Before you go down rabbit holes of video watching – think to yourself both of the time and the memories – and if it is worth the time. Well, I found an amazing rabbit hole that I felt was well worth it last evening – I enjoyed a whole lot of Minnie Pearl – wow – “Howwwwddddeeeeeeee!” (turns out her birthday and mine are the same!)

Do you remember Minnie Pearl? Well, I paused my video to ask my daughter – but she never heard of her – and I felt a failure of my upbringing of my kids for stuff that I knew – but since we don’t watch much TV anymore these days and have little of the “good” 70’s variety shows shown anymore, well wow, I guess she wouldn’t have been exposed to Minnie Pearl – nor to “Hee Haw” – wow I had to explain that too… 

What a shame of loss when we don’t even know what we missed! Surely others would say that of us too. Time for us on the earth is so short – such opportunity but such finality of time we have and of the time we take.

My deep dive into Minnie Pearl was only was a few hours – in downtime – but well I appreciated the memories and even the new footage for me. Minnie’s self-deprecating humor was always combined with her own laughing – it was effortless funny in appearance and she easily played off of others…  She called herself a buffoon as a comedian saying that there are few that want to do what she did. And she had to work early on to get her comedic timing – these things are learned as well as ingrained. She spent much time on “Hee Haw” which must have been where I learned about her. And in the Grand Ole Opry, she was a staple – being invited to be a member just after her first routine – a throwback to Vaudeville performances (at least my daughter had heard of Vaudeville). Minnie even did many USO apprearances in war-zones. She is worth knowing about if you don’t know her – and her comedy still translates 50 plus years later via Youtube videos. They are a good rabbit hole of funny stuff. “COUSIN, MINNIE PEARL!!!!” her sidekick would yell. And the price tag dangling from her hat was always swinging because Minnie was always laughing!

How about us? Like to laugh or at least smirk? Ddo we appreciate those who want us to laugh – to lighten our load – who know they have a sparkle to share? How amazing that humor has made it to be part of our lives. God surely knew that we needed to laugh – we needed to sing and dance – we needed to appreciate downtime – and even when we were and are always thinking… “A cheerful heart is good as medicine“… Proverbs 17:22

And how does the Lord know that His stories of His people will always continue – surely in this finite world of everything – knowing God and His stories are always a fulfilling journey for us – knowing continuation and history which touches our souls is woven into the thirst we have. Laughing at these video clips is but a fraction of time – but knowing God’s Love and HIS-story in History is going to sustain us forever. 

Let us keep living and working and knowing today is a gift for today. We will enjoy the ride that is short – but the view that is long.

 “Today is the day the Lord has made.” Psalm 118:24… 

“We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Amen and Howdeeeee to You Lord, today…

Amen

—

Psalm 118 NKJV
Praise to God for His Everlasting Mercy

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.

All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation
Is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord,
Through which the righteous shall enter.

I will praise You,
For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.

The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Save now, I pray, O Lord;
O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
God is the Lord,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

1979 clip: https://youtu.be/lbtC15yhDlU?si=52M8T0AvhjcbW3jE

Later Interview: https://youtu.be/7d1TRxVRzU4?si=TJCWKUSFmQ8LGMAO

How to catch a man: https://youtu.be/IHSsN3w9Mow?si=aEX6sHHlFYgK475g

This is your life – Ralph Edwards – about Minnie Pearl

I am up home – so nice for that summer feel – and to see family.

Yes, driving up the back roads – love the little hamlets and town. And in one bend, there is a picturesque church – often selling pumpkins in season – or where you donate your bottles and cans for the redemption (ha ha redemption – nickels, not church-speak). Well, I love this church’s sayings – I think it’s a great service of churches to have little quips, scriptures, etc on their signs. Thousands each day are strengthened or chastened or perhaps the saying makes then chuckle in lightening their day.

This one yesterday driving up home “hit the spot” for me: 

“Be hungry for God, otherwise you’re just full of yourself.”

Oh yeah… I laughed at the witty words, and my admittance of my path, and the truth of God’s Word and Way above my way, our way… 

I smiled in just HOPING I have been listening to His callings and His pausings… and I smile in joy and peace and blessings to be HERE, up home this week, seeing my family and friends, enjoying a CNY summer feel, including the cool 68 degree rainy mist, while driving, a respite from the heat. 

