Saturday, December 8, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Calling Evil Good
So much has been happening in the world lately that it's very difficult to keep up with everything. I'm so glad we have Twitter for the news updates and headlines. I'm most grateful for the prophecy-based understanding that God has given to us to enable us to understand the timeline of events as they all lead up to the return of Jesus Christ and that God has given us Mr. Gerald Flurry and the ministers to spread abroad these messages.
Today I changed my Twitter background. I can get lost in all the various kinds of backgrounds that are available on a site called "Themelon" which is accessible through the "settings" area of Twitter. I love all the different themes. Many of them are not as good as others, so I have to weed through them all to find ones that I like. But I finally found one this morning that looks kind of fall-ish to me in the colors although the theme contains flowers. Perhaps I should consider changing my blog background too...nah, too much trouble.
This past Sunday Anna and JP and their children came to visit with me. I really did enjoy all of their company. It was such fun to be with little children. Anna did some things to be of help to me while she was here that meant a lot to me. Thank you, Anna. They had brought some doughnuts and I made some coffee. The children enjoyed "Jane and the Dragon" programs on "On Demand" and Anna and I enjoyed a lot of chatting. Poor JP might have felt a little left out of all the conversation, but he was a good sport about it all.
Then I had a visit from my minister and his wife on Sunday. We also had some good conversation. That was followed by a visit from someone else not in the church and some phone calls during the week as well. It's been a busy time for me and lots of fun too.
I have a problem with swelling in my left foot that won't go away. I have an appointment to see a doctor to have it diagnosed this coming Wednesday. I have been trying to keep it elevated as much as I can, but it's painful and that makes it difficult for me to leave it elevated for very long. It's has swelled up so much that I can't even get a shoe onto it right now. I'm going to ask the doctor for a prescription adjustable boot to wear on it until it's better so I can leave the house again. I've been stuck inside for too long with this.
This past Tuesday night I watched some of the election returns but not all of them. I figured that I would know in the morning so why force myself to stay up until all hours of the morning just to find out. I thought that no matter which one of the two got elected it would not be good. They are only men and can't correct the problems in this country. We are going down hard and fast.
But I kind of hoped that Mr. Romney would get elected. At the same time, I knew that chances were Mr. Obama would be elected again because he is doing such a smash-bang job of tearing our nation down quickly by his actions. I don't think that our God could have picked a better man in this end of time to bring America to its knees as we begin to experience the start of the Great Tribulation, the outer edges of it anyway.
It's like the world has gone wild. They are calling evil good and good evil just as God told us in His word that the world would. Tropical storm, Sandy, was another part of the outer edges most likely. God is trying to get mankind to see that something is very wrong with their thinking. I feel very sorry for the people who were devastated by the effects of Sandy, but it's about time to wake up and realize that we are a sinful nation. We like to think we are good, but by whose standard? Our own thinking--or God"s? According to the Bible, God doesn't see anything good in this nation at all. That's why it will take the Tribulation to wake people up.
It's hard to envision why people would vote Obama back into office again when everything is as bad as it is mostly due to his lack of real leadership for our nation. It's all politics. But evidently people are so blind that they think that the evil that Obama has perpetrated on America is good, just as the Bible says. I bet that even Obama was surprised when he was re-elected, if he were honest enough to tell the actual truth, which he never would.
It's time to get ready for some very hard times ahead of us. It's time to get very close to God.
Today I changed my Twitter background. I can get lost in all the various kinds of backgrounds that are available on a site called "Themelon" which is accessible through the "settings" area of Twitter. I love all the different themes. Many of them are not as good as others, so I have to weed through them all to find ones that I like. But I finally found one this morning that looks kind of fall-ish to me in the colors although the theme contains flowers. Perhaps I should consider changing my blog background too...nah, too much trouble.
This past Sunday Anna and JP and their children came to visit with me. I really did enjoy all of their company. It was such fun to be with little children. Anna did some things to be of help to me while she was here that meant a lot to me. Thank you, Anna. They had brought some doughnuts and I made some coffee. The children enjoyed "Jane and the Dragon" programs on "On Demand" and Anna and I enjoyed a lot of chatting. Poor JP might have felt a little left out of all the conversation, but he was a good sport about it all.
Then I had a visit from my minister and his wife on Sunday. We also had some good conversation. That was followed by a visit from someone else not in the church and some phone calls during the week as well. It's been a busy time for me and lots of fun too.
I have a problem with swelling in my left foot that won't go away. I have an appointment to see a doctor to have it diagnosed this coming Wednesday. I have been trying to keep it elevated as much as I can, but it's painful and that makes it difficult for me to leave it elevated for very long. It's has swelled up so much that I can't even get a shoe onto it right now. I'm going to ask the doctor for a prescription adjustable boot to wear on it until it's better so I can leave the house again. I've been stuck inside for too long with this.
This past Tuesday night I watched some of the election returns but not all of them. I figured that I would know in the morning so why force myself to stay up until all hours of the morning just to find out. I thought that no matter which one of the two got elected it would not be good. They are only men and can't correct the problems in this country. We are going down hard and fast.
But I kind of hoped that Mr. Romney would get elected. At the same time, I knew that chances were Mr. Obama would be elected again because he is doing such a smash-bang job of tearing our nation down quickly by his actions. I don't think that our God could have picked a better man in this end of time to bring America to its knees as we begin to experience the start of the Great Tribulation, the outer edges of it anyway.
It's like the world has gone wild. They are calling evil good and good evil just as God told us in His word that the world would. Tropical storm, Sandy, was another part of the outer edges most likely. God is trying to get mankind to see that something is very wrong with their thinking. I feel very sorry for the people who were devastated by the effects of Sandy, but it's about time to wake up and realize that we are a sinful nation. We like to think we are good, but by whose standard? Our own thinking--or God"s? According to the Bible, God doesn't see anything good in this nation at all. That's why it will take the Tribulation to wake people up.
It's hard to envision why people would vote Obama back into office again when everything is as bad as it is mostly due to his lack of real leadership for our nation. It's all politics. But evidently people are so blind that they think that the evil that Obama has perpetrated on America is good, just as the Bible says. I bet that even Obama was surprised when he was re-elected, if he were honest enough to tell the actual truth, which he never would.
It's time to get ready for some very hard times ahead of us. It's time to get very close to God.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Kalahari Stalker
It was a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles this year. I went to Sandusky, Ohio to stay at the Kalahari Resort. We had nine days of sermons and fellowship that was so much fun and informational. I even got to see a real live baby tiger named Tate, who is so cute. No petting though, unless you want to pay $40 first to have your photo made with the cub.
The trip was long by car, about 500 miles from Tennessee one way. I rented a great car from Enterprise, a Dodge Avenger. Wow, what a car! I really enjoyed driving it. It was so comfortable compared to my old beat up 1998 Nissan Sentra. But the Sentra has been a good car for me. I can't complain about that sweet old vehicle. It's served me well over the years with very few problems. I think I would buy another Sentra if I ever get another car.
The drive up to Ohio with two other vans of families from my church was kind of scary for me. I've never been farther North than Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. So this drive was an adventure for me. I had purchased a Garmin GPS just for the trip and it worked well. The only hard drive was through rush hour traffic in Cincinnati. That was frightening. I've never seen so many cars in my life! And the Interestate widened out with lanes seemingly all over the place to me. I will never complain about Nashville traffic again. Whew! I was so glad to get out of that heavy traffic. My stomach was in knots the whole time.
My friends who travelled with me kept me in the center of their two vans. That was great friendship to do that. I felt protected the entire way, except for the Cincinnati rush hour traffic. That was horrendous! How can anyone stand to drive in that every day?!! *laugh*
We arrived at Kalahari at mid-day on Friday. The resort is modeled after a safari in Africa. They had several restaurants there as well as an indoor water park. To see women and men parading around half dressed wasn't too pleasant however. But that's how people are today. I tried not to take notice of them. After the weekend most of the water park people went home. I heard that they were mostly locals anyhow.
We stayed for nine days at Kalahari. I was so homesick right away and had to trick my mind into not thinking about how far from Tennessee I was. It helped to see people that I recognized from my church arriving. People also came from other areas around the globe, but mostly from the North, like New York.
I shared a room with a very nice lady named Geneva and we got along exceptionally well. I think that made my trip much more enjoyable to have good fellowship with a wonderful room mate.
I enjoyed the Kalahari very much. The only trouble I ran into was a stalker who followed me around the resort and would just stand and stare at me. That was weird. I found out his first name is Bill, but I have no idea what his last name is. Someone told me that I reminded him of his daughter who had died some time ago. Bill, an older fat man, sat with me in the meetings a time or two, which wasn't too pleasant. He kept moving his arm against me as he wrote notes. He would speak from time to time, but mostly he just gawked at me. I finally had to say something to get him away from sitting with me in the future. Then he'd suddenly show up when I was talking to someone and just stand and stare. On the last day we were there I noticed Bill walk up with a camera. He aimed it at me, but I didn't want him to make my picture and I shook my head at him not to do it. But he continued to aim the camera at me so I hurridly lifted my shorthand notebook in front of my face and kept it there until he walked away. I am so glad to be away from that man! He's the only bad memory I have of the entire trip.
Some people may have felt sorry for Bill, I guess, since his daughter had died. But even at that, no one should be subjected to his kind of behavior. Besides, the way he was moving his arm against me wasn't very fatherly. I won't describe it, but you can probably imagine. Well, it's over with and, hopefully, I will never see Bill ever again anytime soon.
The trip home was enjoyable for me. I was so delighted to see the words, "Florence, y'all!," when we got into Kentucky. We took I-75 home which took us through some lovely Kentucky scenic land. I love Kentucky 'cause it's in the South and I felt more at home already as we drove through it. The Fall trees were lovely with all the shades of brown, green, orange and yellow leaves. Absolutely gorgeous!!
It's good to be back home in Tennessee. There is really no place like home.
The trip was long by car, about 500 miles from Tennessee one way. I rented a great car from Enterprise, a Dodge Avenger. Wow, what a car! I really enjoyed driving it. It was so comfortable compared to my old beat up 1998 Nissan Sentra. But the Sentra has been a good car for me. I can't complain about that sweet old vehicle. It's served me well over the years with very few problems. I think I would buy another Sentra if I ever get another car.
The drive up to Ohio with two other vans of families from my church was kind of scary for me. I've never been farther North than Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. So this drive was an adventure for me. I had purchased a Garmin GPS just for the trip and it worked well. The only hard drive was through rush hour traffic in Cincinnati. That was frightening. I've never seen so many cars in my life! And the Interestate widened out with lanes seemingly all over the place to me. I will never complain about Nashville traffic again. Whew! I was so glad to get out of that heavy traffic. My stomach was in knots the whole time.
My friends who travelled with me kept me in the center of their two vans. That was great friendship to do that. I felt protected the entire way, except for the Cincinnati rush hour traffic. That was horrendous! How can anyone stand to drive in that every day?!! *laugh*
We arrived at Kalahari at mid-day on Friday. The resort is modeled after a safari in Africa. They had several restaurants there as well as an indoor water park. To see women and men parading around half dressed wasn't too pleasant however. But that's how people are today. I tried not to take notice of them. After the weekend most of the water park people went home. I heard that they were mostly locals anyhow.
We stayed for nine days at Kalahari. I was so homesick right away and had to trick my mind into not thinking about how far from Tennessee I was. It helped to see people that I recognized from my church arriving. People also came from other areas around the globe, but mostly from the North, like New York.
I shared a room with a very nice lady named Geneva and we got along exceptionally well. I think that made my trip much more enjoyable to have good fellowship with a wonderful room mate.
I enjoyed the Kalahari very much. The only trouble I ran into was a stalker who followed me around the resort and would just stand and stare at me. That was weird. I found out his first name is Bill, but I have no idea what his last name is. Someone told me that I reminded him of his daughter who had died some time ago. Bill, an older fat man, sat with me in the meetings a time or two, which wasn't too pleasant. He kept moving his arm against me as he wrote notes. He would speak from time to time, but mostly he just gawked at me. I finally had to say something to get him away from sitting with me in the future. Then he'd suddenly show up when I was talking to someone and just stand and stare. On the last day we were there I noticed Bill walk up with a camera. He aimed it at me, but I didn't want him to make my picture and I shook my head at him not to do it. But he continued to aim the camera at me so I hurridly lifted my shorthand notebook in front of my face and kept it there until he walked away. I am so glad to be away from that man! He's the only bad memory I have of the entire trip.
