It is probably best advice – to start writing things down – and also for our collective young people to write things down – they say that it helps with memory and that helps with everything else.
A friend recently told a story of a little one, who when they were made to write things out, they calmed down, it reinforced good memory, all the good stuff for education and for living and for success in life…
Us making notes, and like me making “to-do” lists for myself – well that helps immensely – and gives the comfort that we DID write it down and we will probably remember but if not we have the notes… What a relief!!! Even electronic typing is good and actually really good because I can find the notes later as opposed to losing my paper!
Friends and I were also talking also about handwriting in the olden days – with big swoops and such – and I remember once learning and can attest that it is cathartic to write – pouring energy in. I also head a theory that you could tell someone’s generosity or stinginess by the size of the tails on the letters – cursive of course – well I don’t know about that – but I do know that it is nice to get a letter or card these days – those folks ARE generous because they took the time to write and also pay the stamp!
I know I learn well by taking notes and then am at ease because I know I have the notes to rely back upon – not just passwords but flow plans for my thoughts and my clicks for software. It is also a recommendation for my people at work – a fellow supervisor told me that if this was college they could say: “where are your notes, I’m only saying this once…” We don’t do that – but do help with repetition…
Well – written down – well how could we not think of Jesus being our written down Word – Written UP Word – the Word made Flesh – Alpha and Omega. And the Word not just contained in the bible but springing forth from the bible Word – shared FROM Him. Imagine how the Lord of lords is servant to serve by both coming to earth humbled as human – and to be written and rewritten out as everlasting Word – each stroke of Himself in penmanship and in printing press and in sign language and in spoken Word – His continuous pen never ending and never running out of ink or energy or Spirit.
Even the end of our physical bible in Revelation is where we see there are GOING TO BE chapters and chapters ahead – of life forever – the end is the beginning and if Jesus never ends, we won’t either… Forever remembered because He wrote our names down… Forever realized because He is the Author of Life in LOVE.
Jesus is Written Word – and He will never forget us nor be forgotten – He does LOVE and LIVE forever.
Amen for us to begin again.
Amen
—
Psalm 121 NKJV
God the Help of Those Who Seek Him A Song of Ascents.
I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
——–
Revelation 3:7-13 NKJV
Letter from Jesus written by John: “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars – I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
———
Revelation 21:1-6 NKJV
All Things Made New
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
‘AI has nothing compared to my eye’ – that is my new catch phrase for both knowing “AI” artificial intelligence is powerful and yet what is MORE powerful and earth shattering to me is the blessing of seeing people interact and see what I can process as a personal people interaction “in my eye” – one in which the human encourager in me could identify.
I have been trying to avoid and even put down the “AI” enthusiasm or scare tactics. It is a tool – a good tool for science to do algorithms that advance technology, but how do I apply it? Maybe I don’t but I just have to learn something about it – and I DID learn something as I saw a presenter at a conference yesterday, after giving his talk and asking questions, get so wide-eyed and in awe of the person asking him a question – turns out this audience member person is the founder of one of the big AI companies/languages that are being used in technology and industry. The unassuming gentleman asked a great question – and the presenter first took a moment to say “Are you?” so and so … Yes, he was. And the presenter thanked him for his attendance and praised him honestly in the moment and the AI-brilliant man nearly blushed in humility and had thankfulness for the praise. (and then he asked a good question).
Yes, at a science meeting filled with “AI” references, I saw something sweet in that human interaction – yes encouragement, humility, and joy, all God-given gifts that I ‘could spy with my own little eye’… Yeah… AI has nothing compared to the God-given gift of seeing and knowing encouragement with your heart and soul and then eye. It warmed my heart and not just charmed with “a star sighting” – but with the presenter’s WOW – and his ‘thanks for showing up to my talk’, out of all the places that the bigwig inventor person could be at.
ENCOURAGEMENT!
I, at that moment, knew it already was a good day for me to see this – yes. I got to see human interactions and be in them too – found a place for the day for me to keep contributing into encouragement of people, that is a command as old as time, encouragement. I thought for the free conference that I will let the Lord guide my steps – knowing really that I was there for unknown learning – and even treating myself to more than just chocolate at the vendor booths – and so I learned that I was given (gifted) some opportunities to watch people and to interact and witness and encourage and yes be in the moment. One such moment was sitting in a talk by a long time encourager to management of people in labs – and me being that nodding affirmations person in the front row agreeing with everything he said about how people are motivated or demotivated. He offered up 2 book suggestions too, which I already ordered on Ebay…
As for the “AI movement” in the world – I know very little of the science and engineering – but what I did hear once again was that motivating phrase: “It’s not that your job will be replaced with AI, it is that someone who knows how to use AI will get the jobs over those who don’t.” – OH! that is a nice catch phrase and truth for encouragement over scaring people that yes certain jobs, certain ones yes, will be done with some AI tools – si we best learn them or at least what to do with them.