Got to the local state park.  SO NICE and picturesque plus they have a bath house and swimming. I didn’t go to the 68 degree water this day – but when it will be hot, maybe will take a dip then!  Anyways, I was sitting (I know unusual but not for this past 6 months) – sitting and watching the swimmers and divers – and hearing the sounds of the crashing waterfalls into this swimming hole at the bottom of a great gorge and waterfall trail. One doesn’t have to walk the trail (2 miles) but just drive in – to the top or to the bottom – convenient… And as I was walking back to the car, I thought to myself: THIS was/IS STOPPING TO SMELL THE ROSES – oh how blessed. I appreciate the time – and that the Lord has afforded me this time. 

And so for our direction and our placement – for our observations of our blessings – for simply looking to His Plan above ours – we want to HUNGER for God – BE HUNGRY – Be still and know He is God – and therefore take it all in – and know His Plan calls us places – and therefore take up your travelling or sit down and just be… Listen for His call, follow in His Path, be patient with His Way – and help along the way too. His Righteousness over ours – His plan over ours – Praising Him for known and unknown… 

(realize via Psalm 107 how much God has done in the past – and how much He is doing and how much He will do – for us – for everything – for Love…)

“Be hungry for GOD – otherwise we are just full of ourselves…”

Yeah…

Amen

—

Psalm 107 NKJV

From BOOK FIVE Psalms 107–150 Thanksgiving to the Lord for His Great Works of Deliverance

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.

They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons— Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High, Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two.

Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.

Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, And praise Him in the company of the elders.

He turns rivers into a wilderness, And the watersprings into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And dry land into watersprings. There He makes the hungry dwell, That they may establish a city for a dwelling place, And sow fields and plant vineyards, That they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; And He does not let their cattle decrease.

When they are diminished and brought low Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes, And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, And makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice, And all iniquity stops its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these things, And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Mightier than the waves of the sea is HIS LOVE FOR YOU – Psalm 93:4

I teared up yesterday – oh the blessed feelings I have had this whole trip “my cousins world tour ” and then yesterday adventure day while driving north – from my cousin’s place to Kitty Hawk in upper NC outerbanks. “OBX” they call it – the outer banks. Well, I feel that God was putting money in my memory banks for this day of the trip – and yeah – teared up in the beauty and in the ability and in the going.

I started at 6am with the sunrise walking the beach with my cousin – what a fast pace and great exercise –  and seeing the turtle nests and the turtle people checking them – and the mailbox “Kindred Spirits” where I wrote a note “God bless you all” – and then I drove up the coast on route 17 where I felt like I could stop where I felt like – you know when you are in the car and see these places but then I stopped – even took a photo on the side of the road and a sherrif checked on me – so sweet  – but yeah good stops like the farm cart of fresh corn and only had 2 dollars but instead of getting just an ear or two – the old farmer guy gifted me 4 ears – and didn’t take my money – asked where I was from and just smiled in the giving … Yeah… yummy too – i love eating corn raw as a child and now as a child of joy.  And then around the bend I saw the real tobacco plants planted, wow, and beans and corn and more – so much farming still – and found the off-road farm stand at the farm itself where I got blueberries and peaches and oh the yummy ice cream for lunch. Then at the boiled peanut place – oh my those are so good these were freshly boiled salty ones completing my “farm to subaru” lunch – there was a placard: Mightier than the waves of the sea is HIS LOVE FOR YOU – Psalm 93:4 – and that is not just for fun or frivolous stuff like so much we do – but He loves us down deep for our faults and our foibles and our faith – yes – IN FAITH – He brings up the tears that He then collects – it is how He lubes our system at times – hydrating us with Living Water to then make our eyes (and appetites) re-wetted for more – MORE OF HIM. I love this trip and love the Lord even more and feel like I am riding on His coattails and joyful happy trails.

I would say that if you never experienced much travel, then please get out and do it. I have to say that traveling alone is wonderful in that you can stop when you want to stop and experience and rest and then also see so much – and not alone because not only is God with you – but you can make phone calls from the car and talk and talk and talk. AND YOU NEED TO SEE THE FARMS BEFORE THEY ARE TAKEN OVER BY HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS!!!  Gas has been inexpensive $3.30 – and travel is priceless – and there is SO MUCH HERE – I went from Asheville on th efar west to the OBX on the far east – so worth it…

And I did have dinner with a high school friend – 40 years – and thank God for Facebook that keeps us connected – we had SO MUCH to talk about – but also SO TIRED – and I knew I was running on fumes and including watching the sparks of the heat lightening which was going to bring real storms sooner than later – and well I was fully in my hotel by then and the downpours were immense but the solid cement of this hotel (near the airport and more inexpensive with my points redemption) kept me more safe than safe and sound – it was safe and sage knowledge of Knowing the Lord had brought me “safe thus far” – that IS Amazing Grace in the practical sense – and yes His Amazing Grace is for our every next step.

