21 June 2022 Job 38

June 21, 2022 by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Art and Poetry, Food, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Movies, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

The petals of the peony give way to reveal a star

Hello to you. How are you today? The past couple days I’ve noticed some disturbing headlines but something that I haven’t really seen much concern about is the drought in the Horn of Africa. There has been talk about drought all over the United States…or flooding. What are we doing with the fresh water resources when they do come? When floods come are we prepared to collect it?

The March-May 2022 rainy season is
likely the driest on record. At least 18.4
million people are already waking each day
to high levels of acute food insecurity and
rising malnutrition across Ethiopia, Kenya
and Somalia, and this figure could increase
to 20 million by September. Jun 10, 2022
[W https://reliefweb.int » report › ethiopia
Horn of Africa Drought: Humanitarian
Update, 10 June 2022 – ReliefWeb
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How many products are currently being made that use water – are they wants or needs? California is in a horrible drought but still allows swimming pools. Doesn’t make any sense to me. People all over the world needing fresh water, to include ourselves, and we play in it.

For the past couple of days I have been reading and re-reading a powerful exchange in the Bible between God and man. Job 38 The Lord Speaks. I think about so much going on in our world where it seems like everybody either wants to usurp God, deny God, or be a God in the absence of a tangible presence. All that’s missing is Golden Calves and I think there are many of those around. I know I don’t have all the answers but I do know who does. We will rise and fall for many generations but in the midst of all those “changes” an unchanging, merciful God remains to stand the tests of eternity:

Job 38New International Version

The Lord Speaks

38 Then the Lord spoke to Job^(A) out of the storm.^(B) He said:

²“Who is this that obscures my plans^(C)
    with words without knowledge?^(D)
³Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.^(E)

⁴“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?^(F)
    Tell me, if you understand.^(G)
⁵Who marked off its dimensions?^(H)Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line^(I)across it?
⁶On what were its footings set,^(J)
    or who laid its cornerstone^(K)—
⁷while the morning stars^(L) sang together^(M)
    and all the angels^[a]^(N) shouted for joy?^(O)

⁸“Who shut up the sea behind doors^(P)
    when it burst forth from the womb,^(Q)
⁹when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,^(R)
¹⁰when I fixed limits for it^(S)
    and set its doors and bars in place,^(T)
¹¹when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;^(U)
    here is where your proud waves halt’?^(V)

¹²“Have you ever given orders to the morning,^(W)
    or shown the dawn its place,^(X)
¹³that it might take the earth by the edges
    and shake the wicked^(Y) out of it?^(Z)
¹⁴The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;^(AA)
    its features stand out like those of a garment.
¹⁵The wicked are denied their light,^(AB)
    and their upraised arm is broken.^(AC)

¹⁶“Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?^(AD)
¹⁷Have the gates of death^(AE) been shown to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?^(AF)
¹⁸Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?^(AG)
    Tell me, if you know all this.^(AH)

¹⁹“What is the way to the abode of light?
    And where does darkness reside?^(AI)
²⁰Can you take them to their places?
    Do you know the paths^(AJ) to their dwellings?
²¹Surely you know, for you were already born!^(AK)
    You have lived so many years!

²²“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow^(AL)
    or seen the storehouses^(AM) of the hail,^(AN)
²³which I reserve for times of trouble,^(AO)
    for days of war and battle?^(AP)
²⁴What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,^(AQ)
    or the place where the east winds^(AR)are scattered over the earth?^(AS)
²⁵Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
    and a path for the thunderstorm,^(AT)
²⁶to water^(AU) a land where no one lives,
    an uninhabited desert,^(AV)
²⁷to satisfy a desolate wasteland
    and make it sprout with grass?^(AW)
²⁸Does the rain have a father?^(AX)
    Who fathers the drops of dew?
²⁹From whose womb comes the ice?
    Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens^(AY)
³⁰when the waters become hard as stone,
    when the surface of the deep is frozen?^(AZ)

³¹“Can you bind the chains^[b] of the Pleiades?
    Can you loosen Orion’s belt?^(BA)
³²Can you bring forth the constellations^(BB) in their seasons^[c]
    or lead out the Bear^[d] with its cubs?^(BC)
³³Do you know the laws^(BD) of the heavens?^(BE)
    Can you set up God’s^[e] dominion over the earth?

