Colossians 1:19-20 ~ to reconcile to Himself all things

In October of 1997, my neighbor heard in a huge thunderstorm, tiny kittens crying for their lives. And she went out into the storm where the 11-month-old feral cat had put her 4 male, two-week old kittens, to nest at the bottom of a roof drainage pipe. And because our neighbor went out into the cold October rain, we found we had 4 male kittens on our hands. She Scooped them up from certain death. Scoop came to live with us for 19 years. (Moses, as a name, we agreed, was a bit intense!!!)

Turns out as he progressed, he was a mixed Chartreux cat. And Scoop progressed to live in the middle of a group of cats who adored our first Springer Spaniel, 9-year-old Spenser. Spenser was always very puzzled our gregarious and extremely people-friendly and cat-friendly Scoop loathed dogs. Just hated them. 

Merit arrived after Spenser and lived to be 14.2 years old. Merit was always kind to Scoop and cry out for us if Scoop was in need. Scoop didn't really return the favor for any dog. Kindly didn't count with dogs.

Scoop could swat down our Husky grand-dog, Jackson, in old age. Then our 3rd Springer Beaux  arrived after Merit went to Heaven. - Beaux Springer, age one year, refused to quit kissing 16-year-old Scoop. Scoop found to Scoop's amazement, he purred for being kissed all the time and started to adore the 3rd dog. Loved... a ... dog... with all his cat heart.

Old cats learn new abilities. Cats live to be 15 and Scoop was 16 and found love expanded his life. The Dog really loved Scoop and Scoop loved the Dog.

1998, Scoop knew something dangerous lurked outside the first year of his life; he began as feral and refused to go outside. Scoop always was smart. There was a swamp thing, a bobcat from the nearby swamps and cats were suddenly gone. We went from a litter of kittens to two cats. Wisdom prospers. I had no idea until it was too late. Scoop knew.

Scoop always welcomed a new cat. He found he could create a cave in my oldest son's mattress springs and live in the seclusion to nap. Usually, he was found in the midst of 6 boys playing and did quite well. You had to move out of Scoop's way. He was ... sturdy. And not above taking a bite of anyone who bothered him. He gave up being a biter as he aged and mellowed, but still did not move out of the way of 80 lb Husky Jackson.

Bible Study, yes, please and sit on the carpet and observe leisurely.

Scoop greeted me for my 38th birthday by deciding my Joyeux de Vivre was too lively and he decided, for the last time, to try to remove my hand as he was resoundingly spanked.

Absentmindedly I always said Scoop was 19. And last month he was. He spent the last month recovering from an upper respiratory infection. Then several illnesses were recovered from. Constipation, diarrhea, dehydration. And no appetite. We got his energy up by going for a walk room to room. Scoop Cat liked that. And before Thanksgiving - he appeared to have new health - in a very skinny way. Yesterday he ate well - a can of cat food with canned pumpkin and some Thanksgiving beef in small bites - devoured that.

This morning he looked oddly dehydrated and I went off to the grocery for Pedialyte. Antibiotics. By about evening, Scoop had begun the transitioning of the next life. And I carried him out to the pond. He lost the comatose. Purred many sets today and purred to see and behold the pond. He was avidly interested in the ducks and the egret.

 I told him this is where he lives and is loved and treasured. Always loved. We stayed a good few minutes. Then he put his head back on my chest and showed he had seen his fill. All day, we sat on the sofa and I sang and he listened and off and on purred. His little mind worked the whole time. We prayed. For eternal health. And we thanked God that today God was going to answer the prayer. One way or another. At twilight end, I posted on Facebook a photo of all the furry leggers in our house in one photo. And went back to see Scoop had fallen asleep. Like his fathers.

Edward was sitting in with Scoop and said he was doing well. Scoop was doing well - in Heaven. One little breath and he stretched his legs. And Edward checked all was well. Which it was. And then that changed to Paradise for Scoop.

We petted Scoop. His fur lost the old age look. He looked beautiful and younger. I wondered if he was still alive and we prayed. Scoop slept on with the Lord.





How will we know we will see the little cat again? We believe the Bible is the Word of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:21
Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?


Famously Elisha saw horses come for Elijah. Zechariah tells us he has seen horses in Heaven Chapter One. Isaiah saw horses. Ezekiel saw horses. Habakkuk saw horses. John saw horses in Revelation.