So – photos – including the words on the Kitty Hawk Big Kill Devil Hill monument that state “UNCONQUERABLE FAITH” – yeah – they must have had this faith – they built and then they drug the apparatuses up this HUGE sand dune over a 1000 times in testing and perfecting their flights – and wow you have to be here to feel the wind – oh my… you might get a sense of it. You need to visualize the hill and the markers where they got their distance – and I was grateful for the park ranger who told me they were closing but there was a free parking spot behind the park and that people could walk in and take all the time they wanted – wow…. near the airport strip just behind the monument… sweet…

As for me and my Subaru (over a 1000 miles on this trip and newly oil changed in Virginia), we will serve the Lord – and seep the tears of joy and unbelievable blessings in feelings to have these days – not just of leisure but of travel and mission – and wow will be my 4th cousin grouping today – as I am on my way north to DC and then home…  But first I plan to stop at many historical markers and well, whereever I feel like – that the Lord will make me appreciate in the going…

Thank You Lord for Faith in Flight and Knowing Things are All Right!

Amen

I just recently got my small section of roof over the laundry room completely redone. Alright!!! I took all the rest of my bonus and tax return and savings and poured it into the house, because without a good roof over your head, things can go bad… and in this case, it wasn’t the shingles, it was the plywood underneath, rotting in sections with cracks,  especially one right over my washing machine, and I had a hole that I kept longer than I should have. Got that repaired last year, as well as the removal of an old air conditioner thinking that would reduce the water flow down the siding, but with a traditional nor-easter, bringing water the other way, the rain still found the low spot and through the crack it came…

So underneath I knew that it was not going to sustain the situation. Really it’s the inside that counts…

Likewise, a newly paved road is great, but unless the foundation underneath is good, eventually you’ll get potholes. Potholes in life happen… Let us fill our potholes more than just with junk. Let us look deeper to the Rock of the Lord who wants to be our stability.

For life is about the inside, and how we express it out. Inside is where we keep our love and where we share our love from. The scripture says “guard your heart, because everything you do comes from it.” And that’s the truth. Recognize that we are temples and god loves us the way we are, but is always improving us by including Himself, into our mix. And when you’ve got God inside, you can glow…

So let us remember today to address the cracks, face the facts, and live better. Let us today, remember that God loves us and keep Him as our Rock (see Psalm 18). 

He’s in our Temple built for praise. 

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1Cor 3:26

AMEN 

—

Proverbs 4:23 NIV 

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4:23 NKJV 

Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life.

.

Psalm 18

New King James Version

God the Sovereign Savior

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 

And he said: I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O Lord, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

He sent from above, He took me;

He drew me out of many waters.

He delivered me from my strong enemy,

From those who hated me,

For they were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

But the Lord was my support.

He also brought me out into a broad place;

He delivered me because He delighted in me.

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless before Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.

For You will light my lamp;

The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

For by You I can run against a troop,

By my God I can leap over a wall.

As for God, His way is perfect;

The word of the Lord is proven;

He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

For who is God, except the Lord?

And who is a rock, except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect.

He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;

Your right hand has held me up,

Your gentleness has made me great.

You enlarged my path under me,

So my feet did not slip.

I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. I have wounded them, So that they could not rise; They have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those who hated me. They cried out, but there was none to save; Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind; I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; You have made me the head of the nations; A people I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me they obey me; The foreigners submit to me. The foreigners fade away, And come frightened from their hideouts.

The Lord lives!

Blessed be my Rock!

Let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

Great deliverance He gives to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore.

Recently, I have experienced a string of pearls of wisdom, strung together to remind me that GOD IS WITH US.

Especially good today as I take to the friendly skies soon – 5day vacation here I come!!!

In recent days these pearls of wisdom, that remind God is with us, come directly from the source:  the scriptures. Scripture is where other’s experiences show us how their situations are similar, their responses are studies in relationships with God. People have everything from a bit of irritation to big issues (ever-present danger to even the whole Earth passing away). And these experiences yield hopefully a lesson that God is WITH us. That’s better than the polished pearl in the oyster, that’s God also feeding the oyster so it can make the pearl, making something beautiful, especially our praise. 

