Remember Who!

1 Peter 1:17-21

..."If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, 

conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 

but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, 

but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, 

who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, 

so that your faith and hope are in God."...

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Glory! Glory! Glory!

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Snow Kitties!

~internet photo 

White as Snow!

Isaiah 1:18

...“Come now, 

and let us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They will be like wool."...

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Little Ones are Always Watching

"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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Little ones watch their elders and easily mimic their behavior, good or bad. Be very careful who you are, how you behave, as others are watching you, especially young children.

In the 1970's there was a commercial which dramatically showed how a young son mimics, following everything his father does. 

 This was significant as it showed how children trust everything you do - even things which are dangerous.

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Proverbs 22

"A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,

Favor is better than silver and gold.

The rich and the poor have a common bond,

The Lord is the maker of them all.

The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,

But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord

Are riches, honor and life...

...Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;

He who guards himself will be far from them.

Train up a child in the way he should go,

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

...He who loves purity of heart

And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,

But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man...

...Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,

And apply your mind to my knowledge;

For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,

That they may be ready on your lips.

So that your trust may be in the Lord,

I have taught you today, even you...

...Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

Or crush the afflicted at the gate;

For the Lord will plead their case

And take the life of those who rob them....

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Who you are, how you behave, how you treat others matters. It matters to the LORD, it matters to your children, it matters to anyone you know or meet.

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Manipulation and Control

Who do you talk with and who really listens to you?

The world is full of people who do not care about you and others who desire to control you.

No matter who you are your own job is to always be discerning with the people you have in your life.

...But perhaps you have fallen into the wrong crowd?

Are these people seemingly always critical of you?

Do these people make fun of you on a regular basis?

Are these people bossy, running your life, ruining your life, controlling your life?

Do these people use eisegesis--reading and teaching what they want the Bible to say to control you and others?

Do they make a "show" of liking you, but in reality, you can tell they really do not care about you?

Are these people taking advantage of you?

Are these people making you the "but" of their jokes; making fun of you, not considering your feelings?

Does anyone in this group stick up for you?

Do you ever feel alone even when you are with these people?

Do you ever feel used or abuse with these people?

Are these people talking about you behind your back?

Do you sometimes feel like a victim?

Is their control of your life beginning to hold you back or bothering you?

Have other people outside your group questioned why you are with them?

Are others concerned for you because you are with these

controlling people?

Are you "allowed" to have your own life or do these people consume your life?

Has your life been seemingly "run" by these people as your years slip by?

These people could be in your own family or someone else's family.

All of these questions are things which you should be critically thinking about and discerning concerning your own life.

All of these questions are questions I would be asking of you because I would be concerned you were being abused, controlled, manipulated, deceived, indoctrinated, used, lied to---because all of these questions are Red Flags for abuse.

If any one of these questions concern you about yourself---***privately ask another person (an outsider) for help discerning truth to get safely away from your abusers so you can learn to think for yourself again.

There is always hope. The LORD hears our innermost being. He understands our groans! (Romans 8:24-27)

You can be safe in Him! 

You can have victory away from your abusers!

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Psalm 17:6-9 

..."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

From the wicked 

who despoil me,

My deadly enemies 

who surround me."...

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The "Hit and Miss" Theory

"When you study the Bible hit and miss, you miss more than you hit."

-God's little answer book

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Colossians 3:16-17

..."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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Warm puppies all the time...kitties will do also!

 

The Wiles of Temptation

"Temptations seldom come through the front door of life.  They slip through open windows 

and slide down the chimney."

~God's Little Answer Book

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1 Corinthians 10:13

..."No temptation has overtaken you 

but such as is common to man;

 and God is faithful, 

who will not allow you 

to be tempted beyond 

what you are able, 

but with the temptation 

will provide the way of escape also, 

so that you will be able to endure it."...

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Kitty Cats: Just Silly

 

The Sweetest Song

 "The sweetest song can come from a broken heart."

~God's Little Answer Book"

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Psalm 56:8-13

..."You have taken account of my wanderings;

Put my tears in Your bottle.

Are they not in Your book?

Then my enemies will turn back 

in the day when I call;

This I know, that God is for me.

In God, whose word I praise,

In the Lord, whose word I praise,

In God I have put my trust, 

I shall not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

 

Your vows are binding upon me, O God;

I will render thank offerings to You.

For You have delivered my soul from death,

Indeed my feet from stumbling,

So that I may walk before God

In the light of the living."

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Spiders: what can I say?

 ~Schulz

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Prepare Yourselves: We are Sheep among Wolves

"A sheep never teases a wolf.  

It knows you can't play with the enemy and not suffer the consequences."

~God's Little Answer Book

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Matthew 10:16-20

Jesus said,...“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; 

so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.

But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues;

and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; 

for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.

