Friday, May 9, 2025

Joy because of the LORD!

-unknown meme
*


 ..."Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”...
*


..."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."...
*


..."Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."...
*


..."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."...
*



..."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."...
*


..."the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."...
*

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

"Is this life all there is?"

-Alistair Begg Devotions
 *

..."When God is taken out of the equation, life truly has no meaning...

…read the rest of the Bible and you will discover that you may receive eternal life by trusting in Him who said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)...

...Only through Jesus will you discover life’s true meaning and find the reason why all is not vanity. 

Only if you remember there is life beyond the grave will you be able to live with joy, and meet with the ups and downs of life with a healthy perspective, on this side of the grave."
-Alistair Begg
*

Friday, May 2, 2025

Cult Behaviors

-internet meme
*
 

Key Characteristics of Cults:


Charismatic Leader:
Cults are often led by a charismatic figure who demands obedience and unquestioning loyalty. 


Strong Social Control:

Cult leaders exert tight control over members' lives, dictating their thoughts, actions, and emotions. 


Isolation from the Outside World:
Cults often isolate members from family, friends, and traditional society, limiting exposure to alternative perspectives. 


Extreme Beliefs:
Cults often promote dogmatic and extreme beliefs, sometimes involving apocalyptic scenarios or unique interpretations of reality. 


Manipulation and Control:

Cults utilize various techniques to manipulate members, including "love bombing," guilt-tripping, and mind control tactics. 


Exploitation:
Cults may exploit members financially, emotionally, or sexually, often under the guise of serving a higher purpose. 


Unquestioning Faith:
Members are often discouraged from questioning the leader or the group's doctrines, and dissent is punished. 


Fear and Suspicion:

Cults may foster a climate of fear and suspicion of the outside world, often portraying outsiders as enemies or threats. 


New Doctrines:
Cults frequently invent new doctrines or interpretations of existing ones, often to maintain control and justify their practices. 


Unresolved Insecurities:
Cult leaders and members may struggle with unresolved insecurities and a need for validation, which can be exploited by the leader.


Delusions:
Cults may promote delusions or unsubstantiated claims, often to justify their beliefs and actions. 

*

sources


Cult Recovery101


Cult-Related Activity


What is a Cult? 10 Warning Signs


What is a Cult? 4 Types of Cults and Common Characteristics



Stockholm Syndrome

*


Thursday, May 1, 2025

You are the result of those who came before you. Respect them.

-Internet

*


Exodus 20:12

...“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you."...


Leviticus 19:32


..." ‘You shall rise up before the gray-headed and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the Lord."...


Proverbs 16:31


..."A gray head is a crown of glory;

It is found in the way of righteousness."...


Proverbs 17:6


..."Grandchildren are the crown of old men,

And the glory of sons is their fathers."...


Genesis 2:2


..."For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed."...


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."

*


Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Joyful Garden -Joyful Words!

 -internet
*

"...For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.


By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.


To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.


This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.


Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.


For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.


Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

*

Glorify the LORD with your life!

*


Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Up From the Grave He Arose!

Low in the grave He lay

Jesus my Savior!

Waiting the coming day

Jesus my Lord!


Up from the grave He arose

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain

And He lives forever with His saints to reign

He arose! (He arose)

He arose! (He arose)

Hallelujah! Christ arose!


Vainly they watch His bed

Jesus, my Savior!

Vainly they seal the dead

Jesus my Lord!


Up from the grave He arose

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain

And He lives forever with His saints to reign

He arose! (He arose)

He arose! (He arose)

Hallelujah! Christ arose!


Death cannot keep his prey

Jesus, my Savior!

He tore the bars away

Jesus my Lord!


Up from the grave He arose

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain

And He lives forever with His saints to reign

He arose! (He arose)

He arose! (He arose)

Hallelujah! Christ arose!


Up from the grave He arose

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain

And He lives forever with His saints to reign

He arose! (He arose)

He arose! (He arose)

Hallelujah! Christ arose!


