Where She Sat In a Snowbank Reading a Book (Sorta)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace..."   --- 1 Peter 4:10

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So there I was snuggled beneath our couch blanket Tuesday afternoon. Watching Youtube. Again. As usual. Yawn.

Then uh-oh. That dreaded 'this feels eternal' awareness struck. The taunting one that whispers, "Life will always, in some way, reflect the isolation of corona madness. Face it, you're stuck."

Anyone else ever felt that? 

Like you're slithering, disappearing, beneath the rut you've created? It's especially bad when you've told people via your blog to never go there. Cough. Cough. シ

Well, after rolling my eyes, I visited that young guy (on Youtube) who bought a ghost town up on a California mountain. I'd not checked-in on him in ages, in fact, I hoped he was still alive (eegads, it's dangerous up there).

First I watched his video here. Then one there. Wow, I sat up straighter, eyes wider, for I felt challenged and inspired. Grateful, also, especially for Tom's and my adventures of our younger years which--had we waited--would've been too late if attempted now. (The farm adventure, anyone?)  

The best words Ghost Town Guy spoke --

"This month more than any other in my life, I feel like me again... This whole month I've felt a comfort and ease of 'this is who I am.' I haven't always felt like that."

Oh, how this lady needed to hear that!

His spoken words proved such a reminder. May we all finally realize the vital-ness of sharing ourselves, our gifts, with others. God so wants to use us, our experiences, our words, especially during these times the Earth 'slips off its axis' and people struggle with unknowns.

Anyway, right there I climbed out of my rut! Determined to change things up, to reclaim much of my pre-corona-madness life.

And that's why yesterday while in my long black wool coat, I sat upon our driveway, reading a book. In just 34 degrees. Surrounded by snow on the ground, but feeling warm because the winter sun glowed upon the cement and the white garage door. No gloves, even--they remained in my pocket. 

I sat there quite awhile. Read my 1930 book and gazed up, all around at houses and snow and held a reunion with quirky me.

Oooo, memory-making afternoon moments.

This our-Country-is-royally-messed-up time? It needs you. Desperately. There's a reason God has each of us here at this moment: when we fulfill His divine purpose, much darkness is pushed back. People come away encouraged, lifted-up and inspired to help others.

All this happens when we are exactly who God made us to be. 

And these rough days while much is being stolen from us, please don't let anyone snatch the real you away, ok?

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."   ---Colossians 3:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."   --- James 1:17

If I'm in a rut? It's my own fault. Always. And only I can fix it, shake things up a bit.

 

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This February? The sunniest I remember here, ever. That's the good news, but the bad is that clear skies mean colder days and colder days mean the ice and snow take longer to melt.

In fact, I've walked over to the cafe only twice this month! Icy sidewalks and streets plus a lady who's not getting any younger, well, they spell trouble. 

But I did make it there this morning and oh! I keep forgetting to tell you that Amy often leaves notes at Facebook saying she's run out of scones or muffins. Her business appears to still be doing terrific. 

A true answer to prayer.

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And as I wrote at Facebook--

These tracks (beside our house) kinda freaked me out. It's like a large animal jumped at least four feet, paused, then jumped four feet again. Then again. Wow.

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Oh! My sister (hi, Corrine!) recommended the best movie. It's called The Map of Tiny Perfect Things.

Wow. Both Tom and I found this perfect, inspiring, even. Only around 3 'naughty words', but I can't recall a single other problematic thing.

Delightful. Just simply delightful.

******

"Your uniqueness matters... God wants the real you... God has designed each of us uniquely and purposefully because He wants a relationship with us exactly the way we are. "  -- Joyce Meyer

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Please remember: My posts are ALWAYS about more than they appear to be. 

*** 

 "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

Yeah Well, I Can Be Just As Stubborn...

"Choose you this day whom you will serve ... you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. "   --- Joshua 24:15, 1 Corinthians 6:20

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Disclaimer: As always you are free to do what you want, even making no changes at all.

So good ol' Debra who, (as her faithful readers know), prefers old-fashioned ways, is lately making modern changes. The more folks who fancy-themselves-in-charge make demands, the more she makes opposite choices.

Trust me. She's had much practice since, oh, around age 11.  シ

What kinds of changes this time, you ask?  Well, let's see:

1.) After nearly 20 years at Yahoo, I opened a new email box at Protonmail. Basically I got sick of seeing the home page's horrible, twisted headlines and placing my hand upon the screen so to avert my eyes (and avoid annoyance). Plus, Yahoo allows no comments after those stories (which is telling) and well, I had enough. More than.

