Nehemiah 8:10
Then He said to them,
“Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved,
for the joy of the Lord
is your strength.”
You might have wondered why the Scripture for Today Blogspot was not updating posts. Edward and I went on our 40th Anniversary trip to the Caribbean. Really, the islands are vastly different as Arizona to Pennsyvania. Austin to Hilton Head. This surprised me.
One of the key things I found in prosperity
is today
The backbone of Jesus in His Church
holding up the prosperous Island Nation.
The other surprise, when an island nation has tremendous poverty and then opportunity theft, the island nations rely on ...
CHINA.
CHINA
China runs the gift shops because the locals refuse to be underpaid by island employers. Island time tends to run very slowly and housing construction and building construction has China Running the Prosperous Building sites.
Puerto Rico
had the least Poverty. And the most overwhelming amounts of architecture from the 1500s. Cobblestone 1500s streets are blue and fixed today to remain. Beautiful. We were there on our actual Anniversary and went into the Catholic Church to find Ponce de Leon's tomb. Father of Puerto Rico and Florida. His main adversary was Christopher Columbus' son. So incredibly beautiful. The Jones Act slows down Puerto Rico and could be trade that blesses everyone. Puerto Ricans are encouraged not to travel in the huge downtown during the dark hours of night.
Then on to Antigua.
The poverty has a very strong hold on Antigua. The Church is part of life, but has watered down that to the offending acts of Clergy, offend everyone and are part of the threads of the acceptance of everything goes for the island. Prime and overwhelming, the PROFOUND love for this island. Profound. But don't work for a local, they will joke and not pay well as planned. Church hounds for donations. And marriage is definitely a thing of the past. Why divorce when everyone accepts moving on easily. Poverty is PROFOUND. The people of Antigua know how to build cinder block houses. No one takes building materials and people build the typically 6 to 4 room houses with ciner block to endure centuries. They build after work. But what happens to the children? Oh, just bounce with all relationships end and move on. It is dry like Austin, Texas and the beaches have a profound peace. China is typically the employer.
Barbadoes is the island nation most profoundly resting on the Church.
The literacy rate is 98%.
The children love their school uniforms which reflect the reward of education. By 12th grade, the seniors dress as if working at a bank. Trousers, button downs and a tie. Each uniform also identifies the School. A matter of pride. The schools are well and personally maintained like a fortification. The Nation is divided into 6 parishes and each is still a serious parish Church parish, named for a Saint who is well known.
Barbadoes has many employment opportunities and industry profoundly moves forward. The population is about 90% African slaves who have generations of Jesus and prosperity with child labor being illegal. Very much a church based community.
Barbadoes has 11 Heroes. And shines out. The downtown rivals Miami for beauty, architecture and golf. Shopping looks like Miami. And there is a very Monet remarkable beach with Mushroom rocks on the vast and largest black sand beach we had ever dreamed of. Named Bathsheba Beach. You don't always want to get in the water, the Atlantic Ocean gives some very huge waves and current. Very amazing. The local church was built with huge Scottish limestone imported during the 1600s. These warrior Scots were sent to Barbadoes for losing the battle to support Bonny Prince Charlie and they arrived as indentured, warrior slaves. And stayed to be come citizens of Barbadoes willingly.
Barbadoes has beautiful homes and green land. And the builder is usually from China.
And the cruise does not have a fully functional internet in the middle of our earth's saphhire blue incredible ocean. So, although I had planned drafts to publish, there was not any access. I will be filling in those days. This morning, today, we have been awake since 3 AM today.
Socialism.
Beautiful Cuba. My father-in-law Loved Cuba. He made us, "swear to the Lord and our father-in-law" when Cuba became free again, we would have a vacation home to help fund the recovery and encourage others to do so as well. Cuba, we sailed past for 2 entire days. No evening lights were really shining. And Cuba has 2 to 4 month mosquite illnesses, due to lack of GARBAGE collection, that are fatal or debilitating. Socialism. Free goods and equality. Socialism. So many fake promises of Animal Farm tyranny. Words that do not mean what they say and falsely preach.
Even the Tourism was Interesting.
The Cruise Ships parked next to us... not what you'd expect. Boats filled with German Cruise Ships. All the Germans stayed 2 days in Antigua to ride electric bikes in huge groups. Seriously riding.
Italian Ships being serenaded by steel drum Calypso Bands. European couples holding hands with very spiffy, cool and sleek Italian clothes. La la la la La.
Usually American tourists, but the UK really enjoys the sun of Caribbean in winter. Very diverse and interesting conversations we had with the people we traveled with. The Alaskan group was more interested in conversations, but the Caribbean cruise is not interested in afternoon tea or sitting at 4 top tables. The cruisers arrive an hour before the tea starts to snag the 2 top tables. We met Scots who were interested in Russian travel. English people who kept us in gails of laughter and were the most fun. A great family from Missouri (oops,my hair comments were meant kindly! And, oops, Rum in the sun!) And the UK Grille group who had been racing sailboats in Antiqua of world class sailboat yatchs. An older lady from Oklahoma who had been on cruises for year to hear the Cruise music talent.
No trip during the angry, today generation is entirely without the crazy ire we have all seen, but the good ones really make the vacation what we remember, love and praise. Egad the woman with the rainbow water carrier saying teach all the humans willingly. With the snear and the truth is would teach anything the teacher 'elites' would have her shame, smear or corrupt. That damn water bottle should have correctly and honestly said, "Teach all humans willingly anything of a strange or corrupt nature while sneering and shaming." Snarling, she was.
We read on the trip about High School Teachers who snuck out their students out of their classes to protest ICE. Without School permission or parental permission. The Students created a snow ice storm fight. And it ended with police. Parents will be getting attorneys and Kidnapping Charges going. Crazy times.
The 2nd weekend was the Super Bowl and the whole ship focused instead on the Masquerade Gala with music in all the larger public areas. The Super Bowl lost the interest of the entire ship. What was instead the focus, dressing to the nines, having a gracious dining experience with smiling ship crew. Going to hear the music and see the ballroom dancing.
Great to get to see the world and then to come home, to clear up all the gardening freeze storm and the gear our great next door 26 year neighbors helped with during our away. Poodles! Cared for by DG buddies of all these years. Orange cats willing to chew us out in the middle of the first night home. Home!
The joy of the Lord
is your strength.
Abba, Father!
WE PRAY
BLESSINGS
And
Gratitude
Every Day
To be
the Voice
of LOVE
Joy, Peace, Patience,
Goodness,
Faithfulness,
gentleness
and
SELF CONTROL
Let's pray
for the departure
of what
is not
good.
We pray the Blessing
of Love and Peace
Shining
The Light of Love Peace and Joy
upon
The Teachings of Jesus Christ.
God of Love
God of Encouragement
God of the Bible.
The safety
of those
helping the earth
to heal.
Let evil and practicing evil
depart
far
from us
and our children.
With Your Help
We will act justly
and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with You, our God.
Cover us
in peace worldwide.
Give us more of
Your Strength
and Hope.
Dwell in me,
Dwell in us,
Dwell in those we Love,
Help us to seek You first.
And we will finish well,
in Jesus Christ.
Help us seek and find
and bring,
to become,
more Heaven
to this earth.
For California
putting out the fires
speedy insurance
claims
and fast rebuilding
realizing the standard building codes
even of Reagan
were safe.
Peace
And in Jesus - This Hope.
Faith and Love - we will rise up Believing Jesus.
Amen
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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