18 October 2023 Good Neighbor

What makes a good neighbor?

When I saw the prompt for today I immediately thought of Fred Rogers Neighborhood program. He showed through that program all the ways to be a good neighbor. He used puppets and people to make his points. One of the most powerful things he did was share a child’s swimming pool with a black police officer – https://youtu.be/v4recJ6qXyk?si=HcUP2OLkmIn4sWkt

He was so gentle and kind. The kind of neighbor I would love to have. I have nice neighbors but they mostly keep to themselves except Marlene. She is an older lady who walks her dog she calls Number 6 and pretty much knows everyone.

Number 6 – she gets lots of walks

https://youtu.be/NB5uSHCIgS0?si=CB8SrUlm6MdV2IAp – Mr Rogers Helpers

I know I have shared this a couple times before but it is so relevant right now. We are getting toxic news at every turn. Mr. Rogers was and remains a helper to this day.

Luke 10:27New International Version

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]

16 October 2023 Waiting and the Unknown

Hello to you. The past few days have been hard for me. I am having to wait and there are lots of unknowns. I can’t really get into specifics but my whole life is affected by what’s going on right now. I’m so grateful for my family and friends! I came up with this poem to describe what’s going on.

The Unknown

I stand at the threshold of the unknown

Only fleeting glimpses of the future

I am being shown

The past rises to my now and when

Erases the clean slate

Of all I have been

Everything comes crashing in fast

The reality I now face

Is something I would only think of last

I have asked God the questions of where and when

The answers are seemingly harsh

Considering where I have already been

God has a plan for me I don’t know what

I just need to keep my faith strong

Stay out of the fear I’m feeling in my gut

Everything happens for a reason

For a moment

For a season

I must trust the process …..

15 October 2023 Putting Off

What have you been putting off doing? Why?

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.

7 October 2023 Topic Change

What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?

The topic or issue I’ve had the most change about in the past couple of years is spirituality. I have more of a Christ consciousness than I did before. In the past it was simply just God I believed in not so much Jesus. Now after time and experiences the focus has narrowed down to Jesus. I can remember a couple scary lucid dreams I had and the one name I was barely able to say got me free was saying the name Jesus. I have always believed in God but for the longest not just Jesus. I have only just recently declared my belief. Once you say yes to Jesus, you can’t really say no!

I just want to give thanks for my family and friends today. I had something scary happen yesterday and they helped me get through it. I am so blessed to have such a support system!

Psalm 142:7New International Version

7 Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.

30 September 2023 Best Trait

What’s the trait you value most about yourself?

The trait I value the most about myself is honesty. It’s a trait I value in others as well. I can’t stand being lied to. This was something I grew up with. If I got caught lying to my parents there were repercussions. I got caught a couple of times as a teenager doing things I wasn’t suppose to! I can remember saying I was at track practice but really I was going over to a friends house. There was an older guy there who I witnessed get into a fight. The cops had to be called and our parents had to give permission for the witnesses to give testimony. That’s the only way my parents found out what and where I had been! Boy did I get in trouble!

Colossians 3:9-10

9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

27 September 2023 Brand

What brands do you associate with?

Today was really nice. I joined family in celebrating my cousin Heidi’s birthday over at my Aunt Ruth’s house. It’s always nice when we can get together like that.

The brand that came to mind for todays prompt is Full Circle. When I’m in the grocery store I look for that brand. Unfortunately they don’t have all the product I’m looking for but quite a bit. Full Circle is an organic product line like dairy and grains and other various products.

When I’m in the grocery store I look for this brand

Matthew 16:13-20New International Version

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b]will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.”20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

14 September 2023 Favorite Word

What’s your favorite word?

Hi there. I’m just back from our Thursday prayer meeting and getting groceries. I’m grateful for the gathering today and the prayers for my health by the folks gathered there. Which leads me to one of my top favorite words gratitude. Adopting an attitude of gratitude in any season of life can really make it easier to get through. It’s focusing not on what’s on wrong but what’s right. There have been times lately with the stuff I’m going through that I have wanted to give up. Getting into a gratitude attitude has pushed me through those times.

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)

4 September 2023 Tear of Joy

What brings a tear of joy to your eye?

I used to be the “who dropped the hat lady” the person who would cry at the drop of a hat. I’m not really like that any more – the past few years events has really toughened me up. The one thing that still brings a tear of joy is seeing someone I haven’t seen in a long time. I am like a dog I think in that regard! Just so happy, on a soul level, to see you. I can remember the times my parents came to visit Kyle and I in Texas or when when my friend Melinda visited – just such a surprise and so much happiness. There are aspects like this that make me miss the house in Texas.

Proverbs 24:3-4New International Version

Saying 21

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

24 August 2023 Name

Where did your name come from?

Hello to you. I’m just back from the Thursday prayer meeting and getting groceries. We had Savanah, Pastor Jason’s daughter with us which was really nice. Apparently her school day started with the school smelling like gasoline! Jeannie was able to come again – she’s so sweet.

Last night I drew a couple pictures. They aren’t my best work but just what I had come through to draw:

So where does my name come from? My name was from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. She was many years before I was born but still an inspiration to my parents I guess!

Matthew 16:13-20New International Version

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

21 August 2023 Writing

What do you enjoy most about writing?

Hello to you. How are you? I’m doing ok but tired.

What I enjoy most about writing is it’s been with me nearly my whole life. Like an old friend. We’ve gone through poetry and short story phases, traveling phases and just ordinary life phases. I started writing at a very young age. I have a trunk full of my written accounts of my life and those I have shared life with. It’s a time capsule of family history even through two divorces. I kind of stopped keeping written diaries in 2015. My trunk is full and it’s heavy! I have contemplated throwing it out several times but decided against it. May be some day someone will want them.

Psalm 103:1-5New International Version

Psalm 103

Of David.

1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.