³⁴“Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with a flood of water?^(BF)
³⁵Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?^(BG)
    Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
³⁶Who gives the ibis wisdom^[f]^(BH)
    or gives the rooster understanding?^[g]^(BI)
³⁷Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
    Who can tip over the water jars^(BJ) of the heavens^(BK)
³⁸when the dust becomes hard^(BL)
    and the clods of earth stick together?^(BM)

³⁹“Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
and satisfy the hunger of the lions^(BN)
⁴⁰when they crouch in their dens^(BO)
or lie in wait in a thicket?^(BP)
⁴¹Who provides food^(BQ) for the raven^(BR)
when its young cry out to God
and wander about for lack of food?^(BS)

The animated film I am sharing is a synopsis of much going on in this world – showing what has been done for profit and the consequences:

https://youtu.be/j800SVeiS5I – In Shadow – A Modern Odyssey – Animated Short Film

The children committing crimes of today were made. I saw a report of a 21 and 24 year old stealing and selling gas. Why did they think this was a good idea? Because people bought it from them! From inside the womb experience to their setting foot on the earth to the life they were told they would and should have. A lot of unmet expectations. Unmet expectations and empty promises manifest a seed of resentment. There is plenty of food for a seed of resentment to bloom. Keeping promises, unconditional love and acceptance, mercy, generosity of time, proper and meaningful education can turn a thistle into a rose. Don’t hate what you make when it comes to children – God doesn’t. Children are newborns to over 100 years old and some have fur, feathers and scales. Stop teaching hate.

https://youtu.be/1qQUFvufXp4 – Masaru Emoto Water Experiments

18 June 2022 Anywhere

June 18, 2022 by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, dreams, Food, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Money, Music, Native American Culture, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

A flower blooming once I put it outside and Link saying hello

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:

https://youtu.be/ordhsDeAt60 – Jesus and the outcast woman at the well

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.

17 June 2022 Agreements

June 17, 2022 by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, books, drawing, dreams, Exploring numeric value of words in English language, Food, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Michael's Burleson TX, Money, Movies, Music, Native American Culture, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Short stories, Social media, space, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you today. How are you? I’m doing ok. A little sad and disappointed after glancing at the headlines. It seems like it’s so much easier to look outwards for solutions to what ails us. So many really smart people engaged in petty energy exchanges from local things to the world stage. Oh to harness all that energy and ambition to looking within and attempting to find common ground, meaningful and sustainable solutions. All these brain trusts of people and we are still barely beyond being a primitive civilization.

Something we can all agree on is we need energy for our homes, schools, businesses and transportation and the current status quo is not sustainable and doing irreparable damage to our shared home:

https://www.ventureradar.com/keyword/Wireless%20power%20transfer – top wireless energy providers: Airbus, Astrobotic Technology, Rolls Royce, Integrated, Colorado Engineering, Lynntech Inc, WiTricity, Leitat Technological, MaXentric, Creare Inc, Pathfinder Electronics, Indigo Technologies, Ossia, Crossfield Technology, Voltserver, Indiana, Eggtronic, Swiss Center for, Sigfox, snapTonic, Space Power, EXIT: Optimos Apto

Yesterday, on a spiritual level I experienced what it’s like when many countries can agree on something. In this case it was a song and a powerful being who I feel would love it if we did more collaborations and cooperations in all these small and large issues facing all of us:

https://youtu.be/JM5MDFgPnBU – 50 Countries sing Amazing Grace

A word children use in sidewalk chalk games

For some reason these two songs came to mind last night and this morning. The first is an old song about coal miners and the other a wacky song about the ease of time travel:

https://youtu.be/RRh0QiXyZSk – Tennessee Ernie Ford 16 Tons

https://youtu.be/-w0WPkB3XJ4 – Rocky Horror Picture Show Time Warp

And this song brought me to tears last night remembering one of our countries treasures and the man who wrote the song Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails:

https://youtu.be/8AHCfZTRGiI – Johnny Cash- Hurt

lyrics that speak to the pain we all experience in one way or another…..turn it out……turn it in….. another thing we have in common is there is no escaping ourselves. For me the only peace comes from God and our relationship together.

