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
“O for the Wings of a Dove”
Felix Mendelssohn-Batholdy
Lovely, Betsy. Thank you.
A favourite, 1530. For those would like to hear the whole of Mendelssohn’s beautiful work from which that came, “Hear My Prayer”, I will leave it here.
You are most welcome. Blessings to you on this, the Lord’s day.
Ohio Amish Country Flowers – Petunias grow below the front porch of a Bed and Breakfast I’ve stayed at in Amish Country. Photo taken by me several years ago.
Not far away, a group of Ohio Amish youth get together to sing praise and worship songs, as seen in the video below by P. Thomas:
And this next country song by Josh Turner reminds us that there’s victory in the Lord, powerful enough to defeat a “Long Black Train” …
That taste of better weather really is a tonic, phoenix. I bet your breakfast was delicious.
Breakfast is served family style there. And before breakfast, a preacher reads a short bible passage, gives a talk for several minutes, prays, and has the guests introduce themselves to each other. And yes, the cooking is excellent! Highly recommend. 🙂
How lovely. A small retreat from the world.🙏🏻
It sounds beautiful! I love the picture…the lavender petunias against the leaves and the green grass….
Thank you very much, Aggiegirl! Definitely beautiful countryside … Have often thought that if only I could combine living a simple Amish life during the week while attending a Catholic Mass on Sunday, that would be awesome! 🙂
Sorry Ad Rem… flagged in error. Scrolling on phone trying to catch up with the thread and I hit flag by accident. Sorry Aggiegirl. I would never flag you sister.
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He ain’t heavy, he’s my kitten.
Friends for life💕
💘
💘🐴💘🐈💘
💘
Bubbles, my (mad cow) would agree!
We need pictures!
Obviously, a democat. Looking for a free ride.
BEST EVER!
God Bless America 🙂
Beautiful…no footprints on that virgin snow. As long as I was provisioned up with plenty of firewood, I could happily live there until the snow melted😉
dia duit Betsy 🙂
Thank you dear Mr jay. And may He always be with you.💕
What serene beauty! One can almost hear the silence of nature’s harmony!
I remember as a kid…the joy of making those first footsteps and snow angels in the newly fallen snow.
And then being sad for ruining nature’s handiwork!
Oh how I understate that!💕
Reminds me of a summer hute for use during warmer times when the cows can graze in the high pastures. Seen a ton of them in Germany and Austria.
One that has not been there before would be surprised by where they would find cow tracks in the Alps. And should realize that because of that, that inviting cold water running down the streams is likely not to be as clean and pure as it appears.
Spent the night in a few line shacks high in the mountains for summer cattle grazing. I actually like a cow biscuit burning on the fire. 🤠🇺🇸
Morning jay!
Dia Duit Gramps 🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
Fun music, all of them. Thanks, Garrison.
🙂
Howdy Garrison!
Mornin, Gramps. Have a great day!
Have a wonderful and very blessed Sunday, Treeper friends. May you all— each and every one—be blessed with the loving embrace of Our Lord Jesus.
dia duit Garrison 🙂
Mornin’ jay. Be well, friend 🙂
And now I can go rest peacefully. Thank you, my friend. Peace please be with you. 😘
You, too, Bet. That’s what benedictions are for. 🙂
2/18/2023
John 12:35-40 “Jesus therefore said to them, Yet a little while the light is with you: walk up to (as far as) the light you have, that not darkness may overtake you; and he who walks in the darkness knows not where he goes. Up to (as far as) the light you have believe towards the light, that you may become sons of light. These things spoke Jesus, and going away was hid from them. Even with so many signs He had done in their presence they believed not on Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he said, Lord, who has believed our report? and the Arm of the LORD to whom was it revealed? On account of this they could not believe, because again Isaiah said, He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart; that they should not see with the eyes and understand with the heart and be converted, and I should heal them.”
When God revealed to Daniel and gave him understanding of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he blessed the LORD and attributed the wisdom and might and authority to God, saying, “And He changes the times and the seasons: He removes kings, and sets up kings: He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He reveals the deep and secret things: He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.” (Daniel 2:21-22)
As the hour approaches for Jesus to be offered up and to depart out of this world back to the Father, He still tries to reach them, even up to the last tick of the clock of the hour of their visitation. But even with all that He has done and said in full view of all, they were still hanging back in defiance, refusing to believe, and relentlessly debating, with no intention of obedience.