I felt God's nudge to move and oh! When God asks and Grace arrives, that's when nothing is impossible. I'd imagined it would take a week to switch over, but the bulk of this operation required only a couple hours(!)

2.) I stopped watching our local morning news. Now, this one hurt since I've loved those folks and their fun format for decades. But after all the covid, covid, covid stuff then the subtle(?) Trump-bashing in each political story, well, I reached my limit. Bid farewell--and survived.

Now for news I check out favorite pundits at Youtube and others at Gab. Currently, that's enough.

3.) For a search engine I use Bing, for I read it's more conservative-friendly than Google.

4.) Tom and I support more small local businesses than ever and are trying to avoid huge corporations online, choosing tinier ones there, instead. This is a process, but small businesses need much help!

5.) We deleted Netflix and chose Pure Flix, instead. (Crossflix is another we may consider later.) I deactivated Twitter and will remain at Gab. 

I joined MeWe and would gladly leave Facebook except MeWe is rather dead and I'm able to encourage many more folks at Facebook. (If not for that, I'd be gone already.)

And I would leave Youtube for Rumble except for similar reasons.

(Oh, and via Facebook, I contact our favorite tv shows when they stay inspiringly close to their purpose--and--when they wander far from it.)

6.) Tom and I take part in 'buycotts' when we believe in--and want to encourage--businesses under attack. 

Buycott: The opposite of a boycott: deliberately purchasing a company's or a country's products in support of their policies, or to counter a boycott.

7.) Months ago I gave up watching HGTV (and told you why here). The shocking thing? I've not missed it. And considering I'm all about houses, creativity and nesting--that's huge.

But then, obeying God is even more huge--and satisfying.

There's more, but you get the idea.

What I've loved these past months? For everything I've walked away from, God's provided something to walk to. Something even better. More rewarding. Easier on my mind, my conscience.

And while swimming against the current, I've found all sorts of fun folks splashing beside me, yet even if I hadn't, hey, that would be ok.

Swimming around in obedience to (and with) God is more than enough joy for anyone.

When God, Himself, asks us to do something, absolutely no excuse for avoidance is good enough. It's only disobedience because God designed us, knows exactly what we can do, and is there to empower us.

No use in asking ourselves, "Yeah, but what difference can one person make?" either. A better activity is to list all those folks in History whose obedience to God did make a huge difference.

Grace! She is helpful, empowering, and able to add pleasantness to what otherwise could be a big, fat hassle.

******

My new email address is at the top of this blog, to the right. I love it at Protonmail. No headlines of any sort!

Is this coffee bean idea adorable or what?  --

Jesus never meant us to be helpless watchers during our time upon Earth!

Please remember: My posts are ALWAYS about more than they appear to be. 

 *** 

 "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

Something I Never Thought of Before Today

"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut."   --- Matthew 25:7-10

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Doomsday Preppers. 

Remember that show? Yeah, some of the folks were extreme, a bit 'out there'. Ok. But that was the test. Could we peek past the wackiness for take-aways of practical help?

Wise, common-sense-based viewers gleaned life-saving inspiration and years later, they've ridden-out America's storms in comfort. That is, the ones who put into practice what they learned. 

Prepper Youtube videos.

Prepper blogs.

Prepper books.

Prepper news stories.

For years God warned us! Yet 'as in the days of Noah,' most people just laughed and teased and did not prepare for emergencies. And yeah, the wild events Doomsday Preppers prophesied would happen, well, haven't (on the most part). But then, Noah prepped for 120 years, so hey.

And here's the thing: I'm thinking those same folks have thrived in relative comfort over America's year of chaos. They prepared beforehand and they're not the crazies clearing-out the shelves down at the local supermarket nor sitting near-frozen in Texas ice.

So who's crazy now?

Anyway, this morning for the first time I realized this:

Since satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10), most likely he pushes hard to convince folks not to live prepared. I'm thinking he blinds them to this necessity so that--in just one more way--he's able to destroy additional people, these through unpreparedness. I'm sure he takes whatever means of destruction he can find.

It's time to stop waiting!

You know, for angels to appear at our front door with warnings or for 10 signs of confirmation before we'll obey that still, small voice. Yes, that voice within us whispering, "Times are changing! Prepare now for anything. Stop relying on others, especially the government. Take charge of your own protection, even your own health. Learn, then do." 

