Category: history

9August 2026 I Am The Good Shepherd

by saymber, posted in history, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. Today began with church. We were in John 10:10-16:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010%3A10-16&version=NIV

https://youtu.be/qw7xhchfoe4?is=U_iLflvDM6ClyM_U – I Am The Good Shepherd – Brad Bowden

It’s about the love of the shepherd not the worthiness of the sheep. This funny video was shared that illustrates very well what being a good shepherd must be like:

https://youtube.com/shorts/Cu5qyPamutc?is=SUDx7mzl-103Y2ga – The sheep is all of us

After church I went and breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe. Got my Emma fix. She is so kind and always remembers my order!

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

Well, I don’t know what will happen now.
We’ve got some difficult days ahead.
But it doesn’t matter with me now.
Because I’ve been to the mountaintop.
And I don’t mind.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life.
Longevity has its place.
But I’m not concerned about that now.
I just want to do God’s will.
And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain.
And I’ve looked over.
And I’ve seen the promised land.
I may not get there with you.
But I want you to know tonight, that we,
as a people will get to the promised land.
And I’m happy, tonight.
I’m not worried about anything.
I’m not fearing any man.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord

i’ve been to the mountaintop – martin luther king jr. – 1968

5 August 2026 Finding Solace

by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, drawing, history, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. As I write to you many parts of my country and places abroad are on fire and or are suffering from heat waves. All are in my prayers! I can only imagine how hard it must be for all those who have lost their homes. I have been keeping Venezuela and their earthquake losses and places suffering war in my prayers too. I almost feel guilty that I have it so good! We had a water main leak today and the water was off so they can do the repair. Such a minor inconvenience in the scheme of things!

I wonder how many people are turning to God, finding solace in God in these times. It’s easy to love God when life is going your way. I wonder if you asked any of these poor souls if they believed in Jesus would they still say yes?

Some would ask why does God allow bad things to happen. I would say bad things are a catalyst to change. Many actions go into one thing happening. Many choices and moves have to occur for anything to happen good or bad. Life is a series of choices – the outcome of some of those choices can be bad – or seem bad at the time. If we put God first in our choices things can be manageable. It’s when we don’t figure God into our plans that things go astray. Standing in the ashes of a home without God I can imagine how alone and lost one might feel. I pray that those struggling like that will be comforted.

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel for today:

Oh, children, don’t you weep,
If the road is long.
All of us are prayers of action,
On our way to God,
On our way to God.

Some of us are long and rambling,
Sometimes lost for years,
Some of us are small and holy,
Beautiful and clear.

Oh, children, don’t you weep,
If the road is long.
All of us are prayers of action,
On our way to God,
On our way to God. 

prayers of action – tom rapp – 1973

4 August 2026 Lyric

by saymber, posted in history, Music, Spirituality and Religion

What’s a song lyric that has stuck with you forever?

Hello to you. My prayers go out to the people of Spokane Washington and all the other parts of the world that are burning. I am convinced that what they have been spraying all over in the sky has made the trees and grass more flammable. Just a theory!

The song lyric that has stuck with me much of my life is from a song called Blinded By The Light by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. Every time I hear it I am immediately transported to my childhood home. I am in the basement wearing my wrist radio listening to this song:

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night

https://youtu.be/33ptulhhQPg?is=Ju4hNx1ORVa4mBL3 – Blinded By The Light – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

This is pretty close to the one I had

https://musicandmemory.org/ – music and memory organization.

Transforming Lives
Through the Power
of Music

Discover how MUSIC & MEMORY® helps individuals with cognitive and physical challenges reconnect with their memories, reduce anxiety, and improve quality of life through personalized music

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel :

You are the peace of all things calm
You are the place to hide from harm
You are the light that shines in dark
You are the heart’s eternal spark
You are the door that’s open wide
You are the guest who waits inside
You are the stranger at the door
You are the calling of the poor
You are my Lord and with me still
You are my love, keep me from ill
You are the light, the truth, the way
You are my Saviour this very day.

you are god – celtic oral tradition – 1st millennium

30 July 2026 Reason

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, drawing, history, Home, Mental Health, Nature, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Do you think everything happens for a reason?

Hello to you. It’s another smoky and hazy day as I write to you. I’m getting a bit of cabin fever staying inside so much. We stay inside for the winter and stay inside for the summer! it feels like the whole earth is burning.

Do I think everything happens for a reason? The way I’ve come to understand how things work is this existence is like a chess match. Every move of a piece is carefully thought out. Our Lord knows where every single fragment of this existence is going to go. Each move carefully thought out. To answer a single prayer requires the movement of so many pieces. The Lord has all the time in world – he operates in infinity. One day in our time is forever in his. He exists outside of time whereas our mortal coil is limited by time and circumstances.

I can remember sitting out in my back yard in Texas and I would point at a dead leaf or a blade of grass. I would ask “what are you going to do with this,” and then a breeze would come and move the leaf or blade of grass. Sometimes an insect would land on it. I came to understand that God had a plan for everything in creation – even things that seemed to not be of use anymore.

Sometimes things happen in this shared existence that seem to make no sense at the moment. It’s only when enough time passes that we see the purpose. We can often look back and see Gods plan and have an “aha” moment. We are able to see what happened that seemed horrible while we were living in it was actually for our greater good. If my second husband had not divorced me, I would not have the relationship I have with God, my family and church. At the time I was going through the divorce I wasn’t sure I would make it!

https://youtu.be/HuV2ID4PVgA?is=IM4tOhSr-2uwiQNL – Enigma – Why

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

I would say to young people 
a number of things, and I have only one minute.

I would say — let them remember
that there is a meaning beyond absurdity.

Let them be sure that every little deed counts,
that every word has power,
and that we do — everyone — our share
to redeem the world, in spite of all absurdities,
and all the frustrations, and all the disappointment

And above all, remember that the meaning of life
is to live life as if it were a work of art.

rabbi abraham joshua heschel – 1972

21 July 2026 Practice

by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, drawing, history, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion

Hello there! How are you doing today? I just finished another attempt at drawing one of my favorite things the Metatrons Cube. I did it mostly free hand. I am so out of practice!

My first attempt at drawing a Metatrons Cube in a couple of years
What the correct shape looks like

What exactly is the meaning of the shape? Here is what the internet had to say:

Metatron’s Cube is a complex, mystical geometric symbol in sacred geometry that contains all the fundamental shapes of the universe. Named after the Archangel Metatron, who is said to oversee the flow of energy in creation, it is believed to be the ultimate blueprint of reality and physical matter. [1, 2, 3]

Here are the key elements of its meaning:

  • The Blueprint of Creation: The cube is derived from ancient patterns like the “Fruit of Life” (13 interconnected circles). By drawing straight lines connecting the center of every circle to every other circle, it reveals the Five Platonic Solids (the tetrahedron, hexahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron). These solids represent the basic building blocks of all organic life and matter. [1, 2, 3]
  • Balance and Harmony: Metatron’s Cube merges the feminine (the curved circles) with the masculine (the straight lines). In spiritual practices, this represents the perfect balance of polarities and the harmony of the cosmos. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • Protection and Healing: Historically, the cube has been used as a sacred grid or glyph. Believers often use or wear it to repel lower frequencies, clear negative energy, and foster a peaceful environment. [1, 2, 3]
  • Spiritual Awakening: As a visual tool, it is frequently used in meditation to help focus the mind, gain higher consciousness, and connect with the divine. [1]

I first learned about the shape from my friend Sarah many years ago. Something about it just was a balm for my brain. I have a pendant I wear with the shape all the time.

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

God,

I’m willing
to do your work.

Please
show me what it is.

tami simon

19 July 2026 The Greatest Prayer

by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, drawing, history, Mental Health, Music, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. Today has been a good day. The morning began with church. I had never really read John 17 before. It was a great prayer from Jesus for his followers then and his followers now. I got to sit next to my friend Jeannie. She brought me something special – colored pencils! She likes my drawings and wanted to encourage me. I did a little drawing – I’m so out of practice!

Wonderful gift
Me trying to put into a drawing my feelings for my friend

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017&version=NIV – John 17

https://youtu.be/wagJfhhi0_Q?is=90djIWlIo3yVbZEe – The Greatest Prayer – Pastor Jason Boyd

https://youtu.be/6CKCThJB5w0?is=jCQcVyPBLETX94vM – Here I Am To Worship – The Call – Hillsong Worship

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

At the center of the universe is a
loving heart that continues to beat
and that wants the best for every person.

Anything we can do to help foster
the intellect and spirit and emotional growth
of our fellow human beings, that is our job.

Those of us who have this particular vision
must continue against all odds.

Life is for service.

mister rogers neighborhood – fred rogers – 1928-2003

13 July 2026 Learner

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, history, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Are you a lifelong learner?

Hello to you. There has been difficult news today. Another person was shot and killed by ICE agents in Biddeford Maine:

https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-maine-immigration-dhs-f26f8c2256aa6f0748582ea4adbb515c

I feel so bad for his little girl who is only 3 years old! Her dad was shot right in front of her. When is enough enough?!! My prayers go out to her and her mother.

Changing gears…..

Todays prompt is so true of me. All my life so far I’ve been in school – life school. I have experienced both the good and bad lessons life has to teach. I believe we don’t go through things for no reason – especially difficult things. When we approach difficult things as learning opportunities we grow as people. We become the sort of person that can then turn around and use what we’ve learned to help other people facing similar challenges. When we face difficulties we can choose to shut down and become bitter or we can bloom where we are planted.

Turning to God during trials makes the load lighter. There has been so many times when I turned my trials over to God that doors previously closed flew open! The way was made smoother than it would be on my own. These past couple of years I have really been using the power of prayer to help me and others get through difficult times.

Spin of the Prayer Wheel today:

God, help me to be 
a pure vehicle for your love,
and light, 
and wisdom.

steven sadleir

9 July 2026 8 Days To The Moon and Back

by saymber, posted in history, In the News, Movies, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. It’s another hot day here. I will get my walk in when the sun goes down! This morning prayer was good. We stayed a little extra time to pray over the 21 Days Of Prayer prayer requests. The prayers ranged from health to requests for people to return to their faith. A lot of atheists! One request that touched my heart was from a lonely person reaching out in a world where it’s difficult to make lasting friendships. The older you get the harder it is!

Last night I was able to watch an interesting documentary on PBS about the Apollo 11 mission to Mars. I have been one of those people who was skeptical of the mission even happening and it being a hoax. The documentary did a good job of bringing the mission to life. It put my skepticism to rest.

https://youtu.be/ls2No9izqAA?is=0ork4Gxhs8YEXXWN – 8 Days- To The Moon and Back – BBC Trailers

8 Days: To the Moon and Back is a 2019 documentary-drama that recreates the Apollo 11 mission, blending declassified cockpit audio, NASA archives, CGI, and dramatic reenactments to tell the story of the first moon landing. Directed by Anthony Philipson, it stars actors like Rufus Wright as Neil Armstrong, Jack Tarlton as Buzz Aldrin, and Patrick Kennedy as Michael Collins, bringing the astronauts’ experiences to life through their own words. The film covers the full eight-day journey, from launch to return, revealing details often unseen in historical footage. 

From the World Prayer Wheel today:

In the joy of your heart,
Your light remains.

In the gift of your caring,
Your light remains

Where you reached out to help,
Your light remains.

Where you sat in silent peace,
Your light remains.

In the place where you worked,
Your light remains

In the stillness of the starry night,
Your light remains

In the light of each day fully embraced,
Your light remains.

Like the touch of an Angel,
Your light remains.

When you live as a light,
Your heart is joined in the Infinite Light of Love.
And that about you which is eternal … remains.

your light remains – rev. jacquie riker – 2003

5 July2026 The Art Of The Cast

by saymber, posted in animals, history, Leading Life by Example, Music, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. Hard to believe another Sunday is here and about gone already. Link and I cuddled our way through neighborhood fireworks last night. He just stayed by my side through it all. I always feel bad for the pets, birds and squirrels! Some of the fireworks sounded like gunfire and sounded like they were in the house. We got to bed about 2 am. Things had pretty much stopped by then

At church today we were in Matthew 6:5-13 again:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A5-13&version=NIV

https://youtu.be/4XAYJpRGGJc?is=vFVH2QPNoUUCmYnh – The Art Of The Cast – Pastor Jason Boyd

How we view prayer matters. Prayer is a conversation not a negotiation.

One of the songs we sang:

https://youtu.be/5_aIauL2xKA?is=1FIDlbTCkjIBdjdr – Hillsong Shout to The Lord

4 July 2026 Reason to Celebrate (250 years)

by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, Food, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello there! How are you? If you’re American you are probably having a cookout and preparing for fireworks tonight. I hope if you are reading from America and you have pets that you secure them. I know a lot of people have to give their pets tranquilizers to get through this night. Thankfully my Link doesn’t get worked up like most dogs. So many people like fireworks! They are pretty to watch but aren’t very eco friendly!

There has been quite a hoopla over today marking 250 years – we made it this far and I have hope for the future despite everything going on right now. Freedom isn’t free! It’s good to see so many people loving our country.

I had a wonderful meal and visit with my Aunt, Uncle, cousin and his wife and two of my Aunts Granddaughters Richelle and Tatum, Tatum’s husband Kyle and baby Liam. We had hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, corn on the cob, fruit, watermelon and ice cream and brownies for dessert. Liam was definitely the star of the show. Once he got acclimated to everybody, he had a great time. Great Grandma my Aunt gave him some metal measuring cups he loved clanging together. We all know what he’s getting for Christmas! My Uncle, Great Grandpa said he’s going to get Liam a drum set! lol! 😂 We made a special memory today! So special!

My sweet Auntie and I – Grandma Becker would be so proud! She loved celebrating the 4th in her backyard in Ft. Collins CO
My beautiful Grandma Becker (I couldn’t flip picture!)

If God could talk
it wouldn’t be in English
or Latin or Arabic
It wouldn’t be in Yiddish
or Spanglish or pidgin

If God could talk
the words would crack like thunder
pour down like a torrent of jewels
flooding our basements with shining ideas,
sparkling conclusions.

If God could talk
a thought would be a redwood
a word an ocean
a sentence a century.

If God could talk
I would not have to
for all the words today requires
would flow in on the morning breeze
and find their way to the morning news.

If God could talk
God’s word would be carried
on the wings of eagles
the ankles of gnats
in the pouches of kangaroos
and the paws of polar bears.

It would spread through the sound
of honey bees and hyenas
be translated into a rainbow
by blue herons and cardinals,
blackbirds and yellowjackets
pink flamingos and gray whales,
purple martins and chameleons.

It would cause rivers to flow,
tides to rise, moons to wax,
suns to set, sparrows to fly,
planets to revolve,
universes to expand
if God could talk.

if god could talk – jan phillips