Thursday, May 12, 2022

SOME SPRINGTIME BLESSINGS

Hyacinth and Daffodils

Rhododendron

Wild Violets

(?) Very sweet fragrance!

 
Laydee sunbathing on her sweet pepper snack! 

Oliver sitting on the swing with me


Looks like its time for a nap!


And aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we have instructed you. Then you will behave properly toward outsiders without being dependent on anyone.                                           

   1 Thessalonians 4:11-12


~Blessings & Love~

and remember, we are...

~NEVER FORSAKEN~

Thursday, May 5, 2022

WHAT IS HIDDEN

 


1 Corinthians 4:3-5

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.
My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. 
 
~Blessing & Love~
And remember, we are...
 
~NEVER FORSAKEN~

Monday, May 2, 2022

MENTAL HEALTH MONTH

I have always loved birds. The threat of Avian Flu is forcing us to take down the feeders. This feels like just one more thing the enemy is using to steal my joy. 


Yesterday our favorite pet Hen, Lucee died. (Not Avian flu) She had a dis-functional shell gland which ended up causing her to not be able to form shells around her eggs. She tried to lay an egg yesterday (something that she seldom did) and without a proper shell it simply broke inside of her body causing her death. We had nursed her back to health during the early winter months because of this already, and knew it was only a matter of time.


RIP Lucee.. We will remember you for your sweet loving personality.



 I've struggled with severe depression and anxiety pretty much my entire adult life.

These last few years (This last decade) has pretty much been the wringer for me. I am not going into any of the details here in this post though, since I have pretty much already documented most of this on this and my other blogs.

What I am writing about today is how I have come to the end of one of the many ropes I often climb. I am forced to evaluate (re-evaluate) what I decide to spend my time on and what is good for my soul versus what is toxic to my soul as my mental health really does depend on this.

I heard just yesterday that May is "Mental Health Month". This seems like the perfect time to do this re-evaluation for me. 

My confession:

I tend to get drawn down into the "Rabbit Hole" in regards to watching world events and listening to many, many voices out there ..about EVERYTHING from the rise of the antichrist beast system, deception in the governments of the world, and in the world religions, even deception regarding the Holy Bible and its validity (Did they take out important books from the Bible? Did they add and remove scriptures or changed scriptures in the various translations, etc..) Then there's the threat of World War 3 looming, not to mention the rise of AI dominance (According to Elon Musk)- Even the subject of Aliens and UFO's has gripped my attention lately! I already mentioned the threat of Avian Flu which means we cannot feed the birds and enjoy them at our feeders this year. Now, there is a threat of a deadly Equine Flu! I love horses too! 


 

There's so much more than I can list on here right now. No wonder my poor mind is ready to explode!

I have been busy creating my own videos for the last several months as well. I really enjoyed doing this, but it did come with a cost, not only financially, but mentally and even physically as well. I would create a video and then have many sleepless nights as I obsessed over it and would spend countless hours on many other channels connecting with folks who also made similar videos..this wore me out and left very little time for my loved ones and for study of scripture, never mind taking care of my daily responsibilities..This hobby permeated my entire life, my thought life and my physical life both. I had to take a huge step back from this! I cancelled my subscriptions that I was paying to use the music and different editing tools..I even disconnected myself from the daily live streams from friends and acquaintances. I am sorry if that felt like an insult to them, but it was very necessary.

I have kept only the few hours a night spent with my daughter playing the online game from which I used the clips to make my videos. Now, instead of stopping all the time to clip a scene from my game-play, I am just actually enjoying the time spent playing it with Sam. This alone is proving to be very liberating! Even the hours I have spent playing the game has been reduced in order to insure I get better rest when I am tired.And I am spending more time with Jeff in the evening after he comes home from work.

So, I am (still) in the process of reducing my YouTube subscriptions and the time I spend watching videos, and I am being more mindful to be careful of what I watch. 

 And I have deactivated my Facebook account. This feels so incredibly good! I just simply could never keep up with everyone on there, and seldom shared a post myself. I never liked ignoring a friend request, even though I did not know, or know well most of the people sending them! I found myself feeling so guilty that I did not wish somebody a Happy Birthday, or otherwise respond to so many things..I ended up ignoring everyone in order so that nobody was hurt that I responded to one, and not the other. I need to have less burden of guilt on my shoulders, not more..so why create situations that I know will result in feelings of guilt and/or inadequacy?

There is just so much our human brains can take in before we end up burnt out and in shut-down mode. I mean, I have to limit how much I can download into my computer in order to ensure it stays working properly..and our minds are just like a computer as far as capacity goes.. what you put in will come out, and some of that stuff may even harm the computer. Same with our brains.