Some people may have felt sorry for Bill, I guess, since his daughter had died. But even at that, no one should be subjected to his kind of behavior. Besides, the way he was moving his arm against me wasn't very fatherly. I won't describe it, but you can probably imagine. Well, it's over with and, hopefully, I will never see Bill ever again anytime soon.
The trip home was enjoyable for me. I was so delighted to see the words, "Florence, y'all!," when we got into Kentucky. We took I-75 home which took us through some lovely Kentucky scenic land. I love Kentucky 'cause it's in the South and I felt more at home already as we drove through it. The Fall trees were lovely with all the shades of brown, green, orange and yellow leaves. Absolutely gorgeous!!
It's good to be back home in Tennessee. There is really no place like home.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Abundant Blessings
We have rain again, glorious rain! Around 5 am today it stormed for a short period with lightning and thunder. It was so wonderful to have the rain and I thanked God for it. I fixed some coffee and because the rain had ended by then I was able to sit with the back door open as I drank coffee. I listened to the birds singing so happily. They too were releived by the rain I imagine. I prayed and thanked God for all of His blessings including the birds who made me feel happy just to hear them. I wonder how much the little birds suffer in the heat?
I feel so refreshed and rested and energetic this morning. It feels good to have gotten out of an obligation that I had going on for about a year. I had been doing a small job for someone for a little over a year this month and I had grown burned out on it. I never had a vacation during the year so that had an effect on me too. So now I'm free again, and it feels so marvelous!!
Yesterday I had a wonderful day. I have begun to get caught up on reading the news in the Trumpet.com online and began posting to Twitter again. I had gotten so pulled down over the matter with my neighbor going on and the job I was doing that I didn't want to do much of anything online for a number of weeks. Yesterday I felt totally free! It felt so good! And this morning I continue to experience such joy. It's as if a huge burden has been lifted and maybe it has. I was getting so burned out on the small job that I had been doing all this past year. I was worn out and weary of it. And now I feel nearly like my old self again. *smile*
God has greatly blessed me in so much lately. I can't show my gratitude to Him enough I think. But I can overcome some problems that I've not given up on completely yet and try to spend more time in Bible study. I have read in the Bible where God was well pleased when people were obedient to Him. I think that's a wonderful thought, to be pleasing to God. There is no higher honor it seems to me than to be pleasing to God.
When we are pleasing to God then He blesses us with wonderful answers to our prayers and many other things as well. This past Sabbath I asked God, if it was His will, to allow me to remain cool since my car air conditioner doesn't operate too well and is in need of replacement or repair. The temperature most days has been in the 100 degree range here and it was to be that day also. I didn't want to have to try to use the AC since when it is turned up past the first number one it makes a loud racket. I think the fan may be about to go out.
When I left services during the hottest part of day, it was pretty warm and the sun was shining brightly. I asked God once more to protect me from the scorching heat since I would be over an hour driving in it without much if any cool air. I decided to endure the heat for as long as I could at least before trying to use the AC, so I rolled down the windows in the car. Once I was out of the city of Knoxville on the Interstate a cloud covering began forming and it began to look like rain even though it never rained. But the cloud covering kept the sun's blazing rays from coming through all the way home for me.
A nice breeze came through the open windows and it wasn't hot but not real cool either, just cool enough however to make the drive pleasantly bearable. The wind blowing into the car whipped my hair everywhere but I didn't mind . I was so deliriously happy with the blessing of the cooler air that I talked to God out loud and thanked Him over and over again. I rejoiced in the way He had answered my prayer. I don't expect this to happen each time I pray for relief from the weather, but I will certainly be so excited when God allows it to be cooler as He did that afternoon.
I sang and talked to God as my hair flew all over the place in the air. I wondered if the people driving around me who noticed me singing and grinning from ear to ear as I thanked God out loud may have wondered if I'd gone insane. *laugh* I don't mind if they thought I was nuts. If I could have at that moment I would have also danced before God in joy and thankfulness as David did when he joyfully danced before the LORD while bringing the Ark of God into the city of Jerusalem.
What a powerful and merciful God we serve! The Eternal God of Israel.
I feel so refreshed and rested and energetic this morning. It feels good to have gotten out of an obligation that I had going on for about a year. I had been doing a small job for someone for a little over a year this month and I had grown burned out on it. I never had a vacation during the year so that had an effect on me too. So now I'm free again, and it feels so marvelous!!
Yesterday I had a wonderful day. I have begun to get caught up on reading the news in the Trumpet.com online and began posting to Twitter again. I had gotten so pulled down over the matter with my neighbor going on and the job I was doing that I didn't want to do much of anything online for a number of weeks. Yesterday I felt totally free! It felt so good! And this morning I continue to experience such joy. It's as if a huge burden has been lifted and maybe it has. I was getting so burned out on the small job that I had been doing all this past year. I was worn out and weary of it. And now I feel nearly like my old self again. *smile*
God has greatly blessed me in so much lately. I can't show my gratitude to Him enough I think. But I can overcome some problems that I've not given up on completely yet and try to spend more time in Bible study. I have read in the Bible where God was well pleased when people were obedient to Him. I think that's a wonderful thought, to be pleasing to God. There is no higher honor it seems to me than to be pleasing to God.
When we are pleasing to God then He blesses us with wonderful answers to our prayers and many other things as well. This past Sabbath I asked God, if it was His will, to allow me to remain cool since my car air conditioner doesn't operate too well and is in need of replacement or repair. The temperature most days has been in the 100 degree range here and it was to be that day also. I didn't want to have to try to use the AC since when it is turned up past the first number one it makes a loud racket. I think the fan may be about to go out.
When I left services during the hottest part of day, it was pretty warm and the sun was shining brightly. I asked God once more to protect me from the scorching heat since I would be over an hour driving in it without much if any cool air. I decided to endure the heat for as long as I could at least before trying to use the AC, so I rolled down the windows in the car. Once I was out of the city of Knoxville on the Interstate a cloud covering began forming and it began to look like rain even though it never rained. But the cloud covering kept the sun's blazing rays from coming through all the way home for me.
A nice breeze came through the open windows and it wasn't hot but not real cool either, just cool enough however to make the drive pleasantly bearable. The wind blowing into the car whipped my hair everywhere but I didn't mind . I was so deliriously happy with the blessing of the cooler air that I talked to God out loud and thanked Him over and over again. I rejoiced in the way He had answered my prayer. I don't expect this to happen each time I pray for relief from the weather, but I will certainly be so excited when God allows it to be cooler as He did that afternoon.
I sang and talked to God as my hair flew all over the place in the air. I wondered if the people driving around me who noticed me singing and grinning from ear to ear as I thanked God out loud may have wondered if I'd gone insane. *laugh* I don't mind if they thought I was nuts. If I could have at that moment I would have also danced before God in joy and thankfulness as David did when he joyfully danced before the LORD while bringing the Ark of God into the city of Jerusalem.
What a powerful and merciful God we serve! The Eternal God of Israel.
Monday, July 9, 2012
My Demon Possessed Neighbor
I have been trying to catch up on Twitter and Geoffrey's blog as well as on reading the Trumpet.com. So many things have taken up my time lately that I haven't been on any of these much in the past week. Most of what took up my time was really unessential for the most part, just wasted time actually. But a few things have happened that are worth writing perhaps.
I have begun writing letters to one of my spiritual sisters who has breast cancer. She's at home and not taking chemo or any kind of treatment but completely depending on God for healing or for the empowerment from God to endure if He allows this to continue. I have spoken on the telephone with Joann and she is so filled with faith. However the cancer has spread in her chest and weighs a pound or two that makes it difficult for her to turn over in bed or to walk around without difficulty.
She explained how the growth which has to be constantly bandaged sometimes bleeds profusely and she has to be taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital so that they can stop the bleeding or she would bleed to death within a short period of time. The doctors get onto her sometimes because she won't submit to treatment but her faith in God's ability to heal is strong and by His power she resists and will resist until the very end. She has a hospice nurse in three times a week.
Joann has mentioned more than once that if God allows her to die that she just prays that it will be during the night when she's asleep and that it will be due to blood loss because she's heard that is the least painful way to go. She has begun praying that God will release her to sleep (death) until the resurrection if He will. But she is prepared to endure as long as God allows it, even unto death. The faith God has given her to go through this ordeal is a huge witness to all of us who know her.
Also, for the past couple or maybe three months I have a neighbor on one side of the apartment where I live who has some deep problems I think. Her name is Maria. Since she and her big black dog named Bonnie have moved in next door to me she has acted very strangely. She doesn't work so she's either on disability of some kind or welfare maybe. She's not that old to not be able to work so I don't know what the situation is. But from what has happened I gather that she has some financial problems and may have already been behind in her rent payment.
When she moved in she was up all night and all day it seemed like. I had to wonder if she ever slept. She stayed on the move all the time, walking constantly back and forth, going into the bathroom which is right on the other side of my apartment wall next door to my own bathroom, where she would turn the hydrant water on and off, on and off, every few minutes. She doesn't just walk, she stomps and the heavy bottomed shoes she wears can't be missed. Even at night she wears those heavy shoes, clumping back and forth. She also would slam doors quite frequently--even at night--and drop something heavy onto the floor at times that would make my floor shake. The thing is that there was constant noise of some kind from her all the time and it was having an effect on me.
I had met her a time or two. She claims to have allergies and that she can't breathe to come inside to visit me since I do love scented things, perfume, candles, Dove soap, etc. So she will stand outside away from me the few times I've spoken with her. She says that she can even smell the Gain laundry detergent that I use coming outside whenever I do my wash.
Then her dog...Whenever she leaves it alone to go to the library (she told me) it cries. She had asked me once just after she moved in if the dog bothered me crying when she left and she told me that she'd heard that Bonnie cries when she leaves her. I hadn't heard it crying--yet at the time she memtioned it. But later I began to hear it. At first I thought it was Maria running a vaccuum cleaner perhaps because there was a steady, regular rythm to it.
One Sabbath I couldn't attend church services and it cried all day because Maria was gone. The sound of it began to grate on my nerves and distract me from my reading. So I went to one of the walls and spoke to the animal. I thought it would be able to hear me since animals do hear sounds humans can't. I thought the sound of someone around might soothe the beast (you should see this dog, it's huge) and it did quiet Bonnie down for a few minutes but then the moaning sounds would begin again.
The following week Maria came up as I was getting into my car and, keeping her distance from me, spoke to me in a friendly way and I decided to tell her about the sounds the dog had made. She denied that she'd left the dog at home. She is claiming that she takes the dog with her when she goes off. She also lies without thinking twice about it. I know what I heard and I even heard the dog's tail thumping against the wall at one point that day. If it wasn't the dog I heard crying on the days she was gone then what was it? I refrained from saying anything I was thinking but I was surprised that she would lie boldly like that. I just got into my car and drove away.
Just yesterday I heard the dog crying and I even looked out but her van was still there so she was home. I had to wonder if perhaps she had "hit" the dog and had shut it up in the bedroom alone to punish it and that's why it was crying, the very same sound that I'd heard on Sabbath. She has mentioned to me once before that she had to "hit" the dog. I just imagine her using her fists on the dog. She has a temper that is obvious from the way she slams the doors. Sometimes she shuts it so hard it makes my windows rattle.
She also denies that she is awake any time past midnight. She has slammed her car doors at night around 1 or 2 am in the morning nearly every night. She stomps around, turns the water on and off, and then goes out to her van where she either gets things out or puts things into it (I have no idea) and slams the door shut again and continues her walking. This happens nearly all night--every night. It's a wonder that other people in the complex haven't complained about her nightly trips to the van.
I had begun to believe that Maria--and her dog--were both demon possessed. I truly got a bit scared of her and prayed for God's protection. I had also begun to think horrible thoughts toward her because of her lying on top of everything else.
