19 Jan 2024 Leadership

What makes a good leader?

Good morning. As I write to you I’m full of gratitude. Yesterday my pastor and his son came by with a snow blower and shoveled me out of my driveway! It meant so much to me that they did that!

I think what makes a good leader is someone who won’t ask their people to do what they won’t do themselves. Also a good leader is one of action not just words. My pastor is a good example of leadership in action. As I get to know him better the more I respect him! It’s not easy being in his position but he does it so well.

Proverbs 3:13-18New International Version

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.

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.

14 Jan 2024 Snowed In and Fellowship

Yesterday the snow just didn’t let up and so we are snowed in. I didn’t go to church this morning as my car was buried and they don’t plow the side roads. My neighbor came and helped me excavate my car. I have an appointment on Tuesday so hopefully we don’t get more snow by then!

Acts 2:42-47New International Version

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their numberdaily those who were being saved.

10 Dec 2023 Admiration

What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

Something that sparks my admiration in others is thoughtfulness. I have people in my life that are extremely thoughtful and pray and look out for others. I used to be a lot more thoughtful than I am now. It takes a lot of energy to be thoughtful. I mostly pray for people now than do or buy things to show I’m thinking of them.

Ephesians 4:32New International Version

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

7 Dec 2023 Positive

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

I would have to say the most positive event that has happened this past year is joining a prayer team at church. We have built a wonderful support system that we pray over the church and pray over eachother. Having this support system has been helping me get through some challenges I have been facing this year. Having this group has encouraged me to get more into the Bible.

The other positive events were spending the holidays with family like my first Thanksgiving with my cousin. There is a lot of family here!

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

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.

10 Nov 2023 Sisters of Grace and Favorite School Subject

What was your favorite subject in school?

I was up and awake early this morning and was able to join my Aunt at a Sisters of Grace gathering at the Nampa campus of Grace Bible Church. There were so many there they had to pull out an extra table! There were a lot of good messages to go along with the good food and company. My Aunt brought her plum cobbler that was really good!

Grateful by the letters

My favorite subject in school was creative writing. I used to write short stories and still on occasion write poetry. My creative juices are almost dried up these days. The medication I’m on controls the same place my creativity comes from. It’s either be creative and manic or be “normal” and not creative. I don’t want to end up in the hospital again so medication it is! Like some people are diabetic or have heart conditions I am living with a condition that is potentially fatal if it goes untreated. It’s taken a long time for me to accept this truth.

9 Nov 2023 Screen Time

How do you manage screen time for yourself?

Hello to you. How are you? Todays prompt isn’t an easy one for me as I don’t do a very good job managing screen time. I spend most of my day on my phone. It helps me get through the day. I haven’t found something to do besides Thursday prayer meetings yet. I say yet as I’m open to opportunity if it should arise. God has a plan for me I just don’t know what it is yet. I have to get over my phobia about driving here. Once I know the outcome of the stuff I’m facing on 28 November I should be able to consider volunteer work again. This passage from Luke resonates – I must be ready at all times.

Luke 12:35-40 New International Version

Watchfulness

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, o will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

6 Nov 2023 Gratitude

Hello to you. How are you. I’m taking one day at a time. Yesterdays message at church was gratitude and it’s a good one. When times are tough I like to pull out my gratitude list. Even if it’s hard. When you start looking at all your blessings it’s harder to see the negatives going on in your life.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4)

30 October 2023 Auntie

Describe a family member.

Hello to you. How are you? I’m feeling kind of anxious. I can’t exactly pin point why- which is usually the case when it comes. I have a lot of different things going on that are anxiety provoking right now that I need to be leaning on my faith about! My doctor stopped prescribing what I was taking for anxiety because it was making me gain a whole bunch of weight. So I’m having to deal with the “feels.”

Link was in the groomer mobile getting the works done – she did a great job cleaning up the matting on his arms. He was a good boy!

Pretty boy after his haircut!

Todays prompt made me think of alot of people I love but specifically my Auntie. She is thoughtful, spirited, kind and beautiful. When you need someone in your corner she is a great person to have. We have really gotten close these past couple of years with my living here. She has become more than just my Auntie with the adventures we have been on since I moved here. Every year I’ve been here something has been going on! She has become a guardian (angel) too. The other day she and Uncle John brought over chicken soup and orange juice which was so thoughtful! She tries to get me out to do things I don’t normally do or have stopped doing. She loves finding clothes for me as she knows I hate clothes shopping. I consider her a dear friend in addition to a family member!

Ruth 1:16New International Version

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go,and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.