vacation

The Lord IS in Charge – BE STILL and WAIT

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You could say that it is HARD to wait on the Lord – and at the same time keep doing what you are doing and looking for direction and checking back in.

But the Lord is 100% consistently here in our lives and we need to trust Him more.

Thus could be said for job searching – yeah – tough in terms of waiting – and waiting – and yet not being idle. One has to search – these things rarely drop from the sky.

I found that I was in one possibility for a moment and then it was made clear to me that THAT particular situation (not necessarily the role but well other things) – that THAT was not where the Lord wanted me and I could see that as a “save” – not that it was offered to me – but whatever, LOL…

Also in job searching – there has to be a hunger and direction put into my life – and the Lord has given me the blessing of interest in interesting things. And then there will be the fear of failure that will wage in – of no wages – so those of us STILL in a denial (easier to explain to people) and/or in TRUSTING THE LORD (actually harder to explain to people) – well we have to WAIT on the Lord either way.

This devotion below from Bob is perfectly timed (once again the Holy Spirit is so active and timely) – I checked in last night with God again, while scanning family history stuff and doing a very interesting home project) and just said “Lord, AM I ALLOWED TO HAVE THIS PEACE?” – then this devotion (below) popped up this morning – such timing… Keep doing day by day what the Lord has you doing.

Yeah – I question sometimes – am I being distracted or uber focused on important things? I was finishing up my scanning of this branch of the family correspondence from 1900’s – 1960 – taking like three afternoons/evenings of scanning and then some – including making 2 “xerox” copies for easy reading – and contemplating “is this for me?” – “is this for them?” Whom am I doing this for? – and yet it seems perfect the treasured job given to me – both as an activity to keep me busy as I await the BIG trip this summer in less than 2 weeks – also to finish up before I do VBS’s – and as a scanned/printed resource for the future – including that I can’t wait to meet these lovely people in Heaven one day. I realize that everyone I am reading about – would be deceased by now – and yet they come alive in letters. [and the practicality of paper is true – these letters survived over 100 years but computer scans may not unless saved in an accessible way.]

Well – job search – life search – just paying the bills – so much to consider – but God? GOD IS – not just God is convenient to touch base with – but GOD IS GOD – and God knows we need Him.

Here is Bob’s devotion – on WAITING on the Lord…

(and don’t worry – I have more letters to send you pics of in future emails)

Amen and thanks for the pep talk Lord!

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Daily Devotional

The Daily Dose Be Still and Wait 7/01/2026 Good Morning – Are you being still before the Lord and waiting on God?

Psalm 37:7  “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
 
This fast paced world certainly doesn’t make it easy to be a patient person, as we often expect God to work in our fast and furious time tables. God’s timing is always different than ours and we often find ourselves in need of patience. Our lack of patience forces some bad solutions that often lead to even more problems. We need to learn as David finally did, “I waited patiently on the Lord, and He turned to me, and He heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 And while waiting is very tough at times, the end result is quite awesome. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12
 
The scriptures use the image of a farmer waiting for seed, soil, sun and rain to do its work. The field must be plowed, the seed sown, the land fertilized, the crops watered, the soil weeded, the crop tendered and then he has periods of waiting in between, as the crop comes to it’s full fruition. It is the same with each of us! “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.” James 5:7

As I often say, we need to develop God speed. Pray for the patience that allows us to trust God’s timing, which is always perfect for us. “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.” Psalm 18:30 “And finally, Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.” Romans 12:12

Lord please draw us closer to You and help us to wait on what You have for us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Have another powerful and prosperous day of waiting patiently as you love and serve others in the workplace and at home. “Take up your sword!” Ephesians 6:17
Bob Bennett
Real Men Ministries   “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” — Philippians 2:3 Copyright © 2026 Real Men Ministries. All rights reserved.

