Everyone needs a hug now and then.

Reach out to others. Let them know you are thinking of them. 

Real hugs are wonderful, but it is really quite easy to give a hug with sweet, caring words. 

Try it, you may like it-- someone may give you a hug someday.

Ephesians 4:32

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

Colossians 3:12-17

..."So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."...

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Abuse, Control, and Manipulation: Life in a Cult

WOW, what a sight! Can you imagine seeing icebergs floating by in your own town on a regular basis? 

Icebergs can be massive. During their whole life time they deal with melting, changing, rolling, breaking apart, and moving... always moving, always changing. They are completely unpredictable in how they act as they move and what they look like at any moment as they slowly melt and move.

Icebergs are a perfect analogy of abusive people. A man or woman, husband or wife, or a group of people can be controlling and manipulative, which is abuse. 

They can be mildly abusive in their control and manipulation to outrageously controlling, manipulative in abuse.

From mild to outrageous: abuse is wrong. God designed us to be free. Free from the abusiveness of wicked, controlling, and manipulative people.

John 8:31-36

"...So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 

“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

They answered Him, 

“We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed..."

Psalm 118:5-9

"...From my distress I called upon the Lord;

The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.

The Lord is for me; 

I will not fear;

What can man do to me?

The Lord is for me among those who help me;

Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

Than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

Than to trust in princes..."

Psalm 142:5-7

"...I cried out to You, O Lord;

I said, 

“You are my refuge,

My portion in the land of the living.

“Give heed to my cry,

For I am brought very low;

Deliver me from my persecutors,

For they are too strong for me.

“Bring my soul out of prison,

So that I may give thanks to Your name;

The righteous will surround me,

For You will deal bountifully with me.”

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord! 


Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I will praise the Lord while I live;


I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Do not trust in princes,


In mortal man, 

in whom there is no salvation.

His spirit departs, 

he returns to the earth;


In that very day his thoughts perish.

How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,


Whose hope is in the Lord his God,

Who made heaven and earth,


The sea and all that is in them;


Who keeps faith forever;

Who executes justice for the oppressed;


Who gives food to the hungry.


The Lord sets the prisoners free.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;


The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;


The Lord loves the righteous;

The Lord protects the strangers;


He supports the fatherless and the widow,


But He thwarts the way of the wicked.

The Lord will reign forever,


Your God, O Zion, to all generations.


Praise the Lord!

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A Lovely Cup of Valentine Tea

 Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8

My soul waits in silence for God only;


From Him is my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation,


My stronghold; 

I shall not be greatly shaken...

...My soul, wait in silence for God only,


For my hope is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,


My stronghold; 

I shall not be shaken.

On God my salvation and my glory rest;


The rock of my strength, 

my refuge is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, O people;


Pour out your heart before Him;


God is a refuge for us...

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You are more valuable than many sparrows

I saw him just yesterday at the bird feeder. A male English Sparrow just like all the rest of them around him, but he was kind of ratty looking and he wasn't really trying to eat.  I knew he was towards the end of his life.

I love the LORD and His creation He made for us. I enjoy it every day where ever I am.

I also know of our fallen world, that even the creation groans all through time because of Adam and Eve's choice to rebel against the LORD.

So as I watched this dying sparrow on my feeder my heart ached for the inevitable. I not only ached for this tiny bird, but for all of the sorrows of mankind. 

I didn't see him again until this morning. We have had much snow and bitter cold temperatures. As I walked out to refill the far feeder and birdbath, there he was two feet from the birdbath standing on the snow as if alive. He had not flown or hopped away so I knew he had died right there frozen, looking perfectly fine, although a bit ratty.

It struck me so hard that I wept for this little bird and for all of the sorrows, struggles, and then the end of life for all of us. 

Even so this is not an end.

We have a great God who loves us so. His desire is for us to turn to Him, trust Jesus as our Savior from this fallen world, from our own sins. He is waiting through all time for each one of us to turn to Him in His truth. 

He knows all about you even if you do not know Him.  He knows how many hairs you have on your head, even each one which falls out throughout the day.

He knows His creation and even every single little bird which loses its life--He knows.

Jesus said:

"...What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; 

and what you hear whispered in your ear, 

proclaim on the housetops.

And do not be afraid of those who kill the body 

but are unable to kill the soul; 

but rather fear Him who is able to destroy 

both soul and body in hell.

Are two sparrows not sold for a penny? 

And yet not one of them will fall to the ground 

apart from your Father.

But even the hairs of your head are all counted.

So do not fear; 

you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows."...

Matthew 10: 27-31

If you do not know the LORD God or His Son Jesus Christ you can know Him by reading the Bible. Begin in the book of John. 

When you become a child of God your life will never be the same because you become a new creation in Him. You become white as snow. Isaiah 1:18

..."if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."...

2 Corinthians 5:17

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Jesus lets not one guilty blemish stay!

Jesus' Precious Blood

What sacred fountain yonder springs

Up from the throne of God,

And all new covenant blessings bring?

‘Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What stream can sweep away

My sins just like a flood,

Nor lets one guilty blemish stay?

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What mighty sum paid all my debt,

When I a bondman stood,

And has my soul at freedom set?

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What stream can sweep away

My sins just like a flood,

Nor lets one guilty blemish stay?

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What voice is that which speaks for me

In heaven’s court for good,

And from the curse has set me free?

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What stream can sweep away

My sins just like a flood,

Nor lets one guilty blemish stay?

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What theme, my soul shall best employ

Thy harp before thy God.

And make all heaven to ring with joy?

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What stream can sweep away

My sins just like a flood,

Nor lets one guilty blemish stay?

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

-William J. Irons

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Another big snow and a missed Tea Party

We all looked ahead at the forecast so we planned a special Valentine Tea Party to honor a treasured friend.  

All the preparations were ready, but then a Big Snow was in the forecast for the day before. No problem! The snow would be cleared by then---we thought.

We were all set in the carpool van as we tried 3 ways to get into town. We were still in our own area when we decided if we actually arrived in the city it would be time to get people back home just in time for appointments.

Valentine Tea Party disappointments all around! 

The party in the city had three in attendance. We can know they missed us, but they had a good fellowship together! 

Even though our carpool never left our area, we had a wonderful fellowship together in the warm van, and shared our treats we brought for the tea party. 

Thankful for our safety!

Psalms 89:14-18

..."Righteousness and justice 

are the foundation of Your throne;

Mercy and truth go before You.

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!

Lord, they walk in the light of Your face.

In Your name they rejoice all the day,

And by Your righteousness they are exalted.

For You are the glory of their strength,

And by Your favor our horn is exalted.

For our shield belongs to the Lord,

And our king to the Holy One of Israel."...

 

Robins return in a snowstorm!