
Mornin’, Bet 🙂 Yeah, Victim was always one of my favorite Texas blues songs. I realized last night that I hadn’t heard ‘ole Delbert in a long time. He’s really, really good!
That was the one that got me going this morning. Made the mistake of not getting up when I should have, then got up later than I normally do. Needed the kick start, which you provided…and I do sincerely thank you.😁
Our Lord’s blessings to you, too, love . . .
Good morning, Garrison,
I imagine you with an exceptional sound system, cuddling up with some good vinyl records and a bourbon. Glad you’re making your way out to mingle and catch some live music.
Straight to my heart…😘!!
Howdy Garrison! Have a blessed Monday!
Mornin’ Gramps. Blessings on you, also. 🙂
Here’s my favorite by Delbert – great to see him here this morning, I haven’t heard him in too long. I used to catch him on IMUS in the Morning, God rest his soul.
13 February 2016 Antonin Scalia, American 105th Supreme Court Justice (1986-2016), dies at 79
Scalia was born in Trenton, New Jersey. A devout Catholic, he attended Xavier High School before receiving his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University. Scalia went on to graduate from Harvard Law School and spent six years at Jones Day before becoming a law professor at the University of Virginia School of Law. In the early 1970s, he served in the Nixon and Ford administrations, eventually becoming an Assistant Attorney General under President Gerald Ford. He spent most of the Carter years teaching at the University of Chicago, where he became one of the first faculty advisers of the fledgling Federalist Society. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Scalia as a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Four years later, Reagan appointed him to the Supreme Court where he became its first Italian-American justice following a unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate 98–0.
Wow, 98-0. Those were the days.
Isn’t it interesting; the various last chances scattered here and there, in plain view, but hardly acknowledged? God raises up many kinds and many ways to send to His people still today; but they are becoming fewer and farther between, as the succeeding generations harden and wander farther away.
We feel his absence, an indescribable loss to this nation.
Praying God’s protection for Justices Thomas and Alito.🙏🏻
Amen!
So much for Mr Trump’s SC picks, eh GB?
I tried to find for you the interview Ginny Thomas recorded with her as the interlocutor and her brilliant husband answering the questions.
It is possibly the finest interview I’ve ever seen. Two souls made for one another, and this comes through so beautifully.
Alas and of course, it was not listed, all listings smearing her. I will continue looking on other search engines. If you’ve not seen it, you have a treat coming if I can find it…
Hoorah!!!!
HERE IT IS!! At the bottom of the article…
https://dailycaller.com/2022/03/19/ginni-clarence-thomas-supreme-court/
Thanks! I’ll watch asap.
It’s wonderful.👍🏻
Hi Betsy,
Do you think its because of the “big-league” intimidations of their peers, that makes them do less than we expected? You know, being new, and being in DC, and the powerful spirits presiding over the place?
No, Michael, I do not. I think most are ideologues, not constitutionalists. The exceptions are Alito and Thomas.
And I believe they are word twisters.
Either the Constitution is enforced as written or it falls into the clutches of justices who want to shape shift it. My opinion only.
And I believe they jealously guard their power, so a lot of ego involved.
I hope you’ll watch the interview right above between Justice Alito and his lovely wife. It will be worthwhile, I guarantee.
Thanks, I will. But what you say about ideologues; I wouldn’t have thought that by the way they were run through the mill at their Congressional Approval Hearings, (if ya wanna call ’em that). But on the other hand, neither of them showed much of anything as far as their real thoughts and beliefs; just a very well behaved endurance of the ordeal.
“Jealously guard their power;” Boy, you say it! Really a shame; I always had respect for anyone with such a position as a Judge, that they were something most honorable and above such low-character traits. I still have to respect the position, for the position’s sake; but things are becoming more and more disappointing, aren’t they?
Notes from Thomas Interview:
I was going to start highlighting the things he answered, and then as I kept reading, it became clear, I might as well just copy and paste the whole article!
I’m gonna watch the video now, and try to get back with you.
Thanks Betsy.
Merle and “others”
I don’t get it; what is it good to always claim failure and defeat and disobedience, as common Christian behavior? I hate it! And I think it is not the Holy Spirit’s guidance to either teach this way, or to listen to this kind of talk. Preach and teach what the Word says about us! Confess what Christ has done for us, and the work of the Spirit in us, and through us to the world! All we ever hear from these “famous and highly reputed” old time preachers, is negative and against the faith! What does Jesus say about failure? That its normal and to be expected? or that it is to be condemned and nothing worthy of being His disciple?
Too much tendency to idolatry, if you ask me; that big names and celebrity totally turns off discernment of the Spirit. We don’t have much time for playing with such non-sense, and wasting time which should be spent growing in grace and not denying its power!
Michael, it is not clear to me who / what you are referring to. Thanks.
Hello 1530, who? whoever it applies. what? over the amount due loyalty to famous teachers and preachers, without discerning whether what they say is of faith, or of their own failed experience. Trusting in big names as if they were somehow canonized, and to be believed without question. The point being, that God has given the Teacher and the mind of Christ to each and every one of His saints, The true teacher will be able to bring out the sense and the meaning of the word, as a help to the rest. The one that knowingly or unknowingly subverts the Spirit of truth, with subtle appeals to the [in]capability of the flesh; is simply propagating a form of religion with no power; “from such turn away!” (And just to note; that it is interesting, how that the false Christian is mentioned at the end of the list of wicked characters, which especially mark the time of the end=; as if to say, Here’s where the buck stops!
I just want to call attention to this fault in judgment; so that my friends and brethren would be more careful about what they read and how they read. Let the Holy Spirit confirm His own words; and let us have the tender and good conscience to be sensitive to His confirmations.
I hope that helps. The Lord bless you.
Thanks for the replies, Michael.
Hi 1530,
I don’t know why sometimes this thing won’t let me edit! I wanted to rephrase some of my response. So, here is the revised edition 🙂
Hello 1530, Who? whoever it applies to. What? The over the amount and inappropriate loyalty to famous teachers and preachers, without discerning whether what they say is true according to the Scriptures and the Spirit of Christ; or whether their own experiences of failure and unbelief have contaminated the teaching, causing the simple and the unestablished to be led away from truly knowing the power of the word and the reality of grace that God has provided for us.