The stillness, the smallness of that voice? That is another test. 

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice," and today are we living inside that warm flock with stored-up food, water, heat, shelter and an ability to face any storm in this 2021 life of job losses, wild weather, pandemics, food shortages and more?

Just some thoughts for this Saturday as our Country remains reeling while the wise, the listening, stand strong beside their Shepherd. Prepared.

"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest."   ---Proverbs 6:6-8

"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

God knows the future and He warns us! But do we heed those warnings?

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Youtube has tons of videos about preparing for emergencies. You can do simple searches there by adding 'prepping' to any of the words below:

food

water

shelter

heating

gardening

clothing

weapons, etc.

                           (Thanks, Tracy, for sharing this at Facebook. I'd not been feeding the birds lately and this inspired me to return to it.)

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Oh and may this help you as well:

Over the years I've written often about prepping, but still? Many of you have ignored my warnings. I realize this. 

Of course that bums me out at times, but you know? Often God reminds me (as I write about all things) that He'll only hold me responsible for sharing what He asked--not for how many people did/did not heed what I wrote.

Whew.

******

Please remember: My posts are ALWAYS about more than they appear to be. 

 ***

 "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

Gazing Back From Heaven Will Our Choices Matter?

"Let all that you do be done in love... Love never ends."   --- 1 Corinthians 16:14, 13:8

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So. Valentine's Day. Rather a bust at my house.

Varied reasons, but let's just say one centered around the loss of my friend, Betty, who died in 2020 and who always sent me Valentines. Always.

But this February was the first without her thoughtfulness.

And even though months ago God gave me a vision of Betty in Heaven and confirmed it next day (all incredibly awesome)--still--I sat here in a lamplit pool of self-pity.

But then I stepped over to my tiny closet room and shuffled through my blue-painted shoebox for cards mailed to me till I found a sweet Betty Valentine. I brought it to my desk, held it, placed it beside me. 

Then I listened to songs by Bread and had a good cry. But after that? Jesus soothed my heart as only He can. And it's wild how he can both comfort and correct in the same moment.

See, I'd been thinking, "Maybe I won't do Valentine's Day next year. I received only 2 paper cards and now I'm feeling that verse about how 'the love of many will grow cold' has come true. Like people don't even give anymore unless it's convenient."

But yeah, guess what Jesus said to those thoughts? "Debra, keep doing the right thing. Step beyond the status quo. In fact, next year I want you to send out even more Valentines."

Isn't that just like Him? 

I actually giggled. Next morning online, I discovered the cutest Valentine's ever, then ordered 3 times more than usual(!) and had fun in the searching and buying.

See, I am determined not to slide into that worldly apathy swirling around us. "Dear Lord, do not let me go there!", I pray, "Especially since I have fewer years left here than ones I've already lived."

Basically, I want to finish well, not sloppily, lazily, even if Christians tell me it's ok, to be expected and can't be helped.

No when, from Heaven, I think back upon my life on Earth I want so much to feel, "Forever I'll be grateful for the times I obeyed God, even when it was hard." 

We are here for such a short time. 

Yet the love God asks us to show? I believe somehow it will matter for all eternity. Whether it be Valentines or any myriad of responses, our eternity will reflect every obedience, every moment of love we chose to show here.

Again, somehow, and oh my: eternity is such a long, long time.

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."   ---1 Peter 4:8

" By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”   ---John 13:35

A very, very special thanks to the two ladies who did send me paper Valentines!

*****

Now, this is lovely. It's a live feed of an outdoor skating rink in New Hampshire. Thanks so much, Susan H., for sharing this! I've often sat here and watched people skating or, like the other morning, staring at the gleaming reflection of the sunrise upon the surrounding old houses. 

So wonderful, especially these days when we're unable to travel around.

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And here's something a bit humorous:

One of my old high schools has videos online especially for incoming Freshman. In one video, someone stated, "And finally the auditorium has been refurbished! It's beautiful now."

My first thought? "Wait! It was recently totally gutted and refurbished while I was there." Then it hit me--hard. That was in 1976. Forty-five years ago!

Gulp.  シ

(See, I can prove this. This is a recent-ish photo from that auditorium and don't those chairs and carpet scream 1976? Hmm?)

The outside of the auditorium is to the left, below. This part of the school has always been beautiful. It's over 100 years old (click to enlarge). 

