“Cease striving and know that I am God"

 -Alistair Begg

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Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,


A very present help in trouble.


Therefore we will not fear, 

though the earth should change


And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;


Though its waters roar and foam,


Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,


The holy dwelling places of the Most High.


God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;


God will help her when morning dawns.


The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;


He raised His voice, the earth melted.


The Lord of hosts is with us;


The God of Jacob is our stronghold. 

Come, behold the works of the Lord,


Who has wrought desolations in the earth.


He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;


He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;


He burns the chariots with fire.


“Cease striving and know that I am God;


I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth.”


The Lord of hosts is with us;


The God of Jacob is our stronghold. 

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Be Still And Know             by Jay Stocker

Be still my soul

Be still and know that He is God

Rest quietly

Rest in His loving arms for--

He is watching over you

Ever faithful, ever true

So be still my soul

Be still and know that He is God.

Be still my soul

Be still and listen for His voice

Rest in His peace

Knowing how much He cares for-- 

He is watching over you

Ever faithful, ever true

So be still my soul

Be still and know that He is God.

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Psalm 37

7a "...Rest in the Lord 

and wait patiently for Him..."

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Preach the Word; Be Ready-with Great Patience...

-Iowa Country Road

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2 Timothy 4
 

..."I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 

But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 

Only Luke is with me. 

Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 

But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 

When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. 

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 

Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.

At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. 

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. 

Make every effort to come before winter. 

Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you."

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2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 2

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Trust Jesus as your own Savior. 

He is the  One and Only.

Bible Gateway

Bible Hub 

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Putting Out Fires

-Candair CL215

Firefighter

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2 Timothy 3

..."But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 

For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 

But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 

But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

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TRUST in Jesus as your own Savior! 

In the Bible find John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

NOW...read His Word and LIVE your life for Him!

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Trainers Come in Many Shapes

-North American T-6G Texan, s/n 49-3367, photographed 8/6/95 at the Aurora, IL air show.

Remanufactured  from unknown older T-6 or SNJ. 

Photo by Glenn Chatfield

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Proverbs 22:6

..."Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it."...

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2 Timothy 3:14-17

..."continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

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Psalm 139

"O Lord, You have searched me and known me.


You know when I sit down and when I rise up;


You understand my thought from afar.


You scrutinize my path and my lying down,


And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.


Even before there is a word on my tongue,


Behold, O Lord, You know it all.


You have enclosed me behind and before,


And laid Your hand upon me.


Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;


It is too high, I cannot attain to it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?


Or where can I flee from Your presence?


If I ascend to heaven, You are there;


If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.


If I take the wings of the dawn,


If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,


Even there Your hand will lead me,


And Your right hand will lay hold of me.


If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,


And the light around me will be night,”


Even the darkness is not dark to You,


And the night is as bright as the day.


Darkness and light are alike to You.

For You formed my inward parts;


You wove me in my mother’s womb.


I will give thanks to You, 

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;


Wonderful are Your works,


And my soul knows it very well.


My frame was not hidden from You,


When I was made in secret,


And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;


Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;


And in Your book were all written


The days that were ordained for me,


When as yet there was not one of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!


How vast is the sum of them!


If I should count them, 

they would outnumber the sand.


When I awake, I am still with You.

O that You would slay the wicked, O God;


Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.


For they speak against You wickedly,


And Your enemies take Your name in vain.


Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord?


And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?


I hate them with the utmost hatred;


They have become my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;


Try me and know my anxious thoughts;


And see if there be any hurtful way in me,


And lead me in the everlasting way.

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There are Fifty Things

-English Ivy with hot pink Impatiens

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There are fifty things I will always remember and fifty things I will always and forever give thanks for - to our loving God and Savior, Jesus! Praises to His Name and Glory forever!!

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The Road Before You: Choices

-Rural Iowa

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-Read the Bible for God's Wisdom

-Read God's Word, the Bible, to learn of Him

-Choosing Obedience to Honor God
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Psalm 11:10

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever."

Proverbs 1:7

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

Fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Prov 2:6

"For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding."

Prov 11:2

"When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom."

Prov 15:33

"The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility."

Matthew 7:24-27

 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Romans 11:33-36

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 

Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. 

To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

Ephesians 1:15-23

"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. 

These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."

Colossians 4:5-6

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."

James 1:2-6

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind."

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 May the LORD be glorified by our choices!

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Speeding Through Life?

- North American T-6G Texan, s/n 49-3365, photographed 4/17/87 at DuPage Airport, West Chicago. 2nd photo was shot from the tower after 

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield: "I asked the pilot for a fly-by!"

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We can go speeding through life until we realize that Jesus will never leave you. He is your only safe place.

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When your sky is cold and lonely

And your heart is filled with fear

I will wrap My arms around you

Know that I am here

And I will keep you safe and sound

Through the darkness that surrounds

I will never leave you

Nor forsake you

Know that I am with you

You will never be alone

When your way is bright and glowing

And your soul knows no despair

Can you hear Me singing with you?

