January This And That

1.) If you're interested in the old Sears houses built from kits, you'll most likely enjoy this video. Frankly, I never tire of learning more about these.

2.) You realize men's t-shirts are often less expensive than women's, right? Walmart has a package of five v-neck shirts (after years of watching What Not To Wear, that's the only kind I'll wear) for just $3.25 per t-shirt!

Now yes, they fit kinda masculine-y, but since I always wear flyaway sweaters over mine, it's not a problem. At least, not to me.  シ

3.) Does this tickle your imagination, or what?

4.) I'm enjoying Gab.com! The site's owner even shares Bible verses and truths and many folks wish us good morning, adding beautiful images. So because it's a woman's perogative to change her mind, I'm considering remaining at Gab even after Parler returns. 

5.) So when all the lockdowns began last March, I had 6 weeks' worth of dishwashing gel. I wanted more, but oh my! Everyone seemed sold-out online. But at Amazon they had this so I bought 2:

Oh brother. Weakest excuse for dishwashing gel, ever! Eventually I found 2 bottles of good ol' Cascade and am still using-up this awful stuff by adding it to the Cascade each load. Live and learn, right?

6.) Any other Disney+ watchers loving Wanda Vision? Wow. It's as though the writers asked me, "Hey Debra. If you could create a tv series, what would it be like?" Seriously, Tom and I both hugely anticipate this show on our 'Saturdates' (as Naomi calls them).  

7.) Everyone have their Valentines ordered? Each year's a lovely one in which to send Valentines, but 2021? More perfect than ever for reaching out to anyone with love.

Oh! And Rita in the comments asked if I could include some links to cute Valentines. Sure! I'll add them at the bottom of this post. Thanks for asking, Rita.

8.) Oooo... Daniel The Cat loves this new Tim Janis video. Why? Lots of birds! Sometimes he even acts like he'll jump up on the screen. (Yikes.) These gorgeous autumn videos feel like my winter medicine and do me much, much good.

9.) And since you certainly won't hear this from our government, again, I'll post what I've discovered boosts my immune system. In nearly 10 years I've only been sick twice and I feel these, below, hugely help. Daily I take--

5,000 units of Vitamin D3 
2,000 units of Vitamin C (divided doses)
1 acidolphilus capsule
1,000 units of krill oil 
500 units of magnesium
And lately? 50 mg.'s of zinc
Lots of forgiveness toward others
And much godly, peaceful contentment

I would tell you I exercise and eat right, but that would make me a Big Fat Liar.   ツ 

10.)  So pretty, right? (Posted on Gab by BrownEyedGirl1961.) --

11.)  Oh, and you have at least two weeks' worth of groceries in your home, right? Just asking, just in case...

12.) For a smile--

And I shared these at Facebook because, hey, they're true:

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Here are a few Valentine links. Some cards will need to be placed in larger envelopes if you wish to mail them.

Valentines #1

#2

#3

#4

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Right now say what you can while you still can wherever you can.

"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

Still Hanging In There?

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."   ---Matthew 24:12, 13

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A sunny early morning! No having to use like crazy the reading sun lamp Naomi gave me. One can believe for Spring on these rare bright days, even though it's just 20 degrees. 

Springtime will arrive again.

Miracles from God? Visible ones? They're coming also--and soon. Stay-tuned to Life. Hopeful. Believing.

Anyway, what a wild ride, these past months. One of many good things? Now I can easily release my strangle-hold upon this Earth, this Life. Not just the bothersome parts, but rather, the beautiful ones.

That's the true test, I think.

Really, Heaven so often tickles my brain and you know? Lately I'm even intricately designing my heavenly mansion and its backyard. Seriously! Someday I'll describe it all to you in a post.

Yet I must make this clear: I'm not waiting all sloth-like with an emotional suitcase packed. Not hiding, not avoiding the battle raging out there nor am I even wishing this would all just be over so we could step into Heaven tomorrow.

Nope! Too much anticipation of a move of God upon Earth swirls within me.

Rather, I keep asking (and asking) Him to keep me from blowing my last days' part in the battle. That He'll show me how to fight His way and that He'll help me help others not be swayed by weird circumstances, also. 

After all, there's no extreme joy of obedience in only hiding when He created us for so much more, for ripples eternally traveling across the wide river of Time.

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them."   --- James 4:17

'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger' --or-- it's supposed to, 

anyway.  シ

"This is our watershed moment. I hear the abundance of rain. It may not look the way we think it should ... it may not have turned out the way we think it should have turned out. But quit saying, "When's the military gonna do something? When is Trump going to do something?"

