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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Good Boy!
Yipes! 😍😃😎
I wouldn’t want to disappoint that good boy!
Dibs on the chocolate one!! No just screwing my courage to the sticking p!ace to go get it…
😎
-🫖
Morning Patience ❤️
Yes please! To go with my purloined breakfast…😁❤
Morning Ya’ll 🙂
Good morning, Mr jay. In the UK right after Christmas, there is an intrepid group of people who put their bathing suits on and dive into icy waters just like those look to be. Brrrrrrr…I hasten to add I have never been among them.
Was young enough once to take a polar dip in the Beaufort sea and a lake I lived on back in the 70s.
Maidin Mhaith Betsy Blessings upon you 🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
Good for the blood I’ve heard it said. Probably did you a power of good😉 And all His blessings be with you as well, my frriend😘
Good morning Bet! Comet got me up this morning to let me know that the Norther had blown the front door wide open and although it wasn’t anywhere near as cold as the picture looks it was still quite chilly. Don’t think I got any health benefit, either. 😂 ❤️
I’m only repeating what I’ve read, G. No personal experience to say it is so or not, but I seem to remember a line in a book I read once… “Her blood froze”. And for the nonce, my answer to the unlikely event of my doing is is a mighty NO!!😂
Yesterday was so warm and gorgeous. WHAT HAPPENED??! Don’t answer…Texas weather. It’s the wind. On my phone I’ve just scrolled down to see that it ” feels” like 32, with the helpful little message below which says “wind is making it feel colder.”
Duh…
Staying in and wrapped up today. And tomorrow (29…dang) 😘
Just remembered taking a dip as a teenager in the Black Sea in early May. Definitely not icy water but I’d say it was about 60. Still felt pretty chilly. 🥶
In other words, not a sauna. 😉 When a teenager, you can endure (almost) anything.
My husband used to deliver newspapers when he was a youngster in bitterly cold Britain in the winter…in short pants. He says he never felt it….ooooookay.
I knew a teenage student back in Wisconsin who walked 7 blocks to school every day all year long in shorts – in 20 below. He never got cold. Teens are catabolic – they’re building their bodies and have an excess of heat energy. Me, the older I get, the colder I get. But I still prefer winter to summer. I like the snow.
looks like some frosted paczki.
😂😂
Underrated album.
Interesting movie if you get a chance to see it.
😎😎
Morning jay.
Hi, Pa❣️❣️❣️
Did ya forget to latch the door?
I think we may need to call the door people to work on the hardware. When the wind blows straight from the North and it’s really strong sometimes it will do that. Had to turn the dead bolt to keep it closed.
We don’t lock the doors living on a ranch and if someone decided to try their luck, well, it will be the last mistake they made.
Yesterday, A sudden wind took my opening car door right out of my hand. Thank goodness there was no other car beside mine. I barely managed to keep it from slamming against its hinges.
https://structuretech.com/door-repair/
-YouTube is loaded 😎
You would “greet” them with your incredible hospitality.
Howdy Gramps 🇺🇸🤠🇺🇸
Hello, Jay. 😎
Hey Ho Alena 😎😎😎
When it sleets
-let yer light shine
❣️
Do the Cherokee Boogie 🤠
Custard crawl.. 😋
Howdy Garrison 🙂
Hi, jay 🙂
As I listened to JD Souther’s song, I couldn’t help thinking about the 18 years I cared for my wife. She was the love of my life, my soulmate. There was always a bond there that was immutable—through thick and thin in a 55 year relationship it firmly existed. It was based on trust and loyalty. It never failed us, always brought us back together when things were difficult.
As the years went on, her Alzheimer’s increasingly affected her brain and her consciousness. Still, there was me. I resolved to keep her at home, safe in her familiar surroundings. She was comfortable there. always knowing knowing that I was caring for her. For 18 years I cared for her. It was a blessed experience. She always knew I was there and I always knew she loved me.
The night she died, I gave her her meds, her favorite ice-cream, kissed her forehead, told her I loved here. She looked at me and said she love me too. My physician friend had told me what was most likely to come next. . . When I woke the next morning, she was gone. She’d gently passed in the night without waking up. I’m still processing what this all means. When someone who’s been a part of your life for 55 years no longer is there, the profound existential question for those left behind is . . . what comes next? Honestly, I don’t know.
—
May God Bless You Big , Garrison .
You are Absolutely what my Dad would have called
a Saint .
May Our Lord Watch Over You and Guide You Now 🙏
Thanks very much for your kind words. I learned a long time ago that maintaining a little humility is a very good thing. So. I tend to feel like I’m just “that guy” . . . who posts occasional messages to some ‘net friends on the Treehouse Open Thread.
Still, losing a life-partner of 5 and a half decades is a wrenching experience. Being able to occasionally commemorate her passing here—where I know I’m among friends—helps ease the grief and pain I still feel, even after all these months.
Listening to JD’s song just struck an emotional chord at just the right time. People often criticize the ‘net for being a cold place, a place without soul because most people choose to be anonymous. That’s not true. Our words are true and we can find life and self within them. Be well, friend. 🙂
Good morning, Garrison. It will probably take some time to process the loss of your wife. Just know that we are here for you.
My spouse is still hanging on, but I dread the phone calls from the nursing home where she is. Most of the phone calls are routine, ie med changes, etc. I’m afraid she’ll have another stroke or fall out of bed again. At least the aides are making sure a fall pad is on the floor near her bed. And they do check on her.
When she finishes eating dinner or anything I bring her, I consider that a small victory.
Every time I reply to you, dear friend, your worry is foremost in my mind. You are in the best place here for the love and support needed. Always…💕
Thanx Bet, and good morning. 30 degrees F outside. Sunny and a little breezy.
I enjoyed the thunderstorm that came through our area last night. Wind blew the front door open when I stepped outside. 2 of the dogs took advantage of the opportunity, ran outside and went down the street. They came back to the house in record time when the thunder and lightning started. I didn’t have to go after them.
Did you get any of that rain last night?
Have a blessed day.
There was a thunderstorm alert out when I checked my weather thingy about 8. About nine, I went out to check the sky and there wasn’t a cloud in it, stars all peppering the night. So after a lot rain the morning before, we stayed dry. We’ll take all the good Lord allows. So glad your buddies returned in short as order👍🏻
Mornin’ Joe. Just got back from a long lunch with a good friend. I think you’re right about needing time to process . . . I’m finding that doing that with someone you know and trust can be enormously helpful.
One epiphany that’s emerged in conversation and on several other occasions is how trust and loyalty contributed to me personally. I had a long and happy career which I surely would not have had without her support. Throughout some rough spots it was her trust and loyalty to and in me that helped me push through and survive against stiff odds.
Simply put, she was there for me with I needed her so when she developed Alzheimer’s I was damn sure going to *be there* for her.
I’m entirely sympathetic about your daily worries about your wife. Mine were not the same, not exactly but quickly became an ever present part of every day. There was just me. Just as there’s just you. Even in a nursing home, if you aren’t watching over your wife you both can be overwhelmed by the indifference and even neglect that defines every nursing home experience. Re: your wife falling out of bed. I presume OK has a law against raising bed rails which to help keep your wife safe? While I wanted to commemorate my wife in my post, a second reason was to let Treeper friends like yourself know that you don’t have to feel so alone. On seeing similar posts more than a few of us go into a been-there-done-that mode.
Bottom line: keep us in your loop. We genuinely want to know how things are going. Be well, friend. 🙂
Time was nursing was an avocation, attracting people who truly wore their compassion on the outside. Where did it go?
Remembering a commenter elsewhere who said his dying father asked him why those who tended to him as he lay dying in hospital were so mean. Since then I’ve seen comments just like it, affirming that in too many hospitals and care homes this tragic attitude prevails. God bless those…you and Joe and others…who keep a weather eye on those they love.
Perhaps that’s a reason why, especially among elderly men, the “9mm exit” is an increasingly preferred method of departure.
I’ve seen that as well, especially with our vets… and it is so heartbreaking imagining that anyone gets to the point where that to them is the only answer.
See what is happening in “caring” government a run hospitals in Canada…
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253579/canadian-man-says-hospital-staff-pressured-him-to-euthanize-his-wife
I was informed that Oklahoma does have a law prohibiting bed rails; apparently some residents got hung up on the rails while trying to climb out of bed and ended up dying. I know of a similar incident that happened in the nursing home I worked at. This incident took place years ago; I didn’t see it as it happened on a different hall on day shift. Questions came up as to why this resident was found hours after time of death. A couple of aides quit right after it happened and the charge nurse was really shook up over it. I don’t know if any legal action was taken or not. I do know the resident had a video camera in his room. If I remember correctly, it was either a housekeeper or maintenance worker who found the person when they went into his room. I heard that it was a pretty gruesome sight when they found the body.