Then we had a sermon about closing off doors that allow Satan to get to us. I was deeply effected by this sermon and prayed for God to empower me to close off the door Satan was using with my neighbor to cause me to think sinfully toward her. So I prayed and I asked God to forgive me for the wrong thoughts and to empower me to practice thought control and not dwell on unloving thoughts. I also prayed that God would show me what He wanted me to learn from this since I had asked Him to cause it to stop if it was His will to do so and the sounds continued. So I accepted it as God's will and I know that nothing can happen unless God allows it so I knew I needed to find out what I needed to learn, what God was trying to show me.
I asked God to empower me to ignore the sounds and not let Satan use Maria to get to me as she has been. I asked that God help me close that door. I decided to turn on the tv or some music to cover the sounds she makes even at night rather than to sit and dwell on what she was doing as I had done. And I asked God to give Maria peace and calm so that she would sleep at night and to keep the demons quiet. I really do believe there are demons involved in all of this.
Then a change took place. Lately Maria hasn't been as noisy at night. I'm able to sleep all night again most of the time. During the day there are still sounds and noises filtering through but they are lessened or maybe I'm just not hearing them as clearly as I did before and God has empowered me to ignore most of them as I requested. God is truly merciful.
Today I'm more back to normal again. The demons are at bay to some extent and Maria is calmer. No doors slamming lately. But the water is still on and off again throughout the day along with the clumping around. At least it's more quiet for the most part--especially at night. The main thing is, I believe, that God wants me to learn to depend on Him for everything and not let the world get to me.
Today, as I look back on it all, I'm grateful that Maria has allergies to my perfume and laundry detergent. I can't imagine what might have happened if she had begun coming into my home. I will reply to her kindly when she speaks but I won't go out of my way to be friendly first. I honestly believe that I should keep as far from Maria as I can and not open any doors that I can avoid. I have been dealing with this for weeks and finally today I'm beginning to get my life back on track again and I know that God will empower me to tolerate whatever Maria does in the future.
I am praying however that, if it is God's will, that one of the two of us will be moved away soon. And if Maria moves, which she has mentioned that she intends to do by the end of July, I hope she takes those noisy demons with her. *laugh* But I no longer believe anything Maria tells me, so I will just continue to ask God to empower me to ignore her noise and to control my thoughts and to trust Him to help me.
I have begun writing letters to one of my spiritual sisters who has breast cancer. She's at home and not taking chemo or any kind of treatment but completely depending on God for healing or for the empowerment from God to endure if He allows this to continue. I have spoken on the telephone with Joann and she is so filled with faith. However the cancer has spread in her chest and weighs a pound or two that makes it difficult for her to turn over in bed or to walk around without difficulty.
She explained how the growth which has to be constantly bandaged sometimes bleeds profusely and she has to be taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital so that they can stop the bleeding or she would bleed to death within a short period of time. The doctors get onto her sometimes because she won't submit to treatment but her faith in God's ability to heal is strong and by His power she resists and will resist until the very end. She has a hospice nurse in three times a week.
Joann has mentioned more than once that if God allows her to die that she just prays that it will be during the night when she's asleep and that it will be due to blood loss because she's heard that is the least painful way to go. She has begun praying that God will release her to sleep (death) until the resurrection if He will. But she is prepared to endure as long as God allows it, even unto death. The faith God has given her to go through this ordeal is a huge witness to all of us who know her.
Also, for the past couple or maybe three months I have a neighbor on one side of the apartment where I live who has some deep problems I think. Her name is Maria. Since she and her big black dog named Bonnie have moved in next door to me she has acted very strangely. She doesn't work so she's either on disability of some kind or welfare maybe. She's not that old to not be able to work so I don't know what the situation is. But from what has happened I gather that she has some financial problems and may have already been behind in her rent payment.
When she moved in she was up all night and all day it seemed like. I had to wonder if she ever slept. She stayed on the move all the time, walking constantly back and forth, going into the bathroom which is right on the other side of my apartment wall next door to my own bathroom, where she would turn the hydrant water on and off, on and off, every few minutes. She doesn't just walk, she stomps and the heavy bottomed shoes she wears can't be missed. Even at night she wears those heavy shoes, clumping back and forth. She also would slam doors quite frequently--even at night--and drop something heavy onto the floor at times that would make my floor shake. The thing is that there was constant noise of some kind from her all the time and it was having an effect on me.
I had met her a time or two. She claims to have allergies and that she can't breathe to come inside to visit me since I do love scented things, perfume, candles, Dove soap, etc. So she will stand outside away from me the few times I've spoken with her. She says that she can even smell the Gain laundry detergent that I use coming outside whenever I do my wash.
Then her dog...Whenever she leaves it alone to go to the library (she told me) it cries. She had asked me once just after she moved in if the dog bothered me crying when she left and she told me that she'd heard that Bonnie cries when she leaves her. I hadn't heard it crying--yet at the time she memtioned it. But later I began to hear it. At first I thought it was Maria running a vaccuum cleaner perhaps because there was a steady, regular rythm to it.
One Sabbath I couldn't attend church services and it cried all day because Maria was gone. The sound of it began to grate on my nerves and distract me from my reading. So I went to one of the walls and spoke to the animal. I thought it would be able to hear me since animals do hear sounds humans can't. I thought the sound of someone around might soothe the beast (you should see this dog, it's huge) and it did quiet Bonnie down for a few minutes but then the moaning sounds would begin again.
The following week Maria came up as I was getting into my car and, keeping her distance from me, spoke to me in a friendly way and I decided to tell her about the sounds the dog had made. She denied that she'd left the dog at home. She is claiming that she takes the dog with her when she goes off. She also lies without thinking twice about it. I know what I heard and I even heard the dog's tail thumping against the wall at one point that day. If it wasn't the dog I heard crying on the days she was gone then what was it? I refrained from saying anything I was thinking but I was surprised that she would lie boldly like that. I just got into my car and drove away.
Just yesterday I heard the dog crying and I even looked out but her van was still there so she was home. I had to wonder if perhaps she had "hit" the dog and had shut it up in the bedroom alone to punish it and that's why it was crying, the very same sound that I'd heard on Sabbath. She has mentioned to me once before that she had to "hit" the dog. I just imagine her using her fists on the dog. She has a temper that is obvious from the way she slams the doors. Sometimes she shuts it so hard it makes my windows rattle.
She also denies that she is awake any time past midnight. She has slammed her car doors at night around 1 or 2 am in the morning nearly every night. She stomps around, turns the water on and off, and then goes out to her van where she either gets things out or puts things into it (I have no idea) and slams the door shut again and continues her walking. This happens nearly all night--every night. It's a wonder that other people in the complex haven't complained about her nightly trips to the van.
I had begun to believe that Maria--and her dog--were both demon possessed. I truly got a bit scared of her and prayed for God's protection. I had also begun to think horrible thoughts toward her because of her lying on top of everything else.
Then we had a sermon about closing off doors that allow Satan to get to us. I was deeply effected by this sermon and prayed for God to empower me to close off the door Satan was using with my neighbor to cause me to think sinfully toward her. So I prayed and I asked God to forgive me for the wrong thoughts and to empower me to practice thought control and not dwell on unloving thoughts. I also prayed that God would show me what He wanted me to learn from this since I had asked Him to cause it to stop if it was His will to do so and the sounds continued. So I accepted it as God's will and I know that nothing can happen unless God allows it so I knew I needed to find out what I needed to learn, what God was trying to show me.
I asked God to empower me to ignore the sounds and not let Satan use Maria to get to me as she has been. I asked that God help me close that door. I decided to turn on the tv or some music to cover the sounds she makes even at night rather than to sit and dwell on what she was doing as I had done. And I asked God to give Maria peace and calm so that she would sleep at night and to keep the demons quiet. I really do believe there are demons involved in all of this.
Then a change took place. Lately Maria hasn't been as noisy at night. I'm able to sleep all night again most of the time. During the day there are still sounds and noises filtering through but they are lessened or maybe I'm just not hearing them as clearly as I did before and God has empowered me to ignore most of them as I requested. God is truly merciful.
Today I'm more back to normal again. The demons are at bay to some extent and Maria is calmer. No doors slamming lately. But the water is still on and off again throughout the day along with the clumping around. At least it's more quiet for the most part--especially at night. The main thing is, I believe, that God wants me to learn to depend on Him for everything and not let the world get to me.
Today, as I look back on it all, I'm grateful that Maria has allergies to my perfume and laundry detergent. I can't imagine what might have happened if she had begun coming into my home. I will reply to her kindly when she speaks but I won't go out of my way to be friendly first. I honestly believe that I should keep as far from Maria as I can and not open any doors that I can avoid. I have been dealing with this for weeks and finally today I'm beginning to get my life back on track again and I know that God will empower me to tolerate whatever Maria does in the future.
I am praying however that, if it is God's will, that one of the two of us will be moved away soon. And if Maria moves, which she has mentioned that she intends to do by the end of July, I hope she takes those noisy demons with her. *laugh* But I no longer believe anything Maria tells me, so I will just continue to ask God to empower me to ignore her noise and to control my thoughts and to trust Him to help me.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Be Urgent As God Is Urgent
We should all be aware of the times and what is taking place. Prophecies are being fulfulled all over the world that show that the return of Christ is so close.
http://www.thetrumpetdaily.com/program/20120514
http://www.thetrumpetdaily.com/program/20120514
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Letters Of Note
Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand...Galatians 6:11.
I like this man's style! Below is a letter written by Robert Pirosh in the 1930's. He was applying for a job interview for the position of screenwriter in Hollywood.
Dear Sir:
I like words. I like fat buttery words, such as ooze, turpitude, glutinous, toady. I like solemn, angular, creaky words, such as straitlaced, cantankerous, pecunious, valedictory. I like spurious, black-is-white words, such as mortician, liquidate, tonsorial, demi-monde. I like suave "V" words, such as Svengali, svelte, bravura, verve. I like crunchy, brittle, crackly words, such as splinter, grapple, jostle, crusty. I like sullen, crabbed, scowling words, such as skulk, glower, scabby, churl. I like Oh-Heavens, my-gracious, land's-sake words, such as tricksy, tucker, genteel, horrid. I like elegant, flowery words, such as estivate, peregrinate, elysium, halcyon. I like wormy, squirmy, mealy words, such as crawl, blubber, squeal, drip. I like sniggly, chuckling words, such as cowlick, gurgle, bubble and burp.
I like the word screenwriter better than copywriter, so I decided to quit my job in a New York advertising agency and try my luck in Hollywood, but before taking the plunge I went to Europe for a year of study, contemplation and horsing around.
I have just returned and I still like words.
May I have a few with you?
Robert Pirosh
385 Madison Avenue
Room 610
New York
Eldorado 5-6024
I enjoyed this letter and the wonderful way Mr. Pirosh had of applying for the job of someone who would be writing for a living. What an amazing idea! P.S. Thank you, Mr. Jeremiah Jacques for sharing this article link on Twitter today.
I like this man's style! Below is a letter written by Robert Pirosh in the 1930's. He was applying for a job interview for the position of screenwriter in Hollywood.
Dear Sir:
I like words. I like fat buttery words, such as ooze, turpitude, glutinous, toady. I like solemn, angular, creaky words, such as straitlaced, cantankerous, pecunious, valedictory. I like spurious, black-is-white words, such as mortician, liquidate, tonsorial, demi-monde. I like suave "V" words, such as Svengali, svelte, bravura, verve. I like crunchy, brittle, crackly words, such as splinter, grapple, jostle, crusty. I like sullen, crabbed, scowling words, such as skulk, glower, scabby, churl. I like Oh-Heavens, my-gracious, land's-sake words, such as tricksy, tucker, genteel, horrid. I like elegant, flowery words, such as estivate, peregrinate, elysium, halcyon. I like wormy, squirmy, mealy words, such as crawl, blubber, squeal, drip. I like sniggly, chuckling words, such as cowlick, gurgle, bubble and burp.
I like the word screenwriter better than copywriter, so I decided to quit my job in a New York advertising agency and try my luck in Hollywood, but before taking the plunge I went to Europe for a year of study, contemplation and horsing around.
I have just returned and I still like words.
May I have a few with you?
Robert Pirosh
385 Madison Avenue
Room 610
New York
Eldorado 5-6024
I enjoyed this letter and the wonderful way Mr. Pirosh had of applying for the job of someone who would be writing for a living. What an amazing idea! P.S. Thank you, Mr. Jeremiah Jacques for sharing this article link on Twitter today.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The Violin
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs...Psalms 150:4.