I don't care. I'm asking, "When's God gonna do something?" Because God's the one who's going to have to do it. So I'm trusting Him... I'm waiting for God to do something because only Jesus can fix this."

--Pastor Greg Locke

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Now here's something beautiful. Remember the song, The Sound of Silence? This guy (what a voice--and he had the flu!) makes the warning of non-communication all the more real. 

(You'd not believe me if I told you how many times I've watched reactions to that song at Youtube. Really, it's become my nighttime lullaby.) Find my favorite reaction here. I love watching his face 'melt'! As he mentioned before watching, he believed Simon and Garfunkel got it right the first time so no need to listen to others. 

Loved the moral of the story he gave at the end.

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"Few men ever repent of being silent."   ---Charles Spurgeon

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Oh, and I shared this at Facebook:

Personally, I'm never going back, doesn't matter who in the government tells me to return to old ways of thinking. No way.

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"He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights."   ---Psalm 18:33

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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

Nobody's Gettin' Away With Anything

"Fret not yourself because of evildoers...Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?"   ---Proverbs 24:19, 1 Corinthians 6:9

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Way back in the mid-90's, four of us at church took turns monthly teaching adult Sunday School. 

We taught from the pulpit in the sanctuary (fun!) and the worldwide Christian Renewal had us all excited, inspired and glowing. Frankly, those memories still delight my 61-year-old mind (which wonders if I'd have too many senior moments were I to teach that way today. Er hem.) 

シ

Anyway, people back then chuckled and rolled their eyes when I spoke one of my titles: Nobody's Gettin' Away With Anything. Seems that line went down like tiny squares of sandpaper. Uh-oh!

Yet now in 2021 do I still believe those words? Yes, yes I do, even after viewing comments from whining folks following days-of-reckoning-are-approaching-soon videos. You know, replies like:

"I've given up. Evil leaders keep leading. They never get caught. Nothing ever changes."

Yikes! Those who fling away their hope also watch their faith float away and without faith? Prayers tend not to get answered and Life turns downright depressing.

Here, my friends, is what I believe with all my heart:

Liars, cheaters and destroyers are not winning: they are losing their very souls.

The land of their hearts is dark. Demons require a shadowy atmosphere while they work.

No true peace of mind or rest is theirs. "For what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

"The evil man has no future: the lamp of the wicked will be put out."

(Go here for a longer list.)

If you truly know God, your average day with Him contains more peace, delight and contentment than evil-minded ones will ever experience, no matter their decades or wealth or Life positions.

And may these thoughts both comfort and challenge us to pray for all who cannot hear, see or taste what we all too often take for granted, for as our so-merciful God stated, Himself:

"Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?"   --- Ezekiel 18:23

"Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord ... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."   ---Romans 12:19,21

"There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens;

... a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 a time to tear down and a time to build,

 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time for war and a time for peace."   from Ecclesiastes 3

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Oh! You might not believe this, but .... (as I shared at Facebook)--

Gracious! Remember when Aldi delivered a totally wrong grocery order and they told us to keep it? Well today, Walmart groceries mysteriously arrived! I contacted customer service online and she said to keep or donate the groceries and not to worry, the folks who'd ordered them would receive a new order.

Wild, right? Only problem was that this time, the order didn't contain any chocolate or desserts. Bummer. heh.

But God is still good!

Oh, and the following week? I gazed down from our upstairs window and spied on the lawn, a five-dollar bill.

Since I was 12 or so, I've always believed God could provide for me in weird ways during hard times, so most likely? These things keep happening so I can share them with you and then it'll be settled within your own heart, as well.

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I wish you could see inside Naomi's van, for she's decorated it very retro 1970's. She's loves it more since she discovered the best way to heat it, what with it being winter, and all.  ツ

We love that it's almost like she lives next door and we've enjoyed watching lots of football games together. (Which reminds me; congratulations to the Bills for having such a wonderful season!)

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"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth."   ---from 1 Corinthians 13

"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

Holding Onto Your Proverbial Hat?

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" ... "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."   ---2 Corinthians 4:18, 9, Proverbs 31:25

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So there I was down in our dark basement. April, 2020. "Fifteen days to slow the spread," had, in many states, morphed into, "let's push this isolation another month or three."

Pulling my damp laundry from the washer, I asked God, "Why are lockdowns stretching out farther? They'll hurt lots of people." 