NO DISHES On This VACATION, No Grumbling Either – JUST SHINING, Philippians 2

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I am pre-writing – planning for being away on vacation – and this seems so fitting to write about for a time I hope to be on vacation with no dishes and hopefully no grumbling… SO instead I will post it today – a rambling post from old – but the summary is to praise the Lord over grumbling. Also I have to say that time will pass – and we will get through – and life keeps moving – and so we best praise over grumbling…

So on a Sunday (by the time I thought about sending this next Sunday – I was already into Monday of this week – today) – and thinking on how to act on a Sunday – it is a day that we are to be not grumbling but PRAISING GOD. Well, that is everyday too I hope…  And the scripture I was re-reading and re-reading (which I included in a rant type post years and years ago), well that scripture is about NOT grumbling – Phillipians 2 – Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

What I re-read now is the part about holding firmly to the word of life – that is piety in prayer and praise – that is (from the previous verse by Paul) us to continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.- THAT IS US HOLDING ONTO JESUS.

I can say that we are to feel so blessed – always – because Jesus, Lord, saved us and saved me – and that I know He won’t lose us – even if I lose myself… 

And we can feel blessed for multiple things – like well, I was just thinking about a mundane but not blessing in my life – my dishwasher – yeah – we have always said “I love my dishwasher” – and I ALSO say “I LOVE MY DISHWASHER!” today – and I do splurge, I must tell you, I add 2 pods into each wash run – yeah – just do… And the dishes? so so clean… I am grateful…)

ANYWAY – blessings are not always in the things – actually blessings is most strongly found in the guidance… Blessings in Jesus being with us.

So – about the dishwasher (and the salvation because Jesus is our biggest soul washer) – I bring you a rambling post #338 from years ago – suitable for a Sunday of praise and a Monday of chores – praise that God said no grumbling and just hold on…

This writing below – pure processing – and it includes – you guessed it – the dishwasher – and it includes prepping for vacation… And talks about blessings of busy – blessings of having a house and things to do – blessings of burdens which are busy blessings all the same…

I told myself that I would not delete wacky posts from my first writing and this I did not!

So – Here’s my devotion from 9 years ago – (wow that is a good run on a great dishwasher): #338 = from 2017 “Journaling”… Wakefulness in early morning ALWAYS was calling me to read scripture and to write… Busyness a privilege not a chore… Writing is therapy, never a chore… God is ALWAYS a blessing, not a chore… Working out our salvation is essentially talking to Jesus, surrendering to Jesus, and accepting His Sacrifice to save – asking forgiveness – and then giving praise.

Dishes, 17Jan 2017  

This is the perfect verse for the dishes… Philippians: Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

I really don’t mind doing the dishes, it’s just when there is a week’s worth waiting for me, well, I think of all the other things I could be doing… And thinking…. And Yeah….

So, actually, I don’t mind doing the dishes at all… I actually don’t mind doing chores, I don’t mind hard work, I am blessed and relieved to have lots of skills and be efficient with my time…. Even God wakes me up to write and God is VERY efficient at using my time and my sleep… and I don’t mind… I don’t mind at all, GOD… You have fulfilled more in my life and for after my death then in my WILDEST DREAMS… I don’t mind, put me to work God, YOUR work…

But dishes? Are they and the laundry and the cooking and paying bills and… are they more than just chores? I think so… I KNOW so… I think they are there to prove that I have a LIFE… That I am BLESSED to own a house, to have beautiful children… To have mouths to feed… I think so much of what we grumble about – we are actually blessed with… I think those dishes are both there to remind me that I need to get back to buying paper plates AND to appreciate there WAS food in the house to make the mess… (And also to give me the opportunity to thank and pray for my earthly handy house carpenter who replaced the old dishwasher in the spring, blessing me with installing an expensive kicka$$ dishwasher on a damage sale for a fraction of the cost… Who also is the only reason this house hasn’t crumbled because of termite damage repaired… Yeah, praising God for HIS blessings of both earthly and heavenly carpentry…)