Really realize that GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US.

Psalm 46 came up a lot recently, in both my faith-reminding braclet, that I am currently wearing, and in the sermon I heard about Jacob, recounting God speaking directly to Jacob (Genesis 46:2-4 repeated in Psalm 46 reference of Jacob)

God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again…”

The sermonist was talking about Jacob, but in how it was pertaining to us as well, to me…

Even though we are entering unknowns in life, we have the KNOWN, we know God is with us, goes with us and already is there where we are going…

Thanks Lord,  thanks for the pep talk!

Amen

Psalm 46 NKJV

God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the Nations

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

(Looking forward to the scriptures of the VBS this summer – today is Psalm 142:5 “Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, ‘You are my place of refuge.’ “)

The hockey game last night was a treat – and the seats too – high above that you could see everything – a preplanned outing with my old work folks – so good to see them and catch up.

The seats were a single row with a panoramic view – theatre style – and protected by the clearest of clear plexiglass – thick too – safe for us to stand up and not feel like we would fall. (I’m not afraid of heights – but maybe some would be.)  And there was a nice lounge behind us too – with food and lots of people not watching the game except a glimpse on a TV monitor. I watched the first period, gabbed with friends all the way through the second period, then sat down and watched the thrilling 3rd period (our local team won! but both team fans, in our mixed crowd, were excited at the exciting game)… In general we were all happy to be there!

That plexiglass gave us a view as opposed to a wall – and it gave us security – even being high enough – and it gave us a place – a seat saved for us – yet stay behind the barrier. What of this reminds us of God and the Psalm 142:5 – that MORE reliable than that plexiglass – and more transparent than the perception of safety – that God our Lord is our SAFE PLACE – “I cried out to You, O Lord:I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”

The plexiglass was security – and clear – the Lord is clear and we can see out from under His wings that the world out there is a scary place at times and we are in fear of falling – and like David afraid of evil out to get us – and yet the Lord can rescue and He has and will win against evil – and He has a seat secured for us – He has us SAFE and SAVED in His Salvation.

The Lord is whom we can cry out to – like David under persecution, praying in a cave hiding – and cry out to in ordinary days too for direction: “I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.”
And like the attendants and ushers – we also can be people who point the way to the right seat in the house – we can be the encouragers and the teachers – we can comfort and we can listen. We can witness that this statement of David is true: When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You [LORD] knew my path.

Amen Amen Amen: “Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, ‘You are my place of refuge.’ ” Psalm 142:5

In His Salvation, we will someday see that there will be no more evil in the world and we will all be at His table – and in His Lounge – and In His Garden – and in His House – and in His Courts – and in His NEW city – always and forever.

For now, remember the game won’t last forever – keep watching for Him.

Amen

—

Psalm 142 NKJV
A Plea for Relief from Persecutors
A Contemplation of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.

I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.
I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me.
Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul.

I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.
Attend to 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 Your name;
The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

Just starting the TV series from PBS, online streaming, of Ken Burn’s The American Revolution – which is not just about the war but about the fight for independence and about the creation of a new government. The intro is all I’ve watched so far gave me two goosebumps – the discussion of the Iroquois Indian tribes – which are the area natives of where I grew up in – I’ve walked in those lands – and so their discussion of creating a nation of different tribes and being together in cooperation certainly hit home – we lived in the midst of a legacy but not longevity – the nations are not in charge of their destiny now.

And the second really was a “wait a minute” moment – right in the intro – I recognized the last name and the general face shape of one scholar they have many clips interviewing – she is someone I recognized – and yes, grew up in my hometown and yes, her brother was in my classes – and it took me a good solid 5 minutes of google searching and mental searching – but my mind found his name faster than google… Cool – scholars – both he and his sister – him in medicine and her in history.  Sort of make me appreciate that I too can be a scholar of my own interests – we all can be – we know what we know the best…  I also am appreciative for the areas and people whom I lived in the midst of. Cool… I also appreciate now that when I watch that American Revolution show that I live in the midst of these areas in the northeast – many which I have visited. It is touching history that is old but not too old to grasp.