‘AI’ is coming and people said the same thing about computers anf jobs – as people are still needed to run these systems – and the future just steams forward with “improvements” just like cars took over trains and bicycles – trains and trucks over took over transporting goods on canal boats – just like airplanes took business due to speed over trans-atlantic ocean liners steaming across the Atlantic between North America and Europe.
And in the AI-related presentation that I found myself in (after a talk about collaborations between universities training scientists for industry and industry coming in to train scientists, which I liked), the presentation on AI (and in the presenter’s ease of explaining), I learned that there are people trying to standardize the use of AI – just like the oil industry was tackled centuries ago by John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil – and then the AI brilliant inventor person in the audience asked: ‘well it is a question of whether we provide free cars and or free oil’ for making AI technology more available – which probably neither was true in the industrial revolution – but that is what might make one AI system achieve normal status over another – availability – interesting… I am glad I was in the audience to think of these things and see the people thinking…
And just like that – I have now a “dinner party conversation” level opinion about AI. That it is still people driven and let us pray that those who choose to instill the technology will still look out for the improvement over the investment of money and time to get rich quick. And I learned that there ARE people who are running the show and trying to direct where we go.
And as for me, I will just go with the flow – and yes, even state that although we are on the cusp of change, we can keep an eye above and not get flustered when the world go strange (stranger)…
So, with the Lord, Who knows all, see Psalm 139, we are reminded to be wary of the world but still interact in the world – live in it without loving the worldly things about it… Use His guidance over intelligence (natural or artificial) – and see where He wants you to use your gifts of the spirit…
I’m glad to be in God’s Eye, and Hands…
Amen
—
Here are some “AI” well computer based algorithms’ findings of the TRUTH of God’s Word – The computer said: “These teachings guide how to interact positively and meaningfully with others. Jesus emphasizes love, compassion, and humility in interactions with others throughout the Gospels. Key scriptures include:
“Love Your Neighbor Matthew 22:39: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This command highlights the importance of treating others with kindness and respect.
“Compassion and Service Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Jesus models servant leadership, encouraging followers to prioritize the needs of others.
“Forgiveness Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” This passage underscores the significance of forgiveness in relationships.
“Humility Luke 14:11: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus teaches the value of humility in social interactions.
“Acceptance John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you.” This verse encourages acceptance and love among all people.
One exhausted mom!!! A 3 hour tour, 3 hour tour… No not shipwrecked but I purposely drove here, beautiful weather.
A three hour college tour with my youngest gave true understanding of the dynamics and dimensions of the student life and culture of cultured care, really not coddled but pretty close to that in this college-equivalent to adventure camp. I just hope that they get to class and not just the thousand activities that are available, really crazy fun is available for these 18 to 20 somethings. WOW.
What seemed impossible a year ago in furthering education is now probable as well as profitable and palatable. I could imagine the experience, but like all things, we are not yet AT the future – and it’s not my future, it’s the next generations go-to future. College is for “helping”, in all ways towards maturity, including especially making the move to mom not making all the decisions anymore. Let us all pray for good decisions. The ability to let the next folks choose is a great opportunity for their growth and us to keep our mouths shut when we can, yet guide… We did raise kids, now “we are raising adults”, I now say.
Honestly here I don’t think there is a bad decision to be made, crazy volumes of career choices in this mix. This place is trade-school in a college setting. So this is the practical application of knowledge so needed by the trades. This level of college structure with deep folds of possibilities would be buzzing like a beehive, I imagine, with SO MANY students. I would not wonder that some students would be overwhelmed. And yet, you don’t want to prevent anyone who is energized by the possibilities to not get that opportunity to buzz in the swarm.
Whew, the three hour tour really was so complete. Mary, our tour guide was SO accommodating and encouraging. Her career path interesting and a good example to these incoming students – whether this year or next (we are planning for 2026 possibly). There were nooks and crannies completely unexplored in the 3 hour tour. Just like life – there is always more in our future – and keep exploring!!!
Faith in the Future! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Keep the faith and see the future!
