It's Dangerous Out There

"The wicked strut about on every side
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men." Psalms 12:8 
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"The world is a dangerous place to live; 
not because of the people who are evil, 
but because of the people who don't do anything about it."

--Albert Einstein

Psalms 12
Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be,
For the faithful disappear from among the 
sons of men.

They speak falsehood to one another;
With flattering lips and with a double heart 
they speak.

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that speaks great things;

Who have said, “With our tongue we will 
prevail; Our lips are our own; 
who is lord over us?”

“Because of the devastation of the afflicted, 
because of the groaning of the needy,
Now I will arise,” says the Lord; 
“I will set him in the safety for which 
he longs.”

The words of the Lord are pure words;
As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, 
refined seven times.

You, O Lord, will keep them;
You will preserve him from this 
generation forever.

The wicked strut about on every side
When vileness is exalted among the 
sons of men.
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God's creation peeking out

Life's Troubles and Medical Terms

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John 14:1

“Do not let your heart be troubled; 
believe in God, believe also in Me.

Romans 12:9-18

"Let love be without hypocrisy. 

Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; 

give preference to one another in honor;

not lagging behind in diligence, 

fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, 

devoted to prayer, contributing to 

the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; 

bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, 

and weep with those who weep.

Be of the same mind toward one another; 

do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. 

Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. 

Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, 

be at peace with all men.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart, 

but though our outer man is decaying, 

yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us 

an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

while we look not at the things which are seen, 

but at the things which are not seen; 

for the things which are seen are temporal, 

but the things which are not seen are eternal.

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His Eye Is on the Sparrow

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me (He watches me)
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches
I know He watches
I know He watches me

I sing because I´m happy
I sing because I´m free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me (He watches me)
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me (He watches me)
He watches me
I know
He watches
Me

-Hill & Blount

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Matthew 6:25-34

"...do not be worried about your life, 

as to what you will eat or what you will drink; 

nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 

Is not life more than food, 

and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, 

nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet 

your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not worth much more than they?

And who of you by being worried can add a 

single hour to his life?

And why are you worried about clothing? 

Observe how the lilies of the field grow; 

they do not toil nor do they spin, 

yet I say to you that not even Solomon 

in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, 

which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown 

into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? 

You of little faith!

Do not worry then, saying, 

‘What will we eat?’ or 

‘What will we drink?’ or 

‘What will we wear for clothing?’

For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; 

for your heavenly Father knows that you need 

all these things.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, 

and all these things will be added to you.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; 

for tomorrow will care for itself. 

Each day has enough trouble of its own."

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Gratitude

"In many ways, gratitude is the most important of all the good character traits. 

It is the most indispensable trait to both happiness and goodness. 

One can neither be a happy person nor a good person without gratitude. 

The less gratitude one has, the more one sees oneself as a victim; and nothing is more likely to produce a bad person or a bad group than defining oneself or one’s group as a victim. 

Victims, having been hurt, too often believe they have a license to hurt others. 

As for happiness, if you think of all the people you know, you will not be able to name one who is ungrateful and happy. The two are mutually exclusive."

Dennis Prager, The Rational Bible, Exodus: God, Slavery, and Freedom, pg.440
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I have dealt with legalisms, cult behavior, and even perpetual victims in this blog.  

Each one has their "Red Flags" in which to be aware. 

Each one with wrong and selfish characteristics.  

Each one self-serving. 

Each one producing even more grumpiness than when they began. 

The happiness these kinds of people do have is conniving their evil plans, manipulating others, and happily hurting anyone they can. 

*Beware of any Red Flags in all of your relationships*

And make sure you continue to be a thankful, happy person even when you have been hurt by other people.  It is well worth it!

One winter's day...

One winter's day so many, many years ago - so many years ago when we had little people and just one car - I had kept the car that certain day.  

On the way home from picking up my Beloved in the evening on the highway which USED TO be way out in the country a beautiful Snowy Owl flew across the road in front of us.  Oh how exciting and how lovely it was!

Never again have we seen one, but I will never forget that special day!

God's creation up front and personal!

*internet photo

Your Character

Never lie 
to someone 
who trusts you 
and never trust 
someone who lies to you.


Proverbs 12:22
"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight."

Colossians 3:9-10
"Do not lie to one another, since you laid 
aside the old self with its evil practices,
and have put on the new self who is being 
renewed to a true knowledge according to 
the image of the One who created him—"

* what does the Bible say about lying?

A Promise is a Promise

Genesis 9
"...God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making 
between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, 
for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it 
shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.

It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the 
bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, 
which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; 
and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.

When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember 
the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of 
all flesh that is on the earth.”

And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have 
established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”...

Psalm 27:1
"The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?"

Romans 10:9-13
if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, 
and believe in your heart that God raised Him 
from the dead, you will be saved; for with the 
heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, 
and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him 
will not be disappointed.”

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; 
for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches 
for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the 
name of the Lord will be saved.”