The Lord had spoken to them, as to all their ancestors, through the prophets from ancient times, and they did not believe: and now, to this day, their day and their glory above all the nations of the earth, they arrive unaware and still having no heart to know it. The parable spoken by Joel the prophet, warned and foretold what would be the end of their ways of drunkenness, and love of sleep; how what had begun with the gradual eating away of sin, and one by one all their life and sustenance in God being devoured, would bring about the times of the Gentiles, the rise of the antichrist, and the complete ruin and destruction of the world. The judgment begins with the household of God; but they would not know it until the day when God gathers all nations together against Jerusalem to destroy once and for all the people of God: at that day will Israel finally know; at the Day of the LORD, the Second Coming of Christ, when He comes in all His power and glory to save them.
Joel 1:2-5 “Hear this you old men, and give ear all you inhabitants of the land. Has this been in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation: That which the palmerworm has left has the locust eaten; and that which the locust has left has the canker-worm eaten; and that which the canker-worm has left has the caterpillar eaten. Awake you drunkards, and weep and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it is cut off from your mouth.”
In the time that Jesus did all these things, it was the last time that God would pass by His people; and on account of their rejection of Jesus, and wholly giving themselves to the devil to kill Him; God was changing the times; and He would from that day on, until they acknowledge their iniquity and repent; He would no longer be among them, nor protect them from their enemies.
Now today in our times, at the very end of the last days, what God had first shown in Israel for a sign and instruction to the nations; He is now doing to the nations where His word of Christ has come, but they rejected it. For nearly two thousand years; longer even than He was with His own people Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their children; the word of Christ our Savior has been preached among the nations; and some have been especially favored and given very much grace and truth. Over and over again throughout the centuries and generations, He has come seeking fruit, and except for the very small remnant He had placed among them, He found none but leaves only, and completely empty like the hardwood trees in winter. Now He pronounces upon all the kingdoms of the earth what He first pronounced over Jerusalem and Israel; Let no fruit grow on you from this point forward for ever.
In this chapter of John, Jesus was telling them for the last time, how it was necessary for Him to die, in order for the great abundance of fruit to be produced; and that this would be how He would draw all unto salvation. But their ears were stopped like the deaf adder, without a conscience; only aggression and looking how to strike and bite Him. Jesus was trying up to the last possible minute, as long as He was with them, to persuade them of the truth. But they having no truth in their hearts, could not restrain themselves from their fanatic opposition, quarreling and contradiction. So God’s last warning was that the little remaining light they did have, up to as far as they had it, to walk according to the light, and to believe towards it; for the darkness that was pursuing them was about to overtake them, and they would be lost.
But even as Jesus is saying these last things to them, God has already blinded their eyes that they cannot see, and hardened their heart that they cannot believe. He that searches the heart, and knows man’s thoughts, and all they come from; has seen and known, and now gives His verdict, and passes sentence. The space for repentance has passed, and they did not repent; so they are given up to their own ways.
Christ crucified being preached is how God draws all to be saved by faith. Unbelief and hardness of heart is sent by God upon those whom He has judged unworthy of the divine invitation to eternal life. The punishment of being made unbelieving and hardened in heart against God, is for the last warning to turn and repent, for you are not fit for the Presence of God.
“Yet a little while the light is with you: walk up to (as far as) the light you have, that not darkness may overtake you; and he who walks in the darkness knows not where he goes. Up to (as far as) the light you have believe towards the light, that you may become sons of light.”
That is a powerful rendition, isn’t it?
Have you watched any of the Ron Wyatt Discoveries? I posted them on here once or twice. He discovered (the Lord revealed it to him, and so he found it) where the ark of the covenant is; he found that it was directly underneath where Jesus was crucified. The earthquake made a crack in the limestone, twenty (or thirty) feet straight down, so that when the soldier pierced Jesus’ side, the blood flowed down through the crack, onto the right side of the mercy seat (the lid of the ark). After Jesus was risen, there was another earthquake, which closed the crack.
