Good evening to you. Today is Good Friday. I’ve always wondered why they call it good in that Jesus was crucified which is horrible! I guess it’s good because if he hadn’t gone through with everything our world would be very different. We would still be making sacrifices to atone for our sins.
Our church had a Good Friday service this evening. It was very simple and beautiful. We had communion which I thought made everything more meaningful. Our music director Heather Faust put together a lovely series of songs that was accompanied by Amanda Doman on clarinet. The songs were woven in between the reading of the gospel in Matthew 26.
Lord of all creation Lord of water, earth and sky The heavens are your Tabernacle Glory to the Lord on high
And God of wonders beyond our galaxy You are holy, holy The universe declares Your majesty You are holy, holy Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth
So early in the morning I will celebrate the light As I stumble in the darkness I will call your name by night
God of wonders beyond our galaxy You are holy, holy The universe declares Your majesty You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth
The God of wonders beyond our galaxy (You) You are holy, holy Precious Lord, reveal Your heart to me Father, holy, holy (Lord God Almighty)
The universe declares Your majesty (You are holy) You are holy (yes you are), holy (holy You are) Holy (Jesus saves), holy
Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Our brother Michael Jay
Hello to you. How are you? I was up early after a night of lots of dreams. Dreamt a lot of shadow people but didn’t get scared this time. I had an appointment with the VA first thing this morning. I was there for a weight and ears check up. I gained a pound since my last visit which was disappointing and as I’ve mentioned before my ears didn’t respond to the antibiotic. We are going to try Flonase nasal spray and Claritin. She suspects my Eustachian tubes may be clogged and antihistamine treatment may clear them. My Aunt said she uses Flonase every night. We have similar allergy problems. She had me take a blood pressure cuff home to do a daily blood pressure check as my blood pressure was a little high. I am really disappointed we aren’t keeping her! Now I have to start over again with a new doctor next visit.
This past Sunday was Palm Sunday. We were in John 5:1-15:
John 5:1-15New International Version
The Healing at the Pool
5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b]5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Whenever I hear “Do you want to be healed?” My resounding answer is “YES!” I can imagine Jesus laying his hands on me and my being completely healed.
Hello to you. I hope this finds you well. Today was good. I woke up with my usual problem – anxiety and I didn’t want to be alone. I reached out to my Aunt and she had Link and I come over. She helped me make a delicious cup of coffee and made me a toasted blueberry bagel. She gave me a much needed hug. She just knows what I need! Almost every day I have anxiety in the morning and instead of fighting my way through it today I reached out. I am so blessed to have an understanding Aunt and Uncle! At times I really don’t like living alone. Thank God for Link! Am I going to be alone for the rest of my life? Sometimes I think so! The dating scene for my age group is pretty dismal. I always said that if I couldn’t make my second marriage work that I was destined to be alone. There is a large void in my life not being married. I will just have to let God have the final word on this.
Hello to you. How are you doing? I hope well. Today is day three of taking the Oregano oil – no real change yet. I am in the supposed clean out phase but don’t feel it yet. My Aunt recommended my talking to my doctor about a drug called wegovy. It can help with weight loss. I’m not happy with the side effects I read about- it supposedly slows down digestion which could affect the effectiveness of Depakote I take for being Bipolar. I am pretty sure I would have to pay out of pocket for it too but can’t hurt to ask about it. When I was prescribed a multi vitamin and vitamin D3 through the VA and had to pay out of pocket for both of them.
During the walk today I noticed lots of flowers – especially dandelions. I learned a while back that dandelions are not weeds but natural medicine. Also the bees rely on dandelion as an early food source. I saw but couldn’t capture actual images of bees visiting the yellow flowers. I am grateful to my neighbors who just let them bloom and don’t spray poison on them.
Dear Jesus I pray for this world and all the life within it. May there be peace in the war ravaged regions. I pray especially for the innocent children in these places- shield them from harm. I pray for you to make your presence known – illuminate the dark places. Please be with those dealing with the destruction of their homes after natural and man made disasters. I pray you be with all those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. I pray for your presence with the sick, healing, recovering and the poor. Please be with all animals that are suffering needlessly. Amen.
Romans 15:13New International Version
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peaceas you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hello there. It’s bed time as I write to you. How are you? This morning was my weekly prayer meeting. LOTS to pray about! I am hoping I will get a good sleep tonight. I am on my second day of taking Oil of Oregano with Black Seed Oil by Resilia. I am hoping it will help me with my bloating and sugar cravings. The reviews have been good so we shall see! I feel with certainty that I have parasites in my gut. After every meal my belly bloats up like I’m pregnant. I know part of the sugar cravings isn’t just parasites begging to be fed but is also the medication I’m on. Depakote and Olanzapine are known for causing weight gain. I am hoping the oregano oil will help me in spite of the medications.