Nursing homes are notorious for being understaffed and having high turnover. Rounds are supposed to be done every 2 hours; sometimes more frequently if certain residents are fall risks.
So far, so good with my spouse. No recent falls or any other emergencies, but I keep the phone close by at all times. I never know what’s going to happen from one day to the next, but I try not to over stress. If it wasn’t for this Treeper site and a couple of former co-workers who are retired, I would feel alone.
I know I’m not alone. A lot of us are in the same boat, more or less. One of my friends who is also a former co-worker lost her husband who was in a nursing home. He passed away almost a year ago. She’s still trying to cope with it.
Thanx for the reply, Garrison. I will keep you all posted . Have a great day.
You got that right, dear Joe. You are definitely not alone!😘
I can’t imagine what life would be like without my Sherry! I just know it would not be what I want it to be. God Bless you Garrison.
Glad to see that you are working your way through your shock and grief.
Thank you, friend. 🙂
You keep on loving her.
Yes. How do you stop loving a soulmate?
Man, does this take me back! Always loved the Moodies. Thanks for posting this. 🙂
You’re welcome. I’ve always liked listening to them. Saw them in a concert decades ago.
A beautiful testimony … your tender, devoted care of your Beloved says it all, Garrison.
May God bless you in a special way and lead you by His hand. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
🙂
Faith. And friendship.
You have both dear friend.
And trust and loyalty—two essential, immutable, values that will keep a lasting relationship alive. Even when times were hard (and there were plenty of those in our five and a half decades), our trust and loyalty never faltered. 🙂
You are truly blessed. I won’t say “were” because the blessing is not past tense. You were given the greatest capacity to love and cling to one another through life’s storms.
Now, our Father in Heaven reminds you that through it all… you had HIM to cling to, as well.
Your precious bride is there in Eternity, fully whole, fully healed, fully alive and blissfully happy. As we all shall be when our time comes… but, just not yet!
You still have God’s Purpose ahead of you and your bride would want you to live joyfully until you are called Home, too. There is apparently adventure still ahead for you which is what God continues to wake you for each day.
Embrace it, dear friend. Never forget your love, Garrison, or the sovereignty and kindness of our Lord.
None of this was accidental, JW00. My physician friend described what my wife’s last days and hours would be like so I immediately began asking The Lord to allow her to pass gently. When I woke up that morning, my wife looked like she was just resting comfortably. Only she wasn’t.
I’ve always been a strong believer, JWoo. The Lord is in my life as I write these words and, I pray, will remain in my life. Probably because LD people like me often didn’t even finish HS, time and again I found myself in situations where I was the very first . . . grad schools? teaching college? Being married to a soulmate for 55 years? Me?
I’ve often questioned why these things happened the way they did. I no long question how someone like me got *here*. I just accept the mystery for what it is, knowing none of this was accidental. I’ve felt the presence of Our Lord, JWoo. So, yes, I think you’re right. I probably have a few more adventures coming my way. Watch this space. 🙂
“…apparently adventure still ahead for you which is what God continues to wake you for each day…”
Thank you JWoo, I know I’m butting in but I want to thank you for those true words.
“Good morning God, this is Your day. I am your child, show me Your way.”
And best wishes to Garrison Hall.
Here you are, Garrison, sharing lovely music from our collective past. Then you add a piece of your personal history— your soul. We are here together, Garrison. We are not just uncaring voices in the dark.
God bless you for your humanity. God bless you for your trials and triumphs! Blessings! 🙏💕
Thanks so much, Lorrie. And blessings on you, too. Be well. 🙂
Always praying for you Garrison.You are a kind and wonderful soul.Blessings…
Thank you. . . . And so are you, my friend . . . 🙂
She is no longer physically here, but, it is written, love never dies. Your love for each other is still alive.
Very true. Thank you. 🙂
Dearest Garrison, for those of us fortunate enough to find that one person to travel with on the uncertain roads in this life, we understand that one of us will, at, some point, have to let go of the other’s hand to continue by ourselves, the only certainty. The older I get I find that thought elbowing its way into my consciousness, knowing it will come…
What comes next after our roads diverge, as yours and hers have done? The only thing that we can do…the thing that you are doing…is to keep turning to God, Who knows what is next even as you do not.
And when it becomes too much because we are only human and He is not, say to Him as CS Lewis did, “You must do this. I can’t.”
Try to take each day as it comes, my friend. One day at a time is enough to deal with. That’s all anyone can do. Your faith is strong, and you have mentioned so many times before that you know He is with you, hears you, is standing beside you, and answers you. Know it. Because it is true.
You are a rich man with friends around you and here who give their loving support while you press forward. Those physically around you and we here walk with you because you are loved. Our Lord above will lead you the rest of the way…with great affection. B💕
Mornin’ Bet. First of all, thank you for your kind words. Over time they’ve come to mean a lot to me, arriving as they usually do in the very ‘nick of time . . . 🙂
Awhile back I posted a comment about how the women in my life appear to have simultaneously — and quite independently – – – understood how very close to crashing I was. Well . . . they all showed up to help. It was the most amazing thing, something I’d never experienced before.
And it wasn’t an “intervention” that’s not what it was at all. They just stepped in and helped when I needed it most. They nudged, they laughed with me, we had coffee and long conversations, I just had loving and caring company in some very dark moments. We had a wake.
I don’t think any of this was accidental, Bet. Yes, I’m a strong believer, Our Lord has been with me for as long as I can remember. I’m not a stranger to his presence, having experienced it at several critical times. I’ve also learned not to question things like this. I’ll simply acknowledge the mystery and be thankful for it having happened. Happily I’m doing lots better, now. Not being that depressed is a truly wonderful feeling. Blessings on you, Bet. I so appreciate your friendship. And be well. 🙂
Nor do I think their companionship and awareness is accidental, Garrison. They are those blessings which come when, perhaps, we do not expect them or look for them….remembering of course your company for them is no doubt a blessing for them.
And then there is knowing that time can be a friend as well, even though too often it seems that it is not. Your precious memories will, like cream, continue to rise to the top as you go on. That you will see your lovely bride again is a given. And while you anticipate a joyous reunion, we will keep company with you, hopefully hearing some of those memories when you feel like sharing.
In the meantime just know that this thread would be much poorer without you. You are our blessing, dear sir. Make no mistake and underestimate how much.
I am glad to hear you say you are doing much better. A message which gladdens my heart for you. Just remember…backsliding, while unwelcome, happens to everyone. And, please Dear Lord may it not. But if it occurs, here we are, your unfathomably deep well of love and support so you can stand on our shoulders and rise again. Thank you for your sweet reply, my friend whom I never expected to have, but do. Blessings always💕
I’m posting this for you and your beautiful always wife, because I believe it represents your devotion to Almighty God…and for her.
Hymnus Amoris or Hymn of Love
Beautiful, Bet. Thanks 🙂
Most welcome. I find myself listening to it each day.
Just know that in her final moments she KNEW how much you loved her. My wife was in hospice, first at home and finally in a hospital where they kept her totally sedated. On the day she died, I stood at her bedside and brushed her hair and forehead… and I told her that I loved her, her daughter and granddaughter loved her and that God loved her and wanted her to be with him. I actually saw a tear roll down her check even though she had been totally unresponsive for four days prior to that moment Five minutes later, she had heeded my words and had gone to be with God.
I am dreadfully sorry for your indescribable loss, benzy. She heard you.💕
benzy . . . she heard you. Even though she was unresponsive for the four days, Our Lord shared his Grace with you both in that pristine moment. Even from afar as I am now, I can say that with confidence because my wife and I felt the same exact thing. Our moment was different but we both felt His healing presence. Thanks for sharing your experience with us here. Messages like this are one of the reasons I like to post on the Open Thread. Be blessed and be well, friend. 🙂
Garrison, almost a year ago when my stepdad was on his dying bed, unresponsive, gasping with every breath, I asked my mom to tell him it was OK to let go and be with Jesus. He heard her and soon after transitioned to eternity.
No words, G.💔
My father in law, who was killed by the NHS in Britain through neglect, suddenly had the most serene expression on his face as he let go. But before, he spoke heavenwards to his long departed wife, as if in conversation. Who’s to say it wasn’t so?
