This scripture is a good reminder for me with the current things I’m dealing with physically:
The scripture passage 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 encourages pushing through weakness, stating that God’s grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness. It also emphasizes rejoicing in weakness because that’s when the power of Christ can be experienced more fully.
Here’s a more detailed look at this scripture and its implications:
2 Corinthians 12:9:“And he has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:10:“Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. Today has been simple. I woke up to my alarm after tossing and turning much of the night and went to church. I’m glad I went. I got to sit with my friend Mark and keep him company as his wife Beth is still healing from surgery. He is the sweetest man! Today Pastor Jason touched a bit on what heaven might be like and it nearly made me cry! He had a little bit of the “almost fifty” health scare which made him reflect on his own mortality. As I get older I too am hyper aware of the fact time only goes forward and waits for no one!
My neighbor Diana always has something blooming in her yardI love this color of rose
One simple thing I do that brings me joy is to stop and notice beauty around me. I’ve always been the person that notices change in my surroundings- good or bad. For example, when I look back at living in Delaware when we lived in apartments that were made section 8 after we moved in – if you were to look at the pictures you would never guess it was filled with trash much of the time. I looked for and found beauty and overlooked the dump it really was!
2 Timothy 4:1-9New International Version
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Hello to you! Hope this finds you well. I’m just back from my daily walk. I didn’t even try to take Link as he hasn’t been wanting to go. We went to the vet today for a follow up on his ears and it was good news! No more inflammation and discharge. I was kind of irritated to be told now the next step is getting his teeth cleaned which cost me a small fortune last time! I try to get Link to the vet once a year but as he’s getting older they keep finding ways to nickel and dime me! It’s not cheap to have a pet these days. He’s worth it so I continue to do my best.
One of my neighbors lovely yellow roses
St Francis Prayer For Pets
Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land.
You inspired Saint Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures!
Hello to you. How are you? I’m back from my walk alone – got Link around once. He didn’t want to go but we made it! I followed my Aunt Ruth’s advice to take my phone with me. Because I did I got a couple pictures!
Lots of roses in my neighborhood“Stop and smell the roses”Peonies are blooming now too and smell so good!
You wouldn’t know by just driving through my neighborhood that there is so much beauty. Many of my neighbors take great pride in their yards. I encourage you to take a walk if you can and take your phone not just for safety but to see with new eyes! Oh and use that nose of yours to smell the beauty!
Song of Solomon 2:1King James Version
2 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
We had our Thursday prayer meeting at Grace House – there were four of us. It’s always good to pray together! We have personal intentions we pray about and a prayer sheet Lois and Pastor Jason put together with the prayer needs for the church. I included the wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Russia today. It has been tearing me up to see the effect war is having on the children in Gaza – so malnourished and afraid! No child should have to go through what they are.
Hello to you. Hope this finds you well today. Today was a good day. I joined several ladies from church at Idaho Pizza in Caldwell. We met at Grace House and carpooled over there. Most of us got the buffet that included various pizzas and salad. I had cheese pizza I think – that’s my favorite. It kind of tasted like a pretzel! There was enough seating for all of us. My friend Charlotte treated me to the meal – she is so kind. She gives such great hugs! I rode with Missy and Linda and I’m glad I did – that place was really busy for the lunch hour! It was good for me to get out with such a nice group of ladies. It helps me not feel so isolated and alone.
I decided to bring my phone on the walk tonight so I could get a couple pictures of the blooms on the walk. Link actually made it all around the block! He’s not been wanting to this past week.
These roses on the walk smell so good! An unusual Iris in neighbor Diana’s yardA rose bush in full bloom across the street
2 Corinthians 4:15New International Version
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Links paths in the snow this morning trying to find a spot to do his business
This morning we woke up to snow that fell over night. We got quite a bit! I’ll probably need to go out and shovel it in a bit as I don’t think it will melt on its own.
Psalm 51:7New International Version
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Hello to you. How are you? I am doing ok considering what’s going on in my life right now. I can’t really talk about it but let’s just say it’s life changing. I am leaning on my faith, family and friends right now. Yesterday my cousin came and whisked me off on an little adventure. We had Dickeys BBQ and went for a walk.
The big thing have been putting off is end of life planning. I know at some point I’m going to die and I will have property, finances and stuff that will be left behind to deal with. I have a will but it’s old so I need to get everything up to date. So I need to deal with it and hopefully I can do it through the VA so it won’t cost me anything. Ideally I just want to leave everything to my brothers daughter but need to get everything in writing and official.
Yesterday my beautiful cousin Laura came and whisked me off on an adventure. This is one of the sights we saw on a walk together.
Jeremiah 29:11New International Version
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.
The three jobs that came to mind were an artist, photographer and scientist. I’ve tried all three for “free” already and found them enjoyable. The only person that it cost anything was me – supplies to make paintings, drawings, wire and beads to make jewelry and wire coils. The one free thing I made was my organic orgonite bowls – plenty of clay soil out back. When I made epoxy resin orgonite it was buying resin and making molds. The scientist came about by my playing with Keshe Foundation technology which was very interesting. I used to have a camera and took lots of pictures with it until it stop functioning. Now I use my cell phone.
John 2:1-12New International Version
Jesus Changes Water Into Wine
2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
Hello to you. How are you doing? I’m doing ok just really tired and groggy. I’m sitting outside on the porch with Link writing to you to clear my head.
Todays prompt makes me think of a phrase I’ve said many times before agreeing to do something – “check your motives at the door.” Ask yourself why you are doing something before you agree to do it. Are you doing it just to get something in return? Are you making a debt to be paid? When I do something for someone I’m not expecting anything in return. A thank you would be nice but not expected. When I put expectations on the things I do I get a resentment if my expectation is not met.
There is a lot we can learn from our pets about motivation and perhaps that’s why we love them so much – their motivation is pure. They just want to give and receive affection without getting anything in return.
I just love you
Proverbs 16:2New International Version
2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord
Hello to you. How are you? I’m doing ok. Todays prompt is thought provoking for me as it’s rare that I am at perfect peace – relaxed. It feels like I’m always thinking and worrying about “what’s next.” Sometimes food gives me peace, sometimes it’s the company of someone, sometimes my spirituality gives me peace. It’s not a consistent thing. Last year, before the episode that landed me in the the hospital, what gave me peace was long walks in nature and praying for everybody next to the water canals down the street before they tore everything up.
Some of the beauty that existed next to the water canals. A drawing I did in honor of Sam our cocker spaniel – how I imagined he looked as a human in heaven. I’m sure he will be one of the first angels I see when it’s my time and he’ll be a dog. I have had several dreams about him since he passed and he always looks so healthy as a dog. I was at peace when he was here with us.
What used to give me peace was creativity – drawing, singing, painting both on canvas and on t- shirts and making jewelry. What happened is I became self conscious. I realized everything I was doing had an environmental impact – especially our water. It takes water to make the paints and water to use the paints. I started paying attention to where my supplies were coming from like metals I was using for my wire jewelry – Pakistan! Hardly anything from the USA. There was a hefty price for my fleeting peace. I haven’t been doing any of it.
I tried to draw in chalk here but it just wasn’t the same as having the privacy of my backyard.
John 14:27New International Version
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
To be 