When Ron Wyatt found the ark, he saw some “brown substance” on top of the ark, and directly above it, where the crack had been. He then took some to have it analyzed, and it was Christ’s blood, dried out, but still alive: having 23 chromosomes from Mary, and 1 male chromosome from the Holy Spirit. Every other human has 46 chromosomes; 23 from the mother, and 23 from the father. And when the person dies, the blood dies, and there can never again be found the chromosomes. When Jesus died, His blood did not; for He had the power and authority to lay down His life, and to take it again.
If you look at some pictures of Jerusalem; go to the Damascus Gate, at the north side of the old city. Just outside the gate, across the street, you will see Golgotha; also known as the Garden Tomb. Underneath the “skull” was Jeremiah’s grotto; and that is the place where they crucified people, and stoned people. It was not out in the open, like the movies portray; nor was it on a hill; but up against the face of the cliff, where was the “place of a skull.” There are the cross holes still there, and the place carved out of the escarpment where they hung the plaque or board, with the criminal’s name and charges; along side the main road, where the person executed would be seen by everyone for an example.
Ron Wyatt – Full Discoveries
From The Passion of the Christ!
yes…and a powerful message IMHO…
O WONDROUS TYPE, O VISION FAIR
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
— Luke 9:28-35
1. O wondrous type! O vision fair of glory that the Church may share.
Which Christ upon the mountain shows, where brighter than the sun He glows.
2. With Moses and Elijah nigh the incarnate Lord holds converse high;
And from the cloud, the Holy One bears record to the only Son.
3. With shining face and bright array Christ deigns to manifest today
What glory shall be theirs above who joy in God with perfect love.
4. And faithful hearts are raised on high by this great vision’s mystery,
for which in joyful strains we raise the voice of prayer, the hymn of praise.
5. O Father with the eternal Son and Holy Spirit ever one,
we pray Thee, bring us by Thy grace to see Thy glory face to face.
May Christ’s love be with us and bless us .
Amen. Thank you 1530.
The law and the prophets speak to the Lord in glory about His decease that He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. The sum of God’s Word, is about how Christ comes in the flesh to die for our sins, and to bring us back to God. It is the Central theme of the Bible, and the entire reason why man is allowed still to live on the earth in his present evil condition; for the sake of the faith of Christ our Savior.
The disciples that were still down at the base of the mountain, futilely trapped in quarreling, and unable, because of their unbelief, to cast out the demon; had no idea what had been shown to Peter, James, and John: and they were charged with keeping it close between them, and not say anything about it till after Jesus was risen.
Peter one time, in his Second General Epistle, makes mention of this great vision he and James and John had received. Peter then immediately set the heavenly vision as subject to and verified by the highest Authority of the Scriptures; unto which we do well taking heed, as to a lamp in a dark place. The interpretation of the vision they were given, was in the Scriptures of the prophets; to which we are told to give attendance, in order to see our way through these times. Jesus charged them strictly, to not share what they had seen until He was risen from the dead.
All heavenly visions and dreams that are from God, are expounded by the Scriptures, and are not to be known except through the resurrection and glory of Christ. When the Holy Spirit comes, He always speaks of Jesus; and He does not say anything but what He hears, and which glorifies Christ.
Thanks, Michael.
Greeting the brand new day…
Thanks Joe. What a cutie!
You’re welcome. And good morning. Sun’s not up yet, still dark here.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
19 February 2022 Nigel Butterley, Australian pianist, composer (The True Samaritan), educator, and radio broadcaster, dies at 86
19 February 2022 Gary Brooker, British rock keyboardist and singer (Procol Harum -“A Whiter Shade of Pale”), dies of cancer at 76
19 February 2020 Pop Smoke [Bashar Barakah Jackson], American rapper and singer-songwriter (Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon), shot and killed in a home invasion at 20
19 February 2017 Larry Coryell, American jazz guitarist (11th House), dies at 73
19 February 2015 Ward Swingle, American vocalist, jazz musician, composer, arranger, and conductor (The Swingle Singers – Jazz Sebastian Bach), dies at 87
19 February 2009 Kelly Groucutt, British rock bass guitarist and vocalist (Electric Light Orchestra; ELO II; The Orchestra), dies of a heart attack at 63
19 February 2008 (Attilio) “Teo” Macero, American jazz saxophonist, composer and record producer (Miles Davis – “Bitches Brew”; Dave Brubeck -“Time Out”), dies at 82
19 February 2007 Janet Blair [Martha Janet Lafferty], American singer and actress (Leave it to the Girls; Smith Family), dies of pneumonia at 85
19 February 2003 Johnny Paycheck [Donald Lytle], American country singer (“Take This Job and Shove It”), dies after contracting emphysema and asthma at 64
19 February 1998 (Louis) “Grandpa” Jones, American country music singer and banjo wizard (Hee Haw), dies at 84
One of my favorite songs. The losses of such talent just seem to keep coming.
