These things speak and exhort and reprove.

~Yellowstone FB

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Titus 2 

"But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. 

Let no one disregard you."

*

Joy is in Its Season

Autumn is such a lovely month.

All the harvests, all the changing of colors, the fresh clean air, and all the memories of families throughout the years.

All the baking, the autumn recipe aromas, the clearing out of the yards, and the cleaning of the house to decorate for autumn. The pumpkins from your garden which surprise you, and the placing of them on the porch.

All the get togethers with friends, specials church suppers, autumn drives to see the trees, and field trips with other seniors...

Autumn is Joy in Its Season!

*

People tend to say: "The Mid-west is so Flat!"

-Autumn in the Mid-West USA

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This is a bike trail UP a high slope!

No, the mid-west is not all flat.

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God's Handiwork

 Psalm 19

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;

And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Day to day pours forth speech,

And night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words;

Their voice is not heard.

Their line has gone out through all the earth,

And their utterances to the end of the world.

In them He has placed a tent for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;

It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

Its rising is from one end of the heavens,

And its circuit to the other end of them;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, 

rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, 

enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.

They are more desirable than gold, 

yes, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey 

and the drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;

In keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors? 

Acquit me of hidden faults.

Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;

Let them not rule over me;

Then I will be blameless,

And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and 

the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. 

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Autumn in Glen Lyon, Scotland

-Scotland, FB 

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What happened to the Good Old Days?

-Schulz

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Veterans are Multi-faceted

 

The Super Heroes Among Us

 

Honor Our Country's Freedom: Paid with the High Cost of Lives Lost, and for Those Who Continued to Live.

Honor our Country for it is where we have received such freedom which the rest of the world desperately desires.

Veteran's Day: Our Freedom Protected by all Branches of the Armed Forces

Thank you all!

Meanwhile, Jesus paid it ALL!

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Colossians 1:13-14 ..."For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."...

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Autumn at Highclear

-FB photo

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Still..not as beautiful as the Mid-West, USA!  :o) 

 

Standing on Level Ground

-Scotland FB

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Psalms 26

Vindicate me, Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,


And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.


Examine me, Lord, and put me to the test;


Refine my mind and my heart.


For Your goodness is before my eyes,


And I have walked in Your truth.


I do not sit with deceitful people,


Nor will I go with pretenders.


I hate the assembly of evildoers,


And I will not sit with the wicked.


I will wash my hands in innocence,


And I will go around Your altar, Lord,


That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving


And declare all Your wonders.

Lord, I love the dwelling of Your house,


And the place where Your glory remains.


Do not take my soul away along with sinners,


Nor my life with men of bloodshed,


In whose hands is a wicked scheme,


And whose right hand is full of bribes.


But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;

Redeem me, and be gracious to me.


My foot stands on level ground;


In the congregations I will bless the Lord."

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One Room School

-internet; Iowa One Room School, Forest Grove near Bettendorf

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Just over the Rainbow

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It is a good day for a cookie

 -internet Scotsman cookies

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The Walking Wounded

-Schulz

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Ephesians 4:21-32

"... 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."

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It's the American Way

-PLUGGERS

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"You Do Not Oppress or Mistreat Others."

 -Warthog

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The LORD doesn't just award and bless "you and you and you....."

He doesn't give everyone a "red star" so others think you are wonderful.

The LORD doesn't think "you and you and you..." are better than everyone else, and so discounts everyone else.

He doesn't think "you and you and you..." are the best Christians out there because you do "this and this and this...".

He despises those who twist His own Words to use against others...so be very careful, you who think you are better than all others!

In fact He doesn't appreciate show offs and He hates false pride.

---------

"He wants His servants to be people of a pure heart and a clean mind. 

That sense of character is indispensable for believers to be effective in serving Christ. "

---------

"According to the Bible, God wants people to be kind, humble, and have a pure heart"

--------

"Micah 6:8 is a clear, crisp, and simple summary of what God expects from you and me. 

