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Be strong and courageous;

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬

And, I might add whatever you hear!

Luke 8:17 and Luke 12:2-3 These verses explicitly state that nothing concealed will not be revealed, and nothing secret will not be known.

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. “Luke 8:17 (NIV)

“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.” Luke 12:2-3 (ESV)

Behind this lush summer greenery you will find neighbor’s trash bends and side of a garage. The lush and green as viewed now will disappear as fall and winter approaches and you will see in full view the trash cans being on daily duty. As well as hear the valuable use of the cans being used.

I thought to myself I have just left reading the morning political views and watching a bit as well. Confused how there could be grown professional adults reading, seeing and hearing the same cries for help and say they read, saw, and heard two very different things! Could that be possible?

What about me? my family?, my friends? and my enemies? Could we be deceived and believe a lie? Tell a lie?

Joshua chapter 9 describes how the people of Gibeon deceived the people of Israel. “They wanted the Israelites to believe they lived far away from the land of Canaan, and therefore posed no threat to Israel. In fact they lived nearby.”

Yet, God told Joshua knowing a trap had been set for the people;

1) be strong and courageous, 2) keep the law of Moses, divide the land among the people, and 3) study and meditate on the word of God continually.

Can we believe the same today;

“For the word of God will never fail.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭37‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A time for Thoughtful Thoughts

The Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
—Isaiah 30:18 (NRSVU)

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
—Psalm 85:10-11 (NRSVUE)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
—‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬

Come and sit awhile and have and share a thoughtful thought about the artist and creator that took your brokenness and make your beauty shine again.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL7FKY2Mthz/?igsh=MTl1eng4Y2RheXh5eA==

Love 💛🌟

Luke 21:25-28 (ESV)

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars.
—Og Mandino, The Greatest Secret in the World

“perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18) “suggests that experiencing God’s perfect love eliminates fear. This love, often associated with God’s unconditional love for humanity, creates a sense of security and trust that counteracts the effects of fear. It’s not just any love, but a love that is complete, perfect, and transformative.”

My golden doodle, Peaches, often teaches me many things. One very important lesson she has taught me slow down, stop and smell the new summer flowers.

“…straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Grandma’s Sewing Machine

In this sewing machine lives many stories. I imagine many of you will have one like this or similar that tells a different story.

Pearl is around 💯 years old! Many clothes, curtains and button holes. She lived in NC on the Albermarke Sound for many years. She was the property of a Christian lady named:

Virginia Collin’s Patrick, her tombstone in the graveyard of a little community church reads; “Patrick, Virginia Collins (b.4 Jul 1875 – d. 16 Aug 1946)”

Yes, Virginia has her name on a stain glass window in the church and remembered for her work in starting the church and her life of service to the needy spiritually, as well as home sewn clothes and her farm grown food among other attributes.

A beautiful story and a life well lived and honorably shared. Since Virginia’s life shared here is about her sewing machine I would like to share another story well before hers and when I hear a story about clothes sewn I think it appropriate to share Dorcas aka Tabitha! What do you think about Dorcas?

“Dorcas (Greek: Δορκάς, romanized: Dorkás), or Tabitha (Imperial Aramaic: טביתא/ܛܒܝܬܐ, romanized: Ṭaḇīṯā, lit.‘(female) gazelle’), was an early disciple of Jesus mentioned in the (Acts 9:36–43. She lived in the port city of Joppa, today absorbed by Tel Aviv. Acts describes her as being known for her “good works and acts of mercy”, sewing clothes for the poor. When she died, the widows of her community mourned her and sent urgently for Peter(Acts 9:38), who was in nearby Lydda. As evidence of her charity, they showed him some of the clothes she had sewn, and according to the biblical account he raised her from the dead.”

Let us sew beautiful clothes and sow seeds of kindness, “good works and acts of mercy”. And, don’t forget the “Pearl of Great Price.” (Matthew 13:45-46)

Jars of clay!

We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
—2 Corinthians 4:7 (NRSVUE)

2 Corinthians 4:7 reads, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”.

“This verse uses the metaphor of “jars of clay” to represent humans, while the “treasure” is the gospel of Jesus Christ and the light of God’s glory. The verse emphasizes that the extraordinary power and impact of the gospel are not due to human abilities, but rather to God’s power working through seemingly ordinary and fragile vessels.” (AI notes )

I love the way AI has clarified God as the potter and we are the clay.

