20 Nov 2024 Positive Thinking in Uncertain Times

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. As I write to you I find myself feeling grateful to be living in the United States. In so many regions of this world there is uncertainty. When I see news reports coming from the Middle East and the Ukraine and Russia I feel that gratitude even more. I feel bad for these and other parts of the world not being safe, struggling to get food, drinking water and shelter. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to be a parent in these war torn regions! Every day there are bombs, gun fire and rubbled buildings- bodies of children wrapped in sheets.

I’m trying not to succumb to fear and paranoia of it all but it’s hard. These are uncertain times. Times to take out our gratitude lists and seek the light amongst the growing shadows. I am including all world leaders in my prayers and positive thoughts despite being very disappointed in decisions they have made and are continue to make. There doesn’t seem to be a guard rail for President Biden with his policies regarding the Ukraine.

I am hoping things will get better in January. Until then I hope things don’t escalate to a point of no return! I will try and remain positive. Now is the time to lean heavily on faith in Christ. With everything happening and happening so fast we must lean on our faith!

Matthew 24:6-8King James Version

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

6 Nov 2024 He Won

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. I woke up this morning to the news that Donald Trump won the election and not by a little bit either! My prayer before sleep was that Gods will be done with the outcome and I guess that was his answer!

Now we will see what having him re-elected will mean. One concern I have is about him wanting to expand the quest for liquid gold as he calls it- specifically fracking which is toxic to the environment and drinking water. I am excited to see what RFK Jr. will do if Trump follows through with appointing him at the head of government agencies like the EPA and FDA. America is needing some massive changes to get healthy again. I am also curious to see if Trump will follow through with appointing Elon Musk to be in charge of streamlining government agencies.

Overall I am hopeful that things will be less chaotic this go around! I listened to VP Harris’s speech today and felt her concession to Donald was very graceful. Honestly I didn’t expect Donald to win by such a wide margin! So let this next chapter begin!

Matthew 20:25-26 says, “But Jesus called them to himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant”. 

28 June 2024 Debate

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. Yesterday I watched the debate between President Biden and former President Trump. I was not impressed. Is this the best we can do?! I was relieved to see that a third choice is possible with Robert Kennedy Jr! They kept him off the debate stage but he did his own thing answering questions. I would vote for him but fear it would be like other times a third candidate arose and it’s like throwing your vote away. I have voted Green Party before and that was the case. People vote the popular ticket line and other candidates don’t have a chance. I wish we had more choices than the lesser of two evils! President Biden doesn’t seem to have all his marbles and President Trump didn’t have answers to questions – he couldn’t give a yes or no. Very depressing!

Colossians 3:12-13New International Version

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you.

20 March 2024 Tattoo

What tattoo do you want and where would you put it?

I have two tattoos and if I was to to get another I would just get the ones I have touched up or redone. I have a chameleon on my right shoulder and a Ichthys (Jesus fish) on my right ankle. They are barely recognizable right now. I might consider getting the tree of life life on my left ankle. As a Christian we aren’t supposed to get tattoos. I didn’t know this when I had them done initially.

Leviticus 19:28New International Version

28 “‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

19 March 2024 Resilient

What is one word that describes you?

One word that describes me is resilient. Despite all the difficulties I have faced in my life I have been able to bounce back from most of them. I think God has been walking with me through most of the trials! We get shaped and sculpted into who he wants us to be during trials just as much as through tribulations.

James 1:2-4 (NIV) – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

2 March 2024 Experiences

What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

I think the experiences I have learned and grown the most from have been adversities. When life is easy and care free I can get settled in my ways. Working through adversity requires critical thinking sometimes. Thinking outside the box – the norm.

Romans 8:28New International Version

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

18 Jan 2024 Un-inventing

If you could un-invent something, what would it be?

I think if I could in-invent anything in this world it would be guns. I know people including people I love use guns for hunting game but because of a gun I grew up without my birth mother. I lost a cousin. I know people say that if there aren’t guns they would find another way to kill and that’s true. There are other weapons. I just hate the mass carnage guns are capable of specifically automatic rifles.

Exodus 20:13New International Version

13 “You shall not murder.

23 Dec 2023 1968

Share what you know about the year you were born.

The biggest thing I know about the year I was born was the death of Martin Luther King on 4 April 1968 and Robert F . Kennedy on June 6 1968. I can only imagine how this must have affected my family who were avid supporters of equal rights. The year I was born was a tumultuous time!

Philippians 4:6-8New International Version

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

23 Nov 2023 Historical Figure

If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?

Today is Thanksgiving Day and for some people, the First People, it’s not a day to celebrate. I celebrate it with family and a heart of gratitude. For me it’s not so much about the history but about having a day designated in the year to give thanks for our blessings.

If I could meet a historical figure it would be Nikola Tesla or Dr. Wilhelm Reich. Both men contributed a great deal in their lifetime to the world of science. I would ask Nikola about the mysterious black box that I believe was a battery. Dr. Reich I would have him show me how he made orgonite and his orgone chambers. Both men wanted to give their knowledge and inventions away for free to help the common man. That’s one of the biggest reasons I chose them.

Psalm 69:30New International Version

30 I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.

20 October 2023 Lazy Days

Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. God has been at the wheel of the stuff I’ve been going through lately – extremely grateful for the prayers of family, friends and even strangers! My Aunt met a elderly veteran who gave her this cross for me and said he would pray for me. The wagons of Gods people have been rallied! I’m so, so grateful!

I don’t usually wear crosses because of what they represent – the murder of an innocent man but understand what it means in Christianity.

When I think of todays prompt I think of my life right now gradually getting in place. It’s taken me three years to get where I’m at. Many of the days leading up to this one were littered with fear, sadness and grief – lack of faith! A lot of my days have not very productive and could be perceived as lazy days. I was in such a state of shock leaving Texas. I have been retired from active duty longer than I was in (21 years). When I was active duty I burned the candle at both ends. I was usually the one leadership turned to when a program was a mess. I worked a lot of long days cleaning up messes. Lazy days meant more to me then they do now. I don’t have a specific purpose when I wake up each day! When I was active duty I was up at 4:30 am and worked til after 5.

I haven’t completely found a fit for me here yet in being useful again. A lot of what holds me back is driving. I hate driving! When I was married, Kyle used to always drive and I got used to that after 12 years! I was spoiled! I keep my eyes open for things I can do – little things. When my back is not hurting I would like to help set up at the church again. I don’t want to feel like I’m wasting the gift of my life. A lot of people I’ve known haven’t even lived as long as I have.

One of my favorite passages from the Bible – makes me think of a Palladian (class I played in FFXI video game). In these trying times we must put on our armor!

Ephesians 6:10-13New International Version

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.