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that’s real

The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end

And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar’s chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair

Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I’m still right here

What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end

And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Michael Trent Reznor

Hurt lyrics © Leaving Hope Music Inc

13 June 2022 Earth School

June 13, 2022June 13, 2022 by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Art and Poetry, Food, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Examples of the Golden Ratio in nature coexisting together

Hello to you. How are you today? I hope your doing ok! Todays post is a reflection of some exploring, questioning and learning I’ve been doing lately. When you live alone and are a nerd like I am you have time for such things! I have so many questions for Earth School! I know most people visiting my blog don’t exactly have a lot of time for themselves or for learning unless they have a specific question or are officially in a learning situation like going to school. May be something here will interest you too – I hope! If this is too much for one visit – I encourage you to come back when you can. Sending you love energy and a virtual hug.

What are you learning in Earth School today?

Romans 1:20New International Version

²⁰For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,^(A) so that people are without excuse.^(B)

https://medium.com/@gautamnag279/what-is-so-special-about-the-number-1-61803-7e0bbc0e89e2

Why is the golden ratio called the God ratio?

The Golden Ratio (phi = φ) is often called The Most Beautiful Number In The Universe. The reason φ is so extraordinary is because it can be visualized almost everywhere, starting from geometry to the human body itself! The Renaissance Artists called this “The Divine Proportion” or “The Golden Ratio”.May 5, 2019

https://medium.com › …

What Is So Special About The Number 1.61803? | by Gautam …

Learned something new today when I was wondering about some of the environmental impacts of drilling for oil in the United States. You don’t get something for nothing or even cheap. Ultimately some cost will be paid either immediately or over the course of time:

Subsidence – sinking of the ground because of underground material movement—is most often caused by the removal of water, oil, natural gas, or mineral resources out of the ground by pumping, fracking, or mining activities.Apr 15, 2021

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov › facts

What is subsidence? – National Ocean Service

https://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/go-outside/does-oil-drilling-cause-sinkholes-or-earthquakes/?amp –

In cases where other liquids don’t move in, such as in the North Sea off The Netherlands, the porous rock layer that harbored the oil originally can collapse after extraction, causing slight amounts of land settling (known as “land subsidence”) in the rock layer surfaces above, but typically no more than a few tenths of an inch per year.

Here in the U.S., land subsidence induced by the large volume extraction of underground resources including oil and gas “is more common than most people realize,” according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a government agency which collects, monitors, analyzes and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues and problems. Flat coastal plains and wetlands near sea level are most at risk from this potential side effect.

Have you ever heard of the term transpiration? I hadn’t either but when I was finding out about part of where our fresh drinking water comes from this term came up:

https://kids.kiddle.co/Transpiration

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plants, especially leaves. It is a type of translocation and part of the water cycle. The amount of water lost by a plant depends on its size, the light intensity, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and soil water supply.The process of Transpiration helps in regulating temperature in the plant.

Transpiration was first worked out by Stephen Hales (17 September 1677 – 4 January 1761), an English clergyman. He proved what is still believed, that the evaporation of water molecules from leaves is the main force pulling the water column up from its origin in the roots.

How transpiration works

Leaf surfaces are dotted with openings called stomata, which act rather like pores. In most plants there are more on the undersides of the leaves than on the top. The stomata are bordered by guard cells that open and close the pore. Transpiration happens when the guard cells open the stomata. This lets oxygen and water vapourflow out, and carbon dioxide flow in. The carbon dioxide is used in photosynthesis, and the oxygen is produced by photosynthesis.

https://youtu.be/YeOw-wJR9fc – Leaf Transpiration (experiment) what is transpiration?

A lot of people single and with families are struggling financially right now with the prices of most everything increasing – inflation. Sometimes getting confused about the difference between a want and a need can contribute to the daily struggle. In the times we are in it’s important to know the difference and set priorities accordingly. There are a lot of things I used to do and buy that I realized I could do without because they aren’t essential to my survival and in some cases were harmful to the environment – so many chemicals, packaging and trash! I used to waste a lot of money on these things I didn’t need and a lot of it just ended up down the drain or in a landfill:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-difference-between-wants-vs-needs-in-economics.html

Wants, Needs and Economics

Quite simply, the economic definition of a need is something needed to survive. In economics, the idea of survival is real, meaning someone would die without their needs being met. This includes things like food, water, and shelter:

“A want, in economics, is one step up in the order from needs and is simply something that people desire to have, that they may, or may not, be able to obtain. Again, with those two simple definitions, it doesn’t seem like there should be much to talk about, but there is. Economics deals with how we allocate scarce resources, and those scarce resources may be needed to meet someone people’s needs and other people’s wants. So, we do need to talk about wants and needs.”