THE INITIATIVE AGAINST DRUDGERY
“Arise, shine.” Isaiah lx. 1
We have to take the first step as though there were no God. It is no use to wait for God to help us, He will not; but immediately we arise we find He is there. Whenever God inspires, the initiative is a moral one. We must do the thing and not lie like a log. If we will arise and shine, drudgery becomes divinely transfigured.
Drudgery is one of the finest touchstones of character there is. Drudgery is work that is very far removed from anything to do with the ideal – the utterly mean grubby things; and when we come in contact with them we know instantly whether or not we are spiritually real. Read John xiii. We see there the Incarnate God doing the most desperate piece of drudgery, washing fishermen’s feet, and He says – “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” It requires the inspiration of God to go through drudgery with the light of God upon it. Some people do a certain thing and the way in which they do it hallows that thing for ever afterwards. It may be the most commonplace thing, but after we have seen them do it, it becomes different. When the Lord does a thing through us, He always transfigures it. Our Lord took on Him our human flesh and transfigured it, and it has become for every saint the temple of the Holy Ghost.
Oswald Chambers
February 19th Devotional
Outstanding and inspirational
Good bless-ed Sunday, dear sister.
“How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of the messenger who brings good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!
~Isaiah 52.7~
…and may the mercies of our precious Lord and Saviour always abide with us…dear Betsy! 🙏✝
Just below, sis…💕🙏🏻
Good morning Bet! Had a blessed time yesterday. Great fellowship and some very powerful talks previewed in preparation for the May weekend retreat.
May your Sunday is filled with blessings! ❤️😍
Wonderful! 💕
So I think this is the best please to place this most moving hymn, G and juststevie.
I know it will move you both as much as it moved me.
“Great is Thy Faithfulness”
Love it.
Morning juststevie, how true. Whatever we do, we must do it unto the Lord.
Good morning GP and Stevie
Have a great day
Afternoon ML!
Cold still coming in March. Texas however looks like it is off the hook for any more severe cold. No relief in sight for the North Central Plains states. Eastern US likely to make up for some of its snow deficit during this time. Basically in the East the heaviest snows will come north of the Ohio Valley. NW US about normal with continued snows at higher elevations. Europe also in for more winter weather in March.
What about the South East? I am in central Alabama.
An Irish Blessing…
Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Sunday Blessings Treepers! 🙏✝
What a beautiful choir! Very much like the Robert Shaw Chorale. You can hear every voice, not one overpowering the other. Perfectly and wonderfully balanced. And oh how perfect for this Blessing, juststevie. 🙏🏻🤗
Have a Blessed Sunday all.
I will be heading up to Grand Haven, MI at 18:30 today, where I will take a break and then do a 3 stop milk run on Monday.
Things seem to be gradually slowing down a little bit for now.
A simple thank you to our host Sundance.
Great gift of asking the right questions.
I more than second that, monticello.
Greetings Treepers!
Maranatha! 🔥✝️🔥
Bless-ed Sunday, dear Frank.
Dia Duit Frank 🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Matthew 18:20“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Exquisite pictures! And a most powerful prayer and scripture! …by the power of God, and the blood of Jesus Christ! 🙏
Goood morning juststevie on this fine day .
May God bless you and keep you.
..and to you also dear molonlabe! So glad to see you here posting along with those that love God and music! Peace and Blessings to you! 🙏✝🤗
All Glory and Honor belongs to God
Thanks for sayin hey
you made my day
Pss.149:1-4
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
Amen and amen🙏🏻
Thank you, molonlabe. It is very poignant to read Matthew 18:20, within this thread, where we are assuredly more than two or three. Blessings to you on this day the Lord has made.
