Psalm 18:13 ~ The LORD thundered from Heaven; The Voice of the Most High Resounded.

 

Having been out of the country for two weeks celebrating our 40th Anniversary and being cut off from blogger and reddit on the cruise, we came home to more household tasks than taking down Christmas. And Edward had scheduled us to be in Victoria, Texas in the midst of all the householder needs. Which is fine and joyful to have rest.

All that travel and coming home well and good is a Blessing of the Lord.

And all the dogs, cats, songbirds and flowers! Blooming! Camelias, Pentas, Azaleas, and a Hibiscus. 

Lots of Dog Love. Orange cat ran to us and began to chew us out. 

But with the covers and the lights for the week long freeze during the cruise, we came home to a Barn of a house. The dogs were home doing their dog assigned tasks in life. The tender pot plants rebelled at living in central heat and drought. They kicked up dirt and leaves in protest.

We had help from our 26 year neighbors and found real appreciation in their help. Weeks of dust. Poodles do shed some, dust is kicked up everywhere. 3 weeks of laundry and unpacking all the accoutrements. 

Massive yard work, removal of incandescent Christmas lights, covers, wet covers. Rocks and bricks to be placed from keeping the covers in place. Why? Houston is subtropical. If I keep my tender plants alive, I have no real dire need of plant funds in the spring. The joy of 6 and 15 year old plants instead of funds on plants that are less than a foot tall. Immediate results for work done for a culmination of years. Our Penta are woody shrubs instead of a plant ling. The joy of not trimming giant Liriope is profound, but it does not like being less than 26' and we had 19'. So, we put up temporary green houses with SUV car covers and incandescent Christmas lights. I am blessed, blessed, blessed with Edward who gets out there and helps. 

Then the freeze affected a properly prepared  already dripping faucet, a jammed toilet improperly installed. And a water valve that needs to be replaced. Weeks of dusting.  Our first house did not have duct work returns. And it was pier and beam, so after living there for about 6 years with massive dust we realized the under the house dust was coming in. And I discovered using the yard blower to move the dust to corners, made work extremely efficient and less time taken. Having bought a bullseye smaller blower, I went back to my Makita. Barns require more labor. Moving the pet fencing out of the living room.

No groceries. And the need to have the house clean from Barn to livable. It was massively exhausting. Because if you leave town for Victoria, it needs to be clean when coming home for reasons of endurance, grit, joy and verve.  Check.  Who wants to take all the luggage to the attic and put away the now try spare blankets!!!

Then take the 3 weeks of laundry and add in pet mistakes, white vinegar for destruction of pet urine enzymes with the blankets and towels to avoid freezing. Move 100 pounds of rock and bricks. Power washing because it had to be moved and was on the list for 4 days plus. 

Dieting is not a time one feels filled, energetic. Dreary is the word. By 1 or 4 PM I feel dieting might just be the end of me. Ugh. Press on.

Add in communicating with some family who find us to be a rock to push, berate and chew out without a lot of meaningful relationship. Which used to be joy and love and adoration. And now revolves around careers. Making ends meet. And a big dark cloud hovering with internal lightning. The emotion is real. So, bully for honesty. And fortitude. With a day of sighs. 

We returned to find the neighbor couple with Alzheimer's, who found lung disease in the other, healthy spouse created dementia and had waved the white flag of immediate removal to assisted living. Sad.

I had sent them articles, and conversations on medical findings and Christmas gifts. And then a conversation with their new in-law who was now stressed to the hilt.  And I had successfully been getting out of paying their bills and later explaining that to their children. "No. I don't want to."

We need to do something as a Nation. 

It is not reasonable

To spend $12 grand a month and then double that for a married couple for years in a Dementia or Assisted Living Ward. There will be massive money spend on years of this unhappiness of being in a row with the dying. Calcutta.  This solution shouldn't happen. I had my dear cousin Maxine as my legal ward in a Dementia Ward for 12 years. This was her choice. Maxine was adamant. 23 Strokes from living alone and eating only ice cream while relatives brought her food. My mother in law was there for 5 years. Dementia and Alzheimer's isn't defined and does not mean immediate death. 

What is the solution? 

For my mother, there was a health care worker at retirement age who was pleased to live in her pleasant house for $3g per month. Mother had a roommate. The roommate was living in a better place than her entire life. Both were not thrilled due to staying home too much, but still more thrilled than sitting in a row with the dying, looking like Calcutta.  My mother improved. Was happier in the home she made. Saw her neighbors. 

Live with Mother? No, I believe the verse here is, "Do not submit again to a yoke of slavery when Christ has set you free."  Mother didn't just visit, she took over. People ran very fast and very far. My brother had a strict only on Christmas Day visit policy for over 20 years.  

Mother was happier and the Estate saved $696,000 in medical expenses. For six years. And I had much to do with her life after she was in permanent retirement of responsibilities due to medical needs. So, she had plenty of child communication. And her house hadn't looked better in 35 years. Then, when my mother faced Hospice she had paid for insurance that wasn't as needed as the many years of long term care. But she wanted, "To have dying near super calm people with morphine and oxygen."

We forgot Ash Wednesday.

Good we watch the news.  Thanks to the Fox News team wearing Ash Wednesday ashes. Past time for Church Services. We had forgotten Ash Wednesday. In fact, the Post was more Maundy Thursday written for Ash Wednesday than Ash Wednesday.  Holy Spirit. Thank You. 