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Please remember: My posts are ALWAYS about more than they appear to be.

***

"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

The Dream. The Reality.

"When the islanders saw the snake hanging from Paul's hand, they said to each other, 'This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, justice will not permit him to live.' But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects."   --- Acts 28:4,5

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Most of my nighttime dreams are, well, boring. Basically they're filled with crowds of people having dull conversations. Or I'll be at a crowded mall and can't find my purse anywhere.

I awake from them, roll my eyes then turn over and hope for something more exciting.  シ 

Yet super-occasionally God will give me a dream to remember forever, like this one from 3 weeks ago:

Tom and I arrived at a dark parking lot so to attend a church service. I noticed a woman from our former church (let's call her Ellen) sat surrounded by 6 ladies patting her shoulders. A woman beside us whispered, "Ellen's been battling spirits of depression and hopelessness for weeks."

We neared the group of ladies and I heard them say, "Poor Ellen. We're here for you, Dear. Tell us what's wrong. We'll listen." You know, all the stuff those circulating meme's tell us to say. 

Truthfully, those quotes bother me. I don't want to commiserate with you just to leave you in pain. No! I want God to set you free from it.

I leaned past the other ladies, quietly asking Ellen to please stand so I could pray for her. She rose with a weak smile and hope in her eyes then I asked Tom to stand behind her.

Ellen raised her hands limply and then oh my goodness! I felt anger with the evil spirits tormenting her. The spirit of God rushed through my arm as I stretched it forward then shouted, "Enough!"

Suddenly Ellen fell backward, Tom caught her and a visible tremor buckled the knees of the women surrounding us. They struggled to keep standing. 

Soon Ellen stood with Tom's help and her smile! One of being set free from months of torment.

Then I awoke.

Wow, sleepily I smiled, thanking God for a dream 1000 times better than the usual ones. And before I fully awoke I sensed Him saying, "That 'Enough' word? There's an anointing upon it. Use it whenever you need to."

And I have. See, anytime you fight our country's current evil, satan will make certain to bug you. He'll try placing hard-to-shake dark clouds over your head (figuratively). Friends (or relatives) will become snippy for no reason or will do worrisome things. Others will accuse you of being on the wrong side, etc.

But thank goodness! Jesus within us is greater. His name, His power, return us to freedom, back to our should-be-normal heartland of marvelous light. 

So if you, also, have fought and grown weary beneath that dark invisible cloud? Today, to you, I would also say, "Enough!"

Enough!

'It is for freedom that Christ has set us free' with a freedom so vital, so real, that it spreads and visibly shakes others from their bonds, as well.

When we believe.

Remember--there's such a thing as being attacked by satan for doing the right thing. Yet never forget Jesus within us is far greater and can easily defeat our foes!

Before God gave me this dream, I fought that invisible cloud a couple weeks, but since then I've used that Enough! word a few times along with the name of Jesus and the cloud keeps vanishing, returning my Life's switch to Bright. Color me grateful!

 

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."   ---2 Corinthians 3:17

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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

No Really, Fix It

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."   ---James 1:2-4

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Remember my Please Don't Be a Henry post, the one about fixing things? I hope you're doing that. You know, fixing what can be fixed in your life.

Why?

Because lately we've all lost much. In fact, I'll not even list our losses, for we each have our own list. You know exactly what I mean.

(I want to add here that I believe many of these losses are only temporary. I have much hope for our near future, but that's a whole other blog post.)

Anyway, when our stuff, our freedoms are snatched away and we go from feeling in control to being controlled, it's so easy to become bitter. Defeated. Angry. Anyone can do that, for it's a natural (without God's power) progression.

Down, down, down; a spiral into, "This'll never get better."

Like, recently I skimmed through a friend's Facebook timeline and oh no! All the meme's and posts, well, my friend could've saved time and just posted:

I am angry.

I am bitter.

I hate people.

I am angry.

I am bitter.

I hate people.

Yikes. Bitterness changes who we are--for the worse.

What I believe? Hard times release what's living inside us. Me, I'd rather have her burst outta there:

...than her:

How about you?  ツ

So along with--

Praying

Praising

Boycotting

Encouraging

Learning

Truth-speaking

Prepping

Believing

Standing, etc.

-- I will continue fixing what I can. Proactivity these days is vital. It's like fighting back for your way of life before the corona madness. It's like taking care of yourself rather than depending upon the government, like making your own decisions, like Life the way it should be again.