This morning, as I enjoyed my coffee, I was delighted by the violin performance of Mr. Joshua Bell. I have a friend in the church with that same name. I wonder sometimes if my friend and brother has ever listened to Mr. Bell, the violin virtuoso, or if he's even aware that he shares the same name as that of a famous classic violinist? I will try to remember to ask my friend that sometime.
I was quite intrigued by the story of how Mr. Bell spent some time one day inside of a busy subway terminal in Washington, D.C. playing for the busy crowd who came and went mostly without any notice at all of this famous violinist. Mr. Bell did this to help a Washington Post writer, Mr. Gene Weingarten, with a story that he would write. The experiment was to see if anyone would even notice that an internationally known violinist was performing free of charge for the ordinary people or are we, as a nation, losing our grasp on beautiful classical music.
What an interesting adventure this was to be. Mr. Bell agreed to do it out of his own curiousity a little, I'm sure. Here was a classical violinist who garners $100 for even a mediocre seat at his, standing room only, performances about to play for free in a busy metro subway. How many would listen to or even recognize him? For the performance Mr. Bell dressed down in jeans and tee-shirt and a baseball cap. He placed his open violin case on the floor and seeded it with a few dollar bills and change thrown in. Would this man, in his late 30's, who appears onstage in tuxedos before thousands of listeners be recognized or even listened to--for free--by strangers in a busy subway station?
Below is a link to the article written by Mr. Weingarten and a YouTube video of the event. I hope you will take time to read this wonderful article by Mr. Weingarten to get the whole story. I believe that it will be worth your time.
This morning, as I enjoyed my coffee, I was delighted by the violin performance of Mr. Joshua Bell. I have a friend in the church with that same name. I wonder sometimes if my friend and brother has ever listened to Mr. Bell, the violin virtuoso, or if he's even aware that he shares the same name as that of a famous classic violinist? I will try to remember to ask my friend that sometime.
I was quite intrigued by the story of how Mr. Bell spent some time one day inside of a busy subway terminal in Washington, D.C. playing for the busy crowd who came and went mostly without any notice at all of this famous violinist. Mr. Bell did this to help a Washington Post writer, Mr. Gene Weingarten, with a story that he would write. The experiment was to see if anyone would even notice that an internationally known violinist was performing free of charge for the ordinary people or are we, as a nation, losing our grasp on beautiful classical music.
What an interesting adventure this was to be. Mr. Bell agreed to do it out of his own curiousity a little, I'm sure. Here was a classical violinist who garners $100 for even a mediocre seat at his, standing room only, performances about to play for free in a busy metro subway. How many would listen to or even recognize him? For the performance Mr. Bell dressed down in jeans and tee-shirt and a baseball cap. He placed his open violin case on the floor and seeded it with a few dollar bills and change thrown in. Would this man, in his late 30's, who appears onstage in tuxedos before thousands of listeners be recognized or even listened to--for free--by strangers in a busy subway station?
Below is a link to the article written by Mr. Weingarten and a YouTube video of the event. I hope you will take time to read this wonderful article by Mr. Weingarten to get the whole story. I believe that it will be worth your time.
Mr. Joshua Bell
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Fingal's Cave
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower...Psalm 18:2.
Geoffrey Withington shared a couple of photos this morning on his blog that were of a cave in Scotland called Fingal's Cave. It's so amazing! I found this video tour of the cave on You-Tube:
This is such an astounding video. The rocks have a layered look due to the formation of the waves of the ocean, I suppose. Even the rocks in the ceiling of the cave have the same layered look. Astounding!
I thought this morning of how God's protection is like a wall all around us like this cave's walls which rear up tremendously high. God protects us from more evil than we will ever know about I think. Satan would destroy God's family in an instant if he could. But God is our rock and our fortress against all harm and against Satan's worst.
I went inside of a cave in Kentucky when I was a teenager. But I'm almost certain that Fingal's Cave makes even Mammoth Cave look dwarfed by comparison. After all look at the walls of this cave in the video and the people beside it. I don't remember Mammoth Cave being that tall. It made me dizzy just to look at it in the video. *laugh*
The music is Felix Mendelssohn's Overture. Geoffrey blogged about Mr. Mendelssohn this morning. The majestic music suits the cave and the ocean waves clashing against them. What a wonderful meditation I've had this morning thanks to Geoffrey and Fingal's Cave.
Geoffrey Withington shared a couple of photos this morning on his blog that were of a cave in Scotland called Fingal's Cave. It's so amazing! I found this video tour of the cave on You-Tube:
This is such an astounding video. The rocks have a layered look due to the formation of the waves of the ocean, I suppose. Even the rocks in the ceiling of the cave have the same layered look. Astounding!
I thought this morning of how God's protection is like a wall all around us like this cave's walls which rear up tremendously high. God protects us from more evil than we will ever know about I think. Satan would destroy God's family in an instant if he could. But God is our rock and our fortress against all harm and against Satan's worst.
I went inside of a cave in Kentucky when I was a teenager. But I'm almost certain that Fingal's Cave makes even Mammoth Cave look dwarfed by comparison. After all look at the walls of this cave in the video and the people beside it. I don't remember Mammoth Cave being that tall. It made me dizzy just to look at it in the video. *laugh*
The music is Felix Mendelssohn's Overture. Geoffrey blogged about Mr. Mendelssohn this morning. The majestic music suits the cave and the ocean waves clashing against them. What a wonderful meditation I've had this morning thanks to Geoffrey and Fingal's Cave.
Felix Mendelssohn
1809-1847
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Dixie Alley
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee...Psalm 91.7
Some of the news agencies are now dubbing the South "Dixie Alley" due to all of the tornadoes that ripped through the deep south Wednesday and Friday. One right after the other they came. I don't know the number of them yet. They swept through most of the deep South: Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennesse, Missouri, Kentucky.
Like most, I had my television tuned to the local news and weather. All of the local channels had solid coverage from start to finish of most of the tornadoes. Here in my city we had two distinct waves, one in the early morning and the last in the evening from around 6 pm to 9pm. That's when most of the damage was done to my area, I believe. Local television coverage was excellent. The new updated radar systems allowed them to pinpoint exactly where the rotations were and they were able to estimate the times of the arrival for each county and give early warnings. Still some lives were taken but not as many as there might have been had we not had such amazing coverage on the local stations.
There was so much damage done near to my city. A lot of damage followed on a path down the street where I live except it began farther out from me and went into the next county. I received calls asking about my safety when it was announced on tv that a lot of damage had been done on my street. God had protected my home and those around me.
My friend, Cindy Abbott, asked if me I was ok. We had both been watching the same tv station when they told about my street. I had heard the rain and wind outside but as far as I could tell no buildings around my home had received any damage. I did hear all of the sirens from firetrucks and other EMS vehicles pass by on my street as the calls came in.
I am so blessed to be alive. God protected me and those in my church from harm on those days. Several members were calling each other to be sure everyone was safe. All of us were in prayer on Wednesday and Friday for God's protection.
Yesterday I had a most wonderful Sabbath and enjoyed seeing all of my church family together and well.
Here are some photos below taken by our local newspaper of one of our twisters and of the damage left behind.
Some of the news agencies are now dubbing the South "Dixie Alley" due to all of the tornadoes that ripped through the deep south Wednesday and Friday. One right after the other they came. I don't know the number of them yet. They swept through most of the deep South: Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennesse, Missouri, Kentucky.
Like most, I had my television tuned to the local news and weather. All of the local channels had solid coverage from start to finish of most of the tornadoes. Here in my city we had two distinct waves, one in the early morning and the last in the evening from around 6 pm to 9pm. That's when most of the damage was done to my area, I believe. Local television coverage was excellent. The new updated radar systems allowed them to pinpoint exactly where the rotations were and they were able to estimate the times of the arrival for each county and give early warnings. Still some lives were taken but not as many as there might have been had we not had such amazing coverage on the local stations.
There was so much damage done near to my city. A lot of damage followed on a path down the street where I live except it began farther out from me and went into the next county. I received calls asking about my safety when it was announced on tv that a lot of damage had been done on my street. God had protected my home and those around me.
My friend, Cindy Abbott, asked if me I was ok. We had both been watching the same tv station when they told about my street. I had heard the rain and wind outside but as far as I could tell no buildings around my home had received any damage. I did hear all of the sirens from firetrucks and other EMS vehicles pass by on my street as the calls came in.
I am so blessed to be alive. God protected me and those in my church from harm on those days. Several members were calling each other to be sure everyone was safe. All of us were in prayer on Wednesday and Friday for God's protection.
Yesterday I had a most wonderful Sabbath and enjoyed seeing all of my church family together and well.
Here are some photos below taken by our local newspaper of one of our twisters and of the damage left behind.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Woodby
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land....Song of Solomon 2:2.
Soon it will be spring. This has certainly been a most strange winter all over everywhere due to the shaking of the nations. Mr. Ron Fraser spoke to this very subject yesterday in services. The changing of the weather daily from one extreme to another. We had snow here on Wednesday last week, temps in the 30's, then we had temps close to 60 degrees the next day. This will eventually effect the food crops Mr. Fraser brought out.
Passover will be coming up soon. It's time to get busy with spring cleaning. Time to begin deleavening. Open the windows up and air everything out. I love the springtime! All the plants and trees begin to bloom and the air is so nice and fresh and not too hot yet. I love to sit outside on my back deck in the spring and watch the sun come up, while I enjoy a cup of coffee and meditate.
In the spring and summer sometimes God allows me to see some deer and other wild critters in the very early morning hours when others are still asleep for the greatest part around me, so that it's nice and quiet. If I'm really still I have seen deer come into my yard from the surrounding tree-filled hills around me. Sometimes I have thrown some food out for them to have just before they show up.
Cats from the neighborhood come to visit when I sit outside in the spring. They have been outside during the night and they come around for a little human company, I suppose. I talk to the ones that come by the most often, who jump up onto my deck with me. I don't know their names of course, but I give them names of my own choice.
One time God even allowed me to have a friendly carpenter bee visit me every morning for most of the summer. That was THE most interesting visitor of all. It was a bee. A large one, for carpenter bees are huge when compared to a normal bee. But I will call it little because it is a small creature compared to the world. I named him Woodby. It may have been a female perhaps but I thought in terms of a male at the time.
Woodby was black and yellow striped. He would come near to me but not too close and he would hover as if observing me. So I talked to him in a soft voice for I'm sure that's what most creatures respond to rather than the actual words. He didn't seem to fear me. I think he realized that I wasn't his enemy. So I would read or mediate or pray and talk to Woodby from time to time. Now and then he would fly off but he always returned to be in my company after a short period of time.
One day I was in an especially bright frame of mind and when I spoke to Woodby he seemed delighted and began to turn flips in the air. I wondered if he'd picked up on my happiness that morning? Then he hit into the side of my home, making quite a thud as he did so. I laughed so hard because it was funny to me. Woodby didn't find it so amusing evidently. He flew a distance away from me as if he might be thinking why did I hit him? He seemed agitated and he kept rising up and down in the air as he watched me.
I said to Woodby, "Woodby, I didn't hit you. You did that to yourself, poor little guy." Well, he continued to observe me from a distance rising up and down for a long time. It was the strangest thing to see this little creature seem confused. Who would have ever thought that a bee could have such an amazing personality?
Woodby kept watching me without coming near to me again for a couple of days, but he finally did get over it and I was so happy to see him one morning fly up to his usual position as before and wait for me to speak to him again. I asked him about his wood-panneled condo which had been an on-going conversation many times. I knew that being a carpenter bee most likely he was drilling into the wood of my deck or some other place to prepare a home. So we discussed his building project and how it might be progressing.
He and I continued to have wonderful visits together most of the summer. One day near to the end of the summer Woodby appeared in the morning as usual but this time he had a friend with him, another carpenter bee, perhaps his mate. They played together for me and entertained me. I enjoyed the show they put on. But after awhile they seemed to become more interested in each other and their play took them farther and farther away from me.
I didn't see Woodby as often after that. It was so amazing to see how God allowed me to feel so close to this tiny creature with a clown-like face, for Woodby had a large black circle on his face that made me think of a clown's nose. That summer was an experience that I will never forget.
