Another Tragedy. What Should We Do?

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."   ...Psalm 46:1

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Jesus warned us. And warned us. 

"For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened."   ...From Matthew 24

And yet? Still, people reel and question and fear when violence rages as it did in France. "Why do these tragic things keep happening?" they ask at Facebook, fearfully imagining it within their own city's walls some future night.

Even Apostle Paul ages ago said:

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.  Men will be ... proud, blasphemers... unholy ... unforgiving ... without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  traitors, headstrong, haughty ... having a form of godliness but denying its power."  ...  from 2nd Timothy 3:1-5


We are so there. And it's not getting better anytime soon, but should we panic and see our best days only in the Past? No. If we'll draw closer to God before Life's struggles worsen, the transition will be easier and Life can remain good, but only because He is.

I have friends who are finding comfort in their stash of guns. "Just let those terrorists come here and try that!" they declare. "I'll take them out after their first bullet flies."

But as for me? I will find my comfort in God. As has become my habit.

Oh, Tom and I are in the process (don't faint, ok?) of purchasing a shotgun in case America, in all her reaping, reverts to a new Wild West with roaming crazed people. But could I ever find peace or relief in an ability to wound or kill another human being?

Heaven forbid. The whole idea horrifies me. I'm leaving the gun details to Tom while I simultaneously ask God to reveal ways we could help more people in a Wild West Future.

Today, gunless, and aware of what Matthew 24 says, I am unafraid. Unshaken and standing strong. But only because the presence of the unshakable God holds me up. 

He's always here. And always more than enough.

" ... the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."  2 Corinthians 1:3,4


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"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock."   ... Psalm 27:4,5


"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you, Lord, only make me dwell in safety."   ...Psalm 4:8


I will both lie dow

Whew. Peace Instead of a Wall

Naomi and her cats arrived Wednesday evening, the car so packed that the Joads would've been proud. Oh, how grateful I am that Naomi safely traveled those thousands of miles over a two-week period of band-touring and moving home from Georgia.

Remember that wall with a door we'd considered building upstairs? Looks like we don't need it. Naomi and I set up the two large fold-able dog cages Tom ordered, then she outfitted each with a comfy, thick pillow, warm, fake-fur blankets inside and over the top and walls, a salt lamp, dishes and a litter box, then wafted Calm-Your-Kitty spray over it all.

Her cats currently live better than two-thirds of the known world. 

And already, Farrah The Friendly Cat (as opposed to Ginger The Mean One) can handle wandering free. Frankly? Daniel and Sammy aren't impressed with these ladies. No one is fighting with (or over) anyone else.

My relief can't be adequately expressed. Especially the relief toward not having to deal with wall builders right now. Whew.

As for the backdoor? We do have one alternate plan, one which we'd put into place only in an end-of-Life-as-we-know-it emergency. We'll see. Tom and I have many 'frying pans in the fire' right now and we remind ourselves, "Deal with one pan at a time."

So our tiny Hobbit Cottage has stretched her walls to welcome our daughter back home and there is peace and pleasantness (did you know Naomi's name means 'Pleasant'?). In December Naomi will again, on the East Coast, tour with her NYC band. In January, it'll be the opposite coast. We'll care for her cats while she's away.

But as I said, one frying pan at a time.

This was Farrah out at the farm. Sweet little thing has more of an old lady face now. She and her twin are 14 years old.


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I appreciate what Joyce Meyer's ministry posted this morning on Facebook:


"Learn how to stay focused on Jesus when the enemy tries to get you aggravated and upset."



It reminded me of how I felt like shooing those builders out of our house on Tuesday night (putting it mildly). Our words, our actions do matter and I've felt convicted that I wanted to wildly lecture those guys. That such frustration, anger and pride rose up within me.

That stuff matters to God. A lot. And it's meant to humble us, to show us what's still floating around down in our heart's depths.

In order for Him to increase within me, I must decrease. What Jesus wants is that I'd react as He would and that will only happen consistently if I die to self--what I want, how I feel. Dying that way is a choice. How far do I want to go in Him? How much do I want Him to trust me when dealing with others?

And so the work, the dying, continue.


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"Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools."   ... Ecclesiastes 7:9


"But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."   ...James 1:4


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Three Good Reasons Why You Shouldn't Rake Your Leaves

(Gotta love an article that tells you to leave your leaves lying around out there.) :)

Me, The Mad Scientist

"The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." ... Romans 13:12


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Yesterday I felt like I was back in a high school science classroom. Sort of.

Remember when I gave you that link to a homemade flower pot heater? Finally I brought out my votive candles (which I've found cheaply here) and a little dish, and tried it for myself in our fireplace. 

Hmm. 

The flower pots did become hot and gave off ambient heat, but if I'd relied upon this to save my life on an icy day? I'd have, uh, died. Mostly the rim of the large pot just made a pleasant hand warmer.

Then, duh!  I recalled that other folks had left the large flower pot's hole, bare. I checked-out a couple more videos and--yes. They said the heat came from the top hole. Yikes! I'd covered it with a bolt, washers and nut like Original Video Guy told me to.

Well, he can keep his hand warmer, but I'm moving onward. Upward.

So with pot holders, I removed the attached flower pots and let them cool. Unscrewed everything, then reinstalled the hardware only on the small pot. Replaced it over the bricks and candles. Sat the big pot on top.

Wow. Almost immediately heat poured through the now-unencumbered top hole. When Tom arrived home, even he was impressed.

Truly there is a reason that die-hard preppers beg you to try out these handy-dandy tricks before an emergency.

Got it.

Oh, and there are no fumes worth mentioning. My earlier problems with those months ago must have stemmed from the painted tiles I used instead of bricks. Hmm. Today (or tomorrow) I'm considering trying 3 tea lights instead of votives.

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"But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”   ... Luke 21:36


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Another prepper hint:


Wondering how I've felt since having a filling and two teeth pulled? Wonderful. Relieved. Blessed.

Which reminds me--amongst all my prepper reading, folks often told me to get any tooth problems fixed now. If possible. Because if one foolishly waits and then a major, now-you've-gotta-stay-home catastrophe happens? One is then forced to sit around holding her pain-throbbing head in her hands, moaning about what a procrastinating ninny she was.

Well, that was my take on it, anyway. 

And oh my, am I ever grateful God made certain I took their advice, discovered the fun-time dentist office down the street and went for help before it was too late.

Whew. 


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Did you watch last week's episode of Chicago Fire? Wow. One of the best, ever. Tom and I kept wiping away tears the whole last half.

Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. -- still our two favorite current shows. We so enjoy how they are character-based rather than crime-of-the-night based like many other series.


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Oh, and did you read about this man who collected pennies since the 1970's? I like how he saw them as incentives from God to be thankful.


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Happy Veteran's Day!