(and get plenty of rest, you are going to need it)
Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.
The papers in my friend’s basement of old records (like most people I know, we accumulate piles and piles) were up to 20 years of receipts and important statements from the mail – important once but not anymore – but this little paper, color blue, stood out – it rose to the top of my eye – it was a scripture – carefully written and preserved: “But You are near, Lord, and all your commands are true.” Psalm 119:151, so true and so preserved – even if the paper is tattered and then I got rain on it – and then noticed the fading number caused me to research the whole psalm – helping me find the true statement that in Psalm 151 – the Lord makes His Commands LAST – as HIS Word LASTS!!!!
Stuff – we move that around – but paper – a blessing and a curse – Shredding is a blessing for personal information – stuff you don’t want lying around the trash will accumulate until you find a shredding option. And you have to sort it out – like the most important stuff once is the most important to destroy later. HOWEVER, the Lord’s Word never returns void to Him – so what He has moving around is for a purpose – and then He can let it go too – because He and His Word is eternal.
Right now, personally I am making MORE paper, I am copying 2 months of electronic writings from my blog page back into a Word document format for making a PDF and then printing via an office superstore. (No I don’t print them at home or work, but I take the leap of financial faith that paying 10 dollars for a month of writing, printed in duplicate, in really good quality and by a convenient way – that it works for me) So, YES, printing is important for me – especially because I believe paper will last and be passed on… My blog will last for a while but you never know… So, I am thinking that at my funeral someday, maybe it is best to display my writings over any other of my knick-knacks or junk… Yeah – my writing is my NOT SECRET writing – my writing is from my reading – my expression of my personal study – but also that I try to take too much personal out of it and talk about Holy Spirit driven-ness. And will these paper copies last? NO !! Yes I sense that my paper will last a little time – but again – I write from the Written Word – it lasts in being passed on.
I always come to this moment – wondering WHY I write. I don’t worry about it because it is God’s blessing for me to process. And based upon the people’s feedback, I am appreciative of their support – encouragement to my encouragement. But is is a natural question of pursuing God’s Will – why do I write and in what format? It interests me as a study of me – but especially as a study of God and His push. And of course we all do need a gentle push from God – or a pull – or at least that hug of love from His Word.
I am also wondering, always, what do I do with them from here? I know that I am to stay in the blog format – this is key – I write in emails so that they are instantly backed up. And have an email following as well as people who just accept my writings knowing I never ask them to read them – but to know that I HAVE to write. But now in addition, do I take these into a book? Re-write any? Who knows! The blogs are uploaded for security and convenience.
Us being grounded in the Word means to me that I remember that we are finite and He is infinite!!! My writings are for now – hoping to encourage others NOW – and maybe the next few years they will be applicable and explainable and accessible. I will let them go! But His Word? His Word is for FOREVER. And this means He will also be with us FOREVER. “But You are near, Lord, and all your commands are true.” Psalm 119:151
Precious and True. The Lord IS near and the Word LIVES. Truly Lives
Amen
Psalm 119:145-152 Qoph I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord, and I will obey your decrees. I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, Lord, according to your laws. Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law. Yet you are near, Lord, and all your commands are true. Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.
Well – 10 years – wow… How could I not send this at midnight – both because I can’t sleep yet at scout camping tonight AND for the wonderful 10 year anniversary of my awakening – wow – blessed – and a blessing to share it with you folks.
Fittingly I am up writing – yes just like the times 10 years ago where I had to write out my awakening at 2am – but these days it’s more normal at 5am… Well, tonight, up is a good thing because this weekend is camping – and Saturday morning I am HOPEFULLY sleeping at camp…
Chances are that it will be raining – and that is OK – because my whole awakening at the beginning I considered my “Christmas Flood” – and now life is my “Christ Flood Flow” – of living each day in His Living Water… wow…
SO – for this 10 years anniversary I am going to post both writings from that day – Feb 1st 2015 – see it was 6 weeks of awakening from Dec 2014 then Jan/Feb 2015, and then the day of KNOWING that I was 100% with Jesus. I could not and would not step back – no turning back no turning back…
YEAH, 100% with Jesus – this was not from someone asking or telling – but between me and the Lord – surveying my heart and soul and my mind – getting me in ALIGNMENT after a “Christmas Flood” of God interventions.
