To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:1-3

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I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. from Psalm 27

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It has been 3 years since COVID came to the US – really we have come a long way since then – so long that we have mostly returned to normal – but not everyone…  what is normal anyway?…  

In other words, whoda thunk we would get a pandemic and whoda thunk we would get out of it… surely anyone in King Tut’s time up until George Washington’s time would not have envisioned getting out of smallpox “so easily” or so many of those other diseases…  and sometimes we forget that major calamities that we have conquered (mostly) are still raging in parts of the world (for example Rabies caused about 17,400 human deaths worldwide in 2015. More than 95% of human deaths from rabies occur in Africa and Asia.)

I bet if we look at the Psalms and to David was writing about being pursued by his enemies who eventually God took care of, and see how David escaped, we should ALSO be singing HIS praises that we got here from there…  We got back to “normal” – well at least a new normal…. In other words: We are blessed in no matter what circumstances…

Here are some UNFINISHED blogs from early 2020 – just found them in my “drafts” folder. I am not going to finish them now but with realization that “we have come a long way baby” from 3 years ago, they are worth sharing…  TIME FLIES… To loosen our memories is an opportunity worth food for thought to sing praises today.

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TP, Spring 2020

I saw a wonderful toilet paper moment today at the grocery store where one woman asked a couple where they had found the pack of toilet paper in their cart and they tried to give it to her… sweet…

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Hope Not Hush, Spring 2020

I am not too fond of the phrases that “the virus stole Easter” because if you asked Jesus, He also was cut short in this life and He had to get His work done anyway… So do we…

Easter is a life, not a basket of flowers…

I love the festivities, you know I do… 

Let’s this year know and tell of HOPE, 

The disciples on Silent Saturday were mourning…

But WE have no less days to sing His Praises than when we first begun!

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Right on Red, 31MAY2020

This is not intended to be political, but I have to make an observation of how people are living in our “red zone”… People are making “right on red”, just like in the car… and many people are being careful too… the VOLUME of people out and about is amazing and has increased tremendously …

But that’s not stopping many people,  the stores are packed – the garden centers packed – I even saw a funeral home yesterday with tons of folks outside,  packed together, 90% no masks… people make their own choices, people take their rights, even in red… 

People take risks, me too, I think because many of the cases are in nursing homes, not perceived to be from outdoor living or contact on surfaces that people do take risks. They are moving on with their lives… Rights on red, right in red. 

Me too, I hope we and I turn the corner cautiously, some are taking the “California stop”, rolling thru without a complete stop. Some people simply pretend they never saw the red light.

Some are driving life while impaired too.

I have a great life and am a risk taker too when compared to some. I am not a risk taker compared to other people… 

The data will eventually show us where the crashes were…

Problem is, by the time we know. we will wish we knew back when… 

Think about how we are going to get out of this intersection then drive carefully!!!

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Lots of Nursing Homes APR2020

I feel so sorry for the families of the nursing home residents who have survived so many years, but are now being felled by this COVID19 virus… pneumonia, no time to get to the hospital even, no room at the hospital either… not every place is well cared for, it’s hard work at a nursing home… It’s hard living…

I wonder, and Lord forgive me for speculating, how or if the Lord deflected this disease from the young to the old who surely had many years to prepare for coming home. Every time to say “Goodbye” to family, wonder if this is goodbye…

The Lots of Nursing Homes….  Proverbs 16: The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

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OK, Going to wrap up this post-covid crisis set of half blogs with Pslam 27…  (covid is still around but like a regular flu fear now).  Psalm 27 – I hope many listened to these words of hope and reduction of anxiety back then – and now – it is like God had these things written down on purpose to help us – gee, hmmmmm, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Psalm 27 Of David.

The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. 

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, Lord;  lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.