Good morning my new found friend.
I will never forget the first time I read that scripture.
It means a lot to me.
Not just a random post.
It somehow means more than ever on this fine day.
☘️
Have yourself a blessed day my new friend .
☘️🌸☘️
What a joy it is to see all your beautiful posts, (no longer new but now) dear friend. It doesn’t take long😉
We have all agreed, I think, that surely Almighty God is amongst us here in what most have realized is a church of souls who honour and praise His unfailing love and boundless blessings. Bless you always.
I have left an overwhelmingly beautiful hymn above…posted right under juststevie’s faithful posting of Oswald Chambers. Please don’t know as it. It will fill you with even more joy🙏🏻💕
The ‘When did you start paying attention’ thread went from 6 pages when I got on and left about an hour ago to now 8.
Lots of unfamiliar names.
In other thoughts, the former President Carter, am thinking we will have a government shutdown in the near future–for a State Funeral?
Treepers, may the Peace and Love of our Redeemer, surround you!
My mom lasted for 6 months in hospice but she did not have cancer.
Dia Duit 14 now! 🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
I read some of the replies to “When did you start paying attention”. Now there are 25 pages showing replies. Very interesting personal stories (that’s an understatement) from different times and places.
We are many….
MAGA
Hi Joe,
We are many but we seem passive and quiet. I’m ready to go lock the Statehouses’ doors and take away everyone’s computers, pens, and cell phones. No more legislating for them until a return to abiding in our Constitution.
It sickens me that Central Indiana is discussing parental rights in legislation. Parental rights don’t need to be legislated… they are a foregone conclusion and an inalienable right! Stop wasting our taxpayer dollars on the obvious rights – and start returning to law and order! We don’t need a legislative bill to call the color blue “blue”.
Stupid is as stupid does.
I’m sorry for your Mom’s passing, Aggiegirl. May her memory be eternal. Bless you, dear friend.
Yes, there are lots of new and unfamiliar names. I wonder how many are new, or merely lurkers… inspired by the chance to document their peace.
Heaven help us all with this Revelation that is coming to pass right before our very eyes.
The Media Research Center knows the score about the upcoming Republican Primary for President.
The Real 2024 Contest: The Media Vs. Trump | Newsbusters
May this encourage someone today as it does me!
(hope it works- thanks, MagicWand..)
Good morning Miss Della…this is precious! Thanks for sharing!
Blessed Sunday to you, Stevie! (Learning to post images, sorry it’s so big.)
Also, “still” learning to trust God like the animals do…. 🙏🏻
Oh no…it’s the perfect size! 🤗 Promise! 😊
It’s very very nice Miss.Della.
I wouldn’t change a thing.
☘️🌸☘️
Thank you, Molonlabe, and welcome to the gathering here!
Blessings to you!
Beautiful post with the birds & vine 🍃
May God bless you today and always, Donna!🙏🏻
Thank you, how sweet you are, Miss Della B! 🕊💕
🥰 ✝️ 🙏🏻
Oh Della…….💕🙏🏻…sigh😌
I know, Betsy. (maybe I should have been a bird…)
just kidding.💕
😊…there is just something about them… singing their little hearts out in praise. I always think this in the early morning when I hear their sweet songs. I make up their lyrics…
“Glory to God in the Highest for this new day that dawns upon us!”
🙏🏻💕
That is such a sweet song! Those should be our lyrics, too!
Sometimes I think about how God made all His creatures to behave in certain ways. The birds are “wired” to sing praise to Him. How much greater is it when we humans sing our praises to Him out of our own free will!
My very, very favorite part of the day – the birds greeting the sunrise.
“Dear God. Make me a bird. So I can fly, far, far away from here.” Two quotes from Forrest Gump in one day for me. Must be one of “those” days.
Bless you dear Della. Happy to see your beautiful birds who serve as excellent reminders that every hair on our head is accounted for by our Lord.
Hey JWoo! Loved Forrest Gump…Seems like many are having one of “those” days? Better fasten our seatbelts!
Yet we remember the Lord’s words, “Look at the sparrow and do not worry about tomorrow.”
So we trust and obey!
Shalom, Shalom.