What I felt the Holy Spirit say? "This is all about exposure of sin and a shaking of everything. And the story about Elijah and the prophets of Baal? It's about that, also." (See 1 Kings 18)

Hmm. That's what I 'heard,' or rather, sensed within my spirit. 

Then carrying the heavy laundry basket up the steps, I considered those words and--nine months later--I've not stopped. I've felt assured God has a huge plan, a good one for His trusting remnant.

But man, since April, in snippets of moments totaling 11 (12?), I caught myself doubting that plan. I allowed my mind to imagine what might happen, instead, and oh, Honey! After each brief moment I lectured my sorry self:

"Debra! What a disappointment. Again. True faith does not bounce up and down, fade into worry, nor let its imagination wander down dark bunny trails. Real, God-breathed faith keeps believing even if what it sees appears opposite. Tsk. Tsk."

Though I'm not yet into beating my body like the Apostle Paul mentioned(!), I do tend to react firmly if my mind switches to wishy washy. For whole decades God has trained me for such times as these, to approach problems the way He would. I should know better!

But the good news? Those quick, fleeting moments of doubt were just that. Quick. Fleeting. 

The vast majority of those months I felt peace plus a new strength, boldness and determination to arrive in Heaven without embarrassment of how I behaved while our Country shook and was exposed like never before.

I mean, how humiliating to go all wimpy when God made so much faith and assurance available, instead, to those who believe Him rather than circumstances!

"No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." ... Without faith it is impossible to please God..."  ---1 Corinthians 9:27, Hebrews 11:6

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   ---Jeremiah 29:11

2020? An incredible year sent to humble us, to show us where we're still lacking in deep faith and love for God. Perfect love casts out fear, leaves no room for it.

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Did I already tell you I joined Gab.com while waiting for Parler to return? I'm enjoying my time there, especially now that it's speeded up and I've found my kindred spirits old and new.

Oooo! This week I discovered two Tim Janus videos with tons of cottages. So many scenes which reminded me of some of Heaven's acres as I imagine them. Wow, calming beyond belief.

Go here.

And here.

"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."  ---James 1 :6-8

"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

Please Don't Be a Henry

"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."   ---Romans 12:11

"What God is looking for is faith."  --- Kim Clement

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So while in the 2nd grade, our teacher taught us the song, "There's a Hole In The Bucket." Remember that one? Here are a few of the lyrics:

There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza,
There's a hole.

Then fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.

With what should I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, with what?

With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a straw.

But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.

Then cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it!

With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?

With an ax, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With an ax, dear Henry, an ax.

But the ax is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The ax is too dull, dear Liza, too dull.

Then, sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then sharpen it dear Henry, dear Henry, sharpen it!

My family moved that year and yet while playing outside, I sang that song under my breath. What I recall thinking? "Henry was a Goofus*. Couldn't fix things by himself. He bothers me."

シ

Fast-forward to 2020 and weirdly, that song returned to my mind. 

Christians around me floundered, were filled with faith on Sundays, but felt helpless on Mondays and Tuesdays, then guilty about their lack of faith on Wednesdays and Thursdays, they hid on Fridays and Saturdays then pulled themselves together on Sundays. You know, figuratively.

But, uhm, biblical faith doesn't resemble fear, guilt or doubt. Whatever happened to:

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." --Proverbs 4:23 , hmm?

Jesus came to give us abundant life and today may we each actively seek God's always-available peace of mind and heart.

May we passionately desire (and go after) what fixes us.

 And during 2021? May we long for God's ways of thinking to become our own, for really, none of us need a Liza to tell us every single step we should take.

So if currently you're living sprawled all over the Doubt Board of Life-- "then fix it, dear Henry, fix it!"  シ

"Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God."   ---Revelation 3:2

Choose passion, not apathy. Never lose your passion for serving God!

* Remember Goofus and Gallant in the Highlights magazine we'd read in doctor's offices? Loved those guys.  

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Here are bits of what I did in 2020 to keep my faith, peace of mind and passion so I could avoid those ditches beside the road we all know about:

Sought to know God better, to hear Him more clearly.

Avoided mainstream news. Found other more balanced sources.

Shared verses, warnings, money, etc. when God said, "Share."

Listened to tons of favorite retro music.

Prayed a lot.

Discovered (joyfully) folks online who heard from God the same things I did. My favorite part of 2020; finding such wonderful company!

Read lots of wonderful new-to-me books.

Daily made gratitude lists in my head. Counted blessings, not things-gone-wrong.