At least six prophets have seen animals in Heaven.

I don't see this makes the Lion and the Lamb an analogy. Rather a Heavenly reality.

Revelation 5:13
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!

Ephesians 4:6
6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
7 Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ

Art by T Hurst, who lost his cat and the cat wandered home again.

Happy Heaven, Scoop. Visiting Daddy and Grandmothers, Isabelle and Matthew. Happy Trails until we meet again. Spencer, TC, Merit. Many, many more.

Colossians 1:19-20
19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him
to reconcile to Himself all things,
whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.


Thank You, Jesus. Amen. And for the many years, this precious Scoop was a warm and loving, interesting joy in our lives. The people who have loved Scoop give You Thanks. You Blessed us, Father, with Love and affection. Many, many good years and a peaceful ending of Sleep. Thank You, Thank You for answering our prayers. You sent Love to live with us. Amen Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 90 ~ steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days

Psalm 90

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!


Our Posts are picked by selection before the Scripture is known. Caesar used to say, "Let the Dice Fly." Acts 1 casts lots to determine Matthias is the new disciple. Forest Gumps mother used to say, "Life is a Box of Chocolates and you never know what you will get."


A Psalm of ... Moses.

Imagine Moses would pray for "Happiness." Rejoicing and being glad all our days would be from - - - Moses. Which is extremely heartening considering Moses knew our Father God right well.

In fact, God said you would see this in people who believe - they would want and cultivate - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

And another man said Joy is this life. Jesus Christ.






Roll over El Greco. Jesus went on to say be Salt and be Light.


So. Forget the times all the people have said to you, "I want child/parent/spouse/boss to be saved. God alone knows what HORRIBLE THING HE will HAVE to do to them to be saved. Sigh."

In fact, usually to deeply believe is euphoria.





And then ... da daaaahm... life says in various forms "Are you kidding me? Believe?"


If we decide to say life is a river voyage - what we are saying is it isn't the rocks or the white water - ....sometimes it's the doldrums. Or an opinion of someone dear to you. In fact, I could tell you the story of a Youth Minister who had a very respected and dear friend and this dear friend would sit for hours and dispense advice. And one day the dear and respected friend assured the Youth Minister all his background was bad and he needed to swing. His friend hurt him, this was really an experiment of two new friends, trying to find out their ability to influence.

When the world turns upside down, we have to look upward and not always inward!!!

C.S. Lewis might have called the Friend - Dear Friend Wormwood.

Will faith hurt us then? No. Remaining with all our options open because we are faithful to God is the place to be. A friend who leads down a shaky path - is usually not there for the duration. The Youth Minister's friends got tired of him first. And this was actually after the Youth Minister tried to pacify them. It was a game of influence. And I am happy to say - that influence - FAILED.

The Bible calls this "resist the devil and he will flee". Politely, with conversations and rebuff. Funny, that was not an overnight thing - and yet - the flee did happen. Be grateful for the - 'flees'.

Is God going to provide a lifetime of Joy for not doing the advice - YOU BET.

There is a celebratory song - Kelly Clarkson - "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" !

What to do when you have 18 things break at Christmas time. I.E. even the phone in your hand and your electrical transformer blew up as you looked out the window. Creating a fix that took out your sprinklers.
Or having young children and suddenly a job reverses. Treasure becomes a Treasure hunt! The best thing to do is actually tell family and see if consideration will happen for help. This is how Christmas is repaired. Christ's Mass. And with Giving Trees from Churches.

For the many who do not have a reliable fairy Godmother - this is why Christmas is tucked away a little at a time over the year. But in the doldrums of - Bam - seek assistance. Tell your minister. Tell the local Christian Radio. Today's need - is - tomorrow's solution. I have to give thanks for things like Laura Ingalls Wilder "Little House" books being honest and writing of one Christmas they were just grateful  Pa had survived the Blizzard. 

We all have a Blizzard or two in life.

Creating the Christmas we did help others. Or Christmases where we will help others. When i was doing volunteer work - we marveled at the Client - who made sure every Christmas - regardless of her circumstance - she was going to help someone else. She was known to have disaster after disaster, so many, and being strong enough to feed others. Her Giving Spirit enabled her to overcome so many things. With a glad heart.