Yet you, LORD, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8 NIV)

This leaves me asking myself the questions.

What has my failures and successes taught me about myself? And/or others? How does my faith shine as a light of God’s glory? Do I understand our calling of and how to be a clay jar?

Christmas Tree Peppers

Show pride in their personality that is so often quoted and repeated by gardeners strolling by and singing their praise; “Christmas Tree Peppers attracts bees when they bloom and songbirds when they fruit.”

Christmas Tree Peppers and Bees, NC garden

🐝🐝🐝 may be depicted as diligent workers, loyal and devoted, and a source of both nourishment (honey) and potential threat (stings).

My nephew from NC sent me this little video of his garden where his Christmas Tree Pepper and a free flying Bee met for a “show and tell” video in my imagination!

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,…” (Colossians 3:23 ESV) and vs 24 “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

John 9 vs 4; “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

Songbirds love singing and so refreshing to be a bloom beneath their wings in my thoughts. I think the Psalmist agrees with me. Don’t you?

“I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit searched.” (Psalm 77:6)

Would you like to be a Christmas Ttee Pepper for The King of Kings and Lord of Lords
1 Timothy 6:15

Read, believe, live

“The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
—Hebrews 4:12 (NRSVUE)

A type of weed I’ve heard …my flower planted by my mail box (photo by Sara)

🎵“Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But he made something beautiful of my life…”

Songwriters: Gloria Gaither / Willam J. Gaither

The Bible, the Word of God is full of great mysteries and rainbow promises. They are there for you and me and all that desire to know God. My flower is such a mystery of beauty to me. At night it gently closes and early morning when the sun comes up it opens to gently greet the sun and me! I marvel to see its beauty.

When I pause to remember these words from our scripture, “The Word of God is able…” I ask what do we need the Word of God to do for us. Jesus is the way, the truth and light. (John 14:6 and read John 1:1-14)

One or Three or more

How many sheep do you see?

“Am I the only one left?” is a question asked by Elijah in 1 Kings 19:10-18. Elijah, feeling discouraged and alone, believed he was the only remaining prophet of God in Israel, while others had turned to Baal. He expresses his despair and fear of persecution to God, believing he is the last one left.”

We may at times ask God, am I the only one left? Serving meals? Teaching children other than mine? Cleaning? Care taking? Giving? Speaking up about death, resurrection? Heaven and Hades/Hell? Loving all? So much more? Helping to rescue the one lost sheep that needs a way back to the fold? (Luke 15:4-7)

“The Lord is my shepherd;…

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
‭‭(Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

“Shout praises to the LORD, everyone on this earth. Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the LORD! You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture. Be thankful and praise the LORD as you enter his temple. The LORD is good! His love and faithfulness will last for ever.”
(‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭CEVUK‬‬)

Have I been added in the counting of His Sheep? How about you?

Feel free to fear The Lord…

Feel free to fear!

“The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Proverbs 1:7 – 7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

The fear of the Lord “…is about a deep reverence, a respect, and awe for God’s holiness, power, and authority. It’s a posture of humility, acknowledging God’s supremacy and greatness, and responding with obedience and love.”

Recently I’ve noticed the overload from news and churches alike seems to be one in unity for one. I may be extremely naive in my thoughts and beliefs since I believe ‘The ONE’ to be-in unity with is;

(Matthew 22:32) “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ ? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

The Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth says,

I am the resurrection, and the life.” (John 11:25.) In His arraignment before Caiaphas, He was asked, “Art thou the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Blessed?” He answered, “I am.” (Mark 14:61, 62.) Jesus declared His Messiahship by direct testimony.

“The Holy Spirit, along with the Father and Son, makes up the one God, who is understood as a single being existing in three distinct persons.”

“The Holy Spirit is associated with various works, including creating, regenerating, sanctifying, convicting of sin, and empowering believers for service.”

In Luke 21:28, Jesus instructs his followers to “stand up and raise your heads,” because their redemption is drawing near.

“…that people will know fear, that earth and heaven will traumatized, and that “’Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and glory.” …Luke 21:27

Faith in action

Your Faith has made you whole!

“And Jesus said unto him, “Go thy way. Thy faith hath made thee whole.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” (Mark 10:52)

Jeremiah 30:17 says, “For I will restore health to you and heal your wounds, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast, ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’ The Lord promises healing and restoration to those who have been rejected and considered insignificant, offering hope and assurance of God’s care and love.”