I was sitting with a hospice resident and trying to get her to eat some dinner one fall afternoon years ago. She wasn’t interested in eating; just laid back in her bed and her eyes were closed. I kept a close eye on her to make sure she was still alive; sometimes people can slip away at a moment’s notice.
Suddenly she sat up in her bed and was staring at something while looking over my shoulder. Her eyes were as big as saucers. I remember her eyes were a dark blue color. I turned to see what she was looking at; nothing there but furniture. She laid back down and went to sleep with a serene expression on her face. I was just a little bit spooked.
2 days later she was gone.
We will never know until our moment arrives. I can well imagine your reaction, but from all I have read from others who were with people on the cusp of traveling home, there has to be something…and I find it comforting to think so.
She may have had visitors. Who knows? I wouldn’t rule it out.
Nor I…
That’s a good way for it to be done, Gramps. Coming from your mom was just the right touch. Good on you, good on her, and good on him. 🙂
benzy, I believe we have very few great honors in our lives and it is up to The Lord’s Mercy to grant us the access and timing to witness such miracles:
1) The honor to be at one’s birth
2) The honor to see a loved one converted to faith and salvation in Christ Jesus – the Ah Ha! moment
3) The honor of being present for a marriage committment
4) The honor to be with one as they transition on to Eternity
Blessings upon you, benzy, for your lovingkindness as your bride left this world. May her memory be eternal. You brought her peace in those moments. Sometimes, they need to hear it’s okay to go. Though in my selfishness, I would rather them stay. They get the better deal — presence and worship in the Lord’s Throne Room — while we sad sacks muck the mud here. I’ve said goodbye to too many.
But… there is precious ground to cultivate here, so if I can pick up my shovel, keep mucking, keep tilling, keep sowing, and keep rejoicing at the bounty The Lord yields forth – then so be it. I’ll stay as long as He deems it.
I love hearing your stories of “true and abiding love”. So many have no such chances or prospects. I weep with them.
So sorry for your deep loss, benzy.
I’ve heard that a person’s sense of hearing is the last thing to go as the body shuts down. (I don’t know)
But your wife heard you, and what a precious gift!
I stayed with my grandmother four days while she was in a coma, approaching the end.
On day five,I needed to go home for change of clothes/shower! I bent down to her ear and told her I was leaving, would be back in morning and I loved her. I didn’t think she comprehended.
Then I walked to other side of bed, picked up her hand and kissed it. While doing so, I looked at her face and she was no longer breathing, but had peacefully slipped away to be with her Savior – while I held her hand.
This is one of my most indescribable gifts … God is so sweet to us.
Blessings on you, benzy.
I think we all needed this beautiful conversation this morning, Della. We all must let go of those who are being called home. It is comforting to read here what I’ve read today, knowing how good He is.🙏🏻💕
You’re right, Betsy, as it gives others strength and courage for whoever is next. God-willing.
And the stories allow others to share – even a little bit – in their sufferings.
We’re all human and need each other.
The beauty of this thread on this site. I am certain our Father has listened in…🙏🏻
Your words remind me of this scripture:
”Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard.”
Malachi 3:16.a
He hears, Betsy…
💖
He does…I know He does.
All glory be to God.🙏🏻
I believe we can communicate spiritually without words.
If some one is past being able to hear or see here on Earth they can be reached through the Spirit.
While we can never know for sure, Chloe, there have been times when it has certainly seemed to be so for me.
God is so sweet to us. <tears>
🥹 🥹 💕
praying for you, Garrison.
Dear Garrison. I am the caregiver for my husband, Stroke victim, can’t speak with wheelchair. I can’t tell you how many times your words have given me encouragement over the past several years. Love never dies. She is with you holding you and loving you as before. Thank you for all you do, and sharing the beauty of music and the world to all of us.
God bless you both, Mary Jane. How right you are. Music is therapeutic. It lifts us from the world we are in so we can catch our breath, even for just a moment…
Because I’m dyslexic words hold a special meaning for me, largely because they were so doggone hard for me to understand when I was a little kid . . . Learning how to write was a big deal and, now, knowing that my words bring some encouragement to what is a lonely, never ending job is enormously gratifying.
I used to say that when you are caregiving there isn’t an “off” switch because out of necessity you are always on duty. I was lucky to discover that caring for my wife, despite being hard work, turned out to be one of the most wonderful events in our lives.
Over those eighteen years we fell in love all over again. Even though it was hard work, every day in that time was also a blessing. I sincerely hope your time with your husband will be the same. Bess you, darlin’. May you both be well. 🙂
I love your post’s Garrison, you do a wonderful job sharing your thoughts!
❤️
❤️🙏
When my husband of 34 years passed, it brought to a greater understanding of what it meant from the Bible where two become one.
I found this online group called Widowed Village and it has a vast array of things recently widowed, and widowered, can find of interest. And men, the widowers, are very much a part of the program. I found it helpful to simply read their online blog and stories that many shared as it helped to navigate those times that only those who go through this experience could begin to know how to approach.
One day at a time has real meaning.
Blessings be to you this day.
https://soaringspirits.org/programs/virtual-programs/widowed-village/
Thank you for this link, Bessie. I didn’t know about it. I’ll go there in a little bit. 🙂
I went and checked out the website. I sure wish I’d known about this place nineteen years ago; I could’ve used the support.
Grief never goes away. It comes around and blindsides you when you least expect it. I miss my husband every day. The raw edges are dulled a bit but it still hurts and always will.
I lurk here every day and the community and love everyone has for each other makes this place so special. I pray for every one who is having a rough time or has family in a rough spot. I’m not terribly religious but I believe in the power of prayer. Thank you all for existing and being the wonderful people you are.
Praying for you, dear friend. 🙏🏻
Thank you so much, Gramps. 🙂
…. sighs,
“the profound existential question for those left behind is . . . what comes next?”, sigh.
-She always knew I was there, and I always knew she loved me.
_______________________________________________
We became –and remained–really good, and true friends, when I was twenty.
We lived and worked together on and off as adults.
She was old enough to change my diapers when I was born …. always ready, willing and capable to help Ma –and most anyone–; as far back as my first memories, starting at age two.
She was a mentor, a caring, interesting, probing, curious, generous, encouraging, disciplinarian at times, inquisitive, arts and music appreciator, fun, imaginative, smart…… fun (did I mention fun?), sensitive, independent, family oriented, considerate, adventurous, responsible, compassionate, determined, fun (did I mention fun?),,,,, my solo-fan-club member.
Her absence still doesn’t register at times.
While the overwhelming sadness and sense of disbelief has dissipated… gotten thinner, at times ……
~It does not seem possible that she is really gone! I knew her my entire life!!!!
After knowing her for 62 years, my sister departed from her earthly life; and from me.
~I would rather yearn that she was still here, then she for me.
That helps me to welcome each new day
and accept my disappointments when they are less productive and joyful than hoped for.
“I would rather yearn that she was still here, than she for me”
How much was your sister loved by you, Patience? That much.
And with that one sentence, I feel the absence of your sister, a woman I never knew but, in fact, now do.
🙏🏻
(Add me please to your fan club. It would be an honour to be a member in good standing.💕)
Can you hear my heart beating? Do you see my smile; with tear-blurred eyes -right now?
😎
Thanks, Betsy. 💖
P.s. You would have been delighted and pleased to have known her. Literally, everyone (even strangers in a store, restaurant, etc) expressed that.
Oh I would have because I am just as she was.
My oldest has been known to say while looking for me when we’d get separated shopping, “Were you talking to your new best friend?”
Could be anyone…someone who works where we happen to be, another customer, anyone. I will absolutely make it a point to engage.
Because in this insular world of ours, you never know when one word or even conversation with someone might make a difference to their day. It is called the stuff of life.
Oh yes….we’d have gotten on like a house on fire. Guaranteed!😁
There are so many times I viscerally feel the need to give someone a hug. And the pain in not being able to do it, sweet Patience….as now…🤗💕…and yes I can.
You make me smile -often-, Betsy.
-You’ve a special gift…
-You are a lovely and special gift.
😎 Thanks for the hug.
So happy you received it….sent special delivery😌
Indeed, lil’ buddy.
Many times there isn’t enough time to write complete thoughts; as Ma gets first priority.
You do very well. I like your writing style…always have. Please give your beautiful Ma a hug from me.🤗
Believing, trusting The Lord, softens the loss. I know I’ll really get over her absence. I still expect to see her when I come home, still sense her lying next to me when I wake up. Those are feelings I never what to lose. An 88 year old friend, former professor who helped me at a critical, life changing moment, told me a couple of weeks ago that all we can do is get used to our loss. It won’t ever go away. I think he’s right. Smart guy.
