2 Timothy 3 ~ Training

2 Timothy 3

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

 Avoid such people. 

6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 

8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

13 While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Raise your hand if....we will ALL have last days on earth.  

Exactly.

This is one of those "last days Posts" willing to scoot back and forth like a needle in needlepoint, to make the point and thread the piece.

Lately, we have had a child teenager Opossum coming to the bird feeder about 9 to 10 p.m., and the Opossom child loves the seeds the birds toss from the bird feeder. I keep thinking if our Opossom becomes a regular, I will put out a peanut butter sandwich, as I did for the great-great grandmother of this Opossom when she was expecting and then brought around her baby for about a summer to winter season. Then we had the Opossum child.

This Opossom is different from the others and has a very dark grey coat. 

My grandfather was born in his home, Oak Square, and delivered by his father, who had gone to medical school at Tulane.  His father promptly fell in love with a new product called Coca-Cola and found it contained cocaine. It was the drug of happiness! And my great grandfather began to load the county with the new drug of happiness, it had no consequences and was only happiness. For a time. And then there was a secondary set of research. When my great-grandfather found the drug of happiness was left out of Cocaine Cola, then he had to talk everyone back to regular earth. Unfortunately, he was addicted. To overcome his addiction, he headed off with the Rough Riders of Teddy Roosevelt to be the Army Physician. The Doctor for the men who had lead bullets shoot off their arms and legs in the Spanish American War. His letters said he had no time to be addicted anymore in the horror.

Dr. Anderson met a General, from Colombia, who had volunteered on the American side and he had saved the life of his son.  And after the war was over, the General invited him to partner with him in a mahogany tree farm. A good sized one. This caused my great-grandmother to be in a very high management snit. Leaving her at home while he went out to explore the land, to have the carriage give way and the horse with Great-Grandfather, they all fell to their death.

Before this happened, there were beautiful photos of my grandfather with the cast iron horse ornaments. Grandfather held the reins, pretending to be his doctor father, going out at all hours to help the people of their county with medical needs.

The next chapter of Grandfather's life was to be led to Sewanee Military Academy before he turned 7 years old, as his widowed mother felt he needed to be around men. They would never be family again. My grandfather spent 3 days a week with the 50 men going to hunt, shoot, fish or fly an airplane. He never invited my own father because he was having his weekends. 

Grandfather also attended the University of the South, the grown-up part of Sewanee Military Academy for the youths. And there he became known as Poss. Short for opossum. His roommates were my great-uncle Bob and my step-grandfather Tate. My grandmother's 2nd husband, about 15 years after widowhood. These were the days of, "Lantern on the Levee." No one ever would say how Poss got the nickname. But he was part of the Volunteer Fire Department of Sewanee.  Everyone got a huge hoot out of it. My father said no one would ever tell him how it began, ever. And about then Daddy would go smoke a cigar and quit speaking.  Looking upset and morose. 

Tonight we went out to Celebrate and on the way home, a big white Opossom ran pell-mell into oncoming traffic. Flying to land in the center of the 2-lane road and wave its feet. In our childhood, you did not stop for this. Only blood and ugliness would occur. When I lived in Pennsylvania, you did not stop. It far and away exceeded 2 counties travel to the veterinarian. And there were no evening hours. No Saturday afternoon or Sunday hours. And besides, we were told in high school, lots of rednecks deliberately aim for what they call vermin or points.

And that has caused us pain, to think of preventable death. As just cruelty. 

Tonight, the Opossom needed help. Edward said no. And the car battery was dead. Words were spoken loudly. Finally, I agreed to take the other car and not stop to find the car had been hit at night. As I went back the 2 blocks, I found the Opossum had died in as much blood as the Opossum possessed. And the poor little white Opossum had made it to the shoulder of the road, with a look at the center, where life had changed forever. The death pose was familiar, looking like someone had swerved to the shoulder and crushed the Opossum. 

The silver lining is, the Opossom died, very swifty, from making the choice to bolt across the road for no apparent reason. And then to try to live, and yet, to look back as life ebbed, so very quickly, away.