This woman, was really pretty poor. Her children were proud of her willingness to share what she had to help others and she recruited her children. Later as they got older, they realized she had taught them to be enabled, empowered and strengthened to give.

The people who had helped her for years said she had empowered the next generation. She had taught them the ability to give.

My great-grandparents actually did the same thing. In their wealth - they made sure their children had Christmas money to buy presents considered to be good gifts. Teaching them the joy of giving. My grandmother Bit did the same thing.  I learned the gift of giving is taught and when we were able, in later years, to bless our children to learn to give - this was a blessing for them.

Sometimes we have ill health and Christmas seems not joyful at all and this is a surprise. Life is not always going to call us to reach for what we can't give. However sometimes, in giving with a little energy and a little task and a little give - each day - a lot gets accomplished and in the giving - look - life and health seep in.

And as that giving leads to good health - we realize - in the strength of Christ - I can do all things with Christ - we have overcome - Again. Creating a pattern of overcoming. With Jesus' help giving is actually going to have health benefits!


Romans 5:3
And not only so, but also we glory in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance.

Ephesians 6:18 says perseverance will make us more alert. More Life.

What is worse than divorce? When Love decides to leave by choice. Leaving victims. Stunned survivors without the comfort of the framework many years gave. Tradition - reliable and sure - it's like going camping and in the middle of the night finding there suddenly is no tent. And will there be new traditions? Will we go forth to better years? What will age bring? Will the heart find the happiness Moses says we can be sure to ask for? The Happiness Jesus says Life has given Him, even if He had to die for me and for you. We can expect God's Help.

Don't give up on Happiness. Moses says this is a justifiable prayer. Jesus says this is an Answerable Prayer.

The Woman in Luke 8:43–48. ... And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She was considered impure. Not touchable. Outside the camp. Do not touch to avoid becoming impure. She reached for Jesus for - Healing - for Happiness. And in seeing that others could reach to Jesus and be healed. So could she. To the appreciation of JESUS. This is surely, really and truly the story of healing and miracles - placed before God asking Him to change His plans.

Going forth.

Romans 5:4-10

4 and endurance
produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Children worry for the lost parent. Comfort them all.

When the Lord lost Eden. He grieved. The Lord's Creation of beauty caused our Father to experience anger and hurt.

Genesis 3
24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

When we are weakened...

Romans 8:23
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Groaning is allowed as hope is expected. Sincerity - truth. These nourish us in God. The Prodigal Son is actually a truth of time taken in all the stages of the Prodigal Son. Forgiveness is given and taken and given and discussed and lived.

Zephaniah 1

though they plant vineyards,
they shall not drink wine from them.”

14 The great day of the Lord is near,
near and hastening fast;
the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter;
the mighty man cries aloud there.
15 A day of wrath is that day,
a day of distress and anguish,
a day of ruin and devastation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16a day of trumpet blast and battle cry


The devastation of death. When the heart will not make merry. Loss of beloved parent. Child. Spouse. Friend. What could honor love more than we grieve? To grieve love is honorable. Profound. Necessary. Healthy. And as we know our loved one is with Jesus - we can allow life to arrange our patterns and new emotions into a new joy in life. Remembering. Like a beautiful oriental rug repeating as we see echoes in family. As we see God uses our memories and our hopes of the reunion in His Kingdom as Joy.

Zechariah 14
Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 6 On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost.b 7And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.

1 Thessalonians 4:13
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

God provides life to wake us from grief.

Samuel grieved the death of Judges, grieved God would have to suffer from His children wanting a king.  Samuel grieved Saul and David's anointing. Samuel was given a house to care for. God intrudes on grief to give life work. God brings chores and tasks to make us enjoy His blessings.

Jeremiah was given a home in the middle of Judah being stripped as a Nation. Jeremiah witnessed life being crushed out.  It was God's way of saying Jeremiah had a Hope and a Future. God makes chores to root us again to life. To make diligence and make life rise up to be able to cope and give to other people.

God and faith will allow Hope to return. Love. Faith.



Our Abba,
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
according to the riches of  Your glory
We may be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in our inner being, 
That Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.

When we, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to 
know
the love of Christ surpasses knowledge, 
we may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Glory to Jesus, to Our God, Our Father,  who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.