Soon it will be spring. This has certainly been a most strange winter all over everywhere due to the shaking of the nations. Mr. Ron Fraser spoke to this very subject yesterday in services. The changing of the weather daily from one extreme to another. We had snow here on Wednesday last week, temps in the 30's, then we had temps close to 60 degrees the next day. This will eventually effect the food crops Mr. Fraser brought out.
Passover will be coming up soon. It's time to get busy with spring cleaning. Time to begin deleavening. Open the windows up and air everything out. I love the springtime! All the plants and trees begin to bloom and the air is so nice and fresh and not too hot yet. I love to sit outside on my back deck in the spring and watch the sun come up, while I enjoy a cup of coffee and meditate.
In the spring and summer sometimes God allows me to see some deer and other wild critters in the very early morning hours when others are still asleep for the greatest part around me, so that it's nice and quiet. If I'm really still I have seen deer come into my yard from the surrounding tree-filled hills around me. Sometimes I have thrown some food out for them to have just before they show up.
Cats from the neighborhood come to visit when I sit outside in the spring. They have been outside during the night and they come around for a little human company, I suppose. I talk to the ones that come by the most often, who jump up onto my deck with me. I don't know their names of course, but I give them names of my own choice.
One time God even allowed me to have a friendly carpenter bee visit me every morning for most of the summer. That was THE most interesting visitor of all. It was a bee. A large one, for carpenter bees are huge when compared to a normal bee. But I will call it little because it is a small creature compared to the world. I named him Woodby. It may have been a female perhaps but I thought in terms of a male at the time.
Woodby was black and yellow striped. He would come near to me but not too close and he would hover as if observing me. So I talked to him in a soft voice for I'm sure that's what most creatures respond to rather than the actual words. He didn't seem to fear me. I think he realized that I wasn't his enemy. So I would read or mediate or pray and talk to Woodby from time to time. Now and then he would fly off but he always returned to be in my company after a short period of time.
One day I was in an especially bright frame of mind and when I spoke to Woodby he seemed delighted and began to turn flips in the air. I wondered if he'd picked up on my happiness that morning? Then he hit into the side of my home, making quite a thud as he did so. I laughed so hard because it was funny to me. Woodby didn't find it so amusing evidently. He flew a distance away from me as if he might be thinking why did I hit him? He seemed agitated and he kept rising up and down in the air as he watched me.
I said to Woodby, "Woodby, I didn't hit you. You did that to yourself, poor little guy." Well, he continued to observe me from a distance rising up and down for a long time. It was the strangest thing to see this little creature seem confused. Who would have ever thought that a bee could have such an amazing personality?
Woodby kept watching me without coming near to me again for a couple of days, but he finally did get over it and I was so happy to see him one morning fly up to his usual position as before and wait for me to speak to him again. I asked him about his wood-panneled condo which had been an on-going conversation many times. I knew that being a carpenter bee most likely he was drilling into the wood of my deck or some other place to prepare a home. So we discussed his building project and how it might be progressing.
He and I continued to have wonderful visits together most of the summer. One day near to the end of the summer Woodby appeared in the morning as usual but this time he had a friend with him, another carpenter bee, perhaps his mate. They played together for me and entertained me. I enjoyed the show they put on. But after awhile they seemed to become more interested in each other and their play took them farther and farther away from me.
I didn't see Woodby as often after that. It was so amazing to see how God allowed me to feel so close to this tiny creature with a clown-like face, for Woodby had a large black circle on his face that made me think of a clown's nose. That summer was an experience that I will never forget.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Going Home
Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee....Mark 5:19.
My friend, Geoffrey Withington, has been sharing some amazing information about classical composers and with it some biographical information on each one. He is helping me to gain a new-found, but growing, appreciation for classical music. One of my favorites so far, whom Geoffrey has introduced me to, is Antonin Dvorak, whom you can read about on Geoffrey's blog.
A few days ago, while I was enjoying some classical music being played on the cable on tv, I heard a familiar tune. I was captivated because I'd heard it in an old black and white movie a long time back and it had a quiet sad quality to it. I had heard the music with words to it which I found had been added sometime later. The original music was all instrumental.
I happened to recall the name of the now song entitled, "Going Home".
I found the video on YouTube with accompanying Hubble Telescope images taken in space. Listening to the music, with the words included near the end, made me think of those whom I have loved who are resting in sleep awaiting the resurrection. I think "Going Home" is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever listened to.
My friend, Geoffrey Withington, has been sharing some amazing information about classical composers and with it some biographical information on each one. He is helping me to gain a new-found, but growing, appreciation for classical music. One of my favorites so far, whom Geoffrey has introduced me to, is Antonin Dvorak, whom you can read about on Geoffrey's blog.
A few days ago, while I was enjoying some classical music being played on the cable on tv, I heard a familiar tune. I was captivated because I'd heard it in an old black and white movie a long time back and it had a quiet sad quality to it. I had heard the music with words to it which I found had been added sometime later. The original music was all instrumental.
I happened to recall the name of the now song entitled, "Going Home".
I found the video on YouTube with accompanying Hubble Telescope images taken in space. Listening to the music, with the words included near the end, made me think of those whom I have loved who are resting in sleep awaiting the resurrection. I think "Going Home" is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever listened to.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
My Kind of Town
And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent....1 Chronicles 15:1
I ran across this photo taken in the Netherlands and just had to share it. I love the colors on these buildings!! The pastels are exquisite!!! I could love living in this town. I love the colors. Just makes me feel happy to look at it. I want to say that it's feminine, but that might be taken as a slight by those men living there, but the buildings do have a graceful charm to them.
I ran across this photo taken in the Netherlands and just had to share it. I love the colors on these buildings!! The pastels are exquisite!!! I could love living in this town. I love the colors. Just makes me feel happy to look at it. I want to say that it's feminine, but that might be taken as a slight by those men living there, but the buildings do have a graceful charm to them.
The Delusion
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour...1 Peter 5:8
This week I have lost a wonderful friend and spiritual sister to a delusion she has begun to hold onto which separates her from me and from the church. I hope and pray that she will return to the flock, that she will see clearly the error that she has begun to hold onto and will repent. Sometimes those who seem to be the most spiritually strong can actually prove to be the most vulnerable or so it seems to me.
I never would have envisioned my friend misunderstanding and misapplying scripture as she has done. But that can happen to anyone if they don't remain close to God and depend on him, and not on our own ways of thinking. The Bible tells us that the heart (mind) is deceitful above all things. We should never begin to trust our own thoughts when it comes to reading the Bible. God is the interpreter of his own words, not our minds or thoughts.
All I can do now is pray for my friend and be ready to welcome her back completely when she returns to God and to the church. The idea that any of us can fall into this trap of Satan is horrifying. I miss my friend deeply.
This week I have lost a wonderful friend and spiritual sister to a delusion she has begun to hold onto which separates her from me and from the church. I hope and pray that she will return to the flock, that she will see clearly the error that she has begun to hold onto and will repent. Sometimes those who seem to be the most spiritually strong can actually prove to be the most vulnerable or so it seems to me.
I never would have envisioned my friend misunderstanding and misapplying scripture as she has done. But that can happen to anyone if they don't remain close to God and depend on him, and not on our own ways of thinking. The Bible tells us that the heart (mind) is deceitful above all things. We should never begin to trust our own thoughts when it comes to reading the Bible. God is the interpreter of his own words, not our minds or thoughts.
All I can do now is pray for my friend and be ready to welcome her back completely when she returns to God and to the church. The idea that any of us can fall into this trap of Satan is horrifying. I miss my friend deeply.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Peaceful Reflections
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth....Hosea 6:3
It's going to rain today. A good day to be inside reading. Many people will have to work outside in the rain, delivery persons, police, repairmen, and ambulance drivers, etc. But rain is called an occupational hazard for those folks. Rain also can increase work for others such as long-distance operators or even directory assistance operators. The call volume seems to increase when it rains or the weather becomes inclement. People seem to want to be on the telephone more. Of course with cell phones now in existance less operators are needed and less work is to be had for them. Doctors may also see an increase in their work as more driving accidents may occur also during rain.
But rain is a blessing also. What would we do without rain? We couldn't grow crops and we would all starve. We wouldn't see all of the beautiful flowers and plants in a profusion of colors. Life couldn't exist without rain or water. God has taken care of everything. He has provided for all of our needs.
The Callaway Gardens in Georgia are so lovely, full of God's wonderful nature. Flowers and plants everywhere the eye looks in those spacious surroundings. Lots of hiking and biking trails. They also have a Butterfly House with all kinds of live butterflies in abundance with hundreds of species. They fly all around in freedom in the Butterfly House and no one bothers or touches them. There are plants all over the inside of the building for the butterflies and visitors to enjoy.
A rainy day is also a good time to houseclean. There aren't usually many interruptions when it's raining outside since most people don't travel to visit during the rain often. It's a relaxing time to enjoy a nice hot cup of tea or coffee and contemplate all of the blessings that God has provided me with. I might perhaps treat myself to some chocolate ice cream today. There's nothing more soothing as chocolate ice cream, a wonderful way to relax while the rain softly beats upon the roof of my cottage.
Whenever the temperature allows it's so refreshing to open the doors and windows and let the fresh rain-cleaned air flow into the rooms. Days of softly falling rain remind me of childhood when on warmer days the gently falling rains would fill our home with lovely fresh scents wafting through open doors and windows. It would be a glorious time to take a nap if I chose to.
Sometimes when I sit in my living room as the rain comes down I have a sense of deja-vu. It's almost like I'm back in my mother's home when I was young. If I'm very careful I can even imagine her being there also, just out of sight. That's how I choose to think of it. It's a lovely feeling that comes over me, quite strongly at times. I hate when it's ended and I have to realize that she's not there. Then follows sadness to a degree because I miss her all over again.
Rain is indeed a wonderful blessing from God to all of us in many ways. I'm grateful for the rain that God allows us all to enjoy for a myriad of reasons, especially the memories it can bring back to me at times.
It's going to rain today. A good day to be inside reading. Many people will have to work outside in the rain, delivery persons, police, repairmen, and ambulance drivers, etc. But rain is called an occupational hazard for those folks. Rain also can increase work for others such as long-distance operators or even directory assistance operators. The call volume seems to increase when it rains or the weather becomes inclement. People seem to want to be on the telephone more. Of course with cell phones now in existance less operators are needed and less work is to be had for them. Doctors may also see an increase in their work as more driving accidents may occur also during rain.
But rain is a blessing also. What would we do without rain? We couldn't grow crops and we would all starve. We wouldn't see all of the beautiful flowers and plants in a profusion of colors. Life couldn't exist without rain or water. God has taken care of everything. He has provided for all of our needs.
The Callaway Gardens in Georgia are so lovely, full of God's wonderful nature. Flowers and plants everywhere the eye looks in those spacious surroundings. Lots of hiking and biking trails. They also have a Butterfly House with all kinds of live butterflies in abundance with hundreds of species. They fly all around in freedom in the Butterfly House and no one bothers or touches them. There are plants all over the inside of the building for the butterflies and visitors to enjoy.
A rainy day is also a good time to houseclean. There aren't usually many interruptions when it's raining outside since most people don't travel to visit during the rain often. It's a relaxing time to enjoy a nice hot cup of tea or coffee and contemplate all of the blessings that God has provided me with. I might perhaps treat myself to some chocolate ice cream today. There's nothing more soothing as chocolate ice cream, a wonderful way to relax while the rain softly beats upon the roof of my cottage.
Whenever the temperature allows it's so refreshing to open the doors and windows and let the fresh rain-cleaned air flow into the rooms. Days of softly falling rain remind me of childhood when on warmer days the gently falling rains would fill our home with lovely fresh scents wafting through open doors and windows. It would be a glorious time to take a nap if I chose to.
Sometimes when I sit in my living room as the rain comes down I have a sense of deja-vu. It's almost like I'm back in my mother's home when I was young. If I'm very careful I can even imagine her being there also, just out of sight. That's how I choose to think of it. It's a lovely feeling that comes over me, quite strongly at times. I hate when it's ended and I have to realize that she's not there. Then follows sadness to a degree because I miss her all over again.