God's Word warns us about this too..


And HERE is an excellent, relative scripture we must always remember...

 

 


 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

I am thinking that, with the Lords help, May will be a good start to a healthier mind and a more joyful spirit! 

Thank you for reading this,

~Blessings & Love~

and remember, we are... 

~NEVER FORSAKEN~

Thursday, April 28, 2022

DEVASTAING NEWS! (Not really)

 According to some believers on some You Tube and other social media websites, any of our brothers and sisters in Christ who received the shot for the virus, are now no longer Christians..we have lost our salvation through deceit! The enemy out-witted us.

Well, thank the LORD in Heaven above that my brothers and sisters in Christ do not possess the authority to condemn my immortal soul to hell for this or any other reason!

Here is my response- Let's go to the Word of God and ask Him!

 


 Romans 8:31-39 Nothing can separate us from the love of God..(Not even a virus or a shot)

 


Ephesians 4:30 We are sealed by God (My name is written in the Lamb's book of life)

                            https://www.highlandparklc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/img_5776-1024x1024.png 

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against me shall prosper. (Not even a shot of poison)

 


1 John 4:4 Greater is HE who is in us than he who is in the world. (God has authority over my body)


~This is my comment on sites where I see Christians saying that people are condemned (those who received the jab)~ 

 

I did not willfully receive the mark of the beast, I do not follow the antichrist (he is not even revealed to us yet)..I have not denied my Lord and Savior..Please stop your subscribers from saying these things that hurt their brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the worst thing we could do to one another. We need to carry each others burdens, lift one another up (edify) and remind each other of the HOPE that is in Christ alone.  

I do know the warning in Holy Scripture of willfully taking the mark in the right hand or on the forehead in order to buy or sell..this mark will also be a mark of one who worships the image of the beast. 


HERE is what the WORD OF GOD says concerning the mark of the beast:


Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Thank the LORD my God for His Holy WORD!
Thank you Jesus (THE WORD) for loving me and for saving me! 

 

Romans 8:35..“Nor height, nor depth, nor ANY OTHER CREATURE, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 Thank you for reading my little rant here!

BLESSINGS & LOVE

and remember, we are...

~NEVER FORSAKEN~

Friday, April 15, 2022

FELLOWSHIP

 

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 6:17

Friday, March 25, 2022

 

Me and Jeff about a year ago.  
Two days ago Jeff and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary. And by "celebrate" I mean, the day passed by with the two of us spending the day together, eating a good breakfast and watching TV. It was far too cold and rainy to go anywhere, as I had been dealing with a cold or something for a couple days. Being in each other's presence is a comfort and a blessing to us. Funny story: A couple months ago I moved my computer and everything into the spare bedroom where I could shut the door and go online with friends, or create videos on my You Tube channel without disturbing my husband while he watched TV in the living room. I made a very comfy cozy little nest in there and had complete privacy and quiet. It lasted less than a month because I missed just being in his presence, even though we were almost always doing our own thing there in the same room.

I guess you could say that this is a sign of true love!

Thank you for reading, I hope this post made you smile today.

~Blessings & Love~

and always remember, we are...

~NEVER FORSAKEN~

A Dead End Road (A post from 2016)

More often than not, we tend to avoid driving down a road marked 'Dead End'...

But sometimes you might discover that it leads to a wonderful surprise!


And a nice place to have lunch! We no longer have this vehicle. We sold it last year after almost getting hit by a car backing out of their driveway without looking, getting chased by a dog, having a tree branch whack me in the face, and picking a tick off of Jeff's neck. We figured we could still ride some pretty country roads and enjoy nature in a safer manner!
 
 

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

CLEAR VISION (A post written at the end of 2019)

 
 

2019 is drawing to a close. It was a year full of both loss and gain. We lost our beloved boy Bud in February, Jeff lost a good friend and coworker to cancer suddenly that same month. I lost an old friend to cancer in July, our Son in law lost his dear mom, also to cancer..and our daughter and son in law also just lost a dear friend suddenly to a heart attack right on Christmas day.
We had a daughter diagnosed with a serious incurable disease this year too.
But..we were blessed with the birth of two grand daughters both born in the summer! And my PET scan continues to show No Evidence of Disease! My daughter's condition is also currently in remission!..So we are rejoicing in the good things and remembering, through our tears, all the people we have lost as well as the challenges we've had to face.
Its been awhile since I asked God to give me a goal for the New Year. I used to get a certain word that I would take into the new year as a way of remembering a goal..like a promise for the next twelve months to hang onto.
Well this year I asked..and this is what I got...
@)@) When you type '2020' in CAPS..it looks like two eyes..The word I see in my mind when I think of 2020..is
CLEAR VISION. No, I am not getting Lasik surgery on my eyes..I asked instead for a clear spiritual vision for the months ahead. I want to see the way God sees, I want to see who Jesus is in a clearer way.
This means that sometimes in order to see the truth, I may have to close my physical eyes and ask God to show me a deeper (hidden) meaning behind some things. Also, I may need to keep those eyes wide open when I would rather close things out..instead of ignoring the stuff going on around me, I may be asked to face some truth that God wants me to see..maybe even something about myself that I need to change.