Nothing greater than an “Oooooh moment” in life to be in the midst of God – yes and Him with us – for the ultimate “in the midst” is us in the Lord and the Lord in us. The psalmist sings truth: “let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them,     that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” (Ps5) and “Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.” Ps2

We too are in the midst of the Lord always – when we call upon Him we realize we are not far away at all – we are in His midst and He is in ours… 

And Psalm 2 brings warning about kings and their behavior towards the Lord – for them to revere the Lord – and that is us too – we are best to be humbled in the Lord – and listening to His direction. We walk in His Midst always – and never will He leave us.

We ARE in HIS Hands.

Amen

—

from Psalm 2 “I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery. Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

“The American Revolution | Streaming | Ken Burns | PBS https://share.google/UgydAh2RXJhErfIca

It is not a Holy Spirit coincidence when the song on my phone/car auto play is both one that I like (and preprogrammed) and one that I probably (actually) needed at that moment. And aren’t we often in those moods of needing something and not just resting in the peace of just knowing the Lord is with us. 

This song “When I Hear the Praises Start” is from Keith Green – tremendous artist – awakening story – energy – advocate for the Lord – public figure – and tragic death by plane crash…  His life was in hyperdrive for the Lord when he was born again into the newness of a new creation. And has great recorded encouragement – from his journey we can relate in our journeys. 

And our journey should also be full of praise – we can’t be salt and light if we wallow in too many of our own tears for regret and for woe – we are called to be the Light of the Lord and the Spark in the Spirit…

This praise song – a song to make sure we are still praising and then going out to do His works – be His hands and feet – is good to hear when we (I) are in a mood of “not doing enough” in life and in faith and in everything – the Lord says JUST BE STILL – and this song reminds us to breathe into some peace – and without looking over our shoulders of what went wrong (or right). I know that the Lord says – “Don’t look in the rear view mirror”…

The Lord knows when to shore up His sheep just like when He needs to shear His sheep of the worldly wool of worry and waste and whatnot… and if we allow ourselves to be led, God will get us there. and if we simply praise first of all the blessings already given to us, can we not see the even bigger blessings? especially that we focused on Him.

And so this song lyrics are below and this song includes Keith Green singing: “…why are you striving? You can’t add one thing to what’s been done for you. I did it all while I was dying. Rest in your faith, My peace will come to you.”  – and “you are My child and you know Me – to Me you’re only Holy” – and he sings “only what you do for me.” – meaning the Lord wants us out there being the Light and Salt.

Jesus taught: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

True – let us BE STILL – and let Peace come to us…  best yet – keep walking towards the Peace in Jesus.

Amen

This is the live version

and here is the album version

When I Hear the Praises Start – Lyrics
[Verse 1]
My son, My son, why are you striving?
You can’t add one thing to what’s been done for you
I did it all while I was dying
Rest in your faith, My peace will come to you

[Chorus]
For when I hear the praises start
Oh, I wanna rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child and you know Me
To Me you’re only holy
Nothing that you’ve done remains
Only what you do for Me

[Verse 2]
My child, My child, why are you weeping?
You will not have to wait forever
That day and that hour is in My keeping
The day I’ll bring you into Heaven

[Chorus]
For when I hear the praises start
Oh, I wanna rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child and you know Me
To Me you’re only holy
Nothing that you’ve done remains
Only what you do for Me
Just what you do for Me

———–

Matthew 5:13-17 NKJV

Believers Are Salt and Light
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Christ Fulfills the Law
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

I think this has been one of my most HECTIC weeks recently, but in a good way… and that’s not necessarily bad, because much of this week was so much fun, and now I can sit back, relax and reminisce and look at the pictures!!! WHEW… 

Last Saturday at an outdoor fest, then ice cream with a friend, then I caught that cat, delivered the cat Sunday to the vet/farm lady, drove back to give our church sermon. Then Sunday night a progressive rock artist concert –  ate fancy concert food too and then a BUSY work week also blessed, plus bouncing between meetings and dinners, bible studies and buying ordering a new fridge, and dinners out with work folks, time outside, even got a new hat for girl scout trip this upcoming summer, got the car washed, opened a wellness room at work, plus booked a trip for 2028 with scouts to Europe… Then last night (Friday) with a friend another concert – tribute band…

And yeah – today? AH…..  resting at home – anticipating the rain with joy actually that we are – well me – are stuck at home to just be….  and that is not true because 1) it’s ONLY rain – and 2) not even raining yet and 3) not stuck and 4) I am making plans to see another friend later whom I haven’t seen since summer, and 5) I can’t clean and stay at home ALL DAY (well I could but I am not!) I will be off to this and that – here and there will be good – but honestly – being here and here and here and HERE is best – it is time to rest – and to decompress – and to count my blessings that God chose to bless.  