Verse of the Day for Sunday, February 19, 2023
✟
“…If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31 (KJV)
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered!!!
Really nice post duchess.
If God is for us,
And he is.
Who can be against us.
There is power in His word.
☘️🌸☘️
BE MY VOICE
BABY LIVES MATTER
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD
Father God, I now follow your command to put on the full armor of God, because my battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world.
I first pray on the Belt of Truth that it may be buckled around my waist, may I be centered and encircled by your truth dear Lord. Hem me inside all that is true and right, and may I be protected and held up by the truth of your living word, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Breastplate of righteousness, please protect my vital organs and my inner man, cover my integrity, my spirit, and my soul. Guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life, please strengthen and guard the most vulnerable places in my life with that which is right, good, and noble that I might not receive a fatal blow from the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Gospel Shoes of Peace. I choose to stand in the shoes of your good news, and on the firm foundation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the solid eternal rock. All other ground is sinking sand, I pray that I will not slip or fall, but that my feet would be firmly fitted on your lordship, my Lord Jesus. I choose to stand on you, so that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, the eternal Rock of Ages. I receive your holy peace now my Lord, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray the Shield of Faith into my hand now. As I take up the shield of faith, I ask that you might extinguish every dart and arrow, that is launched from the enemy to take me down spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy my joy. I ask that my faith in you would make it flame out. Extinguish every flaming arrow that would come against me, my life, my family, my home, or my ministry. May my faith always be out in front of me like a shield. Give me the courage to “faith my fears” by choosing to walk by faith and not by sight, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Helmet of Salvation, that you might protect my mind from the thoughts that can lead me astray. I choose to take every thought captive, and arrest all intentioned ideas and motives that would harm others, or distract me from your holy will for me. I submit every captured thought to the Lordship of my Lord Jesus Christ, and ask that you would imprison those thoughts that are not of you my Lord. Transform my mind and renew my thinking that I may think God thoughts, and have a sober mind that is focused on your glory. Please protect me from being double minded that I may allow my mind, I reject to live an earthly life, because I choose to live a holy one, governed by you My Lord Jesus, the prince of peace, please have my mind to be saturated with the holy mind of Christ, in my Lord Jesus name.
Finally, I take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the holy word of God, I pray this powerful offensive weapon into my hand, and ask that your holy word would be fitting for every encounter I face. As the enemy gets close to me, please give me the insight, wisdom, and skill to wield the word of God to drive away the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
May the enemy and his team flee from me, upon hearing the word of God spoken by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Give me the sword of the spirit to cut through the wiles of the devil, so that I may discern the schemes of the enemy when he is near.
With all kinds of prayers, supplication, and intercession I pray to you my Lord God as the one who fights my battles. Now that I’m in your holy powerful armor, I walk away covered and ready to face my day as you go before me, and please protect me in the midst of the spiritual warfare in this unseen world, in my Lord Jesus name.
Thank you my Lord, for the spiritual weapons of armor and prayer that you have given me. It is written no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses me.
Thank you Father God, my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that I am more than a conqueror in my Lord Jesus. I pray all of this in the mighty name of my Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
AMEN.
PLEASE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
Amen and amen again!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
For those that remember the old church hymns…and the stanzas…beautiful memories! You will find yourself singing along…I promise! Timeless classic Christian music that still surpasses the modern songs of today! Enjoy!
Old Timeless Gospel Hymns (1:03:27 mins)
How I got into SF (continued)
Phase 1
The big day to start the program started with us loading into “cattle cars” for transport out the Camp Mackall. It was the last week of October, 1980. As I recall there were 201 of us wannabes that got in those cattle cars.
Each of us had our stuff packed in a single duffle bag with combo lock, and a rucksack. Each of us had an M-16 and our LBE on. In our large ALICE rucksack was an issued Intermediate cold sleeping bag and some various other stuff that had been issued specifically for the course, like a lensatic compass, and 100 ft. of 550 lb. parachute cord. Trainees could bring personal stuff, and their own knives, leatherman multitool, etc.
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.C7a8vsMG77qPMoc6AGSHEAAAAA?pid=ImgDet&rs=1
At that time Phase 1 was conducted at Camp Mackall in the backwoods of the huge Ft. Bragg/Pope AFB complex.
