Meanwhile, Down At Hobbit Cottage ...

"... she can laugh at the days to come."   ---From Proverbs 31

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Most mornings I carry a yellow Fiestaware mug of hot chocolate upstairs here to my computer and watch Tessie at Youtube.

(If you hate Youtube, you're not doing it right.) ツ

Tessie gives us tours through her acre of PA;  we step down rows of her huge green garden, then up to the deck after we visit her chickens. Then inside her 1963 mobile home, Tessie whips up dinner in the crockpot if it isn't already simmering over a fire outside.

Tessie's bedroom-sized pantry makes my prepper-loving heart beat harder. Wow, all those beautiful jars of food she's canned within her hutches!

And more. Tessie shares so much more: life lessons, homemaking knowledge, wisdom.

And you know? These past what-the-heck? months, she's kept me balanced. God's used her inspiration to stop me from permanently camping out in a 2020 spiritual battlefield, 24/7, fighting the good fight of faith amongst all the crazies out there.

Now, what's wrong with that? The 24/7 part. Face it, God's way too wise to wreck our health with a wildly-out-of-balance purpose/gift/calling. People do that to themselves: God does not.

So with a thankful nod to Tessie, here's a tad of what's kept me joyfully balanced since March when many of us were shooed inside our houses lest covid-19 find us and make us sick. Or afraid.

Yet there's been no fear here at Hobbit Cottage, nor will there be. Mostly, I'm having the time of my life.

But then, I've always lived upon the opposite track. Always.

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An early photo of my farm garden.

Some cucumbers were born there so I'm hoping to use them for Aunt April's Refrigerator Pickles. (My friend, Connie's, Aunt April, not mine. heh.)  I'll include the recipe, below.

Of course I still feed the birds. Sometimes they sit on our porch railing and stare inside the house, willing me to remember to feed them. (Kinda eerie.)

Lots of salad-making this year. 

Now, my own little hutch of canned foods, though in the basement, always makes me smile and feel fine about the days ahead. Oh, and it's fuller now. (Forgive the darkness which is our basement.)

Oh, and weekly I check my itemized stock-up list to see if I'm short on anything for our 6-month supply.

When we all 'got sent to our rooms', that was my birthday week and guess how I spent my birthday money? On more stock-up groceries. Alas. So finally last week I bought something for myself: two original Nancy Drew books. They're awesome.  ツ

Here are a couple I bought later (long story).

Oh, and did you know that when the first 34 Nancy Drew books were edited more PC in the 60's, they also removed 5 chapters from each? What the--? Can you imagine your own favorite book having 5 chapters taken away? Gracious. 

I own perhaps 9 originals with all 25 chapters and prefer each non-PC, old-fashioned one over the updated rest. Deal with it. 😉

Oh, and I'm still shining 'this little light of mine'. heh.

And I'll end with this: Color me grateful for God's warnings, instructions and love. He brings me much joy in the midst of battle.

"Put on the full armor of God..... fight the good fight of faith."  --- Ephesians 6:11, 1 Timothy 6:12

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Here's a favorite Tessie video.

Here's another.

And in this one, Tessie speaks of her life story. She also speaks to the importance of learning skills and living prepared for the future.

There are many more!

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Aunt April's Refrigerator Pickles:

Place in 1/2 gallon jar:

6 cups sliced cucumbers

1 cup sliced onion

Mix cold and pour over cucumbers:

1 3/4 cup sugar

1 cup vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

Let stand in refrigerator 3 days. 

Oh! And again, if you want to leave a comment, but can't for whatever reason(s), you can always email me at the address near the top of my blog: GladOne4@yahoo.com

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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

For Those Who Don't Understand

"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."   --- Hebrews 11:7

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Recently I reread that verse and thought, "Wow. God warned us, also, that our own 'yet unseen' catastrophe was flying toward us."

He mega-warned us.

He used the Bible.

And prophets.

And preachers.

And teachers.

And preppers.

And pundits.

And finance folks.

And Youtube.

And unknowns in the 'burbs.

And circumstances.

And---

Well, He majorly warned us. 

And if some Christians were caught unprepared for this flood of chaos? It certainly wasn't God's fault. He's never made a mistake in His whole life.

Folks, He's still warning us, for this mind-exploding upheaval isn't over. The exposing of lies and liars, in fact, has just begun. And because of His great mercy He's given us second chances! Yet those never last forever.