Of course dishes are chores, but also mean I have an opportunity to be in my house and not “on the go”… I of course multitask – cooking healthy food AND practicing my praise singing while I do dishes… And it’s time to think… Time to ponder the greatness of God…

All my chores yesterday were for others, which turns out were/are for me too…. Working for others who bless me…. Labors of LOVE: cookie booth work, six different stores for groceries and essentials, and I barely remember what… I do remember that it was peppered with blessed people interactions and that it was all done efficiently and rapidly and ONLY on six hours sleep…

Today, Sunday, will be the same… BLESSED to be busy… these are all activities for me because they ARE for God’s greater purpose – to show HIM working IN me to keep me upright and smiling… In the meantime, Sundays are a great way to restart the week: family time, church, band practice and praise time, church family time, lunch with the girls, more kid family time, cookie booth set up with crazy girl scout moms… Blessed to be WAY too busy to be stressed…

No grumbling… Chores… Just ride the waves of today’s tasks… Soon I will take some vacation days, take care of myself… Take time for me – and time to ponder the greatness of God…

No grumbling, God provides life, just go live it…

LIVE it, LOVE it, for God.

Philippians 2:14-16 NIV

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

original blog (same dishwasher) https: //debbieupper.blog/2017/05/20/2408/

Let Them Eat Smashed Macarons??? My trip to NYC, Psalm 16 Blessings

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The BLUE macaron from the patisserie, maybe living like Paris-erie, was DELICIOUS – and so was the hot cocoa and whipped cream – and so was the pastry I had – and the air conditioning was great – and and and…  Yeah – being on a one day vacation is living it up!!! And sitting in the Hudson Yards after riding up to “The Edge” – this was like a perfect local experience (except for the construction that IS NYC – bang bang bang – and the sirens of the moment)…  The most important aspect of this trip was seeing my friend for a day out!

So I didn’t really mind that my blue Marie Antoinette macaron was smushed by the time I ate it sitting on the train on the way home, reminiscing of the great day. It was a vacation day and it’s hard to complain when you have had a great day. So I accepted the blessings and thanked the Lord!

Yes. I went to see my friend from grad school in NYC. We have been great friends for over 30 years now! WOW!!!  He met me at the train station. Haven’t see him since way before covid. It was sunny and hot, and then it rained wickedly like 3 times, felt like Florida weather on and off and on and off. But it could rain on you anywhere – might as well just be anywhere vacationing anyway…

I HIGHLY recommend visiting “The EDGE”. I love the sights from up above, it’s like the best view, taller than Empire State building, perfect to see TOPS of the Chrysler building and Vanderbilt towers, then in a distance Lady Liberty, the bridges, the rivers, the Highline, and awesome to step OUTSIDE!!! WOW!!!!  Yes, it is safe!!! Scary at first to step on the clear glass over the city, but I did it!!! whew!!! So then wow after we were outside for a while, we then watched the storm roll in from NJ to the west. And the security staff pulled us inside. There are windows for every direction. And amazing that there is no sway even at 100 stories up.

So we sat and chatted more – watching the storm roll in then roll out!!! We saw beautiful sites all around! Then we went down to the patisserie, yum, then walked the Highline to the Little Island where we held safe under the support structures until the next storm passed. great views walking the little island and even ducked into the free “Forest show”, beautiful light show run as an incentive to a car show. Dinner in Chelsea Market. Then to get back up to the train station, we hopped on a bus for the few blocks as the rain started again then back on the train.