 Matthew 13:10-17 The disciples came to Him and asked, 'Why do You speak to the people in parables?' He replied, 'The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. ... This is why I speak to them in parables: 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.' 
 
~Blessings & Love~
and remember, we are...
~NEVER FORSAKEN~ 


I don't know why I did not publish this post back when I wrote it. It's been over two years ago now. Maybe I just needed to wait until today to re-read this and evaluate what all has happened from 2020 and beyond. After all, so much has happened! The biggest event of recent history was the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, at the time I was writing this originally, the virus was already happening, but we were unaware of it. Little did I know that something very sinister was just around the corner, and it would change the entire world! 
As for my own life, there has been some ups and some downs.

As far as my spiritual vision...There was a reason this post was hidden away until now. I have been walking around with my eyes tightly closed for several months now. I think it's time for me to open them up and once again, ask God to help me to see the way He sees.
This won't be easy.
 But it is so very necessary.
Nobody knows what is around that next corner, but as a Christian we have hope because our Lord knows and he is always with us, come what may!
Thank you for reading this. I hope it helps you in some way.
 
Blessings & Love
and remember, we are...
~NEVER FORSAKEN~
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE WATER

 

                   


Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water..

 Wetlands are protected by government because they play a unique role in the survival of many plant and animal species. Their environment sustains many important species that can only survive in that unique place.

 When I worked in land division and zoning for my area, I had to learn a lot about wetlands..I had to learn which types of trees grew in wetland swamps, for instance. 

Sometimes a wetland can actually appear dry and arid..but there are certain features that can be observed by the trained eye in order to determine whether or not a certain place could be considered a wetland swamp during a very dry season.

One of the things I learned was there are trees who "Like to have their feet wet." Trees like the white cedar which grows on our property.

Regardless of the current condition of the environment, the land is classified a certain way, and that does not change just because it looks different at the time. A wetland is still a wetland.

How does this example compare with the idea of what we are as Christians, our classification?

Maybe you are experiencing a dry spell in your walk with the Lord?

 


You yearn to "get your feet wet" once again!

You feel so thirsty for the Word of God that sustains and refreshes you daily, but you just can't seem to soak it in right now. 

You are affected by an unhealthy environment. You are rooted where you are and cannot do anything to change it..or can you? 

Where you are planted

You may not be able to change this. It may be you are rooted in a dry place right now. At one time it held the nourishing, life-giving water and you grew very strong in your faith, but now the water has evaporated into the earth and is long-gone...or is it?

Remember the classification of a wet-land is not dependent upon the current status of the environment, but on it's intended status or intended form and nature.

 If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37–38)

"From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water" 

You are thirsty ..The fountain of living water is JESUS! Who through the Holy Spirit resides in your INNERMOST BEING. He is the well that never runs dry.

 One of  the main restrictions about the wetland is not allowing someone to bring in a lot of material such as sand, or even some invasive plants and animals who will negatively affect the environment. If this is done it may result in the land being changed and made unhealthy, useless even.

     

Mark 4:19
but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

The cares and worries, desire for wealth, and even being distracted by "other things" is like allowing someone to come into your life and dump a lot of material into your river..stopping the flow and choking out the nourishment for your roots."Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.."

We must use discernment about who we listen to, who we follow after, and how we behave ourselves when we hear the Word of God..Do not sit among those who mock God!

 


 

 "But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night."

Instead, our attitude towards God's Holy Word should be one of delight! And it should be on our mind day and night! Then and ONLY then, will we be spiritually healthy once again, a tree planted by the water!

 Thank you for reading this. I pray it helped you in some way.

Blessings & Love

& remember, we are...

~NEVER FORSAKEN~ 

*All images posted on here are my own photos. I thank The Lord for allowing me to take and to use them for his glory, and not my own.



UPDATE TIME

 It's been sixteen months!  In April Jeff went into kidney failure and has been on dialysis. He's doing well so far. It was a very s...