Encouraged the floundering ones through social media and also those on the front lines of 2020's battles.

Watched Tim Janus' gorgeous nature/music videos, especially on grey days.

Supported local businesses.

Kept my heart and cross lights lit in my windows. Absorbed sunshine upon my face there, also. Burned candles. 

Made repairs to the annoying things around my house.

And with all my heart, fought self-pity, fear, apathy and doubt. Kicked them far away the second I recognized they'd come to haunt me.

Oh, and what also got me through 2020 with happiness and sanity? Barbeque potato chips and lots of popsicles.  ツ

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"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."   ---James 1:12

Perseverance--steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

"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

What a Time To Be Alive!

  

                         Whatever He tells you, do it."   --- John 2:5

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You know how, in 2020, we saw happenings we'd never before witnessed? Well, hang on. New, even wilder things are racing toward us in the next few days.

My advice? Find ways to stay excited about what God is boldly going to display before our eyes.

And here's something to help us in our waiting. Since it's another blog post, I'll not write a complete one here today.

Rather, I'll just add: these next days? Seek God with all your heart. Ask Him for specific ways to keep your heart close to a wonderful expectancy and far from worry, fear and dread.

Hang in there--in Him we can do this, with joy, even!

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ..."   ---Romans 8:39

" ... be busy at home, be kind..." ---Titus 2:5

"Don't worry, be happy."  ---copied

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Oh, and for those Christians pulling for the God-hating group to win this current battle? I feel sorry for you.

"Despite all that's going on now, God is moving... He is moving in unusual ways and this is the time we need to be sensitive to unusual manifestations of God."   --- Dr. Kynan Bridges

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Here's a Kindle book I enjoy dusting off each January. It contains simple ways to declutter and remain organized the rest of the year.

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Oh, and as I said at Facebook--

Coming soon to a nation near you:

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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

In Case I Disappear

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."   ---2 Timothy 4:7

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Yesterday was another 'shot heard 'round the world.' With rabid glee, some social media moguls shoved many conservatives off their platforms. Whoosh! Banned. Suspended. In some cases, gone forever.

Apple even threatened Parler, who allows everyone to speak, with not carrying the Parler app in their store (update: Apple followed through). Not enough censorship there, they declared. (Update: Google Play removed their Parler app., Amazon removed Parler from their web hosting. Good grief.)

And more, even more hatred is axing the free speech it despises, though the 'hiders' will not believe me. But after what I beheld yesterday, oh well. I know what I saw.

What was it? The beginnings of this:

Anyway. Don't get me started about the deepening cloak of deception upon our Country. That's for another day.

What I wanted to say now? If someday you click on my link and I'm gone, you receive an 'error message' instead, please don't worry. Ol' Debra will be feeling this:

Oh how grateful I am that, back in 2004, I started As I See It Now! That my heart got poured out there. That through me God shared tons of life-changing Bible verses and encouraged people through 3,400 posts. 

What a ride! What an adventure, indeed.

But yeah, I could have procrastinated a few years.

Let someone else write blog posts kinda like mine. 

Waited for a more perfect time or till my writing improved.

Hem-hawed about not being worthy or up to the responsibility.

You know, all that garbage stuff we tell ourselves while not fulfilling God's call upon our lives.

But in this one area at least, I feel only a pure joy of obedience, one which will enter Heaven along with me.

So hey, if this blog gets deleted by a cancel culture gone mad? It's all right. Nothing God does through us can ever be stolen or destroyed.

My story is safe in one of Heaven's books.

I won't be disappointed if this blog vanishes?! No, I'll have completed my mission. Given you things which no one can ever steal. Truths which, hopefully, will help you stand strong over your own adventure's remainder--

-- until you also enter through Heaven's glorious gates. So if we don't see each other before then? Let's meet over on the other side--and spin around in gladness for all eternity.

"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."   ---Ephesians 5:11

'Hiders' will never experience the mind-exploding joy of obedience that comes after fighting battles which exposed evil. They'll only have a mediocre sense of relief.

Oh, and I hope you're hanging in there with a godly spirit of expectancy! 

"Only vampires fear the light."   ---Bill Mitchell

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Yesterday I joined Parler and already I love it!

I'll be phasing my way out of Twitter (on principle). Update: done.

At Parler I'm DebraL13. Come find me for more adventures!

Dan Bongino speaking about the present (and coming) censorship.

And here's Michael Knowles' take on it.

And here are more wonderful old updated films, these from 1895 to 1902.

And just for a smile:

"So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." ---John 16:22

"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