The train where I got to sit and reminisce while relaxing – I know where the electricity plugs are for recharging my phone – and eat that smashed macaron for recharging my sugar – the Marie Antoinette macron. BLUE. “Let them eat cake” – is the phrase reportedly said by Marie Antoinette – queen of France as she disregarded the plight of the peasants – but this is a made up story they say – written many years before. “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche”, is still used for frivolous disregard for the starving people – or just being frivolous as someone else’s expense. So I could think that being on vacation (even for one day) while others are suffering in the world is a dilema – like I could say “Let them eat smashed macarons!” for enjoying a day of frivolity – and this is a dilemma of our world – we enjoy even while others are suffering – we are in a broken world – this is true. (And we pray for the societies and families who are suffering in terrible wars these day – terrible! Marie Antoinette’s time also saw the dilemma of great opulence while others were at war and suffering – we are always in this tough spot of living in an unjust and unequal balance of brokenness)… May we pray the Lord’s mercy on us all especially when we forget to count our blessings and our savior and salvation…

Taking a day break is not a bad thing – for we all need to take a breather sometimes – and therefore we should praise the Lord (at all situations) and especially that we can do this vacation thing – this day off thing – that we have freedom etc… And that we have relative safety – even in a thunderstorm – compared to the unknown volatile parts of the world. We should be saying “Let us PRAISE what we have!” – not complain about what we lack. We really should count our blessings and make the most of life while we have it – and then remember and help those who are in worse straights – the best we can do is to pray for them!

And especially praise – for in the Lord, we have everything we need…  

Have a great day everyone and eat the macarons and enjoy – smooshed smashed whole or otherwise!

AMEN

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Psalm 16 NKJV – A Michtam of David.

The Hope of the Faithful, and the Messiah’s Victory

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.
O my soul, you have said to the Lord,
“You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
As for the saints who are on the earth,
“They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god;
Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
Nor take up their names on my lips.

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.

I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

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A Fulfilling Faith Focus, starting VBS prep in Matthew 3

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I was grateful to have a good ride home south from home north. And I took the back way skipped the major highway most of this trip just because. I stopped for my favorite travelling ice cream at a farm dairy and looked over my VBS booklet. It’s good to let your mind wander in wonderful views. It mimics a vacation mindset – and honestly I feel like a need a big vacation – and yet small vacation doses are suitable for now. We restart our days knowing our identity. We need to know where we stand – often it is in our walking with the Lord that we find this the best. A fulfilling faith focus.

My friend just did 5 days hiking on the El Camino. It is something I know I would enjoy – a trip to find myself deeper in faith – And yet I wonder if I could just drive it, like I drive these most beautiful winding roads in the northeast… Hmmm…  Could I take a tour of just plan sitting – that would be a faith find too….  Well, no matter where we are, we best take the time to decompress… then fill up with the good stuff!!!

When is the right time? Well, in this season it is now PREP time for Vacation Bible School – and my first day reading the day one scripture for my second VBS – TRUE NORTH – and the TRUE part comes with Jesus being TRUE – TRULY GOD – TRULY HUMAN – TRULY OURS…

And the first day story is of John the Baptist – of Jesus’s identity revealed – of God’s Promise fulfilment – and of the appreciation and recognition of IDENTY in a TRUE NORTH faith-compass pointing moment to when God came down as the Dove and said “This is my beloved Son” – TRUE STORY – Matthew 3 – read it all below.

John knew his identity and that of the deliverer in the Messiah – but not yet knowing the visual of his cousin to walk in – (even if we know that the Holy Spirit in John knew Jesus when John was in his mother’s womb) – and John could tell the people: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”

Jesus knew His identity and was likely aching to be the moment when the world would start to know – not because of a “Look at me” moment – but because He knew the world would be saved thru Him – and therefore He wanted to teach the Way – the Truth – the TRUENESS. Jesus wanted and wants us to repent and to be more forgiving and be more understanding and to understand our place.

I will start to “dive in” to Vacation Bible School work – and this is a GOOD PLACE – because this is IDENTITY and the drive and true calling to be working with Jesus for Jesus for the kids and their families – and to know the WAY…

May we all find our fulfilling faith focus in HIS WAY – Our Faith Walk is just beginning – new each day…

Amen

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John the Baptist Prepares the Way – Matthew 3 NIV
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”