I have been asking Jesus to heal me and I feel like he has been leading me down a path of possibilities to do just that. It’s been a struggle at times as I have gotten so out of shape. Becoming more active each day with Tai Chi and a longer walk each day and changes to what I’m putting in my body are all holistic approaches to healing. I just have to surrender and believe we are on the right path together.
A good prayer for these days we are in:
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Hello to you. I am writing to you early today! Last night I had the most wonderful dream. I dreamt about being with my soul dog Sam who passed on 27 April 2011. In the dream he was healthy and energetic but there was a catch. It was like he was made in China and was the finest dog they had ever made. There was a man from China in the dream wearing a white lab coat talking to me. The only catch was that we couldn’t afford to buy Sam. I woke up after this dream feeling all warm inside – what a wonderful visit with my boy! It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a vivid dream with Sam! It’s hard to believe he’s been gone so long now – 15 years.
does china clone dogs – I was curious!
+7
Yes, China actively clones dogs, with companies like Beijing-based Sinogene Biotechnology leading a growing commercial industry. The industry serves grieving pet owners and specialized needs, with cloning services costing up to $50,000+. While Sinogene has produced over 60 cloned dogs and offers commercial services, the practice raises significant ethical concerns regarding animal welfare
View from my back door today- the fruit trees are in bloom. When you get close to them you can hear the humming of the bees.
Hello to you. How are you? Today has been long for me. The fullness in my ears has been really intense the past couple of days but I am pushing on. I have an appointment with my doctor next week. I am curious as to what she is going to say since the ear drops/ear infection treatment didn’t get rid of it.
With my physical discomfort aside, boy is it beautiful outside these days! The fruit trees in my neighbors backyard are literally humming with new life. The bees love fruit trees! We have cherry, apricot, plum and apple trees in our neighborhood. Sadly most of the fruit ends up on the ground or the squirrels and birds eat it.
Matthew 7:16-20New International Version
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Ai interpretation of this passage:
Matthew 7:16-20 teaches that people’s true character, especially that of spiritual teachers, is revealed by their actions and life outcomes (“fruit”), not by their words or appearances. Jesus explains that good character produces good deeds, while corrupt hearts produce bad fruit, urging followers to evaluate and avoid false prophets.
Dear Jesus thank you for yet another day of life. I pray to you for all in this world that need your healing and loving touch. All that need reassurance that you are present in their lives. For with you no one is truly alone in whatever it is they are going through. Amen.
Hello to you. I hope this finds you well but if this message finds you in some sort of struggle or pain I hope to bring you some comfort. This world is in a lot of turmoil and things happening that don’t make sense. As the late great Fred Rogers would say, “look for the helpers!” If you can, be one of those. There are things happening that require us to reach out and love one another- less hate – more love. My prayers go out to all of you! Don’t lose hope that things are going to get better.
Today at church we were in Matthew when Jesus heals a leper:
Matthew 8:1-4New International Version
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy[a]came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
This account of Jesus reaching out to such a person shows us that we have to make our tables longer and our fences shorter! In these divisive times it can be difficult. How many of us would have done what Jesus did for this man? Would we reach out or recoil? Our natural inclination is to avoid or turn away. By doing what he did, he traded places with the man. He showed those who bore witness that we need to love the unloveable. It’s so easy to pray for and love those like us – those we call loved ones and friends!
Dear Jesus I pray for this world and all the life within it. Please be with all those who are in war ravaged conditions… let there be peace. I pray for the people of Oahu Hawaii that are suffering flooding. I ask you to wrap your loving arms around the sick, poor, the addicted, those trying to heal and unhoused. Thank you Lord. Amen.
Hello to you. I hope you are well today. It’s been a lazy Saturday. I fell asleep and dreamed of my deceased neighbor from childhood Marie and my dog Spot again. Marie was out in her backyard playing with several dogs and Spot was whining to join them. At first I lifted Spot so she could see what was going on. Marie said it was ok to let Spot in the yard so I did. Spot found a chewy bone and ate it. In the yard was a Jesus statue. I haven’t seen Marie in years! I am surprised that there wasn’t a schnauzer among the dogs – she and Wayne always had them. The one I remember was named Peppi.
I believe that all my pets that have passed will be in heaven waiting for me. What a nice dream to see an old friend again. Marie was like a mother to me in my growing up years.
To be 