Very smart…
Have attempted to reply several times.
Will try again in a few hours.
hello garrison ❤️
my mom has been gone for about 9 years now..
she fell and broke her hip, and also had alzheimers , so when she was released from the hospital, i brought her home to my house. it wasn’t for very long, but was still SO hard, but absolutely a blessing, yes! She was so so so strong , getting her mental strength from her Lord and Savior.. i know that WITHOUT a doubt.. i could see with discernment how God was protecting her and was making the outcomes concerning her be the best possible..i was soooo uneducated about so many aspects of the situation at the time.. and in the time that has passed , and in hindsight, God revealed many things to me.. The morning that she left, ( she was unresponsive and seemed asleep) but there absolutely were tears on her face.. and for awhile i thought it was because she was leaving us… but no.. now i know her tears were tears of joy! i believe she was meeting Jesus … face to face. finally ! i dont miss her less as time goes on.. i miss her more ✨
now.. back outside with my little milwaukee battery chainsaw ❤️
Tears of joy? Indeed. Our Lord loves us, looks over us and touches our hearts especially during our last moments. He has done that so often with me. And why me? I’ve always wondered that because I think I’m so very ordinary—the tiny speck out there in the Great Somewhere . . . And yet, there it is. I can feel His presence. Being with Him will do that to a person. 🙂
I’ve come to realize that the love He has for each of us is on a scale so large, we cannot apply our earthly understanding of love to His, or fathom the depth of it. Just as our concept of time in no way compares to time for Him. 💕
What a beautiful story Garrison!
Good morning all.
My daughters laparoscopic biopsy at the Mayo clinic in Jacksonville, FL went well on Tuesday. We won’t know anything until Friday.
Sherry and I have our suitcases packed and things arranged to leave in 24 hours or less after getting the call. I will drive down when the time comes.
Geisha the Cocker will stay with my son in Indianapolis. Gabby the cat stays here and my neighbor will take care of her.
Thank you all for your prayers and concern.
Praying for Your Family , Rah . GodSpeed 🙏
God bless your entire family! Praying for you!
🙏💕
Praying for the best possible news, rah. 🙏🏻
Praying for favorable results of the biopsy and for y’all! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
💖 ✝
Prayers for you, rah. Be blessed and be well, friend. 🙂
Prayers for your daughter, your family and the medical people caring for your daughter.
These two videos are about horses who started their lives as wild mustangs.
Nice to see success wild horse videos…thank you..😀👍
🇺🇸💪😀👍
Thank you, Jim. Way back in the early 60s I got Joey, my 18 month old wild horse, The lady who owned the stables was a horse whisperer long before there was such a thing. She taught me how to ‘read’ horses, to watch their behavior and to relate to them on their terms. One of her favorite sayings was that a horse that doesn’t trust you is a horse you can never trust.
We had the entire river bottom area to ride in along with Mr. Hershey’s cattle grazing lands and Standard OIl allowed us to ride on all the land they owned (before the days gratuitous lawsuits).
Many times when we would be out riding Joey would do his little dance thing, letting me know he wanted to go play. I would get off, take off his bridle, and let him go. He would run as far and as fast as he could. Sometimes he would be gone a half hour or so. Then he would come back, put his head down for me to put the bridle back on, and off we would go. Joey was an amazing horse.
😍!!!
1 Kings 13
A man of God is sent by the LORD from Judah, to say and do specific things from God, against the sin of His backslidden people, who had gone into idolatry. The LORD gave him explicit instructions, and charged him, not to eat or drink anything while he was there, and to not return home the same way he came, He was obedient as far as until he stopped to rest under a tree.
Meanwhile, what he had said and done was reported all over the place, and word came to an old prophet. Why the LORD didn’t use this old prophet isn’t hard to guess, seeing what he did to the man of God; the old prophet lied to the man of God, and caused him to sin, which then brought the punishment from God!
The messages we are to get from these things; first, we are to do exactly what God commands us to do, and not deviate at all; we are not to sit down to take a rest along the way, before we have finished what God has told us to do. The man of God would have been finished with his assignment when he was back home from his journey. While we are on our errand for the Lord; we are not at liberty to take a break or tend to our own comforts, until we have finished our errand. When Abraham’s servant went to his brethren’s house in Syria, to bring back a wife for Isaac; he was careful to be all about his mater’s business the entire time. There was to be no eating and reclining first; and there was to be no lingering. That was a deadly bad decision on the young man’s part, to stop and rest under a tree before he was back from his assignment.
We are not to make ourselves vulnerable to being enticed by lying old prophets, who are being used by the devil to get us to sin. Many are enamored and their discernment abandoned, by lying old prophets, which have long ago abandoned their enthusiasm for walking with God. They still know a lot of Scriptures, and the lingo; but they have cut the cord connecting their conscience to the Holy Spirit. Most times it is because of getting tired of denying self; especially as one grows older; and they think of serving Jesus as an occupation they can retire from.
Meanwhile, one by one all the formerly held virtues and values have vanished without a trace; and the young man who is actually serving God comes along, and the old man derails what the Lord was doing with him; lies to him, leads him away from what God has charged him to do, brings him into sin, and then after he has destroyed that brother completely wants to build a monument for his grave. However the old man may have tried to honor the man of God after he had caused him to sin, and to be killed by a lion; there is no mention that he showed any remorse or conscience at all for his wickedness. The churches are full of these same kinds of men of God, and old lying prophets who are used by the devil to entice them to disobedience.
The man of God did not have to stop and rest under a tree; and he didn’t have to yield to the old lying prophet. We are also given a charge from God; and we are expected to complete what He has told us to do. No one who disobeys will have any excuse, “Because I believed the older Christians” who lie, and are being used by the devil to make us sin.
When God sends and speaks to people about judgment to come, and tells them to repent; when they refuse, and become reprobate in their minds; nevertheless, the word of God shall be done in all that it was sent to do.
How many young people have been called by Jesus, and by much hard work on the Lord’s part, been mightily saved and delivered from sin; only to shortly thereafter fall prey to old prophets like in the story. Has been, maybe used to be servants of the Lord, with many amazing stories of miracles and works of power; but somewhere along the way, they went back to some perversion and wickedness; and never repented nor ever got freed from it: and took down scores of young Christians who trusted in them! So, there goes someone, who was well on his way with Jesus, and only wanted an older and experienced brother in the Lord to learn from; but the brother turned out to be a tool of Satan, to throw that young man back into the filthy pit of his old sins, and worse!
By the Lord’s mercy, that same young man was not destroyed and killed while he was out there; but God found a way to reach him in time, and turn him back to Jesus and the way of truth and holiness. No more pastors and teachers and trusting in anyone anymore but the Lord, to teach and to show how to be a Christian. The difference is beyond explanation or definition, between the way the Holy Spirit has now brought up that man, and what happened to him while looking to men before.
And just to add; I have to say, whether everyone hates it and is offended or not; but all that nostalgia around the very things that have destroyed the morality of generations, is nothing for God’s people. On the one hand so many are so sincere and crying every day to the Lord for more of Him, and for righteousness in the world; but not remembering what all that popular culture did to destroy the moral conscience of many generations. ALL my experience with everyone who has ever been into rock music, and all that’s such an idol in this country; has been the most extreme hatred and hostility to Jesus, blasphemy, fornication, hardness and pride.
Maybe this will be the last time I’m allowed on here; but I will write what God has put on my heart to write: the love of the world is keeping you from receiving the things that Jesus gave His blood for you to have. The things that are highly esteemed of men are an abomination to God.
I have watched and listened to as much or more than anyone here; and I would never say anything as if I were”holier than thou.” But as someone of your own country and your own generation, I am telling you from the Lord, that it has to stop! you can’t do that forever; but whatever you’ve built for yourself for an eternal house; that will be forever.
And just to finish, I might not be able to come back after this; but I do not condemn anyone or pass judgment. The house is on fire, and you have to get out now!
That’s all. I hope some of you got something good out of the commentaries. I believe they are sound doctrine inspired by His Spirit. But I encourage everyone to search the Scriptures to see if it is all so.
All my love in Jesus, and very best wishes to all. I may look in from time to time, but I think the Lord wants me to stop here.