So Feb 1st – I am sharing two writings – Ripple and The Rising – from 2015…. yeah… Blessed to have the archive of my awakening at my fingertips…
Thank you for being part of my continued journey with Jesus…
Amen
——————————
Note these were entered and numbered AFTER about a year of writing once I figured out how/where to place them – in a blog.
My goal in this spiritual journey was to find peace for my conflicted brain and heart and then later on I thought that at least I would at least find my spiritual voice to lead the many church groups I am in charge of… but this ripple effect of seeing faith is the nicest present…
A great ripple of my faith journey is the hearing of the ripple effect into other people’s faith journeys – three directly told me today – a couple yesterday – people who are being more dedicated to their own prayers – people who are reading into things and praising more… even our pastor [PJ] alluded to it [my awakening] in both his sermons (didn’t hurt I was sitting smack dab in front of him in the second service 😉 haha).
Maybe even more felt this ripple effect – and I certainly got the direct eye contact of some people as I walked the halls of church today – I felt this ripple effect – and I didn’t feel it boastfully – but humbly…
So I pause now to remember and reflect that our faith journeys have to be ours – ours alone with God – yes with the help of others – but everyone has a different road… I pray my ripple effect is really to help people learn to praise – I have to praise God for this journey and everyone has to praise on their own – you have to praise all the time – good or bad you praise!
The song “Ripples” struck me yesterday – not even knowing what the title was – I was perusing a new old Grateful Dead album ) – “Ripples” still resonates with me today – because I know God needs to make the ripples (with no pebble tossed by man) and I pray that God ripples into my friends’ faiths like He did into mine.
“Ripple in still water…”
“Reach out your hand if your cup be empty. If your cup is full may it be again. Let it be known there is a fountain, That was not made by the hands of men”
————-
“Ripple”
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia.
If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung Would you hear my voice come through the music Would you hold it near as it were your own?
It’s a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they’re better left unsung I don’t know, don’t really care Let there be songs to fill the air
Ripple in still water When there is no pebble tossed Nor wind to blow
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty If your cup is full may it be again Let it be known there is a fountain That was not made by the hands of men
There is a road, no simple highway Between the dawn and the dark of night And if you go no one may follow That path is for your steps alone
Ripple in still water When there is no pebble tossed Nor wind to blow
You who choose to lead must follow But if you fall you fall alone If you should stand then who’s to guide you? If I knew the way I would take you home
——————————-
Numbered #53
The Rising, 01FEB 2015
an email chain with my pastor whom I had not told until one week before this – that I was in this amazing journey – and he said he could tell… cool…
From: debbie Date: Sun, Feb 1, Subject: RE: thanks for great sermon To: Pastor Oh… I need to mention that I got a little lost on my way from the restaurant to my women’s retreat friend’s house… which brought me to road near the 911 garden of reflection… I had never stopped… but of course felt compelled to… I went and held onto the steel girder and prayed for those lost and for peace…I thought about the 3000 people Peter converted with one sermon all those years ago, and remembered it was 3000 people lost on 911… I prayed that they were found that day.
I picked up one of those plastic coins caught on the sculpture… turned it over… it was John 3:16… on Superbowl Sunday… my first time accepting 100%
Smiles…
On Feb 1, 2015 9:27 PM, “Pastor wrote: Thanks! The Spirit used you to inspire me.
—-
From: debbie Date: 02/01
To: Pastor
Subject: thanks for great sermon
that was a great sermon and “H” said she knew you were talking about me in the first service and I KNEW you were talking about me in the second service – I liked how you said something like – “just going to go with it…” and I thought you were very strong in your message… I was just smiling all the way through… 🙂
Post email note – I added links after the email chain:
Sting, one of my favorite artists performed a tribute to Bruce Springsteen, with his song “The Rising” – here are the links to Sting’s song and the original and live versions by Bruce – it is a tribute to a firefighter rising to the sky to the world trade center fires and then rising to heaven in that tragic day… was so on my mind the day I finally committed from 99.44% to 100% in my belief of Jesus that day at the 911 garden of reflection….
My goal in this spiritual journey was to find peace for my conflicted brain and heart and then later on I thought that at least I would at least find my spiritual voice to lead the many church groups I am in charge of… but this ripple effect of seeing faith is the nicest present…
A great ripple of my faith journey is the hearing of the ripple effect into other people’s faith journeys – three directly told me today – a couple yesterday – people who are being more dedicated to their own prayers – people who are reading into things and praising more… even our pastor alluded to it in both his sermons (didn’t hurt I was sitting smack dab in front of him in the second service haha).