No one had tried to harm the misunderstood Opossum. In fact, someone returned with a box and blankets, antibiotics, and a Hope of Life. Not run over by someone with harm. 

Social media does not matter all that much.

But we are now equipped and ready to help wildlife when needed. It's like Monty Python says, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." And whistle like "The Sound of Music." For training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Abba, Father,

Who redeems your life 

from the pit

and 

crowns you 

with love and compassion

Father,

we ask for the Holy Spirit

to dwell first in our lives,

and 

ask Your mercy and grace

upon us who ask

for Your Love and Favor

in Jesus Christ's

Holy Spirit.

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. 

With Your Help, 

evidence unseen, 

we believe Jesus walks on water.

Praying for the healing

of the entire Kirk Family,

both of Charlie's parents,

his wife Erika

and their 2 small children.

Charlie's sister,

his extended family.

And HIS Extended family

in

The God of All Salvation.

Healing, Lord Jesus.

God Bless you

and The Lord

Keep you.

HEAL OUR NATION

For Children in their Schools, all safety.

For those who protect and defend the USA,

protect us from evil.

Let evil and practicing evil

depart far from us

and our children.

And our families,

Thank You, Father,

for Your Good Will.

And hearing our prayers.

Those who protect

and defend

All The Word of God.

Freedom in our Churches.

Wholeness

Holy.

Goodness.

And the Nations of the world,

Your Good Creation,

Calling upon You.

Lord Jesus Christ,

Worldwide Peace

Prosperity and

Peace.

Oh Lord Jesus,

Our Father,

Holy Spirit

Amen and Amen and Amen

Thank YOU

We pray that as a Nation,

as a Community,

as a Church,

as a Neighborhood,

we share what You would have us share.

ADOPTION FOREVER
AND NOT FOR A CHRISTMAS SEASON.

A CHOICE TO LOVE.

A SENIOR FOR A SENIOR
WITH THEIR PERMISSION.

And in this communal sharing,

Your Good Creation would see

better weather.

Rain shared instead of flood.

Removing drought.

Texas is very dry recently.

More for us all, praying for rain! Father!

Warmth shared

instead of unusual cold

storms.

Thank You, Father.

Prayer does work,

Thank You, Lord

 for hearing us.

Bless this

Good Creation,

Father,

let the storms of

destruction

and drought

pass us all by.

And prayers

for my back

are greatly appreciated

Thank You.

Thank You, Father,

for Your Help, Helper,

Comfort, Comforter.

Lord Jesus Christ!

We ask in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Our Father!

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord

is the Spirit,

and

where the Spirit of the Lord is,

there is Freedom.

And in Jesus - this Hope, 

Faith and Love - we will rise up believing Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes, The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus

†

Romans 14:7-12 ~ Live to the LORD

 

Romans 14:7-12

7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we Live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 

9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the Living.

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I Live, 

says the Lord, 

every knee shall bow to me,

    and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself 

to God.

Jacob, God renamed Israel, thought of Romans 14.  And as we all have.  For a very long time. In fact, this is Genesis 32, a very large number of years ago.

Jacob called this part of our thoughts Peniel. 

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

And because we are discussing the truth of life and death, Scripture has many verses comforting us.

1 John 4:8 

Anyone who does not love does not know God, 

because God is Love.

We will meet our Father. Comforter. Helper. Love. 

We could also call this Emmanuel. God with us. God also says, call this Glory.

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 

and 

we have seen His Glory, 

Glory as of the only Son from the Father, 

full of grace and truth.

Glory.

Joshua 6:20 

So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

The Disciple John records the Scriptures repeating to find oneself in the Glory of God's Kingdom.

To know God's Promises does give us freedom to Love. Live. Look,always, to the Promises of God. He brings us more of His Good Will on earth as it is in Heaven. 

The earth is the Lord's and the fulfillment thereof!