But daily I observe this at Facebook: Amongst my friends' posts (and mine), those which receive the most likes, loves and comments? The humorous cartoons, pretty pictures and non-controversial, pleasant personal stories.

And I groan, you know, at the sleepiness. Recall verses like this:

"A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."   --- Proverbs 22:3

 Ha! Just got a funny picture in my mind: 

If Noah had Facebook while he built the ark? I simply cannot imagine him on coffee breaks posting only scenic photos, dog videos and clever cartoons. Uh, no. His conscience and sense of urgency would've balked and forbidden him.

And may that help you understand us 'warners' better. 

I realize we've changed lately, but so has our world. And we've prepared for the future, yet we worry about those who believe in no reason to do so, spirit or soul or body.

So we keep trying to shake others awake, even when they slap away our hand and roll back beneath the blankets.

It's that nagging sense of urgency from God. That's partly what I blame my own urgent-sounding-nagging upon. Draw near to God and He will most certainly draw near to you!

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Have you read Mario Murillo's blog lately? My oh my oh my. The guy is on fire--the good kind.  ジ  Read his posts long enough and your questions of "Why is this happening?" will be answered.

And prepping food is just one aspect of all this, but here's a video with a good stocking-up idea if you're low on funds (tho' personally, this late in the game, I'd double or triple the daily items. Er hem.). Here you go.

And here's a list from Michael Snyder about 50 things we should all have on hand if possible.

Oh! And I wanted to offer once more my personal alphabetized stock-up list. You know, to get you started or to remind you perhaps of a few forgotten things. Only one person asked for this last time so here you go in case you forgot.   シ  Email me at GladOne4@yahoo.com for a copy.

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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

One Thing I Love About This Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Virus Time

"But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."   ---Matthew 6:15

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A return to the lighter side today! (Whew, right?) ツ

Way back when I used to visit the supermarket, three times I faced emotional trauma there. 

What the heck?

Well, I stood in line at the check-out and twice a (different) man stood only 6 inches behind me and once a woman did that. I could feel their breath upon my neck, smell their scent, hear them breathe and their hand-held groceries bumped my back.

Unfortunately in each instance, a shopping cart (and line) was behind them so if I'd turned and asked, "Could you please step back?," the entire line would've had to shift backwards and well, being a typical first-born, we so hate to bother people. 

So I spoke nothing. Just stood there sharing my personal space with a creepy stranger.

And good gracious! Each time after paying for my groceries and pushing my cart to the door, I felt my body trembling. Probably I resembled someone plugged into a dripping electrical socket and my mind spun in mad circles because of clueless mortals and myself, even. You know, that I'd not had the courage to speak-up.

Yet I've grown more courageous since then and Honey, you go sidling up to me now and I'll definitely call you on it. I don't care if 50 people must move backward. (Look at Debra all feisty in her old age.)

But hey! Turns out I won't need to speak anything, what with social distancing, right? Woo hoo! No stranger will ever again breathe down my neck in line, not with all those 6 foot markers on everybody's shop floors. Someday, yes, that'll change, but I'm thinking we'll always be standing at least 3 feet apart.

Oooooo, three feet. I can handle that, yes sirree, Bob! So thank-you covid-19 for that one good thing in the midst of all your otherwise ridiculous insanity.  ツ

"Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!"   ---Philippians 4:4

"When I tell strangers I am not a hugger, some take this as a challenge, like they can hug me into submission, like they can will my aversion to hugs away by the strength of their arms. Oftentimes, they will draw me into their body, saying something condescending like, "See, it isn't that bad." I think, I never thought it was, and I stand there, my arms limply by my sides, probably grimacing, but still, they don't get the message that I am not a willing participant in this embrace. The fortress hath been breached.”
― Roxane Gay

Look for the good in any situation: only true searchers will find it.

Oh, and you extreme extroverts might not understand my post (and angst), but this was written for those do get it. heh.

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This news totally made my entire week!  --

California Revival Brings Beautiful Harvest of Souls ...

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A very special thanks to those who congratulated me on 16 years of blogging!

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

My Worst Nightmare--And--Sixteen Years Here?

"' Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So in my fear, I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’ ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master.---Matthew 25:24-26

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After I arrive in Heaven? Personally, this scenario would horrify me (yeah, even there):

Four friends in Heaven: "Debra! How marvelous to see you here."

                                         (Hugs all around.)

Debra: "Thanks, Everyone! I really missed each of you."

Four friends in Heaven: "Say, we heard America was nearly taken over                                                 with riots!"