These three things that matter so much to God are the three things God wants to see in us: 

justice, kindness, and humility. 

To act justly is to treat people fairly and respectfully. 

You do not oppress or mistreat others." 

-----------

Micah 6:8

 

..."He has told you, mortal one, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justice, to love kindness,

And to walk humbly with your God?"...

------------

1 Timothy 2:3-6

..."This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time."...

------------

2 Peter 1:5-11

..."Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the one who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you."...

-----------

Hebrews 10:21-26

..."since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,"...

-------------

Romans 5:8

..."But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"...

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Go then and do likewise :o)

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Living by Our Own Time

-PLUGGERS

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You encircle me with Your strength

-internet Scotland

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Psalm 18

-Abridged

“I love You, Lord, my strength.”

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my savior,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.

............

In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

..............

He also brought me out into an open place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands He has repaid me.

For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not acted wickedly against my God.

For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.

I was also blameless with Him,
And I kept myself from my wrongdoing.

Therefore the Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.

With the faithful You show Yourself faithful;
With the blameless You prove Yourself blameless;

With the pure You show Yourself pure,
And with the crooked You show Yourself astute.

For You save an afflicted people,
But You humiliate haughty eyes.

For You light my lamp;
The Lord my God illumines my darkness.

For by You I can run at a troop of warriors;
And by my God I can leap over a wall.

As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is refined;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God,

The God who encircles me with strength,
And makes my way blameless?

He makes my feet like deer’s feet, And sets me up on my high places.

He trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,
And Your right hand upholds me;
And Your gentleness makes me great.

You enlarge my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped

..............

For You have encircled me with strength for battle;
You have forced those who rose up against me to bow down under me.

 

You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,
And I destroyed those who hated me.

...............

You have rescued me from the contentions of the people;
You have placed me as head of the nations;
A people whom I have not known serve me.

................

The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God of my salvation,

The God who executes vengeance for me,
And subdues peoples under me.

He rescues me from my enemies;
You indeed lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from a violent man.

Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, Lord,
And I will sing praises to Your name.

He gives great salvation to His king,
And shows faithfulness to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forever.

*

A Beautiful Season

 -Internet picture

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Fishers of Men

-internet photo, King Fisher 

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Matthew 4:17-25

Jesus makes Fishers of Men

"..Jesus began to preach and say,

 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

And He *said to them, 

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.

Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.

Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan."...

*

You too can be a fisher of men!

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The Lord sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.

Psalm 145 

I will extol You, my God, O King,


And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless You,


And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

 

Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,


And His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall praise Your works to another,


And shall declare Your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of Your majesty


And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.

Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts,


And I will tell of Your greatness.

They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness


And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful;


Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.

The Lord is good to all,


And His mercies are over all His works.

All Your works shall give thanks to You, 

O Lord,
And Your godly ones shall bless You.

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom


And talk of Your power;

To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts


And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,


And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

 

The Lord sustains all who fall


And raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to You,


And You give them their food in due time.

You open Your hand


And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways


And kind in all His deeds.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,


To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;


He will also hear their cry and will save them.

The Lord keeps all who love Him,


But all the wicked He will destroy.

 

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,


And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

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Protection From Sin

-Scotland FB

*

 Proverbs 3

My son, do not forget my teaching,


But let your heart keep 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 good repute


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;

 

So 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 reproof,

For whom the Lord loves He reproves,


Even as a father corrects the son 

in whom he delights.

 

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom


And the man who gains understanding.

For her profit is better than the profit of silver


And her gain better than fine 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 all who hold her fast.

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,


By understanding He established the heavens.

By His knowledge the deeps were broken up


And the skies drip with dew.

My son, let them not vanish from your sight;


Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

So 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 fear


Nor of the onslaught of 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,”


When you have it with you.