-Robert Lowry

*


Sunday, April 20, 2025

Christ The LORD is Risen Today!

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!


Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!


Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!


Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!


Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!

Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!

Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!


King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

-Charles Wesley

*


Thursday, April 10, 2025

Blue Bells of Scotland

--Scotland FB 

*
I have been waiting patiently as our own Bluebells begin to bloom...

...but this morning I found my one happy "clump" of healthy Bluebells...all nibbled down to the ground! 

One stalk with a slowly opening blossom remains! And one departed leaf half way down a hole...

We are blaming the little creatures who live below.

I put a small cage around the very last one. Of course, little creatures come from below!

Such is life...we enjoyed it all while the plants were thriving :o)
*

Sunday, April 6, 2025

National Tartan Day, April 6!

-internet

The joy through the years of meeting and knowing people who are from Scotland, or their people came from this area. There is much joy in sharing, talking, playing, dancing...lots of good memories and sweet people.

*

Friday, April 4, 2025

The LORD's Promises will not Disappoint

 -Kinsman

*

Our Spring has sprung with early bulbs in bloom, budding of trees, and the promise of more perennials beginning to show their "baby" leaves.


Dangerous weather missing us so far, but other friends and family receiving much of it.


This all reminds me of how the LORD watches over us. He loves us, cares for us, mourns with us as we struggle in our sin-filled world.


Even when what seems to be the worst things happen, like death...He made a way so we and our loved ones will enter Glory and be with Jesus.  We miss them! but we will see them when it is our turn to be with Jesus!


*If you do not know how this ever could happen:


-We live in a sin-filled world and even we are sinners! We need a Savior and the God of the Bible made a way with His own Son, Jesus, whose death and resurrection was our atonement for our sins. 


The next step is for you to choose to turn away from your sinning and confess that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. 


Salvation is a free gift from God. No one can do any works to get there.


When a person trusts in Jesus alone we can look forward to eternal life in Heaven with Jesus.


Praises to our God and King!

*


Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Mama Bears Must Firmly Hold Their Confidence in God's Faithfulness


Job 13:13-15

...“Be silent before me so that I may speak;
Then let come on me what may.

“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
And put my life in my hands?

“Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him."...


..."For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."... 
*

I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea
       Come drifting home with broken masts and sails;
       I will believe the Hand that never fails,
From seeming evil works to good for me.
       And though I weep because those sails are 
         tattered,
       Still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered:
             “I trust in Thee.”

I will not doubt, though all my prayers return
        Unanswered from the still, white realm above;
        I will believe it is an all-wise love
That has refused these things for which I yearn;
        And though at times I cannot keep from 
           grieving,
        Yet the pure passion of my fixed believing
              Undimmed will burn.

I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,
         And troubles swarm like bees about a hive.
         I will believe the heights for which I strive
Are only reached by anguish and by pain;
         And though I groan and writhe beneath my 
           crosses,
         Yet I will see through my severest losses
               The greater gain.

I will not doubt. Well anchored in this faith,
          Like some staunch ship, my soul braves every 
            gale;
          So strong its courage that it will not fail
To face the mighty unknown sea of death.
           Oh, may I cry, though body leaves the spirit,
           “I do not doubt,” so listening worlds may 
               hear it,
                   With my last breath.
                                  *

An old seaman once said, “In fierce storms we must do one thing, for there is only one way to survive; we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.”  And this, dear Christian, is what you must do.

Sometimes, like Paul, you cannot see the sun or the stars to help you navigate when the storm is bearing down on you. This is when you can do only one thing, for there’s only one way. 

Reason cannot help you, past experiences will shed no light, and even prayer will bring no consolation. Only one course remains: you must put your soul in one position and keep it there.

You must anchor yourself steadfastly upon the Lord. And then, come what may—-whether wind, waves, rough seas, thunder, lightning, jagged rocks, or roaring breakers—- you must lash yourself to the helm, firmly holding your confidence in God’s faithfulness, His covenant promises, and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus.
*

—Richard Fuller,4/1, Streams in the Desert
*