Hello to you! For the men folk I wish you a Happy Father’s Day! I hope you are able to spend quality time with those you love and care about! What brings you the kind of feelings that fill you up inside? Is there a song that brings forth happy memories and a smile to your face…..gets you to hum a few bars? Today is a day of gratitude for fathers of earth and heaven. Today, as part of the series at our church Can I Ask You A Question, the question was “Who is Jesus to you?”
Study guide from todays service at Grace Middleton Bible Church. In honor of the dads there was a wall of donuts! Hearing messages like we did today is better than any donut…food you can chew and swallow. It is a energy, food for the entire body, mind and soul. Spirit food! Living water.
John 9:39 – 39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment(AL) I have come into this world,(AM) so that the blind will see(AN)and those who see will become blind.”(AO)
If you have ever watched what happens with a stream you can see tangible living water. So many little pieces of life headed somewhere.
John 4:14 New International Version 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. (A) Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water(B) welling up to eternal life.” (C)
A flower blooming once I put it outside and Link saying helloA neighbor expressing himself with beautiful flowers All different kinds of pots! How plants can grow in so many places always amazes me. This is a church for me. It’s only until winter comes but I enjoy it now everyday.
Hello to you. How are you today? I hope wherever you are that you are doing well today or on a road to wellness and recovery in mind, body and soul. I hope you have all the resources you need for all the ways you are trying to make yourself the best person you can be and this world a better place for your being in it.
Ever since the first time I saw The Chosen episode with the Samaritan woman at the well, there was a part that made me curious. It was at the end of Jesus’s exchange with the woman and the disciples offer Jesus food and he refuses saying he has a food they don’t know about. I wondered what was this food?!
When you stop to think about it, the last time you were in the flow….truly happy doing something were you hungry? Thirsty? Tired? Or did you feel “full?” All the empty spaces within you filled up. Happiness is an energy….like a food. For me a energy food that goes beyond just happiness is hearing and singing beautiful songs and going on walks to interact with the other beings I share this life with. There is an energy exchange when you stop to appreciate a rose and smile! Not all food is food you chew and swallow. I am wondering if this is what Jesus meant. Matters of the Spirit create energies that feed a soul…fill us up and quench our thirst when we are in the midst of the experience. That spiritual experience doesn’t have to be in a temple…it can be anywhere….the Spirit, to me, is the very air that gives us life:
John 4:27-32 New International Version The Disciples Rejoin Jesus 27 Just then his disciples returned(A) and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. B) Could this be the Messiah?”(C) 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, 0) eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat(E) that you know nothing about.” Read full chapter Cross references A. John 4:27 : ver 8 B. John 4:29 : ver 17, 18 C. John 4:29 : M+ 12•22- In 7-26 31
Yesterday I was thinking about something called a path to success. It is a path I imagine for the children. There is a time when we know why we are here and have great enthusiasm to do it but then comes the world, for many, with obstacles. So many dreams crushed by negative money, greed and power structures we’ve built for ourselves. I was imagining a generation of children being encouraged, doors opened and opportunities presented for them to have a path to success from their very beginning. Imagine a world of people doing what they have been sent here to do? Imagine all the “ happy” energy….food for the entire body these children would have to eat? I truly believe God didn’t send us here to spend all of our days in misery.
I encourage you to learn to see yourself, others and the beings we share life with using the eyes of our hearts.
Hello to you, I hope this post finds you well today. Link and I are doing pretty well which I am so grateful about. So much going on every second we live. I’ve been praying for the world. Yesterday I looked at the Fortune 500 and gun manufacturer list. Found out the Ar-15 is no longer made by Colt but by a Czech company CZG-Ceska Zbrojovka Group. I’ve begun to follow the money, goods and services of the world with my thoughts and prayers.
Yesterdays walks were without Link. I finally found what was bothering his foot – a sharp seed had embedded itself in the fur of his paw. He was so pissed at me for fiddling with and pulling it out! Growling and making faces at me and he was so apologetic about it lol! Kind of like a crabby lion just needing a thorn removed from his paw.
Anyhew what I saw on the walk yesterday reminded me of my Grandma Schmidt and her amazing roses. As I saw, smelled and touched them it was like her saying hello to me…..joining me on the walk. Sometimes when I stayed with her and Grandpa we would go for walks. God and this earth are so comforting with ways like this to remember and experience those we have loved and lost:
This is something I learned about yesterday. It’s called a leaf gall. What is a leaf gall?