Do not devise harm against your neighbor,


While he lives securely beside you.

 

Do not contend with a man without cause,


If he has done you no harm.

Do not envy a man of violence


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 dwelling of the righteous.

Though He scoffs at the scoffers,


Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.

 

The wise will inherit honor,


But fools display dishonor.

*

Terrifying Storm Clouds

What do you do when you see a terribly dangerous "storm" arising around certain people, but your adult child is able to make his own decisions?

You can "see" all of "this" will turn out in an awful way, but your adult child says he can handle it.

He thinks he will handle it. 

He is an adult and he is in charge of himself, but it turns out that "they" know exactly how to control others...and so, in reality, he can't handle it. 

Thus begins your precious child's life caught in a "web" of control that you can not solve. 

The LORD will solve it His Way

*

What do you do?

Pray for your child! 

For the rest of your life, pray for this child!

Rest in the LORD as you pray for this child!

*

Unjust Suffering

*

Proverbs 3:3-5

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.

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Stop playing with your fruit and eat it!

sent in an email

*

Don't Talk About Spiders!

 

Preserve Your Life! Do Not Consent!

 Proverbs 1:7-19

..."The fear of the Lord is the beginning 

of knowledge;


Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction


And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;


Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head

And ornaments about your neck.


My son, if sinners entice you,


Do not consent.


If they say, “Come with us,


Let us lie in wait for blood,


Let us ambush the innocent without cause;


Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,


Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;


We will find all kinds of precious wealth,


We will fill our houses with spoil;


Throw in your lot with us,


We shall all have one purse,”


My son, do not walk in the way with them.


Keep your feet from their path,


For their feet run to evil


And they hasten to shed blood.


Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net


In the sight of any bird;


But they lie in wait for their own blood;


They ambush their own lives.


So are the ways of everyone 

who gains by violence;


It takes away the life of its possessors."...

*

I Remember Your Name, LORD, in the Night

Psalm 119:49-56

"Remember the word to Your servant,

In which You have made me hope.

This is my comfort in my affliction,

That Your word has revived me.

The arrogant utterly deride me,

Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.

I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, 

O Lord,

And comfort myself.

Burning indignation has seized me 

because of the wicked,

Who forsake Your law.

Your statutes are my songs

In the house of my pilgrimage.

O Lord, 

I remember Your name in the night,

And keep Your law.

This has become mine,

That I observe Your precepts."

*

 

Children of God: You are the Apple of His Eye

Psalm 17:6-8

I have called upon You, 

for You will answer me, 

O God;

Incline Your ear to me, 

hear my speech.

Wondrously show Your lovingkindness,

O Savior of those who take

refuge at Your right hand

From those who rise up against them.

Keep me as the apple of the eye;

Hide me in the shadow of Your wings

*

Proverbs 7:1-5

My son, keep my words

And treasure my commandments within you.

Keep my commandments and live,

And my teaching as the apple of your eye.

Bind them on your fingers;

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

 

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

And call understanding your intimate friend;

 

That they may keep you from an adulteress,

From the foreigner who flatters with her words.

Zechariah 2:6-10

“Ho there! 

Flee from the land of the north,” 

declares the Lord,

 “for I have dispersed you as the four winds 

of the heavens,” 

declares the Lord.

“Ho, Zion! Escape, 

you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” 

For thus says the Lord of hosts, 

“After glory He has sent me against the nations 

which plunder you,

for he who touches you, 

touches the apple of His eye.

For behold, I will wave My hand over them 

so that they will be plunder for their slaves. 

Then you will know that the Lord of hosts 

has sent Me.

Sing for joy and be glad, 

O daughter of Zion; 

for behold I am coming and 

I will dwell in your midst,” 

declares the Lord. "

*

 *The phrase "the apple of one's eye" refers to a vulnerable spot that is protected and cherished. 

For example, God held the Israelites as the apple of His eye, even though they were rebellious.

*