Michael, I look every morning for your writings and enjoy them immensely. Please don’t stop writing to us. I don’t recall a single hurtful message from you. Maybe because I identify with what you write. I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost 60 years ago as a young teenager. I give God the credit for everything good in my life, and take the blame for the bad. That said, after turning 72 years old, I was called to pastor a very small church in rural Arkansas. And that call is an uplifting experience I had never known. Most of our members are close to my age, from all backgrounds, but we are close-knit and help each other.
I do believe the Lord’s return is near. I’m trying to help our church understand the necessity of fellowship, prayer, serving each other, and always to be watchful for the souls around us who are in need of Jesus Christ.
Take care my friend. See you tomorrow, in Jesus’ Name.
You are a good brother George. I look forward to meeting you soon when the Lord comes. I was saved when I was eighteen, and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit when I was baptized in water; and came up out of the water speaking in tongues. I was doing good my first two years; but then some very bad things begin surfacing in the little house group where I lived and attended. Being too young and having really nowhere to run away; I thought I was helping the “brother” (our pastor/leader) by protecting him from anyone finding out. What I only found out about nine years later, was that he had not only done that to a handful of us at that time; but had apparently destroyed many others in previous groups he had started. That all turned into me falling terribly for almost ten years. Eventually a couple stays at Chabad in residential treatment, and then all of a sudden repenting and getting back into the Bible and seeking the Lord. By His mercy and guidance, I have been miraculously recovered; and the quality of my understanding ever since, is nothing to compare to any church I ever went to or heard of; and its all Jesus and His Holy Spirit that has done it all. I really would like to share with those who want it, all that the Lord has given to me; like I know I needed, but no one was there!
I appreciate your saying something, George; I will pray about it some more. Please don’t think that I don’t love everyone who I have met here; I just want to be in tuned with the Lord’s guidance; and not stay shorter or longer than I’m supposed to.
Anyway, the Lord bless you brother. Remember me in your prayers.
If I may Michael, I think what you were/are going through is the “down” which MUST follow after one experiences and/or has a great “clarity” of Godly insight/purpose. I remember my first downer after having to my mind absolute clarity – like DUH!! – it all made sense. Then over time when those around you don’t quite see it your way, and you yourself begin to doubt yourself (they are not “wrong” either). We are dealing with something so enormous, so beyond our understanding, that it is inevitable, probably created so, that each individual will “see” things from their own life experience, mindset, intellectual ability, character, etc. We can be sure we are on the right path when in our deep heart and soul, we feel at peace, and are certain we are following the path of truth and not of self importance or honor. If the outcomes of your efforts lead to positive results, both to you and those around you – keep going. O, and don’t let the down – down you. In order to climb higher, one must expierence a “down” – to regroup, rethink, pray, build faith. The next step will be higher. Chill and come back to us.
Your words are good and wise; I take them well. It is most important that we understand our real position, in being the Lord’s servants: “When we have done all that we have been commanded, to say, We are unprofitable (good for nothing) servants; we have done that which is our duty to do.” The Lord sends His servants to speak to “People,” not cattle, and not machines; but living souls made in the image of God, who will hear, or not hear, receive, or not receive: the worker of the ground does everything except make it grow! That part is between God and that soul alone.
I appreciate what you say about ups and downs; I don’t believe that’s exactly it however. And the rethinking and regrouping, praying and examining ourselves, is really a daily exercise. 🙂
I think what you say about the “next step higher” might be in the right direction. Not higher for “me,” but to be a more effective communicator of the truth, and bringing out the sense and the meaning. I know everyone will think and do what they want; that’s how we are made: but somehow I always think, If I could have just been more clear, and said it better, then it would hit home with people like the Lord wants it to.
Thanks for your worthy time and wise counsel. I like to read what you have to say.
I am sorry you have decided to depart, Michael.
It is, of course, your decision.
I hope you will take a bit of time and read the remarkable discussion above between so many of us in this church of ours.
This is who we are on this beautiful thread.
God bless you, and may he abide with you always.
The Lord bless you too, Betsy. Just need to step back a little.
We all at various times do that.
Michael, I want to say this as gently as I can. I’ve never read your lengthy discussions of religious doctrine. This is why I am not churched. My connection to our Savior is much more direct—I ask and he’s simply there. Always. The ultimate reality of belief is profoundly personal. I would never presume to to give you instruction about this—the decision, as it is with all of us, is essential our own connection to Our Lord. All I hope for is for you to experience Our Lord’s Grace as you so richly deserve. Be blessed, my friend.
And to all who have been so friendly and loving, I have meant every word and fond feelings towards you. You are precious and loved very much. To whoever kept in the background, the Lord sees you and knows you, and I hope and pray the best for you all. To the many who faithfully try to put up something edifying for the others, thank you. And to those who took offense at my criticism of some of your favorites, like Spurgeon and Chambers; it wasn’t personal, but watching for your souls. I hope you will consider the things that were pointed out, as from the Lord.
I think that covers it.
The Lord be with you and help you find His best for you.
Michael, sometimes I have wanted to point out the difference between being redeemed and our life thereafter of obeying the Lord. The normal condition is to keep obeying, but some people are redeemed yet are backslidden for an unknown time. They have not lost their salvation. There is some Calvinist thought that says people can lose their salvation, and I think it causes a lot of trouble and is contrary to the Bible.
“Whosoever wills” can repent and receive the redemption Christ accomplished for us. Our sin debt is cancelled and we receive eternal life also. This is the real good news. We cannot lose our salvation, it is once for all. To many people, this seems hard to accept, but it is true. God is generous.
Thus, the thief on the cross was saved just before dying. Deathbed conversion is real.
A person may be truly saved yet decide to walk in sin, but God remains faithful and keeps all His promises.
After a person is saved, we may perceive that they are continuing in some sin or something they should stop. For the sake of example, let’s say a new believer is smoking cigarettes. We should be careful not to tell this new believer to stop smoking. We should trust the work of the Holy Spirit in that person and pray. When the definite speaking of the Lord comes to that believer, the power to do it will also be supplied.
I have heard how a lot of new believers quit smoking immediately upon being saved. I am one, but my smoking was not a real strong habit. For others, it may take some more time. Who knows, maybe the Lord is doing something to change their metabolism before telling them to quit? And here lately we find out that nicotine protects people from Covid …
Spiritual maturity. If you are sure you have it, then you don’t have it. Even Paul was not sure if he would be rewarded for his work until shortly before his martyrdom. If you are not sure you have it, you may have it. Therefore, the normal condition is to keep pressing on because there is always more to know of Christ.
Thank you for your reply. I don’t think you’re right with that about not being able to lose one’s salvation. There are far too many Scriptures that say just the opposite! The list of examples is too numerous to go through now, but suffice it to say, that the Lord’s last words to His churches, were insistent upon repentance, and watching, so as not to lose what still remained, that their names not be blotted out of the Book of Life, and their Candlesticks not be removed from their place. The five virgins who were foolish, and were not prepared for the Lord’s appearing, did not get in to the Wedding! Backsliders will not get into the kingdom of heaven, except they repent, and sin no more!
The things you are saying are exactly what is destroying this whole generation of Spurious Christians; because you keep telling them that there are no more consequences for their sinning! But the consequences are first coming to the house of God, before they come to those without. That’s what I meant by, Get away from men’s teachings, that cause you to err from the words of truth! Old lying prophets who are destroying God’s princes and servants. The Great Whore drunk with the blood of the saints!
Correct, all ten virgins were believers, but only five were wise and received a reward.
There are consequences for believers. Careless Christians will not receive a reward from the Lord in His kingdom. Loss of reward is not loss of salvation. The judgement seat of Christ is for believers and has to do with reward, not whether someone is saved. The White Throne of judgement is for unbelievers.
A child born of me will always be my child. He may not live in a way that makes me happy, but that is up to his own free will. God is glorified when we choose to serve Him, but not all make this choice. They are the foolish virgins that will not be rewarded.
Salvation (= forgiveness of our sin debt + receiving eternal life) and reward for our life of service thereafter should never be confused.
1 John makes it clear. That book describes how a believer can confess occasional sin.
A believer should never be tormented by the idea that he could lose his salvation. This is a Calvinist error, to confuse loss of reward with loss of salvation.
I need to add, because I don’t think I made it clear, we need to tell people about sin and how serious and damaging it is, so that they would repent. Soon with hate speech laws we may end up in jail for faithfully preaching the gospel.
