18 Dec 2024 Top 5 Grocery Items

List your top 5 grocery store items.

Hello to you this sunny Wednesday afternoon. It was really warm here today. The sunshine felt great! As I write to you our world is in a very strange state. It feels like we are on the precipice of something big happening. You can feel it in the air – anticipation. The response for many is does any of this change whether or not I have to pay my bills, buy groceries and other essentials. Does any of this affect me personally? For me it’s a wait and see kind of thing. What comes to me is to prepare one thing for whatever is building – prepare your soul. If you fortify your temple you will be able to withstand whatever is coming.

Today’s prompt kind of ties into my thoughts on our shared future. For many the trip to the grocery store is pure sticker shock! The top 5 things I consistently get from the grocery store is water, milk, eggs, hard salami and shredded cheddar cheese. Other regular items are butter, cranberry juice and mini wheat cereal. For just me I seldom get away without spending over $100 a trip and my cart isn’t full. The hard salami is almost $7 a package! If anything happens to grocery stores I will be one of many millions who will suffer.

Inside of me all that is happening feels like a great reveal – revelation. Here is an excerpt from the book of Revelations: about the second coming of Jesus Christ:

Revelation 22New International Version

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

John and the Angel

The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me,and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.Amen.

11 Dec 2024 Favorite Physical Activities or Exercises

What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

Hello there! How are you?! I’m doing ok. I’ve been watching the news reports about objects they claim are drones flying over New Jersey and other parts of the world for weeks now. They had a hearing about it just yesterday and the FBI claims to not know what they are. One news report I heard today is there is an Iranian mothership bought from China in the ocean where these are allegedly coming from. It’s so bizarre because they are not the normal size of most drones people have access to. Some have been reported to be the size of a small SUV! With the recent hearings about UAPs and our being told we are not alone – that we are in fact being visited by beings or objects from other worlds or dimensions, I think it’s all connected somehow. I don’t think we are alone and I have been waiting all my life for the truth to be revealed! In yesterday’s hearing they were asking why if they are drones and a possible threat to the security of the citizens they are flying over they aren’t being shot down. I don’t think they are sure what to do about this! They didn’t have a definitive answer. They have put zero dollars in the budget for this sort of thing. Some people suspect these are not of this world but being put out there to act like something we already know so we won’t be afraid when the truth comes out. I saw a report of a man in New Jersey taking matters into his own hands and shooting at one of them as it flew over his house – he was arrested. People are alarmed over this! Something is happening and I hope it’s not just smoke and mirrors to distract us from matters affecting all of us. This year is definitely closing out on a weird note!

Whew! Now to today’s prompt! The one physical activity that I enjoy is walking even if it’s hard for me to do with the Mal de barque syndrome going on. I force myself to go with Link at least once a day. We go around the block. I am winded but we do it and it’s good for both of us. There was a time in my life, well most of my life, that I was really active. I ran, played volleyball, worked out at the gym, danced, road bike and did yoga as just a few examples. Now that I have put on so much weight and have balance issues with the Mal de barque syndrome – walking is really all I can do along with sit-ups and arm exercises. Slowly I am losing weight.

This passage from Ezekiel and messages in Revelations makes me think that people writing about these experiences back then were much like people of today trying to describe what they are experiencing in New Jersey and other places in the world right now. Sometimes words aren’t enough!

Ezekiel 10-11New International Version

God’s Glory Departs From the Temple

10 I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of lapis lazuli above the vault that was over the heads of the cherubim. The Lord said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.

Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the Lord.The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty[a] when he speaks.

When the Lord commanded the man in linen, “Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood beside a wheel.Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the fire that was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of the man in linen, who took it and went out. (Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what looked like human hands.)

I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz. 10 As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 11 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about[b] as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. 12 Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. 13 I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.”14 Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

15 Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River.16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. 17 When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.

18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. 19 While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

20 These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River, and I realized that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings was what looked like human hands. 22 Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River.Each one went straight ahead.

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.