25 April 2023 Nervous

April 25, 2023 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What makes you nervous?

Hello to you. How are you? I hope if you are struggling that you have the support system you need. We are living in weird times! I think our country is due for some positive change.

Todays prompt is what makes you nervous. I would have to say driving here in Idaho makes me the most nervous. There are so many people on the road! All these people that have moved here, to include myself, have contributed to the increase in traffic. Where you go – there you are. You can’t escape yourself! If you lived with a lot of traffic where you used to live, chances are where you move to will eventually be the same.

The other thing I get nervous about is changes to my routine – getting pushed outside my comfort zone.

This Bible verse is a popular one when facing nerves or anxiety:

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

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.

And this one:

Psalm 139:23-24New International Version

²³Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

One of my many sun and cloud pictures from last year – this was taken at Grace House I think

20 April 2023 MRI Results

April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Health, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, photography, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. Yesterday my Auntie and I went and had my MRI. I’m so grateful she was able to go with me! They called me today about the results and the doctor had no further concerns. I have a follow up in June to discuss the results. I think my suspicion of my having Mal de barque syndrome is correct. We have checked the ears and the brain and nothing has shown up. So whatever is going on will either eventually go away or I will just have to live with it indefinitely. I will stay in gratitude that nothing bad has come up with all the tests.

This morning at 9:30 am was another prayer team session at Grace House. There were a couple of us to include Pastor Jason. We had about two pages of prayer praises and prayer requests. Some things didn’t make it to the printed list but passed our lips and hearts. There is a lot going on in our little church and the crazy world it’s trying to operate in!

Romans 12:5New International Version

⁵so in Christ we, though many, form one body,and each member belongs to all the others.

Proverbs 19:21New International Version

²¹Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

13 April 2023 Prayer Meeting

April 13, 2023 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well! This morning I decided to join others from church for a prayer meeting. They had only expected four people and my going made five! One of the things we prayed for I’ve had on my heart for quite some time and that’s a permanent home for our church. As it stands right now, each Saturday volunteers have to set up for Sunday at a school gym here in town. After service they have to pack everything up. It’s very labor intensive. God will make a way for us I hope.

One of the unspoken obstacles we are facing as a Christian church is we are trying to operate in a predominately Mormon town. Everything will work out I hope!

Matthew 6:5-15

Prayer

⁵“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babblinglike pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you needbefore you ask him.

⁹“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹Give us today our daily bread.
¹²And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³And lead us not into temptation,^[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’¹⁴For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

12 April 2023 Love

April 12, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Home, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you? I hope this finds you doing as best as you can. There is so much going on in this world!

When I was thinking of a topic today, the first thing that popped in my head was the word Love. What is Love? To me it’s a feeling that emanates in the heart and cascades out. When I am in connection with God and the people and animals I care about Love happens. Some people have no idea what Love truly is or what it feels like – some are those people that end up in prisons or state hospitals and animals that end up in shelters. I have been fortunate to have known Love all of my life. My family has been a source of unconditional Love. When I was in the hospital this last time they were there for me. My dog Link is a source of unconditional Love each day. I look forward to seeing his sweet face and wagging tail each morning!

What Love looks like each day – my dog Link

Love is mentioned many times in the Bible. Here are a few passages:

1 Corinthians 13:4-5Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 16:14Do everything in love.

Psalm 143:8Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Colossians 3:14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Proverbs 3:3-4Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

1 John 4:16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

1 Corinthians 13:13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 John 4:19We love because He first loved us.

Ephesians 4:2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

1 Peter 4:8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Romans 12:9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Ephesians 3:16-17I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.

John 15:12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

I hope you know what true Love is – looks and feels like. You deserve it!