1 John makes it clear, that Everyone who sins is of the devil, for the devil sins from the beginning! 1 John makes it clear, that everyone who is born of God does not sin, and he is not able to sin, because he is begotten of God, and His seed abides in him, so that he is not able to sin. everyone who sins, has not seen Him, nor known Him. The provision of mercy is not the Standard under which hypocrites and lawless can congregate in Jesus’ Name! By reason of the likes of you, and your kind, the way of truth is blasphemed! Do you give justification to the haters of the lord, and think that God isn’t going to judge you the harshest? If you were of God, you would hear the words of God; but you hear the words of the liar instead, and turn the grace of God into lechery and uncleanness! Until a man is delivered from the power of sin and quits sinning, he is and always will be UNFIT FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
And, behold, I come quickly!”
They that are clean and ready will be welcomed into the kingdom of God; and they that are still in their sins, will go where sinners go!
Michael, I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.
Yes of course I will, every day! And please remember me too. Look unto Jesus, and away from all the distractions and deceits that surround us on every side. Narrow is the way that leads to life; and Jesus and His Words are the lamp we need to stay on that narrow path. All things are yours in Christ: believe and obey, and then you will see!
16 February 2015 Lesley Gore, American pop singer (“It’s My Party”; “You Don’t Own Me”), dies of lung cancer at 68
16 February 2014 Raymond Louis “Ray” Kennedy, American songwriter (“Sail On, Sailor”), session and touring singer, musician, and record producer, dies at 67
16 February Tony Sheridan
(1940-2013)
British singer-songwriter and guitarist who collaborated with the pre-fame Beatles (“My Bonnie”), dies at 72
Ya Ya
The Saints
16 February 2004 Doris Troy [Higginsen], American R&B singer and songwriter (“Just One Look”), dies from emphysema at 67
16 February 2002 Billy Ward, American singer and songwriter (Billy Ward and his Dominoes), dies at 80
16 February 1999 Betty Roché [Mary Elizabeth Roach], American jazz singer (Duke Ellington – “Take The ‘A’ Train”), dies at 81
16 February 1996 (Walter) “Brownie” McGhee, American folk music and Piedmont blues singer and guitarist, dies at 80
It’s “science”!
‘Woke’ Researchers Claim Systemic Racism Affecting Wildlife (dailyfetched.com)
Political science.
Should that not be “The Daily Farfetched”?
All around the “-isms”, all I see are false gods. People looking for something they will never find until they understand only Almighty God can provide it.
“Hot Box” is what they used to call one of these. Or at least that is what my Dad called it.
NTSB: Video shows Ohio train wheel bearing in ‘final stage of overheat failure’ before derailment (msn.com)
I remember sitting at a RR crossing in Elwood, IN as a kid in the car watching one pass by. Dad went straight to the Elwood police station and reported it.
I just watched the video of the train and flames underneath it. Read some of the comments posted with the article. There’s a penis wrinkle who commented that Trump is to blame for the train derailment.
Unbelievable.
Is penis wrinkle the same thing as a pete buttplug, the sec. of transport.? I read that PB blamed it on President Trump.
Bwahahaha. Not quite the same, but close enough for Petey Poo. Not surprised that PB blamed it on Trump. I saw the remark in a comments section attached to the article.
THE INSPIRATION OF SPIRITUAL INITIATIVE
“Arise from the dead.” Eph. v. 14
All initiative is not inspired. A man may say to you – “Buck up, take your disinclination by the throat, throw it overboard, and walk out into the thing.” That is ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes in and says, in effect, “Buck up,” we find that the initiative is inspired.
We all have any number of visions and ideals when we are young, but sooner or later we find that we have no power to make them real. We cannot do the things we long to do, and we are apt to settle down to the visions and ideals as dead, and God has to come and say – “Arise from the dead.” When the inspiration of God does come, it comes with such miraculous power that we are able to arise from the dead and do the impossible thing. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life comes after we do the “bucking up.” God does not give us overcoming life; He gives us life AS WE OVERCOME. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says – “Arise from the dead,” we have to get up; God does not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand – “Stretch forth thy hand,” and as soon as the man did so, his hand was healed, but he had to take the initiative. If we will do the overcoming, we shall find we are inspired of God because He gives life immediately.
Oswald Chambers
February 16th Devotional
I look back at my life and I see so many times I went forward, with nothing. No money, no help, just me. I never gave it thought.
I’m married now, three grown boys and I have time to take a breath, look out on the past landscape and see. God was always with me.
So when God says “your sin is as far from me as the east is from the west” I can tell. Even in sin he never left me. It’s us who hold those issues not God. Believe it or not he just wants you, all of you, the dirty little insignificant speck who he loves dearly without reserve.
This is precious, Pale, and my story, too!
When we truly recognize God’s faithfulness to us – in spite of our unfaithfulness to Him, we’re filled with deep gratitude. The Lord’s love can’t be explained – only accepted… 🙏🏻
Mine as well, dear Della. No matter how many times I crashed, the Guard Rail was mercifully there. Inexplicable to me, but I am deeply grateful.🙏🏻
Yes, Betsy, He does guard us in all our ways! Thankful beyond measure.. 🤗🤗
Good morning Della! That’s all our stories. 🙂
Hello Grandpa! Glad it’s yours, too!
I bet you know that old hymn,
“I love to tell the story, Of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love …”. 🤗
🙂
Love this, Grandpa! Thank you! It’s a keeper…
Only in looking back do we see that to get where we are now we had to go through what brought us to this point. I do this often myself. To erase even one part would put us elsewhere.
You are tempered steel, just as He planned, as He does for us all. Thank you for this heartfelt honest post, Palerider.
It’s a bittersweet thing when we finally grow up (spiritually) to realize He was with us all along, when we were off doing our thing. Why does it take so long to confirm and cement our relationship with Him? Thanks Rider! I always enjoy your posts and wisdom…🙏
PLEASE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
How do you know, dear duchess, which powerful Scriptures are most needed each and every day?
No reply needed. The answer is known💕
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 Thursday, February 16, 2023
✟
“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”
Proverbs 29:11 (KJV)
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered!!!
Amen! This caused me to remember this wise advice…
“Taste your words before you spit them out”
How do you know when God is speaking to you? Higher thought! When ideas or understanding, wisdom, come to you that is not of yourself and is of a higher positive understanding.
And you test those ideas, words, by Gods word.
God can speak directly to
you, it is achieved by allowing him to and when you are secure in the understanding of his word. The word is everything.
Many don’t want that relationship, they are extremely fearful of that kind of a relationship with the lord but, knowing Gods word gives us confidence and God access.
God also speaks through other words written or not. The issue again is to know his word first then you can seek to understand.
I do believe there is a higher form of relationship with our lord and that is visions. Few are able to receive that relationship, with each step there is a responsibility that goes with it. The less of “you” the more God can work through you.
We are vessels to serve others not self. God being the number one.
As we serve him he serves us. The trade is extremely one sided, he owns it all he just wants our will to serve him.
Absolute truth and needed reminder today! Thank you for this…
The Holy Spirit very helpfully brings Bible verses to mind when you need them most, but you have to make the effort to get them into your memory bank for him to withdraw by reading a few passages every day xx
Mornin’ all!
I saw these yesterday and thought how absolutely perfect! So glad you’ve brought them here for all to see.
Our country has been taken over by IDIOTS.
. . . but deliver us from the Evil One.
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
Amen!
The 50th Psalm
Septuagint
Prayer of Saint Ioannikios the Great of Bithynia (+ 846)
My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my protection the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
Amen. Amin🙏🏻
From Small Compline
Rejoice Virgin Theotokos, Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls. (Thrice)
Afterfeast of the Meeting of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple
Synaxis of Saint Symeon the God-receiver and Saint Anna the Prophetess
Several more Saints are commemorated today.
February 3rd – Patristic Calendar of the Orthodox Christian Church
February 16th – civil or commercial calendar
Saints of God pray for us!