Hectic Life, because I’m not here just for the cleaning…

I appreciated the Jesus Calling devotion this morning – stating (writing as God would say in 1st person – well God not person – well person AND God in Jesus – that “Though I have brought many pleasures into your life, not one of them is essential” – !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Exactly. So all my hectic is not for nothing but it is nothing in comparison to God, Who is MORE than something, He is ALL in ALL.

Yes, not anything here on earth is essential – and essentially God is only essential – and His love is essential and He is LOVE – so essentially, we wouldn’t have (nor need) anything without God so let us give God His due and our attention – and especially our love… “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17  

SO – every good thing is from God and the basic needs we have are not so basic but MAGNIFICENT and mighty – because we need and have God’s LOVE and we get life from Him…  GOOD…

So even if I have a HECTIC life – that is GOOD – because I am not just here on earth for the cleaning – nor the adventures – nor the artifacts – nor the food – nor the music – nor the possessions – nor the boring – nor the hectic – I am HERE, GOD SAYS, to LOVE GOD and know HE LOVES US…  and that, my friends, is a GREAT gift from above – to know God – to know Him more – to know HIS LOVE – to know that He knows us in LOVE – sees us in LOVE – sees us and cares for us as children – and LOVES us as FATHER GOD – LOVES us as JESUS SAVIOR – moves us and LOVES us as a HOLY SPIRIT sponge ready to take up His Living Water and spread sprinkle and express all around…

WHEW…  OK – well – now I am clamoring thankfulness – all without leaving my monent… thankfulness and LOVE – knowing overwhelmingly LOVE is from GOD…

And now I am going to keep goofing off (and cleaning) and decompressing today in the rain – for a while – I have some guilty TV watching to catch up on – and oh yeah eating – got myself leftovers, yay…

And as we take refuge in realization that God is LOVE, here is the Psalm 62:5-8 entry from the Jesus Calling book – perfect thought for right now: “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour our your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”  

TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is not our hectic lives that hurt us except if we don’t take enough time to praise…

AMEN…………..

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour our your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”  

I had to wait – I really did – and it was frustrating but then again a teachable moment to myself that not everything should I expect to do or have done instantly…. yes, FINALLY the opportunity came to shred documents way back to 1967 – yes I said 1967 – finally came after I and others sorted, plus moved them around – plastic storage bins in a garage – in many trusted family and friends hands – safe but still a burden of excess – cancelled checks and tax returns – credit card info and offers – such sensitive stuff like ssn’s and whatnot. Shred shred shred so that we don’t dread dread dread…   

This was stuff that DIDN’T need to go to Vegas when my friend moved – she is now SLAYING Vegas (which is actually the name of a new book! available on Amazon!) – so for my friend there was no need to do SHREDDING in Vegas – she now is over there helping her family and grandkids and “PERFECTING Vegas”…  Leave the shredding behind… Shredding Vegas before it gets there – that IS perfecting Vegas – not just the paper but the past – shred the past and leave it behind and walk forward into your new life – live in the present – in the moment – and with and for the new people God gives you.

And the shredding paper boxes? It took a while but then in a whoosh of a moment it was done – those five last boxes to the local state representative’s sponsored free shredding event. Had done one giant shred run earlier in the summer but then had to pause because of a cancelled shred event by rain – and wait until the fall events started.  I thought to pay for it but that seemed nonsensical and pricey when a free shred event was surely around the corner – and it was – I just had to WAIT!

And it came. And now it is done… and we all survived waiting! Yes we will and can survive waiting…

Isn’t that us in life too – we have to wait – we have to wait – we have to wait upon the Lord…

Psalm 138 states a truth from David: “The Lord will Perfect That Which Concerns Me.” – and David writes that our salvation comes from the Lord’s Right Hand. TRUE!

I had written a devotion at the beginning of the summer which really speaks to me now as the things that were taking place were resolving every so slowly in my mind but ever so efficiently and totally in the Lord’s Hands – resolved to an even better outcome… Yeah, The Lord’s Ways are above our ways… and David’s Psalm 138 (and I) are not just talking about shredding or packing or moving stuff – we are talking about LIFE STUFF – that the Lord is perfecting – and HAS perfected because with accepting His cloak of forgiveness we are seen purified in God’s Grace and Mercy. And others too are cloaked in forgiveness by the Lord…  We have to forgive as we are forgiven. Yes, with His RIGHT HAND – JESUS – we are saved.