11 April 2023 Sunshine and Dandelions

April 11, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, history, Home, Leading Life by Example, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How’s your day going? I’m just back from taking Link for a morning drag – he likes to lollygag and dawdle! It’s another beautiful day out. The spring is definitely in full swing right now:

The dandelions are up – first flowers of spring and food for pollinators

I was looking for a message of hope today and found this:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. —Romans 15:13

In todays world with so much going on sometimes it’s hard to find hope. In my family and a friend from church new babies have come or are on the way. In these newborns there is much hope for the future. Scrolling through the various platforms I use each day there are lots of puppies, kittens, lambs, kid goats, bunnies and baby birds – life is abundant!

8 April 2023 Red Ribbons

April 8, 2023 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, history, Home, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

The sins of the congregation nailed to the cross to symbolize Christs sacrifice

Hello to you, how are you? I’m doing pretty good. Last night I went to our church’s Good Friday service and I’m glad I did. It was a somber service as can be expected. The most powerful part was when each of us wrote down a sin on a piece of red ribbon. They took the baskets of ribbons and nailed them to the cross. As I had mentioned previously my lack of fondness for crosses. Seeing this symbology helped me a little bit. If he hadn’t of gone to the cross for us, we’d still be making sacrifices to atone for our sins. As much as I don’t like it, that’s the truth of Christianity. Without his being crucified and rising again, which we celebrate tomorrow, there would be no Christian church. Our hope is wrapped up in this story.

People will be doing Easter egg hunts with their kids tomorrow which heralds back to the pagan roots of Easter. Easter is another holiday candy makers look forward to. It’s kind of what happens with most holidays. A lot of our holidays herald from pagan roots. It’s how they got pagans of the past into Christianity. I look forward to the uplifting message that will come tomorrow of Christs beating death!

Anyhew – when I got home I took Link for a walk. It’s so nice out! It’s 59 degrees today!

I love Weeping Willow trees. We have like three of them in our neighborhood.

10 March 2023 Sunset

March 11, 2023 by saymber, posted in Health, Home, Nature, photography, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you? I’m doing ok. My energy levels have been pretty low so me and the couch and You tube have been besties lately. When I let Link out a few minutes ago I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful sunset – the light in the neighbors tree really was vibrant. It’s been awhile since I’ve felt inspired to take a photo of natural beauty. I hope it pleases you too.

A beautiful look at my neighbors tree in contrast of light and shadow

7 February 2023 Vitamin D and Comfort Zones

February 7, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you today? Link and I are getting some vitamin D. The past couple days it’s been really nice outside so we’ve been taking advantage of it.

I decided to join a Bible study starting tonight and they are using the devotional Beauty not Beheld. This is out of my comfort zone but I decided to give it a try anyways. I have been wanting to make friends and get out of the house more and it seems like church activities is a way to do both. I find spiritual activities with women is more about relationship than religion. I feel like that is what I have with Jesus…..God.

It’s a little hazy but that big ball of light is still there

30 November 2022 The Chosen (theatre experience)

November 30, 2022November 30, 2022 by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, Movies, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you – hope this finds you well. Woke up to a light dusting of snow on the ground and it’s cold. Definitely beginning to feel like winter here!

Yesterday my Aunt and Uncle treated me to an early Christmas present by going to see The Chosen Season 3 in the theatre. It was a good experience but I hope the rest will be on the app like before. Not everyone can afford to go to the theatre. When Jesus did his big sermon I was expecting the loaves and fishes miracle but may be that will be in another episode. The characters got more developed in these episodes and things are fixing to get tougher for them.

There weren’t that many people besides us in the theatre but the showtime was when a lot of people are getting off work. I am glad we went. So grateful for my Aunt and Uncle. I felt like we were helping the cause!

17 November 2022 Changes

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Home, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you today? I hope well. I’m still the same and so is Link – still limping but not coughing thank goodness. Have to force feed him the pill with cream cheese. What a pain lol.

I had been hearing some construction crew noises behind my house and it turns out they have completely leveled out what was my church along the canal. They removed all the plants and trees! Sigh! Changes are always happening aren’t they?

Thank you for your prayers – my dad is doing better.