Galls are abnormal growths that occur on leaves, twigs, roots, or flowers of many plants. Most galls are caused by irritation and/or stimulation of plant cells due to feeding or egg-laying by insects such as aphids, midges, wasps, or mites. https://mortonarb.org › tree-plant-care Plant Galls | The Morton ArboretumThis rose really reminded me of Grandma Sacred Space by Greg Olsen
I also think often of Saint Therese Lisieux (https://www.littleflower.org/st-therese/frequently-asked-questions/) when I am experiencing the beauty of Gods creation. Learning about her taught me that life isn’t just about “big things” we do and that occur in a lifetime. There are so many little things, seemingly minute details, that if left undone the world is incomplete. We all have a part in Gods plans…..great and small. It’s important to do our part the best we can.
20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come,(X) Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’(Y) because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”[c]
22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man,(Z) but you will not see it.(AA)23 People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them.(AB)24 For the Son of Man in his day[d] will be like the lightning,(AC) which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things(AD) and be rejected(AE)by this generation.(AF)
26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah,(AG) so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 “It was the same in the days of Lot.(AH)People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.(AI)31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything.(AJ)32 Remember Lot’s wife!(AK)33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.(AL)34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”(AM)[36] [e]
37 “Where, Lord?” they asked.
He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”(AN)
For some reason recently I was lead in thoughts from Morse Code, the Enigma machine to the Navajo code talkers that saved our behinds at Iwo Jima. All of our communication is some sort of pattern, tone, pitch, code….sound….energy wave. Chester’s message here to fellow Marines resonates on many levels….”come home safe….come home in one piece.”
Equisetum hyemale (commonly known as rough horsetail,[1] scouring rush, scouringrush horsetail
Hello to you. How are you doing in your today? There is so much going on in the big world and out individual worlds! I hope your making time for yourself and making time to have a relationship with God. All those things you might think are so important don’t have much meaning if you are exhausted and your spirit is depleted!
This morning my thoughts were about what I have been observing about our shared existence and change. Each of us like a little earth and we are it’s President. We have our own ideas, morals, values…..rules and code for how our personal earth operates. Each of us have different and unique biology with in addition to life experiences shape our individual perception of how our personal earth should function. We don’t all like the exact same of most anything that has been conceived of. It’s hard to get agreement in ourselves at times! So much input creating so much inner conflict. There are things we agree on but even in those agreements are the personal perceptions…..expectations of how and how much we agree. Our personal beliefs and perspectives when it comes to issues that come before us as a whole to decide on can become walls too high to climb. Too thick to even yell and be heard through. We get set in our ways. We get comfortable. We think we are right. We are often driven by emotions and one of the most powerful is the energy of fear. Least that’s what I have been seeing for quite some time now.
When it comes to making hard decisions like those facing us now, I think it’s important to remember each mini-earth aka life form is biologically incapable of perceiving existence exactly the same. No two life forms are going to witness an experience exactly the same. They have a unique body with unique biological operations. We don’t interact with ourselves, others or anything external exactly the same. For example just because you were raised responsibly doesn’t mean that’s the case for most anyone around you. You might have everything you need to function well and many around you do not. Something as simple as temperature – some like it hot and some cold. Is either one “wrong” no…just different. These disparities shape lives and perceptions…make each of us uniquely us. It is important in the process of trying to attain agreement to recognize that different doesn’t always have to mean wrong.
Sometimes instead of building bridges we build higher walls.
Instead of being open minded and open to the possibilities that we may not be entirely right about something….even afraid about things can cause obstacles to appear……obstructions to making a path forward to changes we desperately need. What are the facts before us? Can we trust the evidence? Where and what is the common ground? What old perceptions, emotions and beliefs are stalling our progress? I truly believe in order for meaningful progress there are mostly intangible obstacles we must recognize and remove on each of our own little planets!
How much longer do we let fear and scarcity rule the day? When we succumb to fear we are living a life without God. Each day I am praying for all leaders that God would give them empathy, wisdom and courage. I pray that God will help them respect differences, recognize their own perceptions and how those perceptions are controlling their thought and decision making processes.
We must honor, acknowledge and respect that we are biologically incapable of perceiving existence exactly the same. This doesn’t make “wrong” it makes “different.”
Matthew 22:36-40″Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ‘ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
This is for young people we have tragically lost like Eliahna “ellie” amyah Garcia who was 9 years old and was going to read this message out loud but never got the chance. A young man fueled by anger and bad choices played God and took her chance away. Now the world doesn’t have all the things Eliahna was truly here to do. The same can be said for Salvador Ramos.
Deuteronomy 6:5New International Version
5 Love(A) the Lord your God with all your heart(B)and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Anybody can do nothing,” said Colvin. “Why would you want to do nothing? You are special, and you are uniquely made, and nobody can do what you are meant to do in this world. Nobody. And if you don’t do it, we won’t have it. If you continue to go the way you’re going, that will be 17 more gifts that we’re missing as a society.”