To Christ Jesus the Savior, and His Father with the Holy Spirit be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 25:1-13 ~ lamps

Matthew 25:1-13

 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’

10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’

12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Fatherhood - parenthood - eventually we reach a point where the parent's voice is not the one we are looking for. And more unique methods of communication have to arrive.

So far, very far lengths, Father God has tried various options - 10 lepers. And one returned.

Father God has tried making the blind see - and a few, we found, lasted long enough to learn their name.

God might even be willing be willing to sing "Like a Good Neighbor - State Farm - is There!"


Father God is doing what is needed to create a stir, create interest. He is telling about  wedding invitations for honored guests. Why? Because this is about ascension. People want to ascend. They hope for themselves, for their siblings, for friends, for the opportunities to increase that they might ascend.

God is hoping He got your attention now.

His Plan we ascend.

This is a good parent - willing to change topics to reveal... Something about the Prodigal's Father plans for your life - He is hoping the road map is followed. Come Home!!! See Your Father !!! Don't get lost !!! I am has the greatest opportunity for you !!!

God is so good and so vast and so appealing and so intricately entwined in our lives - there is no way on earth - only Heaven - we will all read the parable and see the same thing. There is not really a right answer beyond - only - Jesus. And Living Water is going to flow to nourish the right need.


Fortunately with this being "Living Word" ~ we are never, ever going to run out of explanations.


This to me, this evening, after Thanksgiving, appears to me to speak of letting the Light within our soul - Shine. Continue to Radiate - Light - Light of the World. Jesus. The Christ of God.






The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

Father God has started so well. He created and His Creation is seen by God, "And God saw that this was Good." God was holding conversations with us. Genesis.




What will you do to fill your eternal with Jesus - Light of God. God is good - He tells us. Believe in the One He sent. Believe He is God. God alone is God. In one area of our lives or another - there are difficulties. Made by ourselves. And sometimes promptly covered up allowing peace and prosperity. However, God is telling about a lot of sincerity here. Every day things - blocking good fruit - making the tree not produce much good fruit. Ability to skate by. False assumptions. Pride. Self absorption. Failing to pray for another. Failing to want the good for another person.

And lack of sharing. Those bridesmaids are not the bride.


And actually - The Lord who did not open the door - saw the prosperous bridesmaids remained and the silly gooses run off.  Somedays this sounds just, other days this does not sound like "Love Your Neighbor as Yourself"


This whole story of ascension is fraught. Fraught with difficulties of winners and preparedness, heart and silliness. Jockey for position found in Luke's 3rd Chapter.


And we un-build. Saying to the unwise - row you own boat. Not realizing we are revealed.

Again, God says to us as He closes, "We do not know."

Jesus said the same thing. 




Love one another sounds easiest, most reliable, more of the Heart and Soul of Jesus.






Our Abba,

Your Love and Grace are immeasurable. Pouring into us each day we call to You in Love. We need Jesus. Nothing we could ever do would replace what Jesus has accomplished for me, for you.

Please pray with us Jesus, that our prayers are not just requests and instead are the Light and warmth and Love of Father God upon our cares.

Let our Light so Shine as to be a good place for You. With sincere, genuine Love.

Reveal our hearts to You and teach us each day to be with You, Father God.

Remind us Your Invitation is the one we want. Help us to have the wisdom to continue to have You light our soul's lamp.

Let us have honest conversations. Let us have Your heart and Your goodness to reveal You as the Father.

Let us not get stuck in one place, help us to each day see what we need to do and to do that. Because in Your strength, we will not fade as unlit lamps, instead we will continue to be reflecting the Light of Christ shining forth through the millenniums - inspiring healing, Love, Joy, Peace, Overcoming, Encouragement and being Open to the Lord's Goodness.

We pray this for the ones we Love. The people You give us. For our pressing concerns that seem so important today. For the diligence to pray without forgetting answers usually happen. And to Give Thanks. To inspire others to remember God is Love. Bringing more Heaven to our Churches, Jobs, Neighborhoods, and to our Nation. Being part of the Body of Christ from millenniums all the way to today. 

We are remembering John and his health concern with breathing.  Scoop the 19 year old kitty, Edward, the man and his daughter trying to fix their situation with the drone and the tree, Anne's Pneumonia and needs. And traveling in safety.

Replenish us in Your Love. Being wrapped in Your Peace to say, Jesus is Lord. And God is in Charge. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Peace to all of us who are in Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †