Hello to you. It’s evening as I write to you. I just finished watching a wonderful documentary on Amazon Prime Video called Mystic Iran The Unseen World:
Presents one woman’s amazing spiritual encounters with Muslim believers, Zoroastrians, and Sufi dervishes in the hinterlands of this country once known as Persia.
Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, founded in ancient Persia by the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra) around the 6th century BCE, focusing on the cosmic struggle between truth (Asha) and falsehood (Druj). Followers worship the creator god, Ahura Mazda, and emphasize “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds” as their core ethical tenet.
I really enjoyed watching this and seeing a part of Iran that we don’t see right now. In the news we just see and hear negativity about Iran.
Hello to you. How are you doing? I’m doing ok – just back from my second walk today. It’s really warm! It’s 74 degrees right now. Today began early as Link had his grooming appointment with Clean Pups Diana. She does such a good job with him!
He looks so much better!
My heart goes out to the families that lost their little ones in Louisiana – so senseless! I hope the women involved will be surrounded with love and healing. They will need so much understanding and kindness if they survive their injuries:
A gunman killed eight children and wounded two women in a Northwest Louisiana incident that stemmed from a domestic disturbance, the Shreveport Police Department said Sunday.
The adult male suspect is dead, authorities said. Police named the suspect as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, of Shreveport. Elkins was believed to be the father of seven of the children killed, Shreveport Police Cpl. Christopher Bordelon said.
I can only imagine What it will be like When I walk by Your side I can only imagine What my eyes would see When Your face is before me I can only imagine Yeah
Surrounded by Your glory What will my heart feel? Will I dance for You Jesus Or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in Your presence Or to my knees, will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine I can only imagine
I can only imagine When that day comes And I find myself Standing in the Son I can only imagine When all I will do Is forever, forever worship You I can only imagine, yeah I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory What will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus Or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in your presence Or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine, yeah I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory What will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus Or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in your presence Or to my knees, will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine, yeah I can only imagine I can only imagine, yeah-yeah I can only imagine I can only imagine I can only imagine
I can only imagine When all I will do Is forever, forever worship You I can only imagine
Prayer I found online specifically for victims of gun violence:
A Prayer for Healing and Comfort “God of mercy, our hearts ache for those injured in acts of violence. We pray for healing for those who are injured and hospitalized. We pray for comfort for families and friends of each victim. Give solace to grieving communities, and bring peace to anxious hearts. Bring them healing and peace in the face of this tragedy. Amen
Little bloomsOne of my favorite trees on my daily walksSeems like just yesterday the leaves were bareMy Aunt and I on Easter
Hello to you. How are you doing? Since Sunday I haven’t been feeling so good. I’m writing to you from bed and it’s only 7 pm! Still very light out. I just feel weak and low energy. This too shall pass and I know I will push on beyond whatever this is. The only thing different I’m doing is I have started taking loratadine which is generic Claritin for allergies. The Flonase hasn’t arrived yet. This is another way of tackling the fullness in my ears.
Dear Jesus please be with my Uncle Bill as he navigates issues going on with his heart. I also ask you be with my cousin Heidi as she continues to heal. I ask you to be with the people in war torn countries- let there be peace. I pray you guide leaders at all levels of government – please give our elected officials the courage to stop the mad king! Amen.
2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”
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. 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. How are you doing in your corner of existence? Another day has passed and I got through it. I got a couple walks in and did a 9 minute Tai Chi exercise instructed by Don Fiore: https://youtu.be/ZxcNBejxlzs?si=Vfdsr0L8dnd-1fJH – 9 min session
Dear Jesus I pray for world peace in the midst of escalating global conflicts. Please guide our world leaders to peace and not war. I pray for the families who lost several school children in Iran. So many innocent souls needlessly taken. I pray for the service men and women who have died because of this conflict. Violence begets violence and you tried to teach us this lesson! I pray for all life on this fragile planet earth. Please be present with us in these dark days. Amen,
Hello and good evening to you. It’s the end of the day and I figured I would write to you before trying to go to sleep. How was your day? Did your team win the Super Bowl? I only saw part of the game and missed the half time show that got mixed reviews. I was glad to see Trumps feathers got ruffled by the show. I am so sick of him! Way to go Bad Bunny! I don’t get reception for NBC and refuse to pay for Peacock – so no Olympics either.