Trusting in big names as if they were somehow canonized, and therefore to be believed without question; is a snare set by the devil; for wandering off of the Narrow Way. The point being, that God has given the Teacher and the mind of Christ to each and every one of His saints; and ones with the true gift of a teacher will be able to bring out the sense and the meaning of the word, in agreement with the Word! The one however, that knowingly or unknowingly subverts the Spirit of truth, with subtle appeals to the [in]capability of the flesh, as the measure of the power of God’s grace; is simply propagating a form of religion with no power; and we are commanded, “from such turn away!” (And just to note; that it is interesting, how that the false Christian is mentioned at the end of the list of wicked characters, which especially mark the time of the end; as if to say, Here’s where the buck stops!)
I just want to call attention to this, so that my friends and brethren would be more careful about what they read and how they read, and to seek the Lord for wisdom and good judgment. We all need to be watched and cared for by each other; that is what friends do.
I hope that helps. Thanks for asking.
Hope to talk to you soon!
Our posts are timed out, Michael…and the time for editing is very short unfortunately.
The number of times I’ve posted something, walked away, and suddenly thought of something else to add or change (and with my lengthier posts this always happens), rush back to edit I’ve lost count of. Sometimes I’m lucky, sometimes not. Hope my experience with it helps. Soonest edited the better… Blessings for your week, my friend.
Yes, Thank You! I kinda thought that’s what it was; but even so, sometimes it really doesn’t seem long at all; and I wonder if ‘someone’ who doesn’t like what we post, hinders. I’m talking of course about unseen ‘someones.’ We know that he wanders up and down roving the earth, looking for whom he may devour; and when he runs across a saint, he is perturbed and distracted, until he can mess things up.
Besides what we learned from Job, and Peter; remember the part in Daniel; where he was humbling himself and fasting and seeking God intensely for three whole weeks; and then when the angel Gabriel finally appeared, he told him; that from the first day he set his heart to seek the LORD, his prayer was heard, and “I was sent because of your prayers,” but the prince of Persia (the evil angel presiding over the spiritual districts of Persia) came out to oppose him; and they were fighting in the unseen realms the whole time, until Michael came to help.
To everything in its proper perspective and order; still, while we are serving the Lord, there is a war being waged against us by the enemy’s kingdom.
It’s a time thing definitely. Our “landlords” in this community are the best😊
But I understand what you are saying in general. Lots of “someones” serving a different master than we do I firmly believe work their worst in this world.
It is a spiritual battle after all which we cannot see but will eventually understand.
Yes, but as you noted, I wasn’t referring to humans, especially not to the wonderful “landlords” we have here.
Yes, spiritual battle; and seeing that Jesus has made the way open for us to have access, and has given to us the Authority of His Name; our business is to learn our position in His Service, and become expert in war.
13 February 2010 John Reed, British comic actor and singer (Gilbert & Sullivan; D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, 1951-79), dies after a stroke on his 94th birthday
13 February 2010 Jamil Nasser [George Joyner], American jazz double and electric bassist, and tuba player (Ahmad Jamal Trio), dies at 77
13 February 2010 Dale Hawkins, American rock singer and songwriter (Susie Q), dies at 73
13 February 2002 Waylon Arnold Jennings (born Wayland Arnold Jennings; June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician, dies of diabetic complications at 64
Highwayman
Also Appearing:
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003)
Ghostriders
Luckenbach
13 February 1988 John Curulewski, American rock guitarist and singer (Styx), dies of a brain aneurysm at 37
Waylon Jennings, my fav “outlaw.” His real-life songs still break my heart.
Saw the Highwaymen in 91 or 92 at the Cynthia Mitchell Pavilion in the Woodlands, Tx. Who would‘ve thunk it that 10 years later both Waylon and Johnny Cash would be gone.
Luckenbach is in my neighborhood. Drive by it almost daily. Someone is developing a giant RV park just a mile from it. Clear cut all the trees and putting up a bunch of tiny homes, too. Rumor has it that Luckenbach has been purchased by big bucks with the intention of putting a giant hotel there. Oh well, thankful to have enjoyed 30 years of calm. Now what used to be a 20 minute trip to Fredericksburg is a 30-35 minute drive.
You’ve reminded me of something Johnny Cash said long ago…
“I figured if God has forgiven me, it was time for me to forgive myself.”
Don’t know why that has stuck with me, but it has…
Heard that, too, Betsy. Had same problem years ago that Johnny refers to.
Which was: I know God has forgiven me, but I cannot forgive myself.
Then, I heard a sermon explaining the error of this thinking: to not forgive myself is elevating “my” standard of forgiveness greater than God’s.
That should not be, as Jesus paid it all!
Now? I’m quick to forgive myself – even before others do (don’t)! 🙏🏻 💕
Exactly the conundrum, Della. How well you phased it. And exactly how I think of it, too. 🙏🏻💕
Hi Della,
What means, Forgive myself? Do you mean, understand God’s forgiveness, so that we can have compassion on each other? Or is it, (like it sounds to me anyway), a resignation to being a klutz and hopelessly bound to fail spiritually? I have always thought, that that thought is really not agreeing with why we are convicted and made ashamed to begin with: its not so we can come to expect that of ourselves; or else we would slam the door to actually learning from the hard and painful humiliations we cause ourselves. The point of being made ashamed, is to not do that any more; right? Isn’t that how our parents disciplined us?
I know its an extremely popular psychological anecdote; but maybe we can let Oprah and Dr. Phil have it by themselves; we have Another Psychologist who teaches us how to think and behave. 🙂
I can see I’m making myself “popular” today. But that’s the way it is in my opinion, if we want to be honest.
Michael, just to make it simple – have you ever made a wrong choice in life – perhaps years ago -and you would reverse it if you could?
Years ago when I became a believer in Christ, it took me awhile to understand how to accept His forgiveness of my sins. You know, “growing in the grace and knowledge of God?”
It’s a process and doesn’t happen overnight.
I wasn’t continuing in those wrong choices – just remembering them – while living with the consequences, and wondering: what was I thinking?
Finally, my mind was renewed to think like Christ and let it go – because He had. 😊 😊
Hi Della, Sorry I’m late responding; other things took me away for a bit.
