Life use to seem so easy, breezy...

-Blue Angels, C-130, by Glenn

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When did life become so wearing?

I remember those sweet days of a young family and life went well. The LORD is our Hope.

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"One of the mysteries of the ages is why the political left has, for centuries, lavished so much attention on the well-being of criminals and paid so little attention to their victims.

-Thomas Sowell

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The LORD is With Those Who Love Him

-Pelican, internet

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A little bird I am,

   Shut from the fields of air,

And in my cage I sit and sing

   To Him who placed me there;

Well pleased a prisoner to be,

   Because, My God, it pleases Thee.

My cage confines me round,

   Freely I cannot fly,

But though my wings are closely bound,

   My soul is at liberty;

For prison walls cannot control

   The flight of freedom of the soul.

-unknown 

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Genesis 39:20-21,23

..."So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail. But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper."...

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"When God allows us to go to prison because of our service to Him, it is nearly the most blessed place in the world that we could be, because He goes with us.  

Joseph seems to have known this truth.  He did not sulk, become discouraged, and rebellious, or engage in self-pity by thinking "everything was against him".  If he had done so, the prison warden would never have trusted him.

May we remember that if self-pity is allowed to set in, we will never be used by God again until it is totally removed.

Joseph simply placed everything in joyful trust upon the Lord, and as a result, the prison warden placed everything into Joseph's care."

-unknown

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The Importance of Knowing About History

-photo: Alistair Begg

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from Understanding the Times:

..."History is the study of the way people, based on various religious worldviews, act through time to accomplish their goals. 

The study of history is vital because by looking back on the past we can see how people’s decisions affected their fellow humans’ ability to flourish. 

As George Santayana famously admonished, 

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” 

We thus need an accurate view of the past if we are to sustain trends toward greater wealth, justice, and sustainability. 

History can guide us to learn from our mistakes, act rightly in our current circumstances, and get better over time."...

-Jeff Myers & David A. Noebel, Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews, pg.472

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'How Sweet it is to fall into the embrace of the LORD's blessed arms!'

-internet image

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"It is not necessary to be continually speaking to God, or always hearing from God, in order to have communion or fellowship with Him, for there is an unspeakable fellowship that is sweeter than words.

A little child can sit all day long beside his mother, totally engrossed in his playing, while his mother is consumed by her work, and although both are busy and few words are spoken by either, they are in perfect fellowship.  The child knows his mother is there, and she knows that he is all right.

In the same way, a believer and his Savior can continue many hours in the silent fellowship of love.  And although the believer may be busy with ordinary things of life, he can be mindful that every detail of his life is touched by the character of God's presence, and can have the awareness of His approval and blessing.

Then when troubled with burdens and difficulties too complicated to put into words and too puzzling to express or fully understand; how sweet it is to fall into the embrace of His blessed arms and to simply sob out the sorrow that we cannot speak!"

-unknown

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Romans  8:26-27

..."In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."...

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Choosing to be Kind

Living our lives among unfriendly, unkind people is difficult, to say the least.

If certain people claim to be Christians, for us, it can be extremely hurtful.

Even so, We can choose to rise above their words and hurtful attitudes of us--the LORD is our comfort: He is our strength.

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."...

Ephesians 4:17-32

..."So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members 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.

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, 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.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

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

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Those Who Live for Jesus...

-Chatfield 

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Isaiah 40:28-31

..."Do you not know? 

Have you not heard?

The Everlasting God, the Lord,

the Creator of the ends of the earth

does not become weary or tired.

His understanding is inscrutable.

 

He gives strength to the weary,

and to him who lacks might He increases power.

Though youths grow weary and tired,

and vigorous young men stumble badly,

yet those who wait for the Lord

will gain 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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Husbands and Wives Should be Similar...

-The Yellowstone Yellow Bus

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 "The husband and wife should be similar to the hand and the eye.

When the hand hurts, the eyes should be crying.

And when the eyes cry, the hand should wipe away the tears."

-Christian, John Chrysostom

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Exhort, being Examples, Firm in Your Faith

-internet

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1 Peter 5

"Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. 

Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen."

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God's Amazing Creation in Birds

--Thank you, Josh Atkinson, Marietta, Ohio

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Matthew 6:25-33

..."I say to you, 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."...

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Do Not Allow Your Liberty to Be Given Up

-Chatfield

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"They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

-Benjamin Franklin (1759)

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Strength to Overcome

-meme

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1 Peter 5:6-11

..."Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. 

Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen."...

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The Dangers of Self-righteousness

-P-40E Warhawk

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"Self-righteousness is the devil's masterpiece to make us think well of ourselves."

-Charles Haddon Spurgeon

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Luke 18:9-14

..."And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 

‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 

‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’

I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Praise the LORD!

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Tale of Two Artists

 -P-47D,1/48 scale, by Glenn; tole painted stool, by Jill; ~50 yrs ago

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"Marriage isn’t just about falling in love.

It’s about staying in love when life gets heavy.

It’s choosing the same person after long workdays, 

unpaid bill, misunderstandings, and moments 

when both of you are exhausted.

Real marriage is built in the ordinary days, 

not the perfect ones."

-Almost Said

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We must recognize God in Government

"Without God, there could be no American form of Government, nor an American way of life. 

"Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first—the most basic—expression of Americanism. 

"Thus the Founding Fathers saw it, and thus, with God’s help, it will continue to be."

-Dwight D. Eisenhower

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"Keep Calm and Carry On in Your Car"

 -Yellowstone FB

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Beautiful animals, but 

respect their comfort zone, 

and your safety:

Stay in Your Car!

The signs are posted everywhere in Yellowstone and yet people choose poorly.

There are signs for us also:

2 Samuel 22:31-34

...“As for God, His way is blameless;

The word of the Lord is tested;

He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

“For who is God, besides the Lord?

And who is a rock, besides our God?

 

“God is my strong fortress;

And He sets the blameless in His way.

“He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,

And sets me on my high places."...

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Far Beneath the Bitter Snow...

 -internet

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"The Rose”

Some say, "Love. It is a river

That drowns the tender reed"

Some say, "Love. It is a razor

That leaves your soul to bleed"

Some say, "Love. It is a hunger

An endless aching need"

I say, "Love. It is a flower

And you its only seed"

It's the heart afraid of breaking

That never learns to dance

It's the dream afraid of waking

That never takes the chance

It's the one who won't be taken

Who cannot seem to give

And the soul afraid of dyin'

That never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely

And the road has been too long

And you think that love is only

For the lucky and the strong

Just remember in the winter

Far beneath the bitter snow

Lies the seed that with the sun's love

In the spring becomes the rose.

-Amanda McBroom

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Good Ol' Ben

-meme

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Another year to live for the LORD and Glorify His Holy Name!

-Charles Schulz

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