The subject of my blog is poking fun at myself as I have become such a serious person. I used to have a sense of humor! Every day now there is something going on in the world that ticks me off. There just doesn’t seem to be an end in sight! We are expected to wait out 3 more years of this nightmare fuel?! So the challenge is to not let the headlines get to me without putting my head in the sand and pretend that these goings on are normal. I want to reclaim my middle name – Joy!
This Friday I will be another year older with my cousin Tony. We are going out to eat at a restaurant in Star my Aunt and I stumbled across a couple years ago. It was the Rustic Table and is now The Rare Steakhouse. I’ll celebrate with joy that I even have loved ones to share the day with! I am going to pray that Jesus, through my loved ones, friends and Link, will soften my heart.
Dear Jesus please soften my heart in these trying times. Help me reclaim my inner child. I ask you to put your loving arms around all those who are sick, hungry, in the healing process, those without shelter to include animals. Please shine your love and mercy through each of us that we would be worthy vessels of your will here on earth. Please be with all the leaders of this world – give them wisdom! Amen.
Hello to you. I’m having trouble falling asleep. I have been thinking of someone I met during one of my early hospital stays in Texas. We met in a unique way. As soon as I saw her I asked her if we had met before and she replied “may be in another lifetime.” We only had a short time together. There was something about how we interacted that was so familiar. Her gestures towards me and the way she walked and talked that reminded me of the first woman I supervised when I was in the military named Eveline Ravenstein. Eveline was Dutch and a very affectionate person. Yamila and I came up with a list of ways to recognize someone from a previous lifetime: 1) gestures 2) appearance – physical features 3) walk 4) voice 5) smell these were the main ones. It’s been so long ago! She was a stripper and that’s about all I remember her telling me about herself. When you meet people in the system you don’t really have any way to stay in touch. I have never met someone like her and I often think of her. I think it’s because I miss Eveline and being with Yamila kindled those feelings.
I know as a Christian there isn’t the concept of reincarnation but this was on my mind tonight! There is such a thing as doppelgängers and I think that’s what happened with Yamila as I don’t think Eveline is dead.
During one of my recent hospital stays here in Idaho I met someone who was on staff that spoke almost exactly like a guy I had a crush on in high school who I later found out had died of cancer. When I was in the hospital and out I had the ability to see how people reminded me of other people like the list Yamila and I came up with. I even went so far as to see animal features in people! My ex kind of got annoyed with me as I was always saying to people how they were like other people!
Dear Jesus please guide the surgeon who will be operating on my sweet cousin Heidi tomorrow. I pray for Yamila wherever she is that she is well. I pray for this world and all the lives within it – let there be peace, love and joy. Amen.
Hello to you. It’s bedtime as I write to you, I hope there was good in your life today. My day was good. I forced myself to take an extra 1/2 mile walk in addition to the 1/4 mile with Link this morning. It was quite chilly but there was sunlight which was welcome!
As I lay here contemplating recent events near and far away I am determined to stay in the light. To be a light and rest in my hope of Jesus. No matter what is going on we know who won the battle against death and darkness. This world right now presents a great opportunity- the more the enemy leverages against us the more we can lean into Jesus.
I’m not going to let myself be brought down by fear mongers. I am trying more and more to be careful what I consume via social media. I’m not sticking my head in the sand and acting like everything is hunky dory either! We must not be afraid to speak up when that challenge is placed before us. I have this blog and I am using it to be my voice.
Dear Jesus I pray for this world that is so lost right now. May what we are facing in every facet of our lives be an opportunity to love you more and trust in the plans you have for us. Please be with all who are hurting and need you right now. Amen.
John 1:5New International Version
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
To be 