Oh Sister, I couldn’t dare to tell you of the things I am ashamed of from my past. Wish I could undo and redo most of my life!
I think I know what you mean by taking a long time to understand God’s forgiveness. I can only attribute it to God’s giving me that understanding; much of it by observing lives around me, including my own, from the perspective of Someone so Great as God. I don’t know how it came easier to me, except that God made it so. And as life took its course, and I sinned and fell, and stayed out there for some time, before being restored; I learned a lot about how repentance and forgiveness works.
As an adult we can forgive children, because they are children. As someone who has experienced God’s enlightening through His Spirit, and the gift of repentance and the remission of sins; it fits right in, to be forgiving of others, no matter what we think we know about them. But forgiving one’s self? I guess in that sense, It might be said like that; but I do have strong feelings about the moral necessity of remembering what Jesus saved us from, and how He found us to begin with. Its not for carrying a load forever and a sad long face, to show everyone how sorry you are about yourself; but keeping a sound mind in reality, while our feet are placed firmly on the ground of His great salvation. I mean that, knowing how much we are forgiven, makes for much love; both for the Lord and for each other. I’m sure that the woman who came in to where Jesus was having lunch with the Pharisees; who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, as she ceased not to kiss His feet; didn’t go moping around the rest of her life for her past; but she knew it well, and discarded it for the love she had for Jesus. She didn’t forget, in one sense; but she had to forget in another sense. We forget the things behind, and press on after the Lord; but we never forget the kindness He has done for us in the meantime.
All eyes focus on (another?) Asbury revival
Excerpt:
WILMORE, Ky. (KT) – Time will tell if the revival unfolding on the campus of Asbury University will have the impact of one from 1970. The comparisons, though, are uncanny.
They both broke out during a time of unrest in America and in a normal campus chapel service. They included confession, repentance and testimonies of hundreds of students who gathered at the altar on the first day. Today, the worshiping has not stopped and has begun to spread like wildfire not only on the Asbury campus but throughout the country and even the world, thanks to social media.
Students from universities near and far have been drawn to the Asbury University campus to crowd their way into the chapel while others are watching live feeds to catch a glimpse of what is happening.
https://www.kentuckytoday.com/baptist_life/all-eyes-focus-on-another-asbury-revival/article_6994621a-a9b0-11ed-9cf7-67c841f9b6a3.html?fbclid=IwAR3mvIo39njsYTzGBSzV4TjQImf5hJVaCbjDHdq5g4uV6Duv9kfAryAB2-o
Thank you for this!
Here’s a repost from yesterday’s OT.
It’s encouraging and need reminders to pray for the awakening!
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Sibyl
February 12, 2023 2:39 pm
MORE on the Asbury Revival:
https://www.dennyburk.com/some-thoughts-on-the-asbury-revival/
Pray for these young people, their professors and for students and teachers all across America.
Let this be a true Holy Ghost revival,
Let the flame of Your Light ignite and burn away our sin,
Holy Spirit convict us and heal our wounds and diseases.
Excise cancers of the soul with the scalpel of Your Word
Return us to our first love of YOU, Dear Father.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
There was a prophecy of the Lord giving one last chance to this country; but that it would not stop what He was bringing to punish the ungodly. How do so many not know the hour of their visitation? But I believe He is giving “One Last Chance” even now, among the quiet in the land.
The only cow in a small town in Poland stopped giving milk.
The people did some research and found that they could buy a cow from Moscow for 2,000 rubles, or one from Minsk for 1,000 rubles. Being frugal, they bought the cow from Minsk. The cow was wonderful.
It produced lots of milk all the time, and the people were amazed and very happy. They decided to acquire a bull to mate with the cow and produce more cows like it. Then they would never have to worry about the milk supply again. They bought a bull and put it in the pasture with their beloved cow. However, whenever the bull came close to the cow, the cow would move away. No matter what approach the bull tried, the cow would move away from the bull and he could not succeed in his quest.
The people were very upset and decided to ask their wise rabbi, what to do.
They told the rabbi what was happening. “Whenever the bull approaches our cow, she moves away. If he approaches from the back, she moves forward. When he approaches her from the front, she backs off. An approach from the side and she just walks away to the other side.”
The rabbi thought about this for a minute and asked, “Did you buy this cow from Minsk?”
The people were dumbfounded, since they had never mentioned where they had gotten the cow.
“You are truly a wise rabbi,” they said. “How did you know we got the cow from Minsk?”
The rabbi answered sadly, “My wife is from Minsk.
—-
(from quora.com)
🤣 🤣 🤣
LOL!
THE DEVOTION OF HEARING
“Speak; for Thy servant heareth.” 1 Samuel iii. 10
Because I have listened definitely to one thing from God, it does not follow that I will listen to everything He says. The way in which I show God that I neither love nor respect Him is by the obtuseness of my heart and mind towards what He says. If I love my friend, I intuitively detect what he wants, and Jesus says, “Ye are My friends.” Have I disobeyed some command of my Lord’s this week? If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus, I would not consciously have disobeyed it; but most of us show such disrespect to God that we do not even hear what He says, He might never have spoken.
The destiny of my spiritual life is such identification with Jesus Christ that I always hear God, and I know that God always hears me (John xi. 41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God, by the devotion of hearing all the time. A lily, or a tree, or a servant of God, may convey God’s message to me. What hinders me from hearing is that I am taken up with other things. It is not that I will not hear God, but I am not devoted in the right place. I am devoted to things, to service, to convictions, and God may say what He likes but I do not hear Him. The child attitude is always, “Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” If I have not cultivated this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times; at other times I am taken up with things – things which I say I must do, and I become deaf to Him, I am not living the life of a child. Have I heard God’s voice today?
Oswald Chambers
February 13th Devotional
Good morning, sis. I love this. We are His children, no matter our earthly age. His voice is that of a loving Father, yes. May we never be deaf to the beauty of hearing it.
God be with you as you trudge through those taxes. And try to keep your hair on, as we’d say in Britain. 😁😘
A skeptic’s view on leaders.
(or put not too much faith in man)
A natural and very human mistake is to be fooled by a leader. Perhaps you have seen this occur in a church with a very charismatic leader. Such a one who is adored by the congregation until they fall prey to human nature and have to be removed for the church to survive.