Hello to you. How are you doing today? I’m doing better. Just getting sleep, singing and praying more has been helping me. This morning I glanced at the news on my phone and after being mortified at someone suggesting the answer to ending gun violence in American schools is to arm children, I found a message that resonated with me from Pope Francis about discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit:
“The Holy Spirit will never tell you that on your journey everything is going just fine. … No, he corrects you; he makes you weep for your sins; he pushes you to change, to fight against your lies and deceptions, even when that calls for hard work, interior struggle and sacrifice,” Pope Francis said in his homily on June 5.
“Whereas the evil spirit, on the contrary, pushes you to always do what you think and you find pleasing. He makes you think that you have the right to use your freedom any way you want. Then, once you are left feeling empty inside – it is bad, this feeling of emptiness inside, many of us have felt it – and when you are left feeling empty inside, he blames you, becomes the accuser, and throws you down, destroys you.”
Looking at my own personal journey, it has been a struggle at times. It can be very alluring to think about things like revenge and power. It can be easy to try and do and be everything of this life thinking it’s just your own power and attributes propelling you forward. Where does your life force come from? It’s not just eating, drinking, exercising, making love, socializing with family, pets and friends, going to church and praying, meditating, experiencing entertainments the world offers, having a career, doing hobbies, going to school, reading books and going to seminars – least not for me. Underneath all that I am and ever hope to be is a force greater than myself – God. Whatever label, whatever name the inner force is for you I caution you to it’s motives…..the “why.” Why comes before all the what’s!
Some lovely flowers from the walks yesterday- they smell so good!
Christianity. In Christianity, the word may have several meanings. Discernment can describe the process of determining God’s desire in a situation or for one’s life or identifying the true nature of a thing, such as discerning whether a thing is good, evil, or may even transcend the limiting notion of duality.
Hello to you. How are you? This morning I’m feeling grateful for so many things – I don’t want to be sad again today! These past couple of weeks have been so heavy! When I’m feeling low it’s gratitude that is my life preserver. With thoughts of gratitude comes my love for God and music. What an amazing thing for God to inspire us to create. Even if all you can do is hum a few bars! To me expressing ourselves in music is a fantastic form of praise to God and this earth.
Music in it’s many forms has always been something I could turn to for every facet of life experience. Whether it be a happy, sad or confusing moment, there has been some sort of song. This morning I wanted to remember happier, sillier times in my life and the B-52’s came to mind. I think it’s so wonderful that after all these years they still perform together:
This psalm, 147, has a little bit of everything in it. God mending the hearts of the broken hearted and giving praise in song. I thought it was beautiful that there was music to honor the victims at Uvalde:
How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. 6 The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; 11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion.13 He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. 14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.15 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? 18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. 20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws.[b]Praise the Lord.
Voices and talents shared to help console a broken hearted Texas community:
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I experienced this yesterday and it was very healing – a lot of tears! When I awoke in the middle of the night in excruciating pain in my right leg, it was remembering this video, using the medicine inside myself with The love of Jesus – transmuting pain with love energy, that helped make it go away. Thank you Andrea:
https://youtu.be/QY_nhXgQbtw – Receive Love Now – Full Hour Distance Reiki Session ( Reiki Master Andrea Kennedy)
My neighbors have made such a beautiful space to see each day Finally the roses are awakening – my Dad used to buy this color rose for his and moms wedding anniversariesNo matter what things seem, just know you are loved beyond words.
Hello to you. Another week has come and gone. Today doesn’t find me on top of a mountain but down in a valley. I’m just finding it difficult to right myself after the latest goings on. Last night I was falling asleep and heard a loud noise inside and outside of my head and it startled me. Then I felt this presence fill the room and seem to be standing right next to me. There was a cold chill and I felt like I was being touched. Whatever was happening was not comforting and made me feel really anxious! When I asked if Jesus was there whatever it was went away. This kind of stuff happens to me and it’s so hard to understand.
As I write to you, I’m not feeling very rested but I can’t go back to sleep. What is my mind and body doing or is it something else? Someone else? I just don’t know! Praying and hoping Jesus will reveal some answers!
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(B) 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.(C) 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.(D) 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.(E) 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.(F) 8 Blessed are the pure in heart,(G) for they will see God.(H) 9 Blessed are the peacemakers,(I) for they will be called children of God.(J) 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,(K) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(L)
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,(M)persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.(N)12 Rejoice and be glad,(O) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.(P)
Hello to you. I hope this finds you well in your today. If your not well…..I understand and hope you have love and support for whatever you are going through. You might feel alone in these moments but I assure you your not. A stranger, somewhere in this world is praying for you even as I write this.
