Hello and welcome!
Sunday, June 30, 2024
To Be Like Jesus - A Poem
Saturday, June 29, 2024
Evening Song - Nothing but Grace
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Ephesians 2:4-10 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
I have not control over ads or suggestions.
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Sunday, June 23, 2024
Short Thoughts - Envy and False Humility
Saturday, June 22, 2024
Evening Song - Nor Silver Nor Gold
1 Peter 1:18-21 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
I have no control over ads or suggestions.
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Tennessee Memories - Bright Clouds
Zechariah 10:1 Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
Sunday, June 16, 2024
Worth Repeating - A Short Thought on Depression
Due to some very hard sayings recently be John MacArthur regarding depression, I thought this post from 2019 would be a good one to repeat today. I have made some edits. When I first published it, if I remember correctly, I requested permission from Mr. Edwards to use his Facebook post, which I appreciated.
Psalm 142:5-7 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
This is written by a pastor whose Facebook page I used to read sometimes. I appreciated his ministry on Facebook very much for awhile and found much there that was thought provoking and encouraging. This particular one is an important reminder that depression is not a sin. While I do believe in some instances it can be caused by devil possession, as in the case of King Saul in the Bible, or from sin, like King David in Psalm 51, there are many people who are suffering for other reasons. One is simply this - it is the cross they are given to carry because God intends to minister to others through them.
---------------------------------
I feel very strong about the post I'm about to make, and it's about DEPRESSION. Depression is the most disabling disease in all of North America, and second in the world.........and it's growing. A couple of overwhelming symptoms are: 1. Detachment - from family, friends, and everyone else. You can be in a crowd, and still feel alone. 2. Guilt- you feel no one really loves you, and no one cares, and the world would [a] better place if you were not in it. You feel like a burden to your family, and you feel like you're making their lives miserable!!! Remember, depression is a sickness. It's not being demon possessed or crazy, but a disease. If you handle it recklessly, or ARE HANDLED recklessly, it makes it worse. I know [because] I live it, and I'm GLAD!!!! I've been able to reach out to, and help people that, according to their own words, wouldn't be here today [otherwise]. God has allowed me to suffer from depression for a purpose, that's far bigger than myself. I've been able to show, and teach others that there is LIFE and HOPE , after and during depression. The fulfillment I've experienced, by being able to help others, is worth the criticism. Others don't get it.....and you know what......I hope they never have to learn the hard way!!!!! God bless you all!!! I love all y'all !!!
Craig Edwards
My thought:
Whenever I hear someone say that Christians shouldn't be depressed or have anxiety, that they shouldn't need any medication for it, and that all they need is the Bible, I feel sick. It scares me for them because I know how God chose to teach me the hard way, and it has been the hardest and longest lesson I probably ever had to learn. When I was young I had the idea that only people who "weren't right with God" had depression or things like that. It was definitely not something I learned from my dad. As long as I can remember he showed compassion and kindness towards people with depression and similar struggles. I, however, was very self-righteous about it. The Lord took me through some very hard times to show me the folly and vanity of my thinking. These times sometimes recur for me because it's a lifelong illness for me, as I now know.
Friend, please don't judge others in things you don't understand like this. If God decides to make you go through it in order to correct your puffed up thinking, you will suffer things you really don't want to suffer. I say that with deep personal conviction because He did it to me. I don't wish that lesson on anyone. I would much rather that Christians show compassion and kindness to one another, even in things hard to understand.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another...
If you are dealing with depression, PTSD, an anxiety disorder or anything similar, I really encourage you, as always, to get help. Ask God to lead you to people who will help you, not hinder you, in learning how to live through and beyond these difficult health problems. You need encouragement, not judgment. You very likely need a doctor. Remember Matthew 9:12, But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. There are many causes for both depression and anxiety and related conditions. With time and effort and the leading of the Lord, you will find ways to help yourself - and others, as Bro. Edwards talks about - because we don't live unto ourselves as Christians. God has a purpose for your suffering, something that He wants to do through you as you learn to carry this cross to His glory.
Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
----------------------
Painting by Edmund Charles Tarbell.
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Evening Song - Wonderful Merciful Savior
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Thursday, June 13, 2024
The Thousand Word Project - What the Plants Were Dewing
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Memories of Great Meals - A Breakfast from "Used to Be"
A breakfast from the past. A waffle with fruit - cherries?, two eggs, and yellow summer squash. I can't eat many eggs and no wheat flour any more. Ah, well. Good memories. :-)
Sunday, June 9, 2024
Word of the Day - Perish - Part 1
PER'ISH, v.i.L. pereo, supposed to be compounded of per and eo, to go; literally, to depart wholly.
1. To die; to lose life in any manner; applied to animals. Men perish by disease or decay, by the sword, by drowning, by hunger or famine, &c.
2. To die; to wither and decay; applied to plants.
3. To waste away; as, a leg or an arm has perished.
4. To be in a state of decay or passing away.
5. To be destroyed; to come to nothing.
From Webster's 1828 dictionary.
1. To die; to be destroyed; to be lost; to come to nothing.
2. To be in a perpetual state of decay.
3.To be lost eternally.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language
Psalm 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Continue Reading.
Saturday, June 8, 2024
Evening Song - Never the Same
I have no control over ads.
Exodus 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
Exodus 7:10-12 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
1 Samuel 1:27-28 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
1 Kings 17:12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 1 Kings 17:16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
2 Kings 4:1-7 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
Psalm 45:1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
John 6:9-13 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
Friday, June 7, 2024
A Word of Warning - Beware of AI Generated Patterns
I ran across this video talking about the problem with AI produced crochet patterns. I thought it would be good to share the information so that you all can beware of wasting time and money on things that won't work or that are actually impossible. This very likely applies to other patterns that may be showing up online - knitting, embroidery, sewing, etc. Be cautious and check things out carefully before you buy or use time and resources on these things. If you are unsure about a specific pattern, ask for advice from someone who is knowledgeable about the thing you are wanting to do.
I have no control over ads or suggestions.
Thursday, June 6, 2024
The Thousand Word Project - Pretty Pansies
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Short Thought - One Day Nearer Home
Sunday, June 2, 2024
So Far, So Near - A Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson
So Far, So Near
Such a little while
In which to go so far.
A heartbeat . . . She was gone
Beyond the farthest star!
But space as well as time
To God are but a breath.
And He who gave us life
Is master too of death.
Continue Reading.
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Evening Song - Trusting Jesus
Psalm 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
I have no control over ads of suggestions.