A fun song I have been enjoying:

https://youtu.be/3EoI-6lQFIE – The Contours Do You Love Me

12 June 2022 The Journey Here

June 12, 2022 by saymber, posted in Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Movies, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you? My thoughts lately have been about our children. I never had any of my own but have always cared about them. I have cared about the experience Mother’s have to go through to ensure the safe arrival of our children.

In particular my thoughts have turned to those crucially important 9 months (or less) of the journey from a cell dividing with all its complexity to gradually a recognizable fetus and then newborn baby. At the beginning this miracle of creation is more shielded by the mothers body but as the baby grows, the “insulation” from the mothers world gets thinner. All those sounds! What is a baby who was created as a result of violence hearing on their journey? What does crying, gunfire, yelling, the sounds of breaking things, bombs….screaming do to that child’s body and soul? They haven’t even taken their first step or uttered their first word…..seen their mothers face. I feel in my heart more attention needs to be taken about that 9 month journey.

https://youtu.be/Y4kDKqCa4Ec – Does Music Affect A Fetus

Often children not wanted before they are born don’t fair much better once they leave the womb. Many are neglected, abused, negative energies poured over them. All this an incredible obstacle to ask of a mother and especially a child. I think God has been sending us people to help save our future and despite what God may have planned for these people, they never get a chance even from the beginning. People trying to pass legislation on these matters must have empathy for the circumstances of a mother and the child making the journey. What kind of life is there for so many children right now? Some of the most basic things a child leaving the womb needs are defunded or outright denied in this country. What do our children have to look forward to?

Thinking about this brought to mind a science fictions baby’s journey to “get here:”

https://youtu.be/RjxrIV4YDKk – Ma and Pa Kent finding baby Kal-El Superman

Last night I went to the Prayer and Praise service at Grace House. We sang so lovely together. We talked about this: Revelation 4:8-11
New International Version

⁸Each of the four living creatures^(A) had six wings^(B) and was covered with eyes all around,^(C) even under its wings. Day and night^(D) they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’^[a]^(E)
who was, and is, and is to come.”^(F)

9 June 2022 Removing Obstacles To Meaningful Change

June 9, 2022June 9, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Movies, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

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

⁵Love^(A) the Lord your God with all your heart^(B)and with all your soul and with all your strength.

https://youtu.be/HhvDg9c2Soc – This Bibb County Judge tells the truth to these teens

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/judges-inspiring-speech-brings-youth-to-tears-203919982.html – Judge Verda Colvin

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.”

https://youtu.be/8yn3ViE6mhY– Precious Depeche Mode

3 June 2022 The Consoling and Healing Power of Music

June 3, 2022June 3, 2022 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

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.

https://youtu.be/TTXBLspw_Z0 – Paul Baloche God of Wonders

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:

https://youtu.be/9SOryJvTAGs – B-52’s Love Shack

https://youtu.be/d1Nq82S7_0Q – Rock Lobster – B52’s

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:

Psalm 147

¹Praise the Lord.^[a]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!²The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
³He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
⁴He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
⁵Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
⁶The Lord sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.⁷Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;
make music to our God on the harp.⁸He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
⁹He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call.¹⁰His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
¹¹the Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.¹²Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;
praise your God, Zion.¹³He strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your people within you.
¹⁴He grants peace to your borders
and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.¹⁵He sends his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
¹⁶He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
¹⁷He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
¹⁸He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.¹⁹He has revealed his word to Jacob,
his laws and decrees to Israel.
²⁰He 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:

https://youtu.be/lwmitxvM0LE – Light of the world church choir at memorial site of Uvalde shooting victims

https://youtu.be/FA1cupxYaKM – Mariachis honor victims of Uvalde school shooting with musical performance

https://youtu.be/ZjUE07zDtEA – 11-year old songs sings in honor of friend killed in Uvalde shooting

2 June 2022 At Last and Dog Stuff

June 2, 2022June 2, 2022 by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

https://youtu.be/S-cbOl96RFM– Etta James – At Last

Sometimes you need a power ballad to encourage yourself to put your feet on the ground and engage with gravity! When I hear this song it just takes me to such wonderful places. Thank you Etta!

