What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?
Hello to you. I hope this finds you well in your world and if things are not going well that you have hope in your heart. Remember people all over the world are praying for you.
Today’s prompt calls to mind a couple hard decisions I’ve had to make. One was deciding to have a hysterectomy and never have children. We put my health as the priority. I had fibroid cysts that would have just keep coming back had I not decided to have my lady parts removed. The other decision that immediately came to mind was euthanizing our cocker spaniel Sam – we just didn’t want to let him go! He was so tired and weak when the end finally had to come. Sam was my soulmate and I don’t think I’ll ever have another like him. I’ve told God Sam had better be there in heaven when it’s my time to go!
Revelation 5:13New International Version
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
Hello there – how are you? It’s nighttime and close to bed time as I write to you. I was just looking at the stats for my blog for the past couple of days and was delighted to see how many different countries were lit up! I’ve always said that even if my words reach one other person and help them I’ve done a good thing. Sometimes reaching out is just to myself- getting out of my own head the thoughts that tumble around in there. Since I have become more active in my faith, I have been using my blog to reach out. May be something in my posts touches a part of you that needs to be touched. May be Jesus has found a way for me to be useful after all!
If Jesus wants to capture your attention, he will find his messenger to reach you. He uses the most unlikely of candidates to do this work. Lord knows I’m about as broken as you can get but he hasn’t given up on me yet. Once you say yes to Jesus you can never say no again… not without consequences.
Our little miracle Link with his momma Tippie
What is keeping you from Jesus? Sometimes things happen in our lives that make us mad at God. We want to blame someone for our misfortunes. If I were to tell you that for everything that happens in our lives is for a reason even if at the time it seems senseless would that help you to reconsider your relationship with Jesus? I think of each of our lives as part of an extremely complicated board game. So many pieces of this game have to be moved in just the right order by God for even one prayer to be answered. For example after my dog Sam died I spent three years grieving and begging God to bring him back to me. Well his answer came when I found two parts to a Christmas ornament from the Choctaw reservation announcing the arrival of a little drummer boy. I initially thought my friend Erin was pregnant as she is part Choctaw but no her dog Tippie was! We had said that if Tippie ever had a boy we’d adopt. Well Tippie gave us not one boy to choose from but three! Dutch, TJ and Link. God answered my prayers in the time it needed to take. He heard my cries and Link was that answer but so many things had to happen for him to exist. My God is a mighty God who even though I wasn’t a Christian at the time loved me.
The ornament I found and notes I wrote to include a little song
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. 2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.
3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.[b] 4 You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. 5 I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; 6 I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
7 “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? 14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. 15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. 17 The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. 18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. 19 Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Hello to you. I hope this finds you well. Today began with meeting with fellow Sisters in Christ for Bible study. Today’s study was about the story of Joseph. We learned about how his story is very similar to the story of Christ. The Bible study we’ve been using is God of Covenant by Jen Wilkin. The study is taking us through the book of Genesis. I didn’t get the book as I’m terrible about doing the homework – I get easily overwhelmed. I read the Bible that the study is covering and participate in discussion. The ladies are so welcoming and kind!
We start at Marie’s kitchen table going over homeworkThen we watch the video with Jen WilkinSome Link cuteness! He is so used to getting his picture taken!
Part of what we covered today:
Genesis 37New International Version
Joseph’s Dreams
37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.
2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.
Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age;and he made an ornate[a] robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”
8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
One of my favorite songs by Dolly Parton is from the story of Joseph:
My neighbors treeBeautiful rose – my favorite flowerRose getting ready to openMy sweet boy Link – he doesn’t go on walks anymore
Hello to you. I’m back from a walk. It’s really cool and crisp out. The trees in the neighborhood are all starting to change color and drop their leaves. I miss taking Link out but he just can’t do it. His back legs bother him. He’s going to be 11 this year – he’s still a puppy to me! I hope this finds you well and knowing you are cared about. You are never alone – Jesus is always with you.
Some positive food for your spirit:
Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you” by Walt Whitman,
Hebrews 10:24-25New International Version
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hello to you. As I write to you this evening I am remembering a vivid and very short dream I had last night with a dog I once owned named Spot. This is like the fourth or fifth dream she has been in since her crossing the rainbow bridge. The one last night was of her being very thirsty and sneaking a bite of a sandwich really fast. It was like a piece of tomato or something. She never looks exactly as she did when she was alive but I always know it’s her! So much energy! She was a rat terrier and just a beautiful dog. I miss her very much. The dreams help me feel like a part of her is still with me.
Our Spotty Girl
Revelation 21:1-4New International Version
A New Heaven and a New Earth
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City,the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Hello there. How are you? I’m just back from my evening walk – just one time around the big block today. My back continues to be a nuisance so I have to be careful. I have been feeling something in the air lately – fall is coming. There is an anticipation in the trees and the rest of nature. I love how cozy fall can make life seem. The warmer clothes come out. Hot cocoa with marshmallows gets made. A fire gets lit in the fireplace. Candles get lit. The days get shorter. All of these and more rituals of fall are coming. Do you like fall? The only thing I don’t like is having to take up leaves!