Camp Mackall: 1943-1945 (arsof-history.org)
In one way it was not much different than Ft. Jackson or Ft. Sam. Sand, pine trees, scrub oak, and old deciduous forest. But that was where the similarity ended. What had been a huge base during WW II where three Airborne Divisions and several independent Airborne Regiments had earned their wings and trained to became part of the elite of the US Army, was by that time gone. All of the infrastructure built for the war was temporary and all that remained were concrete foundations and hints of other infrastructure. That is except in two places.
The grass airfield still was there with an old small control tower. Across the road from one end of that grass field was a wired in compound having two gates. The square fenced in area was about 200 yards on each side. Inside it consisted of a metal building with a flag pole that was once a HQ and which I never saw anyone go in or out of.
Another metal building was supposedly a mess hall but it was unheated and we never ate in it, though we did get served breakfast out of thermal containers there while in camp. That was the only cooked hot meal we would get while in the camp. Lunch and Dinner were C Rations. The only other time we would get a hot meal was when they drove us back to Ft. Bragg for Thanksgiving. That was also the only time during the entire 6+ weeks I got a shower also.
As with virtually all old Mess Halls in the Army there were pull up bars outside. We would have to do our pullups and various other calisthenics to earn our breakfast even though we had already done calisthenics or hand to gland training, and a ruck in the darkness of the early morning before we got breakfast.
There were several other Quonset huts in the compound. The largest was our classroom. It had a wood burning pot bellied stove in the middle. That was the only artificial heat we would be exposed to except an occasional campfire other than when we our Thanksgiving dinner.
The other smaller Quonset huts were the quarters of the cadre. They were all enlisted SF.
There was one other small metal building that had a few sinks with running water and a couple of showers. If you touched the handle on one of those showers you would get a nice electrical shock but the sinks did work. That was the only inside plumbing we trainees had access to. No toilets. Only urinals. #2 was done in a circular outside pit latrine that one had to check to make sure there was no black widow spiders under the seat before using. No privacy, the sides were open all the way around. But it did have a roof!
Our quarters were tar paper shacks with a wooden door at one end. The had screened openings around the top under the eaves with plywood hatches that could be lowered to close them off. They had been built on the old WW II concrete foundations and the wooden door on the one I stayed in had a 1″gap at the bottom. Fold out wooden sleeping platforms were arranged down each side. No lockers of any kind, everything but the sleeping bag and your weapon, was either hung on nails on the wall or stowed in the duffel bag or rucksack. They did have electric lighting consisting of bulbs hanging at the end of the wires over the middle isle.
You slept in your sleeping bag on top of your air mattress with your weapon tied to you with a “dummy cord” which was a length of parachute cord, and Lord have mercy on the trainee that had his weapons stolen at night by one of the cadre that would sneak in and try to take it.
We were broken down into squads. Each squad of 15 men having a tar paper shack. Each squad was issued an M-60 machine gun.
So that is the basic layout. I will go into the training we went through there and my own personal experiences in the next post.
Interesting update, rah. Thanx.
I’m betting most of the trainees lost a lot of weight while going through the initial training. Sleep was probably a valued commodity; sounds like no one got much sleep during that particular phase of training.
Nice story Rah.
Shall look forward to the next phase you post.
I’m wondering if you were ever the “Grayman” ?
Excellent story, Rah, of the great sacrifice our soldiers go through to protect and serve our beautiful country. It reminds me of my ex-husband heading to BNOC in Ft. Huachuca. I visited him there and he had lost 20 lbs since being away and was hobbling on very sore feet. When I got him home, it wasn’t a month before I put every single pound back on him.
Not to ruin the mood here, but this is a pretty good read about the history of Ukraine: https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2023/02/_since_when_did_ukrainians_become_entitled_to_a_giant_state_.html
My spiritual lesson for today…[😭😭😭] Lord, please preserve us today! Help us to understand YOU and the seed of holiness that each of us harbors! ✝👑
The Remarkable Story of Joseph the Carpenter (7:47 mins)
Interesting! 🕊💕
Saint Joseph the Betrothed was an elderly widower and father of several children when God assigned him to be the guardian of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and her Divine Son, Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.