                                                       "And sin ran rampant in the streets and the                                                   Government!"

Debra: "Yes, it was a dreadful time." (She shudders.)

Four friends in Heaven: "So tell us! How did the Lord use you to fight

                                         against the darkness?"

                                         "Yes! Tell us."

                                         "What adventures did you have?"

Debra: "Well I, uh, prayed a lot." (She smiles.)

Four friends in Heaven:   "Sure, sure. All Christians were called to do                                                  that."                                              

                                                       "But what else?"

Debra: "Uhm, I soaked in the presence of God pretty often."

Four friends in Heaven:  "Also good. But what specific ways did God                                                 use you through your gifts?"

                                         "What ways did you fight evil Marxism?                                                         Socialism?"

                                        

Debra: "I, uh--"

Four friends in Heaven: "Yes, how did you make a difference?"

                                        "How did the Lord move through you to change                                             History?"

                                         "To awaken and warn others so they, also,                                                    would fight?"

Debra: "Er..."

Four friends in Heaven:  "Tell us how you helped others who struggled!"

                                         "How did the Lord use you to speak light into                                                the darkness?"

                                         "Yes! We love hearing how God moves upon the                                           Earth through His called and chosen ones."

                                         "Yes, and how others will recall their time upon                                            Earth for all eternity."

Debra: "Uhm, well ... They said we must stay home so I did. I prayed an awful lot. God helped me think happy thoughts while I waited for it all to be over and --

Four friends in Heaven: "And?"

Debra: "...and I was afraid, but right now I can't remember exactly why."

Four friends in Heaven:  "Oh."

                                         "Oh."

                                         "Oh."

                                         "Oh."                      

Heaven forbid.

I've shared this before, but--- 

When Christians tell Lance Wallnau, "I just pray for our Country. I believe that will change things," he asks them, "Well, how's that working for us so far?"

"Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.... Faith without works is dead."   ---Luke 17:33, James 2:17

May we become more eternity-minded!

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Sixteen years blogging as of tomorrow! Unbelievable. Those early days remain as close to me still as last week.

What an adventure!

And just one of many lessons I've learned? Via the comments, how to better handle criticism and rejection. At first negative comments royally bugged me, but now? Phhht. Who even cares? As long as I've obeyed God in what I said and did, that is what matters. That is--He is--my daily peace. My everything, truly.

Oh, what a valuable lesson for these days when one just might get her nose snapped at by speaking simple truth!

You won't always please people if you are going to please God." --- Paula White-Cain

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Debra's Favorite Lavender Things:

This lavender warming oil is awesome no matter how many reviewers whine about it. ツ But then, I use it for a different purpose.

I sprinkle it upon my bed pillows and real lavender stems. It even helps me sleep better at night. No, really.

My first bottle? Lasted 2 years(!)

And oh! My new favorite wax melts. Can something be strong and subtle at the same time? Wild Lavender (makes a difference. Trust me.).

Oh! Nearly forgot. Tom and I began watching the tv series called Forever. How refreshing to find something new to view! We'd never even heard of it and it began in 2014. Where have we been?  シ

(We're watching via CW Seed, a station we easily added to our Roku/Youtube TV set-up.)

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And to end this with a bit of humor (thanks for sharing this, Dolores!)---

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Oh and---please wake up!

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

Mercy? Are You Serious?

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." ---2 Peter 3:9

"For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."   ---James 2:13

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So I reread Jonah recently and thought, "Ha! The comedic relief book of the Bible."

I mean, it (pretty much) said, "God told Jonah to preach to sinful Nineveh so Jonah, instead, took a boat ride to Tarshish."

Maybe I'm easily amused, but that makes me giggle. 

Why? Because Jonah's so us. We think, "Maybe God won't notice if I choose something different." But trust me--He notices. Then He makes certain our life goes all peace-out-the-door, rocky-road-ish until we obey.

And for Jonah, that meant nights spent inside a whale's stomach.

But what caused the whale to release Jonah? His repentance, praise and gratitude; a powerful combination, indeed. Even today.

So Jonah travels to Nineveh, warns its citizens that God's majorly upset with their sinful behavior, and poof! The king realizes that God has watched all the bad and ugly stuff and He wants it to stop or else.

The king spreads the message, telling everyone to get the sackcloth out of the closet, fast the milk and honey, stop sinning and repent. Maybe God wouldn't crush their city, perhaps He'd forgive them, instead.

He did. And that's what made Jonah mad. 