In your triumph I will share

For I am watching over you

And I rejoice in all you do

So remember, never doubt this

Hold it tightly to your heart

I'm forever, always with you

I will be right where you are

-written by Jay Stocker

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Hebrews 13:5-6

"Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 

“I will never desert you, 

nor will I ever forsake you,”

so that we confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper, 

I will not be afraid.


What will man do to me?”

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Just for Fun

-ROSE is ROSE 

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Waiting for the LORD; Gaining New Strength!

-Iowa Skyline

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Those who put their hope in the LORD

Will renew their strength

They will run and not grow weary

They will walk and not faint

They will fly like an eagle

Soar through the sky

Far above the storm

They will glide on the cool breeze

Safe from the fight

Those who put their trust in Jesus

Those who have their hope in the Lord

-written by Jay Stocker

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'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord!"

-written by Louisa Stead

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Isaiah 40:31

"Yet those who wait for the Lord

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary."

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All from Hidden in My Heart, a lullaby journey through Scriptures, CD

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Photos from the Past

-Pickles 

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A Reality Can Open Minds to Truths

-internet meme

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 This speaks volumes.

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Time to Think Through Truths

 

Yellowstone National Park: Warnings are Posted Everywhere! Be Careful Out There!

 -Internet meme

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We have been to Yellowstone many times through the years. There have always been warning signs.

Wild Life are WILD. Watch and enjoy them from a distance.

It is still fascinating to see all of nature at a distance.

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Lest We Ever Forget....

-internet T-shirt

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Our Freedom comes with a High Cost

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Playing in the Dirt: My Normal Past Time

-PLUGGERS

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The Joy of Watching Corn

-Internet

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 I have lived in small towns with farm lands all around and I have lived near big cities where farm land still exists on the way home. 

There is a calmness I feel driving alongside newly germinated corn, and in every stage it grows through -all the way to the harvest. 

Some corn fields I drive past at this time have corn "as high as an elephant's eye" and others are probably up to the knees.  

No matter what stage it is a beautiful sight for me!

Watching the corn grow!

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Enjoy A Sweet PLUGGERS

-PLUGGERS

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I have the Best One!

-meme

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Happy Birthday USA!!!

 -Kinsman

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Happy Birthday USA!

-internet

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Happy Birthday USA! Freedom!

-photo taken at grocery store
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Happy Fourth of July!

-Flag images 

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 Under Our Flag

The sun rises on a proud flag raised high: 

With stripes of red and white, 

and a field of stars on blue.

Under its watch, we go about our lives

Laughing and playing.

Enjoying all the freedoms it symbolizes.

Under its bold waving,

A child looks up...and steps up,

A fire-lit purpose in their heart

To fight and defend those freedoms.

For their family...and ours.

They fight with all they have:

For us, for their country,

They put everything on the line.

Until under a draped flag,

They come home.

The sun rises on a proud flag

Dancing in the late spring sky

And we remember them all,

Brave soldiers.

We honor all they gave.

-Alison West, 2025

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Happy Birthday America! from the Peanuts Gang

-Snoopy and Friends

internet

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Let Freedom Reign!

 

Two Hundred Fifty years! Happy Birthday USA!

-internet

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A Fourth of July Kitty Flag

-Kitty flag on internet

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Thankful for our Free Country

-internet

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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History

American Legion

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I can't keep quiet, I'm Scottish!

-internet t-shirt 

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A Great Love and A Great Loss

-PLUGGERS 

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Please remember our friends and families who have lost their loved ones, even if long ago, who stood up and chose to represent the USA, losing their lives during or after their service time. Many who are still alive walk in silence concerning their pain and sorrows.

Jesus knows our private sorrows.

Hebrews 4:14-16

..."Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

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Oh, LORD! Have Mercy!

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The WW1 Flying Ace flying above the clouds...

-Charles Schulz

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Happy Father's Day!

 -TOWNHALL.COM

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Too Many Trucks?!

 -KiddlyCuddly T-shirt

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In God's Creation

-found in a nearby cemetery

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The sentiment on this grave stone is precious and sweet.

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Real Life for a PLUGGER

-PLUGGERS 

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When they vehemently say:" We are not a cult!"---It is probably a cult.

-internet image 

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"Every cult manual starts here. 

Isolate the members. 

Sever outside relationships. 

Make the group the ONLY source of 

identity and belonging."

Mike Bski, A Cult?

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Our Nation's Flag Day!

-internet

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There are many flags in many lands,

There are flags of every hue;

But there is no flag, however grand,

Like our own Red, White, and Blue.

-Mary Howliston

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Our Great God's Creation is Awesome!

-meme

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Hummingbirds and Water!

-Stephen Brooks, internet

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 Learn a lot of Science

"A little science distances you from God, but a lot of science brings you nearer to him."

-Louis Pasteur

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