The Israelites made this mistake:
1 Samuel 8
But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
Specifically Americans, (even though our Constitution is a warning about and a means to chain down flawed human nature), seem to gravitate towards admiring strong foreign leaders. Foreign leaders throughout our history have been monarchs, dictators, religious figures and even fascists and communists.
Some Americans made excuses for and admired Mussolini and Hitler for instance before their true natures were revealed to all.
I was fooled by “W” or the second Bush whom most here now realize was a tool period. I vowed never again whether it be an American leader or foreign.
Good morning all and pardon my poor attempt at imparting hard earned lessons.
Good morning Monti….excellent point! And now there is another layer to watch for besides just the leader. Who controls who…I think we have a permanent dictatorship (deep state) that basically runs the world now and all heads of state have to be approved by them whether charismatic or not. Knowing this…God is my KING! and I’m never leaving Him! 👑✝💝
Amen!
Good morning Stevie
The real question is who released the psyop upon the world? Who (individual or group) green lighted it?
Simple exposure would be enough to end it. You are absolutely right in recognizing this as the greater danger than the leader of a nation state and also recognizing what (pure evil) controls this “who”.
Have a blessed day.
monti
Wise words indeed. I happen to think it is possible that God sent us President Trump (the imperfect, loved and hated, unrelenting force) to bring us back to Him, common sense, with peace and prosperty to all. It is perhaps fitting that Trump worked to accomplish much for us despite those around him trying to destroy hm. It may also be fitting that we are now experiencing Evil to be in power. Perhaps we will feel the pain enough to come back to God and realize that WE need to be a part of the solution. Perhaps we have been dis-engaged for too long. We need to recognize that God has to be in our lives at ALL times; not just now when we need HIM. I only hope He is willing to give us another chance and that we are smart enough to take it.
IMHO…sometimes the true agenda of “important” men, does not become evident, for a while. And then some that are ‘pious’ (those other than Pence) , mix up the message and deliberately fool the people. For a while, those business policies sounded good, the service economy, sold to the people to make our lives more ‘convenient’.
The Bush clan pushed the NWO by way of ‘international’ (global) business, which it sounded benign, in the beginning of when all this came to light.
We must remember from whom our blessings flow…
1 Corinthian 2:13-14
And this one….
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Discenment is so hard today with the evil one dressing up his words to make them acceptable to the uninformed.
Good morning and
It was a great revelation to me of the Bushes (intel community) when Tucker Carlson put the finger on the CIA propagation of the Kennedy assassination. That event nor all the theories to explain it ever felt right. It changes your whole idea of what you thought you knew.
We can only trust our God given discernment and read the word for more. At the same time I will never abandon the wisdom of our founders and the simple words that God created all men equal.
Agreed, Monti
yes.
1 Corinthians 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom(A)but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. [a]14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God(B)but considers them foolishness,(C)and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
I love these verses
I must say that Pious Pence really had me fooled, Aggiegirl. That he falsely used his purported Christianity for trying to establish his bona fides finished him for me as no other reprehensible thing he did.
Me too, I thought he was going to be a real honest politician. Had me fooled…and remember, he has a brother in the HOR.
Ah yes…I’d forgotten.
Aggie, honest + politician = oxymoron. 😂
Pence = Judas.
And yet President Trump in a very recent social media post, referred to Pence as “..very decent”. The post was targeted at Special Prosecutor Jack Smith who is trying to dig up or fabricate dirt against Trump (triggered by the documents stolen by the FBI in their Mar A Lago raid.)
The post (2 days ago):
“Will Trump Hating Prosecutor Jack Smith be investigating the FACT that they SPIED on my campaign, even as I was in the Oval Office, they Stuffed the Ballot Boxes (per 2000 Mules), used Covid to cheat, that the FBI pushed Twitter & Facebook around, causing massive voter disruption, and so much more? That’s really what he should be looking at, not asking a very decent Mike Pence why he didn’t send the votes back to State Legislatures for scrutinization, which he could have done. Get the RIGGERS!”
I KNOW!!! I await for clarity on that because this is me…
?????????????????!!!!!!!
My guess is that Pres. Trump sees any interrogation of Pence as a diversion, a waste of time. That’s because in Pres. Trump’s view, Pence was obviously too politically weak on Jan. 6 2021 to NOT toss the election back to the states where it was contested, but Pres. Trump believes Pence to otherwise be a decent man and not a criminal. Pres. Trump apparently thinks FBI ought to focus more on those who really did participate in the election fraud. I see his point from that perspective – if that’s his perspective.
So difficult to know. As Grandpa says below…sarcasm? But that doesn’t translate well unless we can hear the tone or the see the facial expressions.
Do I detect a bit of sarcasm from President Trump?
One does wonder…but decent isn’t the word I’d use.
Possibly, but Pres.Trump is rarely that subtle with his sarcasm, especially considering the context. He used Pence’s alleged “decency” as the reason the investigators should focus on the myriad obvious areas where evidence of election fraud abounds, contrasted against investigating Pence’s decision.
IMHO If PDJT thought Pence was part of the fraud, he would say so.
The story of the WW II bomb going off reminded me of heroes that get so little recognition today. During the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, Brits from all walks of life volunteered as bomb diffusers. College professors, clergymen, bus drivers, young women. They worked in a two person team. They had no fancy suits. They had no high tech tools or robots. And one hell of a lot of them paid the ultimate price!
Understand both sides regularly used time delay fuses. They could be set for anywhere from seconds to up to 36 days and when those people approached they had no idea how long, or even if it were a time delay. That’s a special kind of courage in my book.
2nd place for courage in WW2 Britain goes to the London Fire Brigade and its auxiliaries.
We found an unexploded WWII hand grenade buried in our front garden in Wales.
The Ministry of Defense were at our home in double quick time, retrieved it, took it down to the River Dee further down the valley, and exploded it.
Quite a bit of excitement in our little village I can tell you.
And I completely agree about the London Fire Brigade and auxiliary services. It always amazed none that St Paul’s remained undamaged,as opposed to Coventry Cathedral, and now rebuilt next to the remnants of the original, left standing as a memorial.
I add, the new one is a travesty of architecture.
I would insert a smiley face here but haven’t figured out how to do it yet………………….
. . . but deliver us from the Evil One.