Rain is indeed a wonderful blessing from God to all of us in many ways. I'm grateful for the rain that God allows us all to enjoy for a myriad of reasons, especially the memories it can bring back to me at times.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Magnified Sand
O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep....Psalm 92.5
How wonderful God is! He has made the sand of the earth so tiny, minute, but through a powerful microscope those tiny beads of sand become worlds of wonder as awesome as the planets in the heavens. There is an article in Mail Online which shows images of magnified grains of sand. Here is one of the images of sand:
Just to ponder the power behind the creation of these tiny grains that each one is unique, probably unlike any other grain is so astounding! Behold the colors in each and the intricate design in each separate grain. My mind is filled with amazement. I would have never envisioned such beauty in sand. Here is another:
Man in his own wisdom would say this is just something that naturally occurs, but it isn't. Nothing in this world "just happens". The Bible says that everything has a purpose in God's plan for mankind.
Our lives have purpose in God's plans. We were made in his image. Not in the animal image or the plant image, but in God's image. We are all different as the grains of sand. We don't look alike, but we have similarities. We all have arms and legs and minds. We have brains that can think and make intelligent choices, unlike the animals who only act from instinct. Animals can't reason. A question for evolutionists is if man had evolved from animals over millenia and changed in form as he evolved, then why aren't there still various stages of evolution in existance now? No evolutionist wants to be asked that because he can't give an answer to it because it's not happening just as it never happened before.
How wonderful God is! He has made the sand of the earth so tiny, minute, but through a powerful microscope those tiny beads of sand become worlds of wonder as awesome as the planets in the heavens. There is an article in Mail Online which shows images of magnified grains of sand. Here is one of the images of sand:
Just to ponder the power behind the creation of these tiny grains that each one is unique, probably unlike any other grain is so astounding! Behold the colors in each and the intricate design in each separate grain. My mind is filled with amazement. I would have never envisioned such beauty in sand. Here is another:
Man in his own wisdom would say this is just something that naturally occurs, but it isn't. Nothing in this world "just happens". The Bible says that everything has a purpose in God's plan for mankind.
Our lives have purpose in God's plans. We were made in his image. Not in the animal image or the plant image, but in God's image. We are all different as the grains of sand. We don't look alike, but we have similarities. We all have arms and legs and minds. We have brains that can think and make intelligent choices, unlike the animals who only act from instinct. Animals can't reason. A question for evolutionists is if man had evolved from animals over millenia and changed in form as he evolved, then why aren't there still various stages of evolution in existance now? No evolutionist wants to be asked that because he can't give an answer to it because it's not happening just as it never happened before.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Mama's Bible
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him....2 Chronicles 16:9
Today is a gorgeous sunny day. It's warm for this time of the year for the south. We are having a mild winter as far as snowfall is concerned. But we are certainly getting our fair share of rain.
This morning I listened to some of the Bible on tape from Gateway Bible. I enjoy the sound of the reader. But I will also read from my own Bible later this morning. I'm reminded of my mother who had surgery for cataracts before laser surgeries. That was when actual cutting was done and it took quite awhile. She had to wear corrective lense glasses even after that and without them she was virtually blind. She would listen to the Bible on tape. Sometimes she would turn a tape on as she waited for sleep to come and we would listen to the tape together. She would turn it up loud enough for me to hear it in my room. Listening to the tape this morning brought back memories of that.
It's a sure blessing that God has allowed some people to have a desire to record the Bible and other books on tape or CD so that those who can't see have the privilege of hearing them read at their convenience and not to have to depend on the timing of others as to when it would be convenient for them to do the reading. I, personally, am grateful to those kind strangers whoever they may be.
Today is a gorgeous sunny day. It's warm for this time of the year for the south. We are having a mild winter as far as snowfall is concerned. But we are certainly getting our fair share of rain.
This morning I listened to some of the Bible on tape from Gateway Bible. I enjoy the sound of the reader. But I will also read from my own Bible later this morning. I'm reminded of my mother who had surgery for cataracts before laser surgeries. That was when actual cutting was done and it took quite awhile. She had to wear corrective lense glasses even after that and without them she was virtually blind. She would listen to the Bible on tape. Sometimes she would turn a tape on as she waited for sleep to come and we would listen to the tape together. She would turn it up loud enough for me to hear it in my room. Listening to the tape this morning brought back memories of that.
It's a sure blessing that God has allowed some people to have a desire to record the Bible and other books on tape or CD so that those who can't see have the privilege of hearing them read at their convenience and not to have to depend on the timing of others as to when it would be convenient for them to do the reading. I, personally, am grateful to those kind strangers whoever they may be.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Keck Observatory
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt...Exodus 22:21
One never knows whom one will meet from day to day and what experiences it will bring or what knowledge. Today something was delivered to my door by a young man who looked to be maybe in his early twenties perhaps. I'd just been viewing some images from the Hubble Telescope on my computer when he came to the door. Although I didn't need to do so, I explained to the young man about what I'd been doing. He asked me if I was interested in astronomy. I told him, no, that I just found the images to be magnificent and that I enjoyed looking at all the colors in the universe.
He evidently studies astronomy. We talked about the Hubble and various planets, etc. Mostly he did the talking and I just listened. I was impressed with his knowledge of things I'd never heard of before or only heard in passing on tv at times. Today this young man, whose name I don't know, introduced me to a lesson on the Keck Observatory. He explained that they have two telescopes at the one place.
Later I did a Google search for "Keck" and found lots of information about that observatory. I looked through the photos available. It was stunning to see that each telescope has laser capabilities.
He also shared with me a great place here in my city to go to observe the night sky more clearly. He lives out away from the city. He told me that he gets to see lots of falling stars because he's out of the city. He says he gets to see falling stars a lot. I've never seen a real falling star in my life except on tv. He explained that the city somehow obscures the night sky due to all the lights at night in it. I don't know if I'm saying that just right or not. He said it's much better to view the night sky in the country to see falling stars better.
This just goes to show that a person never knows who can add to the store of knowledge that God allows us to have. I have learned about something new today that I'd never known about before. I learned it from a stranger who seemed to be excited to run across someone interested in hearing what he had to say. One just never knows....
One never knows whom one will meet from day to day and what experiences it will bring or what knowledge. Today something was delivered to my door by a young man who looked to be maybe in his early twenties perhaps. I'd just been viewing some images from the Hubble Telescope on my computer when he came to the door. Although I didn't need to do so, I explained to the young man about what I'd been doing. He asked me if I was interested in astronomy. I told him, no, that I just found the images to be magnificent and that I enjoyed looking at all the colors in the universe.
He evidently studies astronomy. We talked about the Hubble and various planets, etc. Mostly he did the talking and I just listened. I was impressed with his knowledge of things I'd never heard of before or only heard in passing on tv at times. Today this young man, whose name I don't know, introduced me to a lesson on the Keck Observatory. He explained that they have two telescopes at the one place.
Later I did a Google search for "Keck" and found lots of information about that observatory. I looked through the photos available. It was stunning to see that each telescope has laser capabilities.
He also shared with me a great place here in my city to go to observe the night sky more clearly. He lives out away from the city. He told me that he gets to see lots of falling stars because he's out of the city. He says he gets to see falling stars a lot. I've never seen a real falling star in my life except on tv. He explained that the city somehow obscures the night sky due to all the lights at night in it. I don't know if I'm saying that just right or not. He said it's much better to view the night sky in the country to see falling stars better.
This just goes to show that a person never knows who can add to the store of knowledge that God allows us to have. I have learned about something new today that I'd never known about before. I learned it from a stranger who seemed to be excited to run across someone interested in hearing what he had to say. One just never knows....
Friday, January 20, 2012
Butter My Toast
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good...Isaiah 7:15.
Poor Paula....I feel so bad for her. The Food Police are all over her case now that she's told us that she has diabetes. She can't catch much of a break this week. Some are trying to make her sound like just the most horrible person who ever existed just because she waited to tell anyone in the media about her diabetes until she (according to some) had a deal with a company that makes diabetes medicine to be a spokesperson for their product, ie. to make money off of her disease.
It's sad. Paula is such a lovely southern lady. True, she does seem to over-do it sometimes with the butter in her recipes. But anyone with an ounce of sense knows they will need to either alter the recipe to some extent or not have it very often, *smile*, or eat a lot less of it. But I don't think she warrants all of the attacks.
I hope that in the future Paula will perhaps edit her recipes to use less butter however so all of the hoopla over it can end, not to mention that it would really be much healthier. Surely not all of the butter she shows being used is truly necessary for the taste of the food.
Personally, I don't like the taste of butter that much. And I don't use much of it. I am amazed at times at the amount of butter Paula throws into a recipe and I think, wow, no way could I use that much even if I did like the taste of butter.
I believe that her son, Bobby Deen, may be about to alter some of the recipes to show how to make them healthier. I have seen ads for it on The Food Network. I think his program will be called "Not My Mother's Cooking" or something similar to that. That will be very interesting to see.
I love Paula's wit and fun-filled recipe programs. Her smile is just so lovely. And her southern accent is delightful! I enjoy her programs even if she does use too much pork and butter sometimes. It's fun when Bobby joins her to cook up some fun.
I do hope that in the future Paula will indeed make some healthier recipes on her show. Just hold on a little while, Paula dear, and soon the Food Police will find something or someone else to pick on and you can be at peace again.
Paula, may I have your autograph....
Poor Paula....I feel so bad for her. The Food Police are all over her case now that she's told us that she has diabetes. She can't catch much of a break this week. Some are trying to make her sound like just the most horrible person who ever existed just because she waited to tell anyone in the media about her diabetes until she (according to some) had a deal with a company that makes diabetes medicine to be a spokesperson for their product, ie. to make money off of her disease.
It's sad. Paula is such a lovely southern lady. True, she does seem to over-do it sometimes with the butter in her recipes. But anyone with an ounce of sense knows they will need to either alter the recipe to some extent or not have it very often, *smile*, or eat a lot less of it. But I don't think she warrants all of the attacks.
I hope that in the future Paula will perhaps edit her recipes to use less butter however so all of the hoopla over it can end, not to mention that it would really be much healthier. Surely not all of the butter she shows being used is truly necessary for the taste of the food.
Personally, I don't like the taste of butter that much. And I don't use much of it. I am amazed at times at the amount of butter Paula throws into a recipe and I think, wow, no way could I use that much even if I did like the taste of butter.
I believe that her son, Bobby Deen, may be about to alter some of the recipes to show how to make them healthier. I have seen ads for it on The Food Network. I think his program will be called "Not My Mother's Cooking" or something similar to that. That will be very interesting to see.
I love Paula's wit and fun-filled recipe programs. Her smile is just so lovely. And her southern accent is delightful! I enjoy her programs even if she does use too much pork and butter sometimes. It's fun when Bobby joins her to cook up some fun.
I do hope that in the future Paula will indeed make some healthier recipes on her show. Just hold on a little while, Paula dear, and soon the Food Police will find something or someone else to pick on and you can be at peace again.
Paula, may I have your autograph....
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
UPS
Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand...Galatians 6:11
I truly do appreciate all of the hard work done by the wonderful UPS men and women. I order a lot of things online and I'm always happy to see that big brown van pull into my driveway. I know they are bringing such wonderful things for me. Yes, I do know what they're bringing so it's no surprise, but it's exciting to anticipate the arrival of a new package. Just to know that it has arrived safely and hasn't been stolen or misplaced is a comfort.
Most of the UPS delivery persons know me by my first name. That should indicate how much stuff I do order online. *laugh* They know me because I've been doing business with them now for years. It's nice to know the people who "work" for you. I admit that I don't know all of their names but I do know most of their faces. They're always so kind and courteous to me. Some of the UPS men call me "Miss Bridget" which here in the South is only natural. Men do address ladies that way here when using a first name, especially if they're gentlemen.
The USPS (United States Postal Service) is a horse of another color. I almost cringe when something I've ordered is shown on the tracking as being delivered by the post office. The problem is that I live in a small city and the mail service here isn't the best.
The Postal Service here has been messed up for as long as I've lived here. I know that they have a lot of mail to deliver in a short period of time, but would a little more attention to what they're doing be too much to ask? Some of my mail and that of others around me are always ending up in the wrong box. I don't know how much mail may have never arrived to me personally because of misdirection. I'm not the only one who has problems with the post office.
Federal Express is another nightmare for me as well. They are always using the local post office to do their deliveries. Only once in a great while do I ever see FedEx actually bring something to my door directly. FedEx/post office is also bad, bad, very bad about leaving my packages on the doorstep when I'm not at home.