However,  I felt compelled all day to read the Bible. 

I felt very saddened. And was astonished to feel some chastisement in what I read. I had hurt feelings. And cried.  Compelling. To sit down. Pray. Ask forgiveness, explain, ask for God's enduring love. And listen. To hear the Joy of God's Plan.

His Word

is

always

Life

Psalm 18:13 

The LORD thundered from Heaven; 

The Voice of the Most High 

Resounded.

Lamentations 3:21-23

 I call this to mind, 

and therefore 

I have hope

Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, 

for His mercies 

never fail. 

They are new every morning; 

Great is Your Faithfulness!

The steadfast Love of the LORD 

never 

ceases

His mercies 

never come to an end; 

they are new 

every morning

Great is Your Faithfulness.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes, The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus

† 

Mark 8:14-21 ~ they began discussing with one another

 

Mark 8:14-21

Now they had forgotten to bring bread,

 and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 

And He cautioned them, saying, 

“Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.

And Jesus, aware of this, said to them,

 

“Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”

They said to him, “Twelve.” 

“And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” 

And they said to Him, “Seven.” 

And He said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

1 Corinthians 2:14

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, 

for they are folly to him, 

and

 he is not able to understand them 

because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 13:12 

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, 

even as I have been fully known.

Acts 12: 5-16

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 

9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 

10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 

11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 

 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 

13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 

14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 

15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” 

But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 

16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.

Abba, Father,

Genesis 18:14 

 Is anything too hard for the Lord?

2 Corinthians 1 ~ New American Standard

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

Who comforts us in all our affliction

so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction

with the comfort 

with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance,

so also our comfort 

is abundant through Christ.

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.

And the 2026 birth

of our

first Grandchild.

Jesus Christ, please,

Your blessings of

Health, Peace,

Wisdom

and Prosperity

for His Glory!

And Thank You Edward

his eye heals

and me

to

sleep well

and feel strong all day long.

Thank You, Father, 

for Jesus Christ the Messiah. 

Lord of All.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes, The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus

† 

Revelation 7:9-12 ~ Salvation belongs to our GOD!

 

Revelation 7:9-12

After this I looked, and behold, 

a great multitude that no one could number, 

from every nation, 

from all tribes and peoples and languages, 

standing before the Throne 

and 

before the Lamb

Clothed in white robes, 

with palm branches in their hands, 

and 

crying out with a loud voice, 

“Salvation belongs to our God 

Who sits on the Throne, 

and to the Lamb!” 

And all the angels 

were standing around the Throne 

and 

around the elders 

and 

the four living creatures

And they fell on their faces before the throne 

and 

worshiped God, saying, 

“Amen! Blessing

 and glory 

and wisdom 

and thanksgiving 

and 

honor and power

 and 

might be to our God 

forever and ever! 

Amen.”

Daniel 7:14

 

And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. 

His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, 

and 

His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. 

 Isaiah 60:3-5 

Nations will come to your light, 

and 

kings to the brightness of your dawn.  

Lift up your eyes and look around: 

They all gather and come to you; 

your sons will come from afar, 

and your daughters will be carried on the arm. 

 Then you will look and be radiant, 

and 

your heart will tremble and swell with joy, 

because the riches of the sea will be brought to you, 

and 

The wealth of the nations will come to you.

The earth is the Lord's

and

the fulfillment thereof

His Good Creation

Luke 15:7-10 

 Just so, I tell you, 

there will be more joy in Heaven 

Over one sinner who repents 

than over ninety-nine righteous persons 

who need no repentance!

A great multitude that no one could number, 

from every nation, 

from all tribes and peoples and languages, 

standing before the Throne 

and 

before the Lamb

Abba, Father,

Jesus Himself tells us

He is the way, the truth and the Life.

No matter

our season

or

the world's season

or culture

language

need

or ability

 

For everything there is a season

and a time

for every matter under 

Heaven.

Know the Scriptures,

Know the Power of God.

And we will believe in the One He has Sent.

Should You so chose 

to

write us a Letter,

we would 

Receive Your Word 

with

Joy!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Who has blessed us in Christ 

with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places, 

even as He chose us in Him 

before the foundation of the world, 

that 

we should be 

holy 

and 

blameless 

before Him. 

In Love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself 

as sons through Jesus Christ, 

according to the purpose of His Will, 

to the praise 

of His Glorious Grace, 

with which 

He has blessed us in the Beloved. 

In Him we have 

redemption 

through His Blood, 

the forgiveness of our trespasses, 

according 

to the Riches of His Grace, 

which 

He lavished upon us, 

in all wisdom and insight 

making known to us 

The Mystery of His Will, 

according to His purpose, 

which He set forth in Christ 

as a plan for the fullness of time, 

to 

unite 

all 

things 

in Christ. 

Things in Heaven 

and 

things on earth 

in 

Him.

In Him we have obtained an inheritance, 

having been predestined 

according to the purpose of Him 

Who works all things according to the Counsel of His Will, 

so that we 

who were the first to hope in Christ 

might be 

to the praise 

of His Glory. 

In Him you also, 

when you heard the Word of Truth, 

The Gospel 

of your salvation, 

and 

believed in Him, 

were sealed with the promised 

Holy Spirit

Who is the guarantee of our inheritance 

until we acquire possession of it, 

to the praise

 of 

His 

Glory.

For the Gift of Love

Jesus,

In the Highest Name 

of Jesus Christ,

Amen

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You Jesus The Lord

†