Philippians 4:4-9
"...Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. 
The Lord is near.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer 
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests 
be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which 
surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and 
your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, 
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 
whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and 
if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

The things you have learned and received and heard and 
seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace 
will be with you...."
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Getting along: If only life was this easy!

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Romans 12:14-21

 Bless those who persecute you; 

bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, 

and weep with those who weep.

Be of the same mind toward one another; 

do not be haughty in mind, 

but associate with the lowly. 

Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. 

Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

If possible, 

so far as it depends on you, 

be at peace with all men.

Never take your own revenge, beloved,

but leave room for the wrath of God, 

for it is written, 

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” 

says the Lord. 

“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, 

and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; 

for in so doing you will 

heap burning coals on his head.” 

Do not be overcome by evil, 

but overcome evil with good.

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Be interested!

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The world is a beautiful place! Enjoy the LORD's Creation!

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Psalm 118:19-29

I shall enter through them, 

I shall give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;


The righteous will enter through it.

I shall give thanks to You, 

for You have answered me,


And You have become my salvation.

The stone which the builders rejected


Has become the chief corner stone.

This is the Lord’s doing;


It is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day which the Lord has made;


Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

O Lord, do save, we beseech You;


O Lord, we beseech You, 

do send prosperity!

Blessed is the one who comes 

in the name of the Lord;


We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God, 

and He has given us light;


Bind the festival sacrifice 

with cords to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, 

and I give thanks to You;


You are my God, I extol You.

Give thanks to the Lord, 

for He is good;


For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

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Cookies!

Thankful for the men who kept our Freedom!

Thank you Charles Schulz

He knows you

2 Timothy 2
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is 
in Christ Jesus.  The things which you have heard from 
me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these 
to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of 
Christ Jesus.  No soldier in active service entangles 
himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may 
please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win 
the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 

The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive 
his share of the crops.

Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you 
understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, 
descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which 
I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; 
but the word of God is not imprisoned. For this reason I 
endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, 
so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in 
Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

It is a trustworthy statement:

For if we died with Him, 
we will also live with Him;

If we endure, we will also reign with Him;

If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, 
for He cannot deny Himself.

Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them 
in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, 
which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a 
workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately 
handling the word of truth.  But avoid worldly and empty 
chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their 
talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus 
and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth 
saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and 
they upset the faith of some.

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, 
having this seal, 

“The Lord knows those who are His,” and, 

“Everyone who names the name of the Lord is 
to abstain from wickedness.”

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver 
vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and 
some to honor and some to dishonor.  Therefore, if anyone 
cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for 
honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every 
good work.

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, 
faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord 
from a pure heart.

But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that 
they produce quarrels.

The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but 
be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, 
if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to 
the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their 
senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having 
been held captive by him to do his will."
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Grumbling

 Philippians 2:12-16a
"...my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life..." 

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Cults, Totalitarian Regimes, Control, and Manipulation

Children, Honor Your Parents

"Yet another reason why honoring parents and long enduring civilization are connected is strong families form a major bulwark against totalitarian regimes. 

A standard feature of totalitarian regimes is the shifting of children’s loyalty and obedience from their parents to the state. One of the first things totalitarian regimes seek to do is weaken parental authority and replace it with the party or state. 

In such countries, children are encouraged to inform on their parents if they make critical comments—or even tell jokes—about government leaders or about the dominant ideology (in the modern period, that would almost always refer to communism, Nazism, or radical Islamism). 

Consequently, parents would often fear to speak openly in front of their children."

Dennis Prager, The Rational Bible, Exodus: God, Slavery, and Freedom, pg.258

People who have no foundation

People who have no foundation in the God of the Bible are like a tree with shallow roots receiving no nutrients.  Their lives go on in fruitless pursuits which they truly believe are good, but in actuality their roots hang with no supports, no nutrients.

As for the people who have the LORD God of the Bible as their foundation, they are connected, sustained, nourished, protected, dearly loved, saved by the Almighty. 

Ephesians 2
 "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 
in which you formerly walked according to the course of this 
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the
spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, 
indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by 
nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love 
with which He loved us, even when we were dead in 
our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ 
(by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with 
Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in 
Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show 
the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward 
us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and 
that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a 
result of works, so that no one may boast. 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for 
good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we 
would walk in them.

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, 
who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” 
which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember 
that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded 
from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the 
covenants of promise, having no hope and without God 
in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off 
have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into 
oneand broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 
by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in 
Himself He might make the two into one new man, 
thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both 
in one body to God through the cross, by it having put 
to death the enmity.

And He came and preached peace to you who were far 
away, and peace to those who were near; for through 
Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you 
are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s 
household,having been built on the foundation of the 
apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the 
cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted 
together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling 
of God in the Spirit."
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The One who lifts my head

Psalm 3

O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!


Many are rising up against me.

Many are saying of my soul,


“There is no deliverance for him in God.” 

But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,


My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

I was crying to the Lord with my voice,


And He answered me from His holy mountain. 

I lay down and slept;


I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people


Who have set themselves against me round about.

Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!


For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;


You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.

Salvation belongs to the Lord;


Your blessing be upon Your people! 

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