Below is the devotion that oh is so very true now (and always was) for our material things and mental things – yes I had a whole big list of “that concerns me”  from this summer and I had to wait it out and I watched the Lord resolve it EVEN BETTER than I could have imagined – even better and that takes time – that is not a “snap your fingers” kind of God but a “walk with me and FEAR NOT” TRUTH of God.

(And without giving details, the FEAR NOT command (perfectly timed as placed on my ears from a summer sermon) by the Lord has really really come true for me this summer – oh the relief and oh the comfort and oh the joy for watching the Lord complete the situation and get it moving again – wow!)

And perfecting “that which concerns me” is oh so comforting for my/our forevers too.

From Summer July to September (even from 1967 and before and beyond) and forever – The Lord will Perfect that which concerns me! Shredding and Perfecting – and LOVING the whole way.

Amen

Previous devotion at the beginning of the summer:

.

THE Lord will perfect that which concerns me.

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me.

The Lord WILL perfect that which concerns me.

The Lord will PERFECT that which concerns me.

The Lord will perfect THAT which concerns me.

The Lord will perfect that WHICH concerns me.

The Lord will perfect that which CONCERNS me.

The Lord will perfect that which concerns ME.

We (I) have a lot that concerns us – but the Lord – He is MORE than all that – MORE than a lot – MORE than us and MORE than our concerns. We can take strengthening in His regard for us – Our hope is in that He knows us and pays attention to us and lifts us up.

If there is anything we are not good at, we can rely upon Him to find our answers, our helpers, our path. His Mercy is the amazing gift of giving grace to the imperfections, and He answers our concerns just as He catches all our tears.

If there are items we are concerned about, and people and things, He gives us unworldly advice not to ignore things around us but to look at them like He does, with grace and mercy and forgiveness.

If there is anything we don’t know, we can ask. If there is anything we need, we can ask. And when (not if) we fall short, He provides the ability for us to recover.

Lord, You give us of Your Glory – let us know that You will perfect THAT which concerns me – by either perfecting me, or perfecting THAT, or perfecting the concern and bringing that concern into place where it belongs in the universe.

Without You, Lord, we would be nothing. So, WITH YOU LORD? We have everything we need.

AMEN

Psalm 138 NKJV
The Lord’s Goodness to the Faithful – A Psalm of David.

I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord,
When they hear the words of Your mouth.
Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
For great is the glory of the Lord.
Though the Lord is on high,
Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

If we had summer all the time, we would NOT appreciate it.

I am sitting outside, just ate a strawberry from my garden, awaiting the peas. This is an early summer morning, no mosquitoes yet, cat is content in her tent, birds are chirping, God is good.

Just ate a strawberry from the container garden but some in the garden are left, the birds left me some. God takes care of those birds, and surely us. Yes, looking forward to the peas soon and I am reminiscing to remember how quickly things go from flower to fruit. How quickly spring sprung when it did. How quickly it will soon get hot and then how quickly it might fade in the fall. But right now, this is a moment to enjoy. 

Last night too, went to our local baseball game, free tickets (with food) for a work perk, not mine but my daughter’s! Cool…  I was thankfully there as invited yet third wheel for the “youngsters”, but nice chit chat about architecture stuff, tiles ceilings etc, over summer picnic fare of hamburgers and hotdogs and watermelon, included.  Interestingly, her firm was the one that originally worked on that ball park… It is so interesting to partake of something that you are not involved with, but yet you can reap then benefits… I sat later right behind home plate for the last inning, cool…

Isn’t that us and time and summer and God’s blessings. We are partakers watching from behind third base or right nearly in the dugout. We witness the world and yet the Lord wants us to be a part of it. He gets us up each morning to “Play Life!” Even if it is no game…

I watched the little kids at the ballpark and remembered 20 years ago, when my little ones wouldn’t sit still… how far we’ve come in just twenty years. I can’t even remember to appreciate what the fullness of time will be like for us…

If there are nine innings in baseball, some boring some exciting, then life moves the same. This inning is summer, soak it in…

Lord, teach us to number our days and stretch the hours too.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.

Amen

Psalm 90 NIV

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting YOU ARE GOD.

You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death – they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.

We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.