It’s easier to think about changing seasons than it is about what is happening to our world right now. I pray for our country and this world every day. I pray for our leadership at all levels as they are being challenged so greatly. I pray for our fire fighters, police and first responders. The world is a very dangerous place for them. I pray for the men, women and children trying to survive in war torn regions of this world. I pray for the poor, sick and homeless. I pray for all neglected and abused animals. Jesus we lift up this broken world to you – there are some things we cannot fix without your divine intervention. Have mercy on us – please hear our prayers!
Oh and I wanted to mention there have been a couple recent blips on the radar with regards to UAPs:
Hello to you. As I write to you tonight, I have a heavy heart. With the recent murders of Charlie Kirk and Iryna Zarutska and so many others that don’t make the headlines, it’s just a really sad time for America. It feels like every day we are being fed negative news. We can’t catch our collective breath! What I’m having to do is turn to God and pray for our country…for this world. I want to use my words here to lift up the spirits of those who intentionally or unintentionally visit my blog.
I would ask you reader what are you grateful for today? I am grateful for the savior who unconditionally loves me. When everything is dark there is light in Jesus and giving thanks. What we focus on the most gains the most power. I want to focus my personal power on the good in this world even though that is so hard to do right now.
My prayer for today:
Dear Jesus the people of this world need to know you now more than ever. I pray that those who are casting about and are lost will be lead to your loving and merciful light. I pray for the truth of what you taught us how to love one another, your creations and you would take center stage. I pray especially for the children that are the innocent in the affairs of adults. They should be able to go to churches and schools free from fear. I also pray for all animals that you would intercede for those being needlessly abused and neglected. Thank you holy father!
Mark 10:13-16New International Version
The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms,placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Hello to you. I hope this finds you well today. My thoughts this evening turn to mortality. To legacy. To being enough in the time I’ve had thus far. I couldn’t sleep the other night and found this from Jonathan Roumie. What I got out of it is it’s not how long we live but how deeply we love in the time we are given:
Jonathan has a lot of videos up like this on YouTube and I’m gradually getting through them.
Today was my Thursday prayer group and I was finally able to talk to Pastor Jason about a calling I’ve been having about an assisted living home we have here in town called The Cottages. Ever since we went there for Mothers Day in May I’ve been thinking about the place. The thing that has been holding me back is me – specifically my body. Things going on with my body make it hard for me to want to commit to anything. Explaining this to Jason and Lois today brought me to tears. I am willing to serve God but my body mobility and pain keep holding me back. Both Jason and Lois were supportive of me approaching the place to see if there is a need I can fill. Lois suggested keeping it small – just going once a week to say hello- learn the residents names. My plan is to call them on Monday and see what God has in mind for me. Please pray for me – for healing and heeding Gods call. Thank you! 🙏
Link will always look like a puppy to me – unchanging. The only thing that he’s showing of his age is the changing mobility in his back legs. He’s my baby boy!
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creationhas come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
Today has been good even if I overslept! My Aunt Ruth came over and went with me to church. It was the first time she has joined me since we moved to the high school. It was so nice to have her there! Even though we were later, we still got a good seat near my friends. The message that stood out to us today from Pastor Jason was seeing people through the light of eternity. Not just for now but for forever. This is something Ruth does with people and she models for me. It’s not just living through what Christ did for us but living for Christ. We are to be Doulos (Greek for slaves) to God. It doesn’t have a negative meaning that slavery typically does.
After church we went to the Sunrise for breakfast and it was good as always. Emma took good care of us as always. It was so nice to have company today! We were talking that it will be 3 years this November since I was in the Idaho State Hospital in Orofino and Link had to be rescued from being locked up after escaping from a boarder. I remember this because of pictures I have on my phone. He escaped the same day I left the hospital which stressed us all out! I am so grateful he was picked up and not lost. I also so grateful that Ruth and John came and got me! Otherwise I would have been stuck there. They had no plan for me to have a ride home. One lady I was there with got released to a homeless shelter. So sad! I hope I never have to go through that again – never have to put my family through all that again. Being Bipolar can put such a strain on the family.
Picture I took of Ruth and John leaving Orofino in November 2022My poor baby boy after we got him out of the shelter
Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. If you are struggling to get through your days I pray for you. You are not alone! There are a lot of people struggling in our world and not much relief in sight. The only true relief for me comes when I focus on Jesus! Writing to you helps me a lot too. I thank you for stopping by here and visiting with me. I get so lonely at times! So many people in this world are lonely. Even with all the technology we have we are still lonely as ever.
Today’s prompt, if you asked me a few years ago, would be easy to answer. I was a morning person. When I was active duty Air Force and working full time I had no choice but to be a morning person. I had routines each day that got me out of bed and happy to begin my day. When I retired on 16 Sept 2002 my life and routines got all turned upside down. I had to come up with new routines. Having pets, specifically dogs, helped because there were morning dog walks with my now ex Kyle. I miss his company so much! I miss being married. We had such good talks! Link can’t really go for walks these days because of his back leg giving him trouble so I have to walk alone.
I don’t have a real life purpose except on certain days of the week right now. I have been praying and talking to God for many years now about what it is he’s got me here to do. Ideas come and go. I’ve tried different things but my body problems and issues being bipolar hold me back from fully committing to anything. Most of my purpose involves my spirituality when it involves anything. Thankfully I will be joining my Aunt and some other ladies next month in a Bible Study. Being with these ladies will be good for me and will get me in the word.
Pastor Jason closed with this psalm Sunday:
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
To be 