Just Another Day for Us!

 

And here I thought I had retired!

 

Six new snowmen have been made, soon to be "Pickled" into jars with bottle brush trees, bells, artificial snow, and ribbons.

I can not even fathom how many of these little guys have been made over the last two decades. My last "canning" was a few years ago. I used up all my trees and told myself, "this is it!" 

This year I had a request from a special friend of ours for his two adult daughters. I had planned to have "Christmas in July" for him, but that didn't happen!

As I write this ~ they have been glued into their jars, dried, snow placed in, and glued shut. All that remains are the ribbons and bells around the tops!

Next week I will let our friend choose two of them for his sweet daughters :o)

Here they are all finished!

What joy to pass these little guys out!

Thankful for our own Thanksgiving meal

 

Thankfulness for Little Things

 

An Attitude of Gratitude

Ephesians 1:3-14 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. 

In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. 

In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."

*

Precious Saint! 

GLORY IN ALL YOU HAVE IN HIS REDEMPTION!

SO WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE SINCE WE ARE ALL SUCH GRIEVOUS SINNERS? 

LET US BE SO VERY THANKFUL FOR SUCH A REDEMPTION!

GLORY TO GOD!

*

Joy in the LORD's Creation!

ROSE is ROSE

Feeling Alone in a World not my Home

I am disheartened and discouraged.  

Free People are living as if in a dream (or a nightmare).

If you are feeling this way also, let us remember together Who is in charge, Who can not be thwarted.

-He is the One to Trust-

Proverbs 3

"My son, do not forget my teaching,
 but have your heart comply with my commandments;

 

For length of days and years of life
 and peace they will add to you.

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; 
Bind them around your neck,
 write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and a good reputation 
in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
 and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,
 and He will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
 Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your body 
and refreshment to your bones.

Honor the Lord from your wealth, 
and from the first of all your produce;

Then your barns will be filled with plenty,
 and your vats will overflow with new wine.

My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
 or loathe His rebuke,

 

For whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
 just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

 

Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
 and one who obtains understanding.

For her profit is better than the profit of silver,
 and her produce better than gold.

She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire compares with her.

Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways,
 and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
 and happy are those who hold on to her.

The Lord founded the earth by wisdom,
 He established the heavens by understanding.

By His knowledge the ocean depths were burst open,
 and the clouds drip with dew.

My son, see that they do not escape from your sight;
 Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,

 

And they will be life to your soul
 and adornment to your neck.

**Then you will walk in your way securely,
 

and your foot will not stumble.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
 

When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
 

nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;

For the Lord will be your confidence, 


and will keep your foot from being caught.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, 
when it is in your power to do it.

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, 
and tomorrow I will give it to you, ”
When you have it with you.

Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
 while he lives securely beside you.

Do not contend with a person for no reason,
 if he has done you no harm.

Do not envy a violent person,
 and do not choose any of his ways.

For the devious are an abomination to the Lord;
 but He is intimate with the upright.

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
 but He blesses the home of the righteous.

Though He scoffs at the scoffers, 
yet He gives grace to the needy.

 

The wise will inherit honor,
 but fools increase dishonor."

When life is tough allow the LORD to lift your head

 

Ephesians 4:17-32  

"So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are parts of one another.

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.

The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need.

Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.

Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

*

When people are crummy, and I mean real crummy ~ hug a kitty.

Even better...remember the LORD God Almighty knows your Name!  He knows your sorrows, your aches, and your pains. 

He is holding you!

Matthew 5:4

"...Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted..."

*

We can get through anything in His strength.

Philippians 4:10-1

"...But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. 

Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 

 I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me..."

* 

The Wrong Road

                               

          

Wisdom speaks:

Proverbs 5:21-23

"For the ways of everyone are before the eyes of the Lord,

And He observes all his paths.

His own wrongdoings will trap the wicked,

And he will be held by the ropes of his sin.