Quote I found from Sir Francis Bacon that articulates this so well! Another quote from Sir Bacon is “knowledge is power”
The title of my blog is in honor of a recent death in our family. Much like another friend I loved and loss when I was in Texas, her body became a prison. Things would be going well and then something else would not be working right….systematic system failure. So many people in the world in all levels of our worlds strata are in prison in their bodies. People get sick…..people get old….people get broken and so many artificial and often expensive treatments and methods are employed to extend their lives. Those who love them hold on so tight and make things very complicated. What is the quality of those final years before death finally wins out? We pray for those we love to be cured…to get well and the conversation that person may be having with God both in mind and spirit is to be set free. The “body stuff” can become a burden too much to carry. I am happy she is free of the burden of her body.
I watched this video yesterday from an interview with Master Shi and it makes me think of all this. Our creator God has a plan for each of us and when we deviate from this plan, no matter what we do, we will not succeed:
Talk about a body that became a prison! Jesus endured so much and then was free!
Yesterday I was thinking about a few musicians that in their lifetimes made such a mark on my life in so many ways. Each of them, in their own public and private ways suffered. Behind the glamor, glory and fame they had struggles they, with their courage, hardly let us see:
When he smiled he lit up the place he was in – smiling through the hurts of a very public life and career There are a bazillion pictures. I got to see David in California in 1991 – my first and only rock concert to date. From what I have read, this wasn’t a great time for him personally in his career. I looked all over to find this picture – so beautiful. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen Purple Rain! I sense this creative genius got lonely and was hard on himself. He gave his all. As I was thinking of musicians Luciano popped in. His voice evokes so many emotions! When I think of him I think of a white canary I had named Gabriel….that little birds could trill! Trilling or vocal trilling is defined technically as a rapid alternation between two notes, most often in a high register sung by a soprano or tenor and should not be confused with lip trills.Sep 20, 2019 https://www.30daysinger.com › blog Trilling Ins and Outs – 30 Day Singer Blog
I was with my Aunt and Uncle yesterday so not much for walk pictures! Here are a few images from yesterday:
This message from A Woman’s Spirit made me think of people I know and love that use humor to help them navigate through the pain, struggles and sorrows they are facing. Sometimes things are so ridiculous all you can do is laugh! My cousin Laura and I laugh together and one of our favorite phrases…”shit happens!” I saw this at my Aunt and Uncles when I got out of my car. Just a little earth in a crack in a driveway and then this grows! So pretty! This earth and beings like this are so intelligent. They find a way to be under even the most undesirable conditions!
Hello to you. For me it’s Friday again and I say that because it feels like time is moving so fast! Yesterday I came across a video taken from one of my favorite animated shows called Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was when Aang, the Avatar learns about the energy vortexes in our bodies called chakras and how to clear them when they are blocked. The one part that brought me to tears was thinking about letting go of all I love that attaches me to this life. When we are overly attached to things of this earth we suffer when the inevitable happens – change….loss. We can’t hold on too tight and this is a lesson I’ve struggled with almost my whole life.
https://youtu.be/StrbppmsZJw – How to open your 7 chakras as explained in a children’s show (Nickelodeon Avatar the Last Airbender)
Buddha taught that “the root of suffering is attachment” because the only constant in the universe is change. And change often involves loss. When you allow yourself to become attached to someone or something, you’re more likely to dwell on the pain of losing them.
In the Bible you can find a variation of this message. We are encouraged to store up our devotion to God not to people, places and things if this earth. Our souls, the energy within us, will care nothing about the world once set free of the flesh:
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Think of great storms that have happened and how grateful people are to come away from them with their life and those they love – their neighbors. Their home a pile of wreckage or ash but they praise God that they still live. In those moments reminded about what truly matters.
We are taught from a very young age living in the world structure in which we live to work hard and acquire things. Things representing the fruit of our labors. We associate memories and feelings to the things we acquire…..this leads to attachment. Then comes the time when for whatever reason we have to let go of what we have acquired and then comes the feelings…the loss….the suffering. How to live in a material world without getting overly attached but not live like everything is just disposable….expendable. What a paradox we are asked to live in our material world!
I didn’t get many pictures yesterday. The energy outside has felt “weird” to me lately and I have felt disconnected:
Trying to eat better A quote from Robin that resonatedThe sun looking like a bright moon again Another “victrola” flower opened – In 1901, Eldridge Johnson of the Talking Machine Company created the Victrola. The Victrola is a type of early phonograph that used an internal horn. It was patented by the Victor Talking Machine Company, and only refers to internal horned phonographs.Nov 24, 2010 http://cultureandcommunication.org › … The Victrola – Dead Media ArchiveWe all have different gifts God has given us for a purpose If you look really close on the upper right it seems I captured a bird flying by lol Lovely Willow with winds blowing her long green locks of hair This picture really caught my attention – the artist did a great job of illumination – the eyes are filled with light seeing this
To be 