I hate to come home from someplace and find a cardboard box sitting on my front porch drenched in the rain that had fallen earlier. It also seems dangerous these days to leave packages on doorsteps due to the crime that continues to grow. UPS doesn't do that--as far as I know. UPS usually will leave a note on my door telling me that they will try to deliver the box again the next business day.
I was so happy to hear that the government is considering allowing the mail to be delivered by UPS. Wow! Now that would be great! As more and more post offices around the country close, the idea of UPS delivering local mail is fantastic! Yes, the mail may be slower in reaching us that way but maybe not. Even if it is slower it will be more dependable than what I encounter at this present time with the USPS.
I would be willing to pay a higher price for UPS delivery but there is no choice in the matter of who will deliver from stores online. Some stores offer free shipping if you buy $25 or more. I don't like that. I find that since FedEx and the USPS are cheaper the stores will use one of those first if they can before UPS.
I truly wish that the stores online would offer you a choice of how you want your items shipped. Only one online store where I shop will let me do that. Why don't all of them let you choose to pay for your own shipping and use whatever service you want to? I would choose UPS every time! *smile* Maybe that's why they don't.
UPS is the best delivery service in the nation as far as my opinion stands. Go UPS! I love those guys!
I truly do appreciate all of the hard work done by the wonderful UPS men and women. I order a lot of things online and I'm always happy to see that big brown van pull into my driveway. I know they are bringing such wonderful things for me. Yes, I do know what they're bringing so it's no surprise, but it's exciting to anticipate the arrival of a new package. Just to know that it has arrived safely and hasn't been stolen or misplaced is a comfort.
Most of the UPS delivery persons know me by my first name. That should indicate how much stuff I do order online. *laugh* They know me because I've been doing business with them now for years. It's nice to know the people who "work" for you. I admit that I don't know all of their names but I do know most of their faces. They're always so kind and courteous to me. Some of the UPS men call me "Miss Bridget" which here in the South is only natural. Men do address ladies that way here when using a first name, especially if they're gentlemen.
The USPS (United States Postal Service) is a horse of another color. I almost cringe when something I've ordered is shown on the tracking as being delivered by the post office. The problem is that I live in a small city and the mail service here isn't the best.
The Postal Service here has been messed up for as long as I've lived here. I know that they have a lot of mail to deliver in a short period of time, but would a little more attention to what they're doing be too much to ask? Some of my mail and that of others around me are always ending up in the wrong box. I don't know how much mail may have never arrived to me personally because of misdirection. I'm not the only one who has problems with the post office.
Federal Express is another nightmare for me as well. They are always using the local post office to do their deliveries. Only once in a great while do I ever see FedEx actually bring something to my door directly. FedEx/post office is also bad, bad, very bad about leaving my packages on the doorstep when I'm not at home.
I hate to come home from someplace and find a cardboard box sitting on my front porch drenched in the rain that had fallen earlier. It also seems dangerous these days to leave packages on doorsteps due to the crime that continues to grow. UPS doesn't do that--as far as I know. UPS usually will leave a note on my door telling me that they will try to deliver the box again the next business day.
I was so happy to hear that the government is considering allowing the mail to be delivered by UPS. Wow! Now that would be great! As more and more post offices around the country close, the idea of UPS delivering local mail is fantastic! Yes, the mail may be slower in reaching us that way but maybe not. Even if it is slower it will be more dependable than what I encounter at this present time with the USPS.
I would be willing to pay a higher price for UPS delivery but there is no choice in the matter of who will deliver from stores online. Some stores offer free shipping if you buy $25 or more. I don't like that. I find that since FedEx and the USPS are cheaper the stores will use one of those first if they can before UPS.
I truly wish that the stores online would offer you a choice of how you want your items shipped. Only one online store where I shop will let me do that. Why don't all of them let you choose to pay for your own shipping and use whatever service you want to? I would choose UPS every time! *smile* Maybe that's why they don't.
UPS is the best delivery service in the nation as far as my opinion stands. Go UPS! I love those guys!
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Painter of Light
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light...Genesis 1:3.
It has snowed. The sun hasn't risen yet, but the ground is covered with soft white. There's no wind blowing so it didn't feel like below freezing when I opened up the door a short time ago to look outside at the wonderland.
But there is danger and deception in the snow. Black ice. It's beneath the snow. Deadly and silent, it lies, waiting. I won't have to go out into it, but I think of those who will, friends and neighbors. The temperature won't go above freezing today so what's there will be around through part of tomorrow.
What I see makes me think of the beautiful snow in the paintings by Mr. Thomas Kinkade. He did such lovely snow-filled paintings. There are others as well who paint in a similar way to Mr. Kinkade too. I enjoy Mr. Kinkade's work because of the cottages he created on canvas. Some of them are so beautiful. I love cottages, as you already know. My computer wallpaper is of a country cottage inn painted by Mr. Kinkade (see image below). It's a summer scene with lots of lovely flowers and trees around the cottage-like inn. I love looking at this painting with all the pastel colors in it. I think that if I were a painter I would want to paint like Mr. Kinkade.
I wonder where he got the inspiration to have drawn the cottages that he did? They're different from one another in his paintings. Many of the cottages were given specific names by Mr. Kinkade. He was called "the painter of light", by his friends because of the way he used illumination in his paintings. The pastel colors he used were so bright and colorful and soft.
God is a Painter of light too. Look at all the lovely colors in the world around us, especially in Spring. The colorful flowers make one feel happy to look at them. One feels alive again following the winter when it is dark most of the 24-hour day. I'm so happy to see that the sunset hour is slowly moving back so that there is more daylight available. True, there's not a great amount of it yet, but it's on the way. *smile*
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Mr. Withington's Photographs
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver....Proverbs 25:11
I have been enjoying photos shared by Mr. Geoffrey Withington. Mr. Withington has added a written dimension to the photos he shares that makes viewing the images purely delightful and uplifting. I enjoy them tremendously. I have been going through the photos and savoring the joy of nostalgia at times as some memories of the past come to mind that I haven't thought about for a long time, such as lonely train whistles blowing in the night. Trains today have horns not whistles. Those who have no memories of the lovely and sad sound of a train whistle being blown in the night as the train approaches don't know what they have missed and don't know what I'm talking about. There are many, many other photos to enjoy on Mr. Withington's site. The words he pins to them are also exquisite and make one search deeply inside one's own soul.
Mr. Withington's photographs include a couple of shots of children that include a cat in each photo that make the images more intresting as well. In one, sitting beside the young boy, is a cat sitting on a mat of some kind. The boy doesn't seem to be too happy that his photo is being taken or maybe it's the sun in his eyes making him squint. It's hard to tell which one it is. But the photo is captivating to look at and think about.
I have some photos of family members of my own during the Depression era who look quite similar to the photos of the children in Mr. Withington's collection. I remember hearing stories passed down from family members who lived during that time of the hardships they had to endure. Now just about everyone from that time is dead and the memories are fading quickly. The stories don't continue to be passed on. It doesn't take more than a couple of generations for the memories to disappear and then those who were once much beloved and cherished don't even have their names recalled any longer by anyone. It's sad when you stop to consider it.
Those who have died were once vital, living and thriving persons with personalities and adventures to talk about. Unless they were heroes by the world's standards or had some reason to be written about in history books, those wonderful people seem to have never even existed anymore, but they did. God knows them all and will resurrect them to live again very soon.
This makes me want to be more appreciative of all those whom I know and love.
I have been enjoying photos shared by Mr. Geoffrey Withington. Mr. Withington has added a written dimension to the photos he shares that makes viewing the images purely delightful and uplifting. I enjoy them tremendously. I have been going through the photos and savoring the joy of nostalgia at times as some memories of the past come to mind that I haven't thought about for a long time, such as lonely train whistles blowing in the night. Trains today have horns not whistles. Those who have no memories of the lovely and sad sound of a train whistle being blown in the night as the train approaches don't know what they have missed and don't know what I'm talking about. There are many, many other photos to enjoy on Mr. Withington's site. The words he pins to them are also exquisite and make one search deeply inside one's own soul.
Mr. Withington's photographs include a couple of shots of children that include a cat in each photo that make the images more intresting as well. In one, sitting beside the young boy, is a cat sitting on a mat of some kind. The boy doesn't seem to be too happy that his photo is being taken or maybe it's the sun in his eyes making him squint. It's hard to tell which one it is. But the photo is captivating to look at and think about.
I have some photos of family members of my own during the Depression era who look quite similar to the photos of the children in Mr. Withington's collection. I remember hearing stories passed down from family members who lived during that time of the hardships they had to endure. Now just about everyone from that time is dead and the memories are fading quickly. The stories don't continue to be passed on. It doesn't take more than a couple of generations for the memories to disappear and then those who were once much beloved and cherished don't even have their names recalled any longer by anyone. It's sad when you stop to consider it.
Those who have died were once vital, living and thriving persons with personalities and adventures to talk about. Unless they were heroes by the world's standards or had some reason to be written about in history books, those wonderful people seem to have never even existed anymore, but they did. God knows them all and will resurrect them to live again very soon.
This makes me want to be more appreciative of all those whom I know and love.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
In Praise of the Slow Read
So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading....Nehemiah 8:8.
I would like to thank Mr. Jeremiah Jacques for sharing the link to a lovely site, "A Time To Cast Away Stones", on his Twitter page. This morning, at that site, I had the pleasure of slowly digesting an article about reading. It is entitled, "In Praise of the Slow Read" . I am grateful to the author of this article for his eye-opening comparison of two 10th grade students, one from the year 1995 and the other from 2011, both assigned the same homework: To give an oral report on "Sherpas".
I have heard news reports that many graduated students today are coming into the work-place unprepared for the process of actually working. This is because they have become so accustomed to having everything handed to them in school and at home and they have become spoiled and expect the same treatment on their jobs. The mentality of some of the younger workers is that they are doing their company a service by even being there. And they seem to question what the idea of working is all about anyhow.
The ability to create a hand-written letter is becoming obsolete as well in our society. The technology of today is teaching people to write in a shortened script that contains abbreviations for words instead of actual words. How sad that we are losing the ability to communicate with one another outside of phone texting lingo or chat room abbreviations.
I enjoy words. I enjoy writing. I love the feel of words on the page of a handwritten letter that I'm composing. It's a wonderful experience to compose your own thoughts and add them to paper one real word at a time. It's like having a glass of really good wine and sipping it slowly savoring the scent and then the delectable taste. It's like seeing a new recipe for a great tasting dish come together in your own private kitchen.
Reading, writing and even spelling are studies that most of the young people today are not learning properly. That's sad. To think about all the wonderful books that they are missing out on reading, fine books, like Jane Eyre.
I hope that some day in the World Tomorrow the art of reading and writing will
be restored.
The author of "In Praise of the Slow Read" wrote that we should not try to fill our minds with everything there is to read in the news, etc., but that we should take a few of the best books and read them over and over, studying deeply those few books so that they have an effect on our lives.
I would like to thank Mr. Jeremiah Jacques for sharing the link to a lovely site, "A Time To Cast Away Stones", on his Twitter page. This morning, at that site, I had the pleasure of slowly digesting an article about reading. It is entitled, "In Praise of the Slow Read" . I am grateful to the author of this article for his eye-opening comparison of two 10th grade students, one from the year 1995 and the other from 2011, both assigned the same homework: To give an oral report on "Sherpas".
I have heard news reports that many graduated students today are coming into the work-place unprepared for the process of actually working. This is because they have become so accustomed to having everything handed to them in school and at home and they have become spoiled and expect the same treatment on their jobs. The mentality of some of the younger workers is that they are doing their company a service by even being there. And they seem to question what the idea of working is all about anyhow.
The ability to create a hand-written letter is becoming obsolete as well in our society. The technology of today is teaching people to write in a shortened script that contains abbreviations for words instead of actual words. How sad that we are losing the ability to communicate with one another outside of phone texting lingo or chat room abbreviations.
I enjoy words. I enjoy writing. I love the feel of words on the page of a handwritten letter that I'm composing. It's a wonderful experience to compose your own thoughts and add them to paper one real word at a time. It's like having a glass of really good wine and sipping it slowly savoring the scent and then the delectable taste. It's like seeing a new recipe for a great tasting dish come together in your own private kitchen.