Yesterday Link and I had an experience I hoped not to face again with another dog. We were walking in the neighborhood and a dog we pass, that is normally on a leash, wasn’t and he went after Link and I. Link and I were both screaming and trying to get away when finally the dogs owner came out. He had to get another neighbors help as his dog just took off. This experience triggered feelings from when something like this happened in Alvarado when Spot and I were attacked by two pit bulls that had gotten loose. The town ended up passing a viscous dog law because of what happened! I’m not mad at the dog in all this. Dogs that don’t get regular exercise and stimulation get pent up and bored – they “do shit!” All those times Link and I had walked past while he was secured and would lunge at us I guess was foreshadowing for what happened yesterday.

It’s important to remember that the animals we choose to share our lives with have feelings, emotions and needs. These things unmet, neglected or ignored can have scary consequences. They don’t handle what’s going on inside like we do and as was the case yesterday, can’t really be reasoned with! Thankfully all that happened was rattled nerves and in Links case, a normally curly tail gone flat and between his legs. It was hard to get over hearing him scream like he did.

https://youtube.com/c/CesarMillanOfficial – Cesar Millan (Dog Whisperer Channel on YouTube)

Thinking of St Francis, a saint that loved animals:

Franciscan and Other Common Prayers

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Glad to see change is being considered in light of recent events in our country. I hope it will go beyond just consideration and become action.

1 June 2022 Letting God

June 1, 2022June 2, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, books, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

https://youtu.be/_RzsPdmfcaw – The Voice Dog remix by Timbu Fun feat Walter Geoffrey the Frenchie

https://youtu.be/92i5m3tV5XY – F*ck that an honest meditation

Link cooling his belly on a break during our walk yesterday. He loves the grass!

How are you today? Link and I are doing pretty good. Last night was a bit rough for both of us but eventually Jesus and his team got us some rest. There is so much light and energy going on at night and I’m sensitive to it. Something I’m doing now is trying to get off the phone before bed and do some singing. The Tanpura is great to sing with along with Mei-lan. Just tones varying in range and duration….no words. It’s like prayer.

Today’s message from A Woman’s Spirit is a good reminder about the futility of trying to control others….letting God:

Basically, I have two choices: either accept people and their behavior at face value, or remove myself from the situation. I cannot change other people, but I can control my behavior.

Trying to control other people has been a long- term character defect for most of us. Becoming abstinent didn’t take away the seduction of control. Perhaps for some of us becoming abstinent even heightened the seduction. Minds no longer clouded by alcohol or other drugs see with greater clarity many more invitations to control.

At first glance, it seems unfortunate that becoming free of the obsession to use chemicals didn’t also free us of trying to control the people and events in our lives. But had that been the case, we would have relied less on our Higher Power for help to grow and change. And the greatest gift of this recovery program is learning that we have “One who is all powerful” to help us make decisions, to guide us every step of the way.

I will protect my serenity today by letting people in my life take charge of themselves. If I begin to falter, my Higher Power will help me.

__________

https://youtu.be/EoZPTaoo134 – The Embrace feat Ruby Amanfu (The Chosen)

Proud of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the people of Canada for deciding to take steps towards peace.

31 May 2022 Seventy-nine

May 31, 2022May 31, 2022 by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, drawing, dreams, history, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Drawing I did of my Dad and his Mom Irene many years ago

Hello to you. How are you today? I hope you are doing ok. It’s been rough here but I’m doing better. Last night I tried to sleep without extra meds and was doing pretty good until I woke up after a weird dream. It started with seeing my phone and an image on it like from the group Anonymous. Then I was sitting with someone watching tv. The tv flickered and that same image appeared on the tv screen! What woke me up was hearing a scary voice saying, “no need to alert the authorities.” My brain doing weird stuff again lol!

Anyhew…. today is my Dad’s 79th birthday! Wow! It’s hard to believe but he and I used to joke that he was going to live as long as Moses! That’s like 120! If he and I were together today we would be dueling with our forks over Mom’s chocolate pudding dessert. The past couple of years have been hard on him but he is a survivor – something he and Mom always taught me to be! I’m missing him today. I miss his hugs! There is something about a hug from your Dad. I just felt so loved and safe when we hugged….the worlds noise and cares couldn’t reach me for a little bit. I love you Dad! ❤️

Many years ago, when I was still in Junior High, I was in an advanced writing program . They liked analogies I wrote. This one I wrote thinking of my Dad:

“An open window in spring is like the loving arms of a father.”

John 15:9New International Version

⁹“As the Father has loved me,^(A) so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

https://youtu.be/oCE4VWKY5YI – happy birthday from alfalfa (little rascals)