He will die for lack of instruction,

And in the greatness of his foolishness he will go astray."

Proverbs 8:11

"For wisdom is better than jewels;

And all desirable things cannot compare with her."

Proverbs 15:3, 33

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

Watching the evil and the good."

"The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,

And before honor comes humility."

Proverbs 18:10

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

The righteous runs into it and is safe."

*

Happy Veteran's Day 2020

*

All Current Military and Veterans:

Thank you for our Freedoms!

We are so grateful for our FREEDOMS!

*

America!

The Home of the Free and the Brave!

*

Stumbling Blocks, Lies, Control, Abuse, Gas Lighting, Spiritual Danger, and Manipulation

Now this photo shows a true Stumbling Block.  Nothing can get around this one! It is way more than "loose gravel".

In every day life we can have Stumbling Blocks just as HUGE even though no one can see them. 

These Stumbling Blocks are usually smooth talking, pernicious lies, false doctrine, savvy talking...

Matthew 18:1-7 "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, 

“Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 

And He [Jesus] called a child to Himself and set him among them, and said, 

“Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  

And whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.

“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! 

For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes!"

*Beware the person, family or friend or foe, who tells you one thing when God's Word always says the right things.*

Luke 17:2 "Now He [Jesus] said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to one through whom they come! 

It is better for him if a millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea, than that he may cause one of these little ones to sin."

*There is always safety in God's Word* 

The Mountains and the Valleys

 Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd,
 I will not be in need.

He lets me lie down in green pastures; 
He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul; 
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
 for the sake of His name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
 I fear no evil, for You are with me;
 Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
 You have anointed my head with oil; 
My cup overflows.

Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life,
 and my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 36

Wrongdoing speaks to the ungodly within his heart;
 There is no fear of God before his eyes.

For it flatters him in his own eyes concerning the discovery of his wrongful deed and the hatred of it.

The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit;
 He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

He plans wickedness on his bed; 
He sets himself on a path that is not good; 
He does not reject evil.

Your mercy, Lord, extends to the heavens,
 Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
 Your judgments are like the great deep. 
Lord, You protect mankind and animals.

How precious is Your mercy, God!
 And the sons of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; 
And You allow them to drink from the river of Your delights.

For the fountain of life is with You;
 In Your light we see light.

Prolong Your mercy to those who know You, 
and Your righteousness to the upright of heart.

May the foot of pride not come upon me,
 and may the hand of the wicked not drive me away.

Those who do injustice have fallen there;
 They have been thrust down and cannot rise.

*

In the mountains and in the valleys the LORD God is with those who love Him in His truth!

*

Virtuous People Needed

"Only a virtuous people are capable of Freedom.  As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."

*

-Ben Franklin

*

Wisdom and Virtue Lead to Honor

Proverbs

3:16 "Long life is in her [Wisdom's] right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor."

8:18 "Riches and honor are with me [Wisdom], enduring wealth and righteousness."

13:18 "Poverty and shame will come to one who neglects discipline, but one who complies with rebuke will be honored."

21:21 "One who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness, and honor."

22:4 "The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life."

*

Alone but never Alone

 

F-4 Phantom with shadow

It is easy to feel alone. We may be among people and yet still feel very alone.

Like a shadow is with us in the sunlight, the LORD is always with those who love Him, and He will hear you who are not His if you call on Him in truth.

You can be alone and always have the LORD with you! 

Lamentations 3:19-25

"Remember my misery and my homelessness, the wormwood and bitterness.

My soul certainly remembers,

And is bent over within me.

I recall this to my mind,

Therefore I wait.

The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end,

For His compassions do not fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore I wait for Him.”

The Lord is good to those who await Him,

To the person who seeks Him."

*

The Fairness of God

 

-Schulz

Matthew 5:43-48

“You have heard that it was said, 

‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same?

And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same?

Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

*

The LORD's safety is our joy. It is our treasure. 

Glorify His Name by living for Him.