A tiny example: see this reading sun lamp?

Naomi gave me hers and oh wow. The sun chooses not to shine? No big deal! I'll just grab my homebaked fruit dessert, a cup of coffee and a Judy Bolton book then sit at my table in the upstairs window beneath this light.

Good gracious, just call me a moth, a moth being drawn to a flame.

And already I told you about watching Tim Janis's autumn videos during our bleak winters:

Life's grey, brown and bleak out my windows? Doesn't matter anymore. 

How wonderful when one can repair some of her winter problems and how terrific when she can stop stuff from sliding, crash! out of her freezer シ  --

We treat those like drawers, pull them out. (And yes, we have a chest freezer in the basement: this is the one on top of our fridge.)

Also--long story--but I moved my 'office' to the opposite end of our upstairs' room. At first I used two tiny end tables beside me to hold supplies and that was sort-of meh, ok. 

But weeks later, hooray! The idea to move a set of shelves beside me popped into my brain and when I did? Oh, Life felt incredible again.

Okay, tiny changes to you, yes, but to me? Huge, happiness-inducing ones, inspiring me to no end even now in 2021, even while in my 60's, even in a world gone tipsy-sideways.

Anywhere, even online, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This old dog can still learn new tricks and help others to hang in there with joy and purpose and hope, as well. She can and so can you.

No, really.

Never hold hands with Hopelessness! He's a horrible, horrible fiend.

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..."   ---2 Corinthians 4:8,9

We truly are more than conquerers in Him and now's a wonderful time to form a habit of overcoming in all challenging areas.With God we can conquer apathy, procrastination, complaining, offense and whatever else stops us from shining brightly and loving others as He does.

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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

We Don't Know What's Ahead, But God Does So He ---

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."   ---Psalm 23:5,6

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If you're a Christian, most likely you're stronger than you believe yourself to be.

I mean, just think. What if, last February, someone you trust told you that beginning in 2020:

We'd experience a worldwide pandemic

We'd be told "it's just 2 weeks to stop the spread," but the madness has stretched nearly a year

We'd be confined to our homes

Millions would lose their jobs/businesses

Groceries would run short

Lines for public food pantries would stretch for miles

We'd have to wear masks

Social distancing would be a thing

Thousands would riot/take over cities/burn down businesses

We'd be threatened with much if we didn't obey new rules

Governors would reign like emperors 

Much evil in government would be exposed

The election would be stolen

We'd be prohibited from attending church and eating in restaurants

We'd be silenced/censored/cancelled from the Internet

... what would you have done, thought or felt if you'd been promised all that at 2020's start? Challenged, but ready? Or afraid and anxious to run?

But here's today's encouragement:

You're still here.

You made it through! Even if you whined and kicked and screamed, hey,  again, you're still here. Still sane. So let that sink in and allow yourself to celebrate, ok?

Did you read the verses at the top of this post? When I did a search for them, this popped up at the top:

He prepares a table for me " in the presence of my enemies ".This tells us that God knew that we will have enemies spiritual and otherwise , so it shouldn't take us by surprise, God made provision to counter that, since He is God who is all knowing and God of Mercy.

Yes. God does prepare us ahead for hard times and annoying people and seasons. Some places He leads us so to prepare us for unknown roads ahead? To new:

Skills

Teachers

Bible truths

Helpful videos

Books

Friends

Early warnings

Adventures

Social media sites

Health information

And much more. 

At least, that's His intention: to lead us to our help and growth so we can live during dreadful times uniquely, surprisingly like this--

"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day."   ---Proverbs 4:18

Oh, that 'brighter and brighter light' which shines even while the world's gone dark!

Last week Tom and I watched a movie in which it was said of a young girl: "She had the heart of a lion." I can't shake that.

And oh, may each of us desperately crave that tenacious boldness of  Jesus, the Lion of Judah!  May we awake to the fact He's prepared us for these days and always, His presence and vitality is ours so we can represent Him as the bright lights He created us to be.

"The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion."   ---Proverbs 28:1

"We must fight against spiritual apathy.   ----Dr. Kynan Bridges

"And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them."   ---Isaiah 42:16

Oh, and don't believe the election was stolen? Watch this in its entirety and then decide, ok?

Never give-up on the things God wants you to do, even the tiny ones! Everything matters to Him, every obedience has eternal rings like a pebble tossed into a pool.

"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