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
Amen!
The 50th Psalm
Septuagint
Prayer of Saint Ioannikios the Great of Bithynia (+ 846)
My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my protection the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
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)
Is that another balloon up there?
stunning
Good morning Treepers.
Good morning Joe….I’m off to work! Hope you have a Blessed day! 🙏
Same to you stevie. Have a blessed day, don’t work too hard.
Morning, dear Joe. You really are hitting homeruns with these precious photos, my friend. Frank Sinatra may well have to give up his claim to the title “Ol’ Blue Eyes”. 😍 I pray all is well. Much warmer here. I’d call it false spring weather, with a hard freeze due Friday. Ugh…
Hi, Bet. I’m up and at ’em again.
Back door’s open and the dogs are in and out. Letting more fresh air in the dining room while I’m making some of my famous chili (drinking a few beers while I’m at it). Laundry’s getting done; just need to toss the stuff in the dryer. Nothing like multi-tasking.
That kitty does have some blue eyes. Pretty little thing…
Have a blessed day, I’m going to see what the latest is happening with the UFO flap.
Sounds like your day is rockin’ and rollin’! Awesome, my friend. I always make enough chilli to freeze so on those days that may be cold and my get up and go has gotten up and gone I can thaw, heat and eat. I really need to male some too. Thank you for the suggestion💕
More kitties, less “The View” We should ban “ugly”. LOL Howdy, Joe
Hi, JWoo. “More kitties, less The View”. Here ya go….
My dream vacation!!! LOL
Good Morning Treepers.
Its 6:18 and I’ve been up since 4. Getting ready for my monday. I took a little time to relax with my family. I didn’t have the margin, but like many physicians, daily contemplate whether I will retire, which feels like quitting.
I went in to medicine to use the platform and sacred space with people to facilitate change that a preacher or psychologist cannot. I have learned much. You don’t change people. You listen, you walk with them. Passionate speeches, sermons, education, handouts, pleading do not work.
Continuing to rescue people from the consequences/illness of bad lifestyle choices does not work.
What works in helping people be better stewards of their lives is love, family, relationships, commitment to growth, serving, encouraging, courage.
I have to work in a medical/industrial complex in which the physicians and healers are not only not in charge, they are being enslaved while sharks connive to get a bigger piece of the 4Trillion health care dollars that are out there.
I could go on, but I just wanted to reach out and thank my fellow Treepers for being here.
Country Doc, what a welcome surprise hearing from you today. Have really missed your commenting on life and our current world we all live in and have to deal with.
Have a blessed day!
AA…A man whom I think you’d enjoy reading is the great (and I do mean great in the truest sense of the word) Dr Theodore Dalrymple, British psychiatrist, only one of two sane ones I have ever had any time for, now retired, who worked within Her Majesty’s Prison System.
He is, I would say, a Man of Letters, a prolific writer, A thoughtful and and sober observer of the human condition. He is eloquent and thoughtful.
I ran across him decades ago when I lived in the UK when he wrote articles for the once reputable Daily Telegraph. Alas, it is now no longer that.
I would search relentlessly for anything he penned and was never disappointed. Per your post, I am leaving one of many links where you can choose from just a small selection of his voluminous and erudite writings. He also writes for other publications which can be searched, including Taki magazine, and The New Criterion…and is the author of many books.
Dr Theodore Dalrymple is the pen name of Dr Anthony Daniels.
https://www.firstthings.com/author/theodore-dalrymple
How lucky, CountryDoc, are these who are your patients. My own surgeon father understood that listening was a great part of healing. And not just that, but also hearing what was beneath the words his patients said. I know your sentiments would be his.
Thank you for stopping by. Hope very much you will do so more often.
Thank you for being a “walk alongside” doctor. People don’t evolve from being beaten about the head. They evolve with the aging and discipline that is a blessing of wisdom and discernment. People listen to someone they respect and who has earned their respect, not someone who screams demands.
That’s a short but powerfully substantive post, Country Doc.
You encapsulate what seems to be very close to the core problem of the healthcare industry in our nation (and likely many others). The fact that we can accurately refer to healthcare as an “industry” may be a significant part of that problem.
Looking forward to more of your experience-based observations……
Maybe that’s where compassion went, GB. Sucked dry by the medical industrial complex.
Because I will tell you, there seems to be a dearth of it anymore.
I read a post by someone whose father was seeing his days out in one of the soulless murder factories as I think of hospitals these days. And this father, loved by his family, asked his son why was everyone who tended to him so mean.
It was not the first time I have read such a story from someone whose family member was in those places.
Whatever happened to a profession in which kindness seemed to be an integral part? A recognition that those who minister to the sick and dying will be there themselves one day, be they nurses, doctors, orderlies, anyone with face to face interaction with patients.
I have no answer…
Country Doc, good to hear from you and thank you for your wise observations. Saddens me to no end that the art of human medicine has become what you correctly call medical/industrial complex. Another thing that adds more sadness is that the veterinary medicine is marching right behind it’s human counterpart.
PLEASE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD
Father God, I now follow your command to put on the full armor of God, because my battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world.
I first pray on the Belt of Truth that it may be buckled around my waist, may I be centered and encircled by your truth dear Lord. Hem me inside all that is true and right, and may I be protected and held up by the truth of your living word, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Breastplate of righteousness, please protect my vital organs and my inner man, cover my integrity, my spirit, and my soul. Guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life, please strengthen and guard the most vulnerable places in my life with that which is right, good, and noble that I might not receive a fatal blow from the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Gospel Shoes of Peace. I choose to stand in the shoes of your good news, and on the firm foundation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the solid eternal rock. All other ground is sinking sand, I pray that I will not slip or fall, but that my feet would be firmly fitted on your lordship, my Lord Jesus. I choose to stand on you, so that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, the eternal Rock of Ages. I receive your holy peace now my Lord, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray the Shield of Faith into my hand now. As I take up the shield of faith, I ask that you might extinguish every dart and arrow, that is launched from the enemy to take me down spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy my joy. I ask that my faith in you would make it flame out. Extinguish every flaming arrow that would come against me, my life, my family, my home, or my ministry. May my faith always be out in front of me like a shield. Give me the courage to “faith my fears” by choosing to walk by faith and not by sight, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Helmet of Salvation, that you might protect my mind from the thoughts that can lead me astray. I choose to take every thought captive, and arrest all intentioned ideas and motives that would harm others, or distract me from your holy will for me. I submit every captured thought to the Lordship of my Lord Jesus Christ, and ask that you would imprison those thoughts that are not of you my Lord. Transform my mind and renew my thinking that I may think God thoughts, and have a sober mind that is focused on your glory. Please protect me from being double minded that I may allow my mind, I reject to live an earthly life, because I choose to live a holy one, governed by you My Lord Jesus, the prince of peace, please have my mind to be saturated with the holy mind of Christ, in my Lord Jesus name.
Finally, I take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the holy word of God, I pray this powerful offensive weapon into my hand, and ask that your holy word would be fitting for every encounter I face. As the enemy gets close to me, please give me the insight, wisdom, and skill to wield the word of God to drive away the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
May the enemy and his team flee from me, upon hearing the word of God spoken by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Give me the sword of the spirit to cut through the wiles of the devil, so that I may discern the schemes of the enemy when he is near.
With all kinds of prayers, supplication, and intercession I pray to you my Lord God as the one who fights my battles. Now that I’m in your holy powerful armor, I walk away covered and ready to face my day as you go before me, and please protect me in the midst of the spiritual warfare in this unseen world, in my Lord Jesus name.
Thank you my Lord, for the spiritual weapons of armor and prayer that you have given me. It is written no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses me.
Thank you Father God, my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that I am more than a conqueror in my Lord Jesus. I pray all of this in the mighty name of my Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
AMEN.
BE MY VOICE
BABY LIVES MATTER
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
Verse of the Day for Monday, February 13, 2023
✟
“…The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
Psalms 24:1 (KJV)
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered!!!
And now I can proceed with the day having been enriched by your gracious and well chosen Scriptures, dear duchess.
Amen and amen!
Mornin’ all!
Sadly humorous how easily manipulated we all can be…..
Morning WeeWeed!
Good one, WeeWeed!
”Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you.”
Or thrice, or four-fold … Sorry, NO more!
And you “almost” didn’t fool me the FIRST time – esp. in beginning with videos showing Chinese falling over in streets. Spider senses kicked in, but I took the bait. 😤😤
Wow. There it is for all to see….in a nutshell.
Looking backwards, one would have to be deaf, dumb and blind, to not see the obvious pattern that the Deep State / WEF Globalists are using to try to distract us and keep us in fear…
When will Vegas have a over/under on how many balloons will be shot down this week?
Vietnam 3.0 is my last straw.
I pledge allegiance to The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
No other person. No other organization. No other entity.
I was challenged by friends to fly my 6’x10’ American made, American flag upside down, when my American homeland fell to the coup in 2020. I said, “No.”
Today my flag comes down.
I will neatly fold it. I will stow it safely away. I will never fly it again.
As a Christian, I’m redoubling my efforts to be the biggest blessing I can be as I seek to help get the gospel out to the nations.
As much as Obama, his ilk, his pastor, make me want to PUKE…perhaps his pastor was correct when he said, “Americas chickens are coming home to roost!”
Yes. I’ll vote. Yes. I’ll continue to be politically active in my community.
I pledge allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ not Sodom. Not Gomorrah. ✝️
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I posted the above on the Hungary post.
Rhonda’s mom is still in the hospital in Tyler. At this moment she’s combative and doesn’t know where she is. My wife is not easily shaken. She’s shook up.
Thank you for praying. No need to write about it. I know you will.
Massive thanks. 🙏✝️
🙏💕
Prayers.
I hear you loud and clear.
As for me I will still fly my flag to honor the founders, the patriots who died and in remembrance of what we were.
The immortal words all men were created equal cannot and shall not be erased.
I have said many times our country has two names…America, which is comprised of good, decent, God fearing people who keep her going and who have sacrificed much if not everything for her.
Then there is the United State, not so united, ruled by those who control the levers with their despotism, cruelty, bloodthirsty policies and Godlessness.
I learned, living abroad, that that is a distinction other countries make. And one I came to understand very well.
Good morning, Frank,
Maybe add a flag? Add Christian flag first, then the American Flag underneath it. Sends a little message of priority that if one is placed higher, than the subordinate would fall into place and be glorious again. One Nation, UNDER GOD
Oh Frank……………..
What else is there to say. You’ve said it all. Your retiring the flag which so beautifully and proudly waved as a sacred symbol of what we all thought our country was but find that we either aren’t or (much worse) were deceived into thinking we were needs no words.
You’ve decided to not participate in the lie, as Solzhenitsyn wrote, and will not allow the lie to come through you. I am now thinking of Solomon, as I always do.
If we can each be a blessing for those we meet and interact with day by day, that little pebble in our part of life’s huge pond will cast ripples which reach very far. Lots of pebbles, lots of ripples. We do what we can where we are. Angels can do no more.
I am sorry, terribly grieved, for Rhonda’s mother and for Rhonda. Wondering if any of the medications she has been given, if any, are a contributing factor in her distressing condition if it has suddenly appeared.
Prayers ascending to Almighty God in His heaven for every one of you, my dearest brother. In His loving hands be it, as it always and ever will be. B🙏🏻
Now even more than ever our prayers in thanksgiving should include requests for a quiet and peaceful heart.
“Be careful for nothing, Paul says: “don’t worry about nothing” and he tells how that is accomplished.
Paul says focus your on good things of God.
Today I pray for judgement against those who oppress others. Those who use their positions of power to control with unjust and inhumane policies.
I pray that God Almighty the God who says: Vengeance is mine I will repay”
That He will surely bring judgment upon the hegemonic nations. In such a way that there will be no mistake from Whom this judgment comes.
May God bless the instruments of His wrath upon the scourge of this planet.
Amen Fortified City and I believe it heaps hot coals on the head of evil to rejoice and sing praises of God’s Goodness during times of calamity. They can do lots of things, but they can’t take away my Savior and they can’t steal my joy.
satan is a defeated foe. he has a small head and a small mind and his head is crushed under my heel. he is a looooooser and his time is short with his unsuccessful attempts at elevation!!!! looooooser!!!! he must be heckled much and never capitalized!
Yes indeed amen, amen
We already been guaranteed the victory through Jesus Christ who defeated death and hell when he lead captivity captive (so the powers of darkness were led captive by Christ Jesus)
However, make no mistake about Satan, he was cast out of Heaven to the earth where he was wroth with the woman and made war with the remnant of her seed.
While he can defeat those in Christ he can certain reek havoc, all we gotta is ask Job what misery Satan can bring.
For the in-laws…
MYSELF
“I have to live with myself and so
I want to be fit for myself to know;
I want to be able as days go by,
Always to look myself straight in the eye;
I don’t want to stand with the setting sun
And hate myself for the things I have done.
I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf
A lot of secrets about myself
And fool myself as I come and go
Into thinking no one else will ever know
The kind of person I really am,
I don’t want to dress up myself in a sham.
I want to go out with my head erect;
I want to deserve all men’s respect;
But here in the struggle for fame and wealth
I want to be able to like myself.
I don’t want to look at myself and know that
I am bluster and bluff and empty show.
I can never hide myself from me;
I see what others may never see;
I know what others may never know,
I never can fool myself and so,
Whatever happens I want to be
Self respecting and conscience free.”
~Edgar Albert Guest
One of the things I do as a grandmother is send little gems like this to my teen grands who are subject to all sorts of pressures from others in their peer groups.
I want to get to them before others do, now and before they finally have to face this world on their own.
While they are all within earshot…which isn’t much longer I am sorry to say. Too fast…they grew when I thought I was looking…when did THAT happen!
Blessings to all on this day the Lord has made.💕
Thank you for sharing this, Betsy. My narcissist thorn in my side needs all of this. He is duplicitous while he pompously pounds his chest and declares Christianity and thinks himself elevated to teach others. I wish others would simply stop feeding the troll. I observe, never engage, and quietly whisper “it’s all in the fruit” and see the wreckage he has caused and how he manipulates others to believe he is the incarnate victim. Narcissists hate it when you take their stage away. The Lord knows. I am grateful for the Lord handling it and thusly feel no need for my defense. God Has us and He Has kept us faithfully and my daughter’s mind is intact and her blessings abundant.
It helps to keep a little slip of paper above my keyboard “You don’t have to be offended every time you can be.” A little diddy I heard Dr. Phil say and I liked it. Learning who to give an ear to and who to avoid is one of the blessings of Spiritual Discernment. For evil will bend your ear every chance it gets. Don’t let it. We have 24 hours in a day, we choose how we spend it. I choose to not spend it miserable.
JWoo, I’m saving this:
“You don’t have to be offended every time you can be.”
It’s a work in progress for me. I remind myself during the day: let it go -OR- let it be!
Life is too short to be offended and miserable!
Amen, Sister Della. “Let go” or “Let it be”… one has to ask what we’ll do with it, anyway, if we keep hangin’ onto it… like a pet. LOL
I also like the old Indian story:
One evening, an elderly Cherokee brave told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
“My dear one, the battle between two ‘wolves’ is inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.
The other is good. It is: joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a moment and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee replied, “The one you feed.”
That’s such a great story!
Meant to comment on your statement re. discernment… which is 100% right!
Many years ago, I decided to scrutinize who gets to speak into my mind – especially spiritual leaders. And this has served me well.
The Lord gave me this desire for discernment. So happy to hear that you have it, too!
People really have no idea how far godly judgment and discernment will take them in life …
Yes, dear friend. I saw something which described those who are offended as admitting they are emotionally unstable. I agree. That they have absolutely no control over themselves.
I am profoundly grateful that whatever I say or send to my grands, they receive. And I know remember.
As an example of this, long ago as I was taking the opportunity on my school runs with these particular three to pummel them with all the bits of info and advice I stored up, knowing my time was short, one of the things I told the boys was if you are walking with any woman or girl down the street, always stay between her and the road.
I know it’s a small thing. But it is chivalry as was long ago…traditional for gentlemen to do such. They were nowhere near dating age, but as it crossed my mind, I hit them with that.
Years later….one of the lads, now both 17, wanted to take a girl out for a spot of dinner. His brother came with them for moral support, so they were a trio just going out together for a meal.
Days later my one grandson took me aside to tell me quietly he remembered what I’d said, and he wanted me to know indeed he had followed my advice as they walked on the downtown street where the restaurant was. And as it was her birthday, he had a quiet word with the management, which delivered a beautiful dessert to the table for the occasion, gratis.
As well as being so proud of him, I was gratified to know that they listen and take to heart everything I (we) tell them. We as grandparents actually do have our uses😉
And I doubt not that you and Savannah have a contingent of guardian angels surrounding you both. No doubt whatsoever.💕
It is the truest love that places one’s self between harm and our beloved. Thank you for raising chivalrous young gentlemen.
As is said, start as you mean to go on.
Job complete…we started very early.
Thank you, Betsy! I will be showing this to my students (high school) tomorrow!
(It doesn’t matter if it’s biology or geometry class; life lessons are life lessons.)
Something to put you into the mood for Valentine’s Day…
Written by the Gershwin brothers (lyrics and music)……………………
Good boot scootn/swing/foot stomping ……………
Rest in peace Doug Sham, Freddie Fender; that’s Flaco Jimenez on the squeeze box…………….
Lifesitenews has posted another homily from Archbishop Vigano
https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/abp-vigano-pagan-modernity-is-preparing-a-scourge-far-more-disastrous-than-the-flood/?utm_source=top_news&utm_campaign=usa
Oh bless you, Slowcobra. I’d not visited Life site for a while. I find myself hungering for Vigano’s words. Thank you.
Glad to share it, betsy! It was good to hear from him again, for sure!
It is, my friend. I always feel we are hearing Almighty God speaking through him. Always.🙏🏻
Posted this above…🙏🏻
https://citizenfreepress.com/breaking/christ-the-redeemer-struck-by-lightning/
Wow!
I have just read his homily.
With each succeeding offering by this man of God, I sense he is warning more and more. Is that just me I wonder. There seems to be a sense of increasing urgency in his voice.
I notice he has not referred to the current occupant on the Throne of St Peter by the name he always uses…Bergoglio. In fact no name whatsoever.
I find that telling.
Betsy, I agree. And I noticed, too, he changed his way of referencing.
A belated Good morning all.
How things go wrong.
Went in to do my run to Springfield, OH. First off some mechanic had pulled my truck to screw it up over the weekend. First off my truck was not in the spot where I had parked it. A prime spot that minimizes the time to get into it and out of it. Another driver had of course scarfed it up as soon as he saw it empty and without a cone marking it as having been occupied and reserving it.
When I found my truck and started it up two warning lights came on. Both minor. ABS and creep mode disengaged. I went ahead and drove it and it was nothing I couldn’t deal with so I hooked to the trailer I was to take and went in to get the paperwork.
That is when I found out I was taking a broker load to the GFS (Gordon Food Service) distribution center in Springfield, OH. Food deliveries are handled by lumpers (I have explained their function here several times before) and the driver pays the lumpers if they have to break down the shipment into the portions going to the various stores.
Recently we switched from using ComData to EFS. Not knowing if I would have to use a lumper or not I had to get the checks from EFS to pay the lumper service is necessary. Nobody told me crap about it being a lumper load and I had to ask for the EFS checks that I would need if I needed to pay a lumper service.
Got that taken care of and took off. Got a mile from terminal and there was a big bang and a terrible squeal of air. Truck still running, I turned it around and took it to the express bay. There it was found that the large tube that runs from the turbo up to the radiator to cool the hot air had separated at one of the two rubber expansion joints.
Turned out the mechanic had changed the one most forward. The one most forward is longer than the one closer to the turbo but the parts department only had the shorter one which was only to be used in the one closer to the turbo. The mechanic tried to make due with that and it had blown off.
So I had to get a loaner truck. Then drop the trailer, park my truck, hook to the trailer with the loaner truck and then transfer the stuff I would might need (tools, gloves, flashlight, GPS, etc) from my truck to the loaner truck.
When I had taken off in my truck I was over 1/2 hour ahead of schedule. By the time I did all of the above I was 45 minutes behind schedule.
Thankfully I did not need to use a lumper service at GFS for that load.
I got home after 03:00 this morning. Ate something and wound down and went to bed at 06:00.
Just read this to my husband who has taken coaches and cars apart and put them back together. Meticulous with his work, no fails when getting their MOTs (as they call inspections in Britain). When I got to the the “make do” part of your post, his eyes rolled so far in the back of his head, I thought they’d never return to their correct position. His comment was that that was the difference between mechanics and fitters…which is true in Blighty. Don’t know about here.
Plus he hated anyone else messing with his vehicle.
So sorry for your woes, rah. They are understood quite well in this house.
Prayers are ongoing for you, Sherry, you, your daughter and all who love her.
Hey, rah. Looks like you had a terrible time on that run. I hope it doesn’t happen to you again. Driving a semi-truck is probably hard enough to begin with; you don’t need more stress on top of it. I can understand your frustration with the stuff that went wrong.
Hey, if you’re ok with it, I’d like to hear more about your experiences as an SF medic. Some of the things you’ve already mentioned are fascinating. The training alone must have been extremely rigorous.
I read this guy’s autobiography. He was into some hairy sh*t.
I described some of the stuff about training and a couple of deployments here before. I will be glad to do so again.
First off a little explanation about the history of the US Army Special Forces. It actually came into being through two separate paths.
The one most known is that at Ft. Bragg having to do with Guerilla warfare in SE Asia. This path came from the experience and history of OSS detachment 101 in the CBI theater working with the Kachin in Burma, and other ops SE Asia in the SW Pacific theater during WW II.
The 2nd path, was in Europe, having to do with the history of the OSS Jedburgh teams that worked with the various resistance movements in the occupied countries during WW II. It started out as a company of DPs (Displaced Persons) at Flint Kaserne at Bad Tolz. Men native born in east European countries that had been occupied by the Soviets that hated the communists.
From the beginning the majority of the officers in the conventional Army hated them, or at least were very wary or jealous of them. It goes back to a long standing conflict in philosophies concerning special units. Many thought, and some still do, and probably always will believe, that the quality of the personnel in the special units would be more effective if they were instead used in their conventional units. This of course ignores the fact that those that serve in such special units are there because they are a different cut of cloth from the fabric that makes up conventional units and many would not voluntarily serve in them. Thinking and acting outside the box is part of what makes up a successful special operator but is not a quality much desired by conventional commanders because it challenges their control of the unit.
Two Presidents have had the greatest impact in the history of the US Army Special Forces. JFK in the early days and Ronald Reagan in the later. Reagan actually saved SF because in the post Vietnam war days, the conventional Army commanders were doing their best to kill it when Jimmy Carter was in the WH. Reagan instead expanded it and made sure it got the funding and specialized equipment needed. It was during this time that I was in SF. I served under Reagan and Bush while on teams, and then under Clinton when an instructor at SOMED.
My entire time on teams in SF was spent in the 10th Special Forces Group. The 10th was the first of the Special Forces Group to come into existence and it is what grew out of that first Company of DPs at Bad Tolz.
Thanx. Interesting info on the history of SF and how it evolved. It’s my understanding that most of the SF personnel are proficient in different languages, not to mention parachuting out of planes, fast roping out of helicopters, survival training, etc.
BTW a little trivia:
guerrilla | Etymology, origin and meaning of guerrilla by etymonline
East Palestine, OH. Know the place well. Used to deliver materials from Nestles to a recycling place there. Right up against the border with PA.
In case you haven’t seen it…
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1624051231554510848.html
And this…
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/ohios-apocalyptic-chemical-disaster-rages
This is existential. Where is the reporting??
Officials trying to downplay the significance, saying essentially nothing to see here. Terrible.
Abundant prayers going for those tens of thousands of people who will be affected, and, according to what I am reading, not temporarily.
Yea, I saw that. That is why I mentioned the place. Seems now animals in the area are dying.
BTW, Nestles stopped using that recycler in East Palestine after they were sued by the town for dumping stuff in the sewage that they shouldn’t have been.
Uh yeah…. I’ll have three Antifa goons, medium fries, and a large Coke. Keep the change.
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Coming right up, sir!! 😂😂😂
Can I give you a couple more goons to go?? ROFLOL (Meow!)
Hiss, scratch…😂
Amen 🙏
Amen.
Amen.
Amen
Amen!
Amen.
Amen.
Amen
Amen