He'd have preferred fireworks and buildings collapsing, some good old-fashioned sowing-and-reaping sin principle stuff. But all along he just knew God preferred mercy. "Mercy, mercy, mercy," he probably muttered sarcastically under his breath.

Jonah was so bummed-out that He told God (basically), "I can't understand you or your mercy and I'm tired of trying. Just take me now."

Well, that's my Reader's Digest condensed version, anyway.

And here's today's lesson:

Anyone can criticize Jonah for his heartlessness and believe ourselves better. Yet if we're praying Today's rioters and tyrannical politicians  will reap punishment and harsh lessons? That they'll pay dearly (and I don't mean money) for their sins? Well, are we better?

Like I said, Jonah's so us. But he need not be. May we, ourselves, repent, praise and extend great gratitude to a mighty God who showed us such enormous mercy that He gave His only Son.

Because of love, the same love He longs to shine through us, so that a battling world can see to find the peace they seek.

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."   ---from 1 Corinthians 13

What do we pray for more often? For those being driven by demons to 'get theirs' or for them to be set-free?  (And hey, I'm asking myself. Seriously.)

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I've recommended Tim Janus' videos before, but here's a new-to-me one which I listen to nearly constantly. Gives me that soundtrack of my life feeling.

Oh, and here are movies Tom and I have watched lately which I can actually recommend.  シ

Undercover Grandpa

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Ace Wonder

The Vast of Night

Oh, and The Healing Powers Of Dude is a really cute series at Netflix.

Louisiana Governor Calls For Three Day Fast And Prayer

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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

Encouragement: It's What The Cool Kids Are Doing. :)

"So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God... Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." ---Romans 14:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:11

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Once I read in a book--

"Not everyone has an actual gift of encouragement, but the Bible asks every Christian to encourage others.

True, that.

A handful of friends have told me they can't go all controversial truth on Facebook (especially) lest they lose their job. Honey, in Today's world I understand that. Trust me, Tom became mighty nervous after reading a guy lost his job because of his wife's Facebook post. Yikes! (And we all know about Tom's mouthy wife, right?)  ツ

But how about these alternatives?

Encouraging those who do speak up? The warriors, fighters, truth defenders?

Why not answer their posts with a simple, "I appreciated this!" or "I needed this today."?

Or at the very least, click 'like' or 'love'. (I like how Adam The Woo often signs off with, "Please give this video a big thumbs up. It lets me know you care.")

People gratefully notice these things. They do.

--Or--

You can open a Google account using a creative name, then anonymously encourage those making inspiring videos. Those Youtubers who strengthened your weary heart.

You can do the same at Twitter, anonymously let the writers (and commenters) know what they stated was meaningful. And retweet, thus spreading truth way beyond 'Us 4 and no more' walls. Also you can tweet your own wildest, most controversial beliefs there.

Where we royally blow it?

When we believe this lie:  "_____ is famous and he gets tons of encouragement already. He doesn't need me."

But what I've seen? What well-known truth warriors get is a ton of mental attacks. Truth-despising demons work overtime on bold people. Every day 24/7, satan plans ways to stop truth and spread lies, instead.

Everyone is fighting a battle. Everyone needs encouragement, especially these days gone all what-the-heck-is-happening? 

And what I know for certain is that God makes a way for us to share our beliefs and encourage others where there appears to be no way. He's a professional at that.

How remarkable that one reason for our date of birth? So we'd be present to speak into someone's life perhaps just an hour before they'd planned to go into hiding forever or to destroy it, even.

Oh, the responsibility! Yet also, oh the mightiness of a huge God who pays attention to all details and easily equips us to help make the world go 'round as it should. 

As He planned it so very long ago.

"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad."   --- Proverbs 12:25

I try to always click the thumbs-up and/or subscribe buttons at Youtube because it's another form of encouragement and it helps with their income.

"The problem is many of us believers are behaving like the world. You're scared like the world. You're angry like the world. You're anxious like the world. But if you look like the world you can't influence the world... You gotta stand out, you gotta be different. We were put here. You are the seed that God planted on this Earth and He expects a harvest."   --- Kynan Bridges

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Tom and I really enjoy the old Rockford Files series (we're currently rewatching it) so we loved catching the Jay's Garage episode with Mike Rowe and the Rockford car. Check out the preview here.

From 'Good People News':

Not always sure how to encourage someone? Remembering this often helps: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'.

Let's arrive in Heaven having done all God created us to do!

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15