So amazing for all the comments about when you started to pay attention. Just while I was reading the number increased by over 200. I got through 4 pages and it was so interesting. El Rushbo had such an affect on so many people.
Good luck Sundance in reading through all the stories. While incredible that will take forever.
We may find our Sundance to be the best historian throughout this experience.
I haven’t paid proper hellos today… just barely catching up to reading everyone’s posts and can’t even get started on the “started to pay attention” posts. Trying to be intentional today and spend quality time with kiddo on her three day weekend.
Attended a little local church that turned out to be big inside and it seemed filled with “normal” people… I’m cautiously optimistic.
Love and hugs and warm handshakes to all Treepers.
Hugs back, JWoo! You have my respect – setting right priorities for you and your daughter! Especially braving a visit to new church! Onward marching soldiers…🥰
How many woke when they realized both political parties and the MSM were all corrupt?
If we are true then most of us (in USA)
at one time believed one party (even with its disappointments) was better than the other party.
Agreed Monti, and what a terribly disappointing day that was… when I realized our local Republican Women’s Caucus simply had no interest in the Constitution. And now they are too busy producing bedazzled Ron DeSantis pins and planning parties and dinners. I… just… can’t.
Neither can I. 🤢🤢
. . . 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)
Great Lent, or the Fast, begins one week from tomorrow in the Orthodox Christian Church. This is the last day for eating meat, also called Sunday of Meatfare.
It is commemorated as the Sunday of the Dread Judgment, or Sunday of the Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His impartial judgment
Sunday of Meatfare
Kontakion. First Tone.
“When Thou, O God, wilt come to earth with glory, and all things tremble, and the river of fire floweth before the Judgment Seat, and the books are opened and the hidden things made public, then deliver me from the unquenchable fire, and deem me worthy to stand at Thy right hand, O most righteous Judge.”
Gonzalo Lira came up with an interesting suggestion for this coming April 5th…
The Saker, where I hear him will be no more at the end of the month, Joe. He’s right there in the thick of it and I get so much from his videos. Hope he finds another home because is an invaluable voice. Thank you for this, my friend😘
Be well and most abundantly blessed, you and your much loved wife, on this Sunday.🙏🏻
Good afternoon Treepers
Spent the afternoon cutting backs mums and playing with my doggies.
The day went bye nicely because i was listening to nice music like this.
Normally i would be listening to something quite different.
It’s nice to be in the garden again.
Bach is beautiful and sounds like a beautiful day to go along with superb music. Blessings for many more sunny days and glorious garden days for you.
A collection of minerals from Fine Minerals International, showing spectacular examples of God’s creation. A lot of these specimens would likely cost more than a million dollars to purchase.
Rah
That is beautiful.
I am a collector of crystals and rocks.
Perhaps someday i will learn to post personal pics and show you some.
My favorites are rose quartz crystal and amethyst.
That collection is nothing like I’ve seen before.
Thanks for sharing that.
Hi Mo
one of our dear Treepers posted some instructions for posting photos recently and I jotted them down. Here goes:
Go to postimages.org and sign up for a free. Once you’ve got you password, you’re ready to go. UPLOAD you photo to the site, select that you wish to post to a direct link (if I recall correctly, use the right mouse button to copy). Go to CTH and in the comment box, enter two empty lines, then select the icon below that is the ‘direct link’ (3rd from the right). Paste the photo (CTRL+V) then enter two more empty lines and POST. The image will show only at the end. Best of Luck.
Thank you very much kind dear Treeper.
Will have to give that a shot .
Thats very nice of you to offer up that info .
Just thought of somethin.
If I wanted to give somebody here a hug ,
would that make me a “treehugger”.
Just sayin 🙂
cute!
😄 Save the elephant reporters! close space after dot
https://i.imgur.com/iaEmP54. mp4
That is hilarious
I love his laugh
That was awesome!!! LOL
@Sundance and @Adrem did you see that they’ve shut the intake down in Cincinnati? City is apparently concerned with the chemicals in the water. I know there are lots of people in the water table. Might be helpful to treepers to put the call out to buy water.
Amen
Amen.
Amen.
Amen
Amen.
Amen
Amen
Amen.
Amen 🙏
✝️ Lord, thank You for the day. Amen.