Maybe even more felt this ripple effect – and I certainly got the direct eye contact of some people as I walked the halls of church today – I felt this ripple effect – and I didn’t feel it boastfully – but humbly…
(AND later in church I was running (yes running in church) in my new balance sneakers after a Sunday schooler – who decided he didn’t want to be there – he bolted all the way to fellowship hall… ugh… thankfully it was God’s timing for me to catch him – to rein him in. He was previously my kindergarten Sunday school student and that knowledge of him, and people in general, is INVALUABLE – if you can read the clues you can intercept…. you have to have open eyes to the clues… just like you have to praise or else the rocks will praise.)
So I pause now to remember and reflect that our faith journeys have to be ours – ours alone with God – yes with the help of others – but everyone has a different road… I pray my ripple effect is really to help people learn to praise – I have to praise God for this journey and everyone has to praise on their own – you have to praise all the time – good or bad you praise!
The song “Ripples” struck me yesterday – not even knowing what the title was – I was perusing a new old Grateful Dead album ) – “Ripples” still resonates with me today – because I know God needs to make the ripples (with no pebble tossed by man) and I pray that God ripples into my friends’ faiths like he did into mine.
Lord, may our cups be filled…
“Reach out your hand if your cup be empty If your cup is full may it be again Let it be known there is a fountain That was not made by the hands of men”
————-
“Ripple”
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia.
If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung Would you hear my voice come through the music Would you hold it near as it were your own?
It’s a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they’re better left unsung I don’t know, don’t really care Let there be songs to fill the air
Ripple in still water When there is no pebble tossed Nor wind to blow
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty If your cup is full may it be again Let it be known there is a fountain That was not made by the hands of men
There is a road, no simple highway Between the dawn and the dark of night And if you go no one may follow That path is for your steps alone
Ripple in still water When there is no pebble tossed Nor wind to blow
You who choose to lead must follow But if you fall you fall alone If you should stand then who’s to guide you? If I knew the way I would take you home
——————————-
Numbered #53
The Rising, 01FEB 2015
An email chain with my pastor whom I had not told until one week before this – that I was in this amazing journey – and he said he could tell… cool…
From: debbie Date: Sun, Feb 1, Subject: RE: thanks for great sermon To: Pastor Oh… I need to mention that I got a little lost on my way from the restaurant to my women’s retreat friend’s house… which brought me to road near the 911 garden of reflection… I had never stopped… but of course felt compelled to… I went and held onto the steel girder and prayed for those lost and for peace… I thought about the 3000 people Peter converted with one sermon all those years ago, and remembered it was 3000 people lost on 911… I prayed that they were found that day.
I picked up one of those plastic coins caught on the sculpture… turned it over… it was John 3:16… on Superbowl Sunday… my first time accepting 100%
Smiles…
On Feb 1, 2015 9:27 PM, “Pastor wrote: Thanks! The Spirit used you to inspire me.
—-
From: debbie Date: 02/01
To: Pastor Subject: thanks for great sermon
that was a great sermon and “H” said she knew you were talking about me in the first service and I KNEW you were talking about me in the second service – I liked how you said something like – “just going to go with it…” and I thought you were very strong in your message… I was just smiling all the way through… 🙂
Post email note – I added these links after the email chain:
Sting, one of my favorite artists performed a tribute to Bruce Springsteen, with his song “The Rising” – here are the links to Sting’s song and the original and live versions by Bruce – it is a tribute to a firefighter rising to the sky to the world trade center fires and then rising to heaven in that tragic day… was so on my mind the day I finally committed from 99.44% to 100% in my belief of Jesus that day at the 911 garden of reflection….
A poem to wrap up the week where we finally had rain, the thankfulness season is upon us, the winter comes and short days, yet there are areas which get no daylight at all so we should be THANKFUL for we still have so much! And someday soon God will be our LIGHT – there will be no darkness at all…
A poem first and after that is a song I heard just this week: Someday Soon by Crosby Stills Nash and Young, last album Looking Forward…
Have a blessed day and weekend everyone!!!
See the Light
Help us Lord, hold us tight.
Not freeze our efforts from earthly pain or plight,
But help us to continue, to fight the good fight.
Help us Lord, to SEE YOUR LIGHT.
.
Darkness need not be at night.
Darkness is the lack of seeing Your Insight.
LIGHT is surely a GLOW to KNOW, YOU’RE SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE FUTURE, RIGHT.
haha).
Debbie Upper 