For it is not you who speak, 

but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."...

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Sweeter than Whipped Cream

 

What gift should you give?

"The best gift you can give your grandchildren is to take their parents to church."

~God's Little Answer Book

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Psalm 12:6-7

..."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."...

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This one is for my father:

My precious father not only had his Ham radio license, N8AEG, since he was young by building his own radio, but he also raised homing pigeons until long after I left the "nest".

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The 8th of January: a little history.

 The 8th of January

January 8, 1815

Red Coats vs the Americans

The Battle of New Orleans

LEGO version

Oh, Boy...Somebody is in Trouble...

 

Jesus' mercy and grace is on display in we sinners who are saved by His marvelous grace.

..."a saint is someone who is no longer under condemnation for sin; or controlled by sin.

A saint is someone who has been humbled by the reality of her sinful impulses, her sin-infected motives, and her sin-stained record.

But instead of being constantly crushed by this reality, she finds herself constantly grateful for a far greater reality -- the reality of the grace and mercy extended to her in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

This grace keeps drawing her to turn toward Christ in sorrow over her sin.

She keeps finding that this grace is giving her power to forsake sin.

This grace is freely available to the last person you expect to become a Christian, whether that person is someone you see on the news, in your family photo, at your workplace, or in the mirror.

But it must be received.

Look at Saul, the Hebrew of Hebrews, who became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles; a blasphemer who became a believer, a predator who became a preacher, a terrorist who became a theologian, a law-keeper who became a grace-receiver, a scoundrel who became a saint.

See and know that Jesus loves to put his mercy and grace on display in the lives of the worst of sinners."

- Nancy Guthrie, Saints and Scoundrels in the Story of Jesus: the Worst

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Marvelous Grace of our Loving Lord

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary's mount out-poured–

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,

Threaten the soul with infinite loss;

Grace that is greater– yes, grace untold–

Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

All who are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

-Julia Johnston

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1 John 1:5-9

..."This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."

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Let's Leave and Cleave

 Genesis 2:18-24

..."Then the Lord God said, 

“It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”...

...The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.

So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.

The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.

The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed."

Proverbs 12:4

..."An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,

But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones."...

Proverbs 19:13-14

..."A foolish son is destruction to his father,

And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,

But a prudent wife is from the Lord."...

Proverbs 27:15-16

..."A constant dripping on a day of steady rain

And a contentious woman are alike;

He who would restrain her restrains the wind,

And grasps oil with his right hand."...

Mark 10:7-9

..."But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.

What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”...

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If you love the LORD then Follow Him!

LEAVE and CLEAVE!

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Memories which continue to encourage me

Every season brings happy memories of my sweet mother.

Bakings, makings, decoratings, moving furniture...to sitting and enjoying the breezes and listening to the wind through the pines.

So many things remind me of her. I lost her too soon -at age 67- but every thing about her comes out in me. 

The homemaking things I love to do - she taught me to do them.

The way she loved on each of us, family, and friends is instilled in me.

I will never cook as well as she did, but I sure can bake her cookies just as well!

I love to clean up the house after a season, and rearrange the furniture which still surprises everyone!

I love to make and create sewing, crocheting, crafts, miniatures...she saw this in me as a little one. I still have embroidery she had me doing when I was so young, and the doll house she bought at a moving sale which she eventually gave to me at age 5....

I cannot separate her from whom I became and I didn't realize this until she was with the LORD.  I am so very thankful for all of what my mother gave in me.

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God's Miracle of Love and Grace

It Took a Miracle

My Father is omnipotent,

and that you can´t deny;

A God of might and miracles,

´tis written in the sky.

 

It took a miracle to put the stars in place;

It took a miracle to hang the world in space.

But when he saved my soul,

Cleansed and made me whole,

It took a miracle of love and grace.

 

Though here His glory has been shown, 

we still can’t fully see

The wonders of His might, His throne, 

t’will take eternity.

It took a miracle to put the stars in place;

It took a miracle to hang the world in space.

But when he saved my soul,

Cleansed and made me whole,

It took a miracle of love and grace.

The Bible tells us of His power 

and wisdom all way through;

And every little bird 

and flower are testimonies too.

It took a miracle to put the stars in place;

It took a miracle to hang the world in space.

But when he saved my soul,

Cleansed and made me whole,

It took a miracle of love and grace.

The greatness of the Lord 

is seen in everything He made,

But greater far the work He did 

when on Him my sin was laid.

It took a miracle to put the stars in place;

It took a miracle to hang the world in space.

But when he saved my soul,

Cleansed and made me whole,

It took a miracle of love and grace.

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~John Peterson

2 Corinthians 5:17

..."Therefore if anyone is in Christ, 

he is a new creature; 

the old things passed away; 

behold, new things have come."...

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