Reading, writing and even spelling are studies that most of the young people today are not learning properly. That's sad. To think about all the wonderful books that they are missing out on reading, fine books, like Jane Eyre.
I hope that some day in the World Tomorrow the art of reading and writing will
be restored.
The author of "In Praise of the Slow Read" wrote that we should not try to fill our minds with everything there is to read in the news, etc., but that we should take a few of the best books and read them over and over, studying deeply those few books so that they have an effect on our lives.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Potato Candy
Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness....Ezekiel 3:3
The kitchen in my cottage is feminine and charming. There are bright colorful curtains at the window above the sink. The window ledge holds three small pots with purple African Violets. The room is cheery and inviting. I love to cook wonderful foods in it.
One day in my cottage I will make some potato candy. It's actually made from a mashed potato, but one can't taste the potato. Here is how to make it.
Potato Candy
Ingredients:
1 white potato, peeled
white powdered sugar
peanut butter
Directions:
Peel and then boil the potato until soft. Mash the potato and then begin slowly mixing in white powdered sugar with the mashed potato until the mixture forms into a bread dough consistancy. Roll out the dough to the size and depth desired but not too thick. With a knife spread the peanut butter over the top of the candy dough. Roll the dough into a jelly roll shape. Then using a sharp knife, cut off slices of the candy and lay on a sheet of wax paper to finish cooling. Refrigerate before serving so the candy can harden.
That's all there is to it. It's simple and delicious! I think one can also make two layers of the dough. Then put peanut butter on the bottom layer and cover with the other layer so that the peanut butter is in the center. Then use a small square cutter of some kind to cut out boxed candy size pieces of the Potato Candy.
That would make a nice gift to someone. And it would be simple and home-made. One could put some of the candy pieces into a pretty container and serve it at a party or small get-together.
My mother used to make this candy when I and my sisters and brother were all small children. It was a special treat.
The kitchen in my cottage is feminine and charming. There are bright colorful curtains at the window above the sink. The window ledge holds three small pots with purple African Violets. The room is cheery and inviting. I love to cook wonderful foods in it.
One day in my cottage I will make some potato candy. It's actually made from a mashed potato, but one can't taste the potato. Here is how to make it.
Potato Candy
Ingredients:
1 white potato, peeled
white powdered sugar
peanut butter
Directions:
Peel and then boil the potato until soft. Mash the potato and then begin slowly mixing in white powdered sugar with the mashed potato until the mixture forms into a bread dough consistancy. Roll out the dough to the size and depth desired but not too thick. With a knife spread the peanut butter over the top of the candy dough. Roll the dough into a jelly roll shape. Then using a sharp knife, cut off slices of the candy and lay on a sheet of wax paper to finish cooling. Refrigerate before serving so the candy can harden.
That's all there is to it. It's simple and delicious! I think one can also make two layers of the dough. Then put peanut butter on the bottom layer and cover with the other layer so that the peanut butter is in the center. Then use a small square cutter of some kind to cut out boxed candy size pieces of the Potato Candy.
That would make a nice gift to someone. And it would be simple and home-made. One could put some of the candy pieces into a pretty container and serve it at a party or small get-together.
My mother used to make this candy when I and my sisters and brother were all small children. It was a special treat.
In The Garden
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it....Genesis 2:15
Some day maybe I shall have that little cottage of my dreams. To be able to decorate it the way that I envision it. My cottage would be surrounded by lovely fertile land for farming. Perhaps there would be a small community of people who live nearby but not too close that one couldn't enjoy some privacy and quiet. That would be nice. There would be farms nearby and maybe a small grocery store with fresh produce and all kinds of fresh fruit and grains would be grown and sold in the local area.
I can imagine walking down a tree shaded lane to visit with one of my friends in the community. I would love to wear long dresses then. Not the kind of the early American women with the long skirts that drug along the ground, but dresses almost to the ankle but above the street. I would love to sew some lovely feminine dresses in pastel colors of light blue and pink and yellow. I would put pretty white collars on the dresses with maybe some tiny cross-stitched flowers on them. They would also have some tiny lace trim.
I remember years ago when "Granny Dresses" as they called them, were in style for awhile. How lovely some of them were. I would love some petite white sandals with a small heel on them. And a sunbonnet perhaps, a light brown weave with multi-colored silk flowers on it.
It would be so nice to feel like a woman. The clothing today is not so pretty. A lot of womens clothes are tailored for business. There aren't any graceful dresses anymore. It's disappointing.
Yes, I would love to take a quiet walk to visit with some of my family, perhaps my mother. We would talk about new recipes that we were trying out or about how lovely the tomatoes are in the garden in her backyard. She would put some bird food into the feeder in the yard. And, as we walked talking together, we would water the plants. Then we could have some refreshing lemonade together as we sit outside near the garden and enjoy the sound of the birds singing and scratching in the feeder. We would recall days gone by and memories of family and friends.
It would not be hot, but a nice warmth, like early spring. And we could smell the scent of the different kinds of flowers wafting in the fresh clean air. That would be lovely. There would be no need to hurry with anything. We could sit and talk and laugh to our hearts content.
Some day maybe I shall have that little cottage of my dreams. To be able to decorate it the way that I envision it. My cottage would be surrounded by lovely fertile land for farming. Perhaps there would be a small community of people who live nearby but not too close that one couldn't enjoy some privacy and quiet. That would be nice. There would be farms nearby and maybe a small grocery store with fresh produce and all kinds of fresh fruit and grains would be grown and sold in the local area.
I can imagine walking down a tree shaded lane to visit with one of my friends in the community. I would love to wear long dresses then. Not the kind of the early American women with the long skirts that drug along the ground, but dresses almost to the ankle but above the street. I would love to sew some lovely feminine dresses in pastel colors of light blue and pink and yellow. I would put pretty white collars on the dresses with maybe some tiny cross-stitched flowers on them. They would also have some tiny lace trim.
I remember years ago when "Granny Dresses" as they called them, were in style for awhile. How lovely some of them were. I would love some petite white sandals with a small heel on them. And a sunbonnet perhaps, a light brown weave with multi-colored silk flowers on it.
It would be so nice to feel like a woman. The clothing today is not so pretty. A lot of womens clothes are tailored for business. There aren't any graceful dresses anymore. It's disappointing.
Yes, I would love to take a quiet walk to visit with some of my family, perhaps my mother. We would talk about new recipes that we were trying out or about how lovely the tomatoes are in the garden in her backyard. She would put some bird food into the feeder in the yard. And, as we walked talking together, we would water the plants. Then we could have some refreshing lemonade together as we sit outside near the garden and enjoy the sound of the birds singing and scratching in the feeder. We would recall days gone by and memories of family and friends.
It would not be hot, but a nice warmth, like early spring. And we could smell the scent of the different kinds of flowers wafting in the fresh clean air. That would be lovely. There would be no need to hurry with anything. We could sit and talk and laugh to our hearts content.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
My Dream Cottage
And they shall build houses and inhabit them...Isaiah 65:21
The talapia turned out very nice. I had it with some green beans and whole wheat bread.
I've been thinking today about cottages. I love cottages. There's a lovely little cottage-type house that I used to pass by every day years ago. I believe it's still there probably. It was set back off from the road and it was made of a light colored stone. I could tell a woman lived there. It had a woman's touch to the look of it. There were lovely little flower boxes outside each window and in the summer the boxes were filled with all kinds of flowers with billiant colors. There were lacy curtains at the windows. I used to think how blessed the lady of that little cottage was to have such a house. It looked so inviting. But I never went to it. I just passed by it as I drove to places where I was going.
I think that I would love to have a nice little place like that. The inside of it would be filled with lovely overstuffed furniture with flowers on tables. There would be a flower pattern teapot and tea cups for company to make each person feel right at home whenever they visited.
Everything would be so colorful and bright. No drab colors for me. Bright country colors in the furniture and on the walls. Country blue, peach, and cream. It would be graceful and feminine. And there would be the smell of fresh-baked bread coming from the small kitchen. And perhaps a roast with potatoes and carrots wafting on the air as well. I imagine for my cottage a flower pattern slip cover on the couch tied with pretty bows at the bottom of each side. It would have a lovely shiny wood floor with colorful rugs here and there. I can't think of anything more lovely than a house like this.
The talapia turned out very nice. I had it with some green beans and whole wheat bread.
I've been thinking today about cottages. I love cottages. There's a lovely little cottage-type house that I used to pass by every day years ago. I believe it's still there probably. It was set back off from the road and it was made of a light colored stone. I could tell a woman lived there. It had a woman's touch to the look of it. There were lovely little flower boxes outside each window and in the summer the boxes were filled with all kinds of flowers with billiant colors. There were lacy curtains at the windows. I used to think how blessed the lady of that little cottage was to have such a house. It looked so inviting. But I never went to it. I just passed by it as I drove to places where I was going.
I think that I would love to have a nice little place like that. The inside of it would be filled with lovely overstuffed furniture with flowers on tables. There would be a flower pattern teapot and tea cups for company to make each person feel right at home whenever they visited.
Everything would be so colorful and bright. No drab colors for me. Bright country colors in the furniture and on the walls. Country blue, peach, and cream. It would be graceful and feminine. And there would be the smell of fresh-baked bread coming from the small kitchen. And perhaps a roast with potatoes and carrots wafting on the air as well. I imagine for my cottage a flower pattern slip cover on the couch tied with pretty bows at the bottom of each side. It would have a lovely shiny wood floor with colorful rugs here and there. I can't think of anything more lovely than a house like this.
First Day
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger....John 6:35
First day...
I have been Tweeting part of the morning. Gasoline has gone up due to the instablilty of the Iranians. Thanks to A...jad.
Today is sunny and bright. Yesterday there was some snow here. Not much snow, just enough to cover the car windshield and lie on top of the handrail that runs alongside the cement walk here where I live. Very pretty to look at.
I love snow. It makes everything around take on a special quietness. Like one is shut inside a snug cocoon. All wrapped up. Snug as a bug in a rug kind of feeling. Time for hot cocoa and a good book, especially if there's a lot of snow.
I haven't eaten yet, and there are still things to do that I haven't done today. I can't seem to drag myself away from the computer screen. I'm fascinated by the blog adventure that I've just begun. I watched a movie the other day entitled, "Julie/Julia" about a young woman, named Julie, who went on an adventure in cooking. She decided to begin cooking all the recipes in the Julia Child recipe book that she owned until she'd completed trying all nearly 600 recipes. Her goal was to complete all the recipes within one year. She also began a blog about her adventure. And the blog was picked up by newspapers and television. Julie became an Internet sensation and a movie was made about her. Her husband and friends were ecstatic over having surprising new recipes to savor every day.
I'm having some baked Talapia today. Time to get off of the blog and get my lunch started.
P.S. This is not a cooking or food blog. So...keep searching if that's what you thought you'd found. Sorry 'bout that.
First day...
I have been Tweeting part of the morning. Gasoline has gone up due to the instablilty of the Iranians. Thanks to A...jad.
Today is sunny and bright. Yesterday there was some snow here. Not much snow, just enough to cover the car windshield and lie on top of the handrail that runs alongside the cement walk here where I live. Very pretty to look at.
I love snow. It makes everything around take on a special quietness. Like one is shut inside a snug cocoon. All wrapped up. Snug as a bug in a rug kind of feeling. Time for hot cocoa and a good book, especially if there's a lot of snow.
I haven't eaten yet, and there are still things to do that I haven't done today. I can't seem to drag myself away from the computer screen. I'm fascinated by the blog adventure that I've just begun. I watched a movie the other day entitled, "Julie/Julia" about a young woman, named Julie, who went on an adventure in cooking. She decided to begin cooking all the recipes in the Julia Child recipe book that she owned until she'd completed trying all nearly 600 recipes. Her goal was to complete all the recipes within one year. She also began a blog about her adventure. And the blog was picked up by newspapers and television. Julie became an Internet sensation and a movie was made about her. Her husband and friends were ecstatic over having surprising new recipes to savor every day.
I'm having some baked Talapia today. Time to get off of the blog and get my lunch started.
P.S. This is not a cooking or food blog. So...keep searching if that's what you thought you'd found. Sorry 'bout that.
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