This is Jesus Christ overcoming the world. To know each day, we Live to the Lord.  And He is always with us. Emmanuel.  Regardless of age, our Journey, our Adventure is with God, in Him, to live and move and have our being.  Like Moses, Abraham and Sarah, the path and Plan is with God today. 

Revelation 1

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

Exodus 33:10-11 

And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 

Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, 

as a man speaks to his friend. 

Revelation 1:7 

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, 

even those who pierced Him, 

and 

all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. 

Even so. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

For the Lord Himself 

Will descend from Heaven with a cry of command, 

with the voice of an archangel, 

and with the sound of the trumpet of God. 

And the dead in Christ will rise first.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes 

Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You, Father

Psalm 139 ~ Wonderful !!!!

You may not know, but I have been most concerned with the birth rate of the United States of America.

 The night my Grandmother Anita passed on to Heaven Triumphant, there was the most amazing,Dallas Morning News Headline about the Electrical Storm  never seen before.  My Grandmother Anita's generation, she had 12 siblings, and all but one graduated from college by teaming up in pairs to afford the degree. They seemed to roll forth effortlessly.

And I wondered about the Millenium Children. So loved and cherished. And dogs for grandchildren.  At our house, we had Camp Gardere for our two grand dogs. They do give kisses and nuzzle. 

Gardere Puppy Camp

Complete with

a 2nd Jacuzzi 

made from a Sprinkler Valve

Complete with

SNACKS!

My great-cousin's Wedding gift to us,

of my Great Great Grandparents

Sterling Creamer and Sugar

1860's

Makes an aluminum foil-like cookie

but not as digestible...

much

much much

more memorable.

Lot's of warm snuggles

and kisses!!!!

And they do clean up nicely at the

Car Wash.

Huskies do tend to run away.

They always apologize later. And Snuggle.

And still the Birth Rate was worrisome.

It's been

a Wonder.

8:40, you should hear this!

And

a journey.

And then about 

minute 8:40 ....

The Phone Rings

Psalm 139

Psalm 139

For You 

formed my inward parts

You knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise You, 

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Wonderful are Your Works

My soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from You, 

when I was being made in secret, intricately woven 

in the depths of the earth. 

Your Eyes saw my unformed substance; 

in Your Book were written, 

every one of them, 

the days that were formed for me, 

when as yet 

there was none of them!!!!!!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes 

Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You, Father

Nehemiah 1:4-11, Nehemiah 2:1-8 ~ the Good Hand of my God

;

Nehemiah 1:4-11, Nehemiah 2:1-8

4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of Heaven, the Great and Awesome God Who keeps Covenant and steadfast Love with those who love him and keep His Commandments, 6 let Your Ear be attentive and Your Eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before You Day and Night for the people of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against You. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the Commandments, the Statutes, and the Rules that You Commanded Your servant Moses. 

8 Remember the Word that You commanded Your Servant Moses, saying, 

‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my Commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of Heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the Place that I have chosen, to make My Name dwell there.’ 10 They are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong Hand. 11 O Lord, let Your Ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear Your Name, and give success to Your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 2

2 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” 

Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 

4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” 

So I prayed to the God of Heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” 

6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 

7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” 

And the king granted me what I asked, for the Good Hand of my God was upon me.

Abba, Father,

You are the Light of the World. 
Reach into the darkness and have Love Shine with Light. 
We ask You to take what is broken and mend this.

In Your Holy Spirit 

we ask forgiveness for sins,

and Your help for forgiveness

and guidance
create and renew Real Joy and Giving Thanks

within us.

Help us to be the one who

gives thanks with meaningful purpose.

Victory is Certain in Christ Jesus The Lord.

And to gain strength

with hope and health!

Dwell in us, Father,

we ask in the Highest Name of Jesus.

Dwell, fully, in those we love

Help us to seek You 

first

and we will finish well 

in Jesus Christ.

We pray 

Peace

for Israel

and 

ALL

Your Good Creation.

Continued Healing

and 

all Good Health!

Thank You.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes 

Bless the Lord Jesus