BUT GOD KNOWS
We do not know what tomorrow will bring
In reality we are not sure of anything
We close our eyes give way to sleep
There is no guarantee not even a peep
We say good-night to those we love
Entrust our rest to God above
Who knows the beginning from the end
Our entire life it is He who penned
Our days are full of challenges we know not
The what when why and how the outcome naught
As we awaken to a brand new day
It is God who is there to guide our way
It is He who brings light into our lives
It is we who strive and trustingly thrives
It is He who shows us the path the way
Who unconditionally loves us everyday
It is He who gave us our free will choice
It is He who gave us His grace to voice
Our decisions be they right or wrong
Will determine our stance weak or strong
Will we give in to temptation and quit
Will we be weak and meek not give a whit
Will we be strong and fight the good fight
Or will we be tempted to just take flight
We have no insight into what might come
We have no idea what direction from
If our lives are justified through others
If our needs are fulfilled by another’s
If we live each day in the last place
Will we ever be first in any case
Will we finally learn to love ourselves
Or leave our desires on the shelves
In every phase of life on earth
What we do will prove our worth
How we adjust to the highs and lows
Will determine which way our life goes
When stuck in a rut of sorrow and woe
We really have no direction to go
We haven’t asked God what He wants us to do
We are simply comfortable in feeling blue
We grieve our situation and that’s ok
He would not want it any other way
We seem to think we will figure it out
All on our own mind you we have no doubt
But God knows and He will wait for you
He’ll show you daily what He wants you to do
Signs and wonders before you displayed
All in the balance come forth to be weighed
Love one another is what you must do
Love one another as He has loved you
Listen to the clues He provides you each day
Being true to yourself is the only way
Now is the time to spread your wings
To set your sights on universal things
You might have no idea what that means
But God Knows what He put in your genes
D01: 02/16/2023
Another gift from your heart, duchess. And that from the Holy Spirit. Thank you, dear friend.💕
Greetings Treepers! 🙏
MILaw does “qualify” for mitral valve surgery, but she still has fluid in her lungs so she’s not coming home today.
Continue to pray for her, Frank – 🙏🙏🙏 – She is in God’s Loving Hands!!! ❤️
Continued prayers, dear Frank! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
May God protect her, Frank. Hope she pulls through the surgery and comes home.
They’ll get her there, Frank. She’s further down the road to recovery today than she was yesterday. Each day moves her closer to being back with those who love her and whom she loves. Praying for the strength she and Rhonda need to make it happen, dear brother.
Amen, Bets. Frank, praying for your Mom-In-Law that they can get the fluid to subside to the point it’s safe to perform her surgery.
Good Morning to all of our treepers. There are many of us that have fur babies and I know we all love them weather we have them or not.
I have a word of CAUTION for everyone that uses Seresto flea and tick, 8 month collars. I have used them for many years on my dogs and cats. I also recommended them to my pet customers that had bad flea problems. That is NOT the case any longer.
Two days ago we saw our first tick on one of our four dogs. Yesterday they all got their Seresto collars on and the four cats got theirs on. My cats are house cats, but the love to go outside a lot. This morning my year and a half old dog, Clover, was listless, did not play, kept stretching out her back leg, didn’t want to eat, tried to pick up feed dish to bring but put it down, and did not want to play with the cats!! My husband quickly took the collar off. It took an more than an hour before she was doing much better. It was really upsetting.
In checking the Seresto can, it no longer says “Bayer” as the manufacturer!!!! Bayer sold out to a China!!! The can now says “Elanco”. I looked at some recent reviews made since the company changed hands and there are lots of negative reviews. Most said the collar only worked for a couple weeks to a couple months. I don’t know how long these will last on the other dogs and cats, but I do know Clover will not ever have one of these on her neck!!! Non of the other animals seem to be having a problem. And YES Clover had one on last year, but it was a Bayer Seresto collar.
If you use these collars or plan to use them Please, Please watch your fur baby closely.
We used to have a saying ” A Word to the Wise is Sufficient”. I guess this is a good place to use it.
Please give your fur babies a hug from Gram. I love them all.
My gosh, marti! When you think how the wicked WEF has pronounced that we all need to get rid of our pets…
When we used Seresto, as was, it was an excellent product, no problems. Remembering the pet food poison which came from China not so long ago.
Bless you for getting the word out.
Good Morning, Betsy. We remember the food poison in China dog food too. I couldn’t believe that Bayer sold out like that. I guess money spoke to them. It sure ruined their name for us.
We too used Seresto and it was very good. Living in the woods it surely helped take care of the ticks. We wanted everyone here to be aware of the change. There are so many kind, loving treepers here that have pets. Blessings on all of them.
Hello marti, I can’t thank you enough for posting this information about the Seresto collars. We have 4 dogs who’ve been treated for flea and tick prevention with Seresto collars for years now with success. We have some on hand, so I was able to check our stash for branding. Thankfully, they are all Bayer, so we are covered for the coming season. We will NOT re-order per your advice. One of our rescue ‘boys’ is already susceptible to seizures. I would hate to see him or the others sick like you described happened to your dear Clover. God Bless you! Question: Did you find a ‘healthy’ alternative?
Hello parichute. You are welcome, so glad to help prevent anyone else from going thru this. The bad effects did wear off Clover but she is really clingy, doesn’t want to be away from us.
A friend of ours uses a pill each month for his dogs so we asked him about it. He uses Simparica for his two German Shorthair Pointers. We hunt our German Shorthair Pointers with him so they all get into tick country. He said the Simparica kills any ticks that attach to his dogs. That is like the Seresto did with our dogs. We checked with Chewy.com for price. It is more expensive and requires a prescription. There was no problem with our vet ordering this. We are going to try the three month auto ship, hopefully Clover will not have any problems with it. Our Seresto collars and dog food come from Chewy. They are fantastic to work with, the lady we talked to asked why we wanted to change and my husband explained what happened. She gave us a credit at once for the collar. When our Sam passed away they sent flowers and a nice note of sympathy.
Hi Marti,
I seemed to recall that if a manufacturer changed the formula of a product, that they had to announce so on the packaging. “New and Improved!” I just wonder – is that not the case anymore? How would they sustain their patents for the product if they kept changing the formula without it becoming an entirely new product?
Thinking out loud here.
Sadly, Bayer doesn’t have all that great a history themselves. Their ties to the Holocaust gave me pause to never use their products again. Doing the same with that crap company Pfizer.
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/popular-pharmaceutical-company-bayer-bought-concentration-camp-victims-wwii.html?edg-c=1
JWoo…I’ll alert you to this, as you mentioned changing the recipes for so many products.
So many people take Emergen-C (sp?). Apparently it has been sold to someone else, name escapes me. And that formula has been changed so it is not as effective. Just an FYI.
But as with all name brand OTC medicines, one should always read labels. I have never bought that product. Instead will rely on plain old no label vitamin C. Same-same I believe, and certainly way less expensive.
Betsy, I just posted the other day about taking Emergen-C Orange Tumeric, adding a teaspoon of dissolved non-flavored gelatin, and a small bit of honey – served warm. I got onto this trying to work through some inflammation and Tumeric seems to help a bit. I ordered quite a few boxes of Emergen-C as we were treating through COVID, plus all the vitamins, supplemental therapeutics, and prescribed meds from America’s Frontline Doctors. I will have to check through my little inventory and see if the manufacturer has changed.
I still stand by my question. If another manufacturer buys out a product line, they must acquire the trademark, too. Thus, if they change any of the formula, doesn’t it have to run through the trademark process and be rebranded???? Hmmm… might have to ask a friend of mine who owns some patents about it.
I’m unsure about that. If we lived in a world where laws and rules were followed I’d say yes. But all those seem to have work arounds, legit or otherwise…mostly otherwise.
And yes, I remember it was you who posted that about the Emergen-C.
Hi JWoo, I wouldn’t that “New and Improved” policy would apply if the product is sold and goes to china.
I didn’t know that about Bayer and the Holocaust. The Seresto collars were my only products from them. Thank you for the link.
Ooops! I wouldn’t think that – my fingers were not typing as fast as I was thinking.
Well… a consumer can’t help it if a large corporation becomes a multinational corporation and opens factories in China for production… let’s say.
If another entity purchases a product line, they likely purchase the trademark too, since it would now be their brand. Unless there was something contractually where the new entity is only buying the production rights, and then a fee is paid back to the owner of the trademark in perpetuity. They have to pay for the R&D conducted in the creation of the product.. at least until the licensing runs out.
But… the product’s trademarking is based upon the formula it was created with. That’s how pharmaceutical companies get around making various derivatives of their products, by slightly changing or adding to the formula they already have branded (let’s say add a coloring for instance) and they launch it as an entirely new product under a new name, without all the heavy research and development costs. This also extends their (I think) 10 year limit on a trademark after which opens the product up to being created under a generic branding by other companies.
Girls, I think we are onto something here. Might be a good investigative journalism piece as to how all these GMOs and bug guts get into our food supply without the consumer being none the wiser, because we fail to read the one line in italics that has suddenly appeared on the packaging.
How do they get around trademarking laws?
JWoo – I just finished reading that article. WOW, Bayer really has a bad history. No wonder they didn’t care what happened to the product.
Here’s another interesting article about some other companies. Unfortunately, I cannot attest to the credibility. I do look at them as equivalent to the multinational companies of today and their political toe-dipping. Or when it comes to the World Economic Forum – their belly flops into the deep end of the political pool.
There is a terrific movie “Ford Verses Ferrari” that is based upon a true story of Ford’s intro into Le Mans racing. Interesting what Henry Ford II says about one of his factories during the war. Plus, it’s really just a great movie. Matt Damon and can’t think of the other actor currently.
https://11points.com/11-companies-surprisingly-collaborated-nazis/
marti… when I was knee high to a grasshopper, I also worked for an inorganic chemical manufacturer and I wrote Material Safety Data Sheets. I was the Administrative Assistant to the VP and Chemical Engineer of the company. (I’ve had a really colorful past.)
Though I find Bayer’s actions completely reprehensible as it pertains to the prisoners in the concentration camps – the Threshold Limit Values on MSDS’s (now called SDS’s) come from somewhere and that somewhere is in testing labs. Most of the times on animals and sometimes on humans – mostly who volunteer for research studies… and Lord help us… sometimes I am not quite sure where those human tests are conducted and how they get their specimens.
If a product gets to market and it is regulated by an alphabet agency… it’s had research & development testing. (Unless your Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson and you can arbitrarily conduct war crime level product roll outs with literally no testing whatsoever and seriously screw an entire world of inhabitants.)
Now that I am on this mind track – you should check to see if you can get a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet on your pets’ collars. See if you can research to get older copies as well and see if anything’s changed with the ingredients under the newest iteration.
I really should have been a researcher. Or a doctor. Or an analyst. I’ve missed my calling. I have so much useful (useless) knowledge rolling around in my head. The JWoo of all trades, master of none.
Knowledge is never useless. You may find just the right moment to offer it for good. The more of it the better in my view.😉
Good evening JWoo. I might be able to get the current MSDS on Seresto.
Got the MSDS. The latest version is from 6/2020. Elanco completed the acquisition of Bayer Animal Health in august 2020. so I doubt that any changes have been made, or they are not reflected in the MSDS.
Bayer is Big Pharma…I can well believe it. They are all tarred with the same brush.
And as JWoo said, they are German, like Pfizer and others. Germany today is Redux 2.0 circa 1931.
What I am reading on Gates of Vienna about that country now would curl your hair.
Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it. God help our children. They’re learning NOTHING in school. Even the private schools – which I feel are about 5 years behind in this latest CRT/SEL stupidity. But it’s leeching into the private schools too – with hiring of diversity driven administrators. I can attest to it.
I personally believe School Choice (which I, at first, advocated for and am now thinking I was completely mislead)… is merely a vehicle used by the government to enter into private schools and dictate what is taught. Private school takes tax dollars for education for Choice, then it’s a quid-pro-quo. I know some people who are in charge of an organization that is a legislative politically lobbying arm —- and they are horrid, horrid, horrid people — who incidentally have no children of their own.
The wealth they have is inherited and not of their own doing — and I believe they got wealthier selling out our kids. They are RINOS and are liberals in sheep’s clothing. They found a way to pry open the door to our kids and they are now serving them up… while they vacation and own multiple homes in luxurious locations. I truly feel myself in the presence of demons when I think of them.
I think we are realizing far too late — that very few of us actually have “Choice”.
I agree…sounds lovely but is a mirage in most cases. Rats always find any small opening to get through.
Thank you for the heads up I’ll tell my daughter . She uses them on her Doodles.
A B C D E F G,
Little Green Men are comin’ after me….
UFO sighting and abduction reports across the world (msn.com)
After Coviiid and 2020/2024 everyone is laughing at the msm. Lets go Brandon is also ragging on the msm.
Starting to plan this year’s garden and this Farmer’s Almanac article from last year popped up online, “Gardening by the Moon: How to Plant by the Moon’s Phases”. Might try this technique this time. Our region is so hit and miss, high desert one day snowmagedon the next!
https://www.almanac.com/content/planting-by-the-moon
Decisions, decisions…..should I stay up or go back to sleep?
Hoo boy. That was me the other day. Should have gotten up even though it was about an hour earlier than I normally do when I wake up.
Didn’t.
Got up an hour later than I normally do, and paid the price all day long.
(Oh MY grandma, what big eyes you have!!😂😍)
Same here. If I oversleep, it takes a while to wake up and start the daily routine. Letting the dogs out and turning on the coffee pot usually motivates me to get up. If I don’t let the dogs out in a timely manner, I might find a big surprise (or two) on the living room floor.
Coffee is a must when starting the day. And the cats usually need to be fed. They’ll remind me first thing after letting the dogs out.
Looks like it’s getting a little warmer outside. 34 degrees F, still sunny.
Good morning Treepers. How ’bout these guys? Serious guitar work…
Wow! This woman is trying hard to get dead!
Well….what do you make of her claim? Does she really have copies of the tapes? Or is she just making it up?
If she lied to the court, it’s perjury. If it’s true, she really needs to watch her back.
If true, rah, I hope she has a dead switch somewhere.
Seventy years ago this month, dear sweet Eleanor…
.
Mary McLeod Bethune
Cry wolf too many times …
and you end up where the MSM and Government are right now.
NO ONE BELIEVES YOUR LIES.
The UFO thing is not working precisely because they’ve lied so often and so much that no one listens anymore.
Rotten tomato time!
Pup date….lost 4 teeth today! Little dude has a very “indignant” yappy bark for when he tries to bully the older boy…The older boy has had his bed, his mattress and toys taken over! He takes it in stride.
Housebreaking is a work in progress.
He loves meeting people and new dogs! The little tail is always wagging!
He can sit and stay for 5 seconds! LOL! And loves to chase leaves in the yard…he will catch one and pick it up and carry it so very proudly! And then drop it for a better leaf blowing across the yard!
https://texasfarmbureau.org/aphis-purchases-asf-fmd-diagnostic-test-kits/
I wonder with the open borders if the African swine fever and the classical swine fever aren’t already here. may explain the lack of feral hogs sightings this past hunting season. It can also devastate the pork supply. the Foot and Mouth Disease ca affect adversely the beef availability.
I will not eat crickets!
MILaw is spending another night in the hospital. Ouch. 🙏
Praying for her, Frank.
What Joe Bastardi is saying:
Joe Bastardi
@BigJoeBastardi
·
1h
A rude shock watch is in effect for New England in about 10 days another subzero shot of cold air may get into Boston after their record high today. How crazy would that be. Yeah I got a love the weather
2
6
24
3,103
Joe Bastardi
@BigJoeBastardi
·
1h
Day 10 through 15 in the northeast looks like the revenge of the nook of the north is starting. I am expecting a cold stormy March and front end of April.
The following is a screen shot of a NOAA graphic which tracks the dispersion of plumes of smoke and particulates in the atmosphere. This is the disperson pattern of the plum from the East Palestine fire.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpF_vgzaAAEtB24?format=jpg&name=small
The reason is it a screen shot is because NOAA has now shut down that site. That is what they do. If scientific fact or data does not support their political agenda, they deny access to it or alter it. They do it all the time with temperature data.
Very nice prayer
We must never forget our patriots suffering in jail .
I get sad when I think of Julian .
Julian and Andrew
Two of the greatest
Amen
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen!
Good evening GrandpaM
Today is a first for me .
First time commenting on your open thread.
I’ve been reading Sundance since he first arrived on the scene many years ago.
I have also been reading the comment sections for a long long time .
The conversation you had this am with the gentleman that recently lost his dear wife .
Just know there are many others ( me being one ) that read your comments and have been praying alongside you for many moons .
And I will continue to pray along with you fine people.
You don’t see me but I’m there . Here 😊
Peace in Christ sir
☘️
Good evening, Molonlabe! Welcome to the family here, I mean to the posting side since you’ve been reading for a while. There is a comfortable branch waiting for you. 🙂
Blessings to you and yours!
And thank you for praying with all of us.
Thank you sir for that nice welcome .
I must say, this is a fine family indeed .
It feels nice .
Feels real nice . Feels real.
Thanks
☘️🌸☘️
🙂 It is the real deal for sure.
I refer to you and others who do not post as passersby, Molonlabe. I was one myself for a long time.
First post was tentative. And then something drew me in further, so that now I am enriched beyond anything I could imagine.
As my dearest brother says above, there are always empty branches. Blessings to you, and perhaps one day we’ll look across and see you sitting happily in yours😊
Amen
Amen