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The awareness of “an age of rage…where there are those who “knowingly created conditions for extremist views and, yes, extremist actions” (J. Turley) is being thrown onto my path on a daily basis. So who are “those” who do this? I don’t think I know any extremists. Most I know are “middle of the roads” like me. I don’t hate anyone. I wish no harm upon others. I try to live by the Golden Rule, and that as for me and mine, we serve the Lord hoping that they will know we are Christians by our love. And then I saw a clip, a reel, a tiktok sort of thing yesterday that showed me a demon speaking through a rather ordinary, average, nice gal in her early twenties. It was furious that the assassin failed. FURIOUS!! How it latched on to her is unknown to me but latch on it surely did. To be latched upon results in dabbling with the dark side warned about in the bible. Upon? Yes. For a daily practicing of the bible, immersed in the ways of the Lamb, baptized in the fire of the Holy Spirit, forgiven and forgiving child of God? Yes, only upon. And upon is still pretty ugly. But in? Available to everyone else. What? Why? How? The Holy Spirit will not dwell with the foul making it a pretty big deal “on whom you serve.” Can we have our opinions? Yes! That freedom is still available in the USA. But opinions salted with hate, or malice, or offense? Nope, not even irritation for evil lurks for any opening. Can they have theirs? Yes! What if we don’t like it? Choices are available… stay neutral and agree to disagree, or walk away but leave them with a blessing, or enhance our own selves by looking within as to why their opinion tripped an opening for evil to gain access to us. Any of these choices are chances to address our reactions as convictions by the Holy Spirit to bring us up to His level. Go for it!

today is a good day for a foil hat I think. gift giving… how do you decide what to give another? do you give what you like assuming they will like it as well? do you pick up ideas in your conversations with them as to what they enjoy? do you just fulfill the bare minimum and call it a gift? do you go overboard? or is a card the magic pill? does this impact our ability as well as a reflection on how and what we expect from God? Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

I have not been painting for 3 months. It feels weird but I am led to not to. I have also not been writing much either but I am led not to which seems a little ironic as well as prophetic. What I am led to do is to reevaluate the path I live on and to observe what transpires each day. We are living between an RV and my daughters cabin as we build a new home, which has been affected by the rains - another of God’s doing I presume. My only task in this is to pick and choose and to turn the choice over to another. Other than that it is not a factor in what is obviously a lesson. What I have learned so far is this; that it only takes 10 minutes to clean an RV, 30 to clean the cabin where it took and hour and a half to clean my house. That it feels better to sleep closer to my husband in this queen size bed as opposed to the king we had in the house. That after 35 years I know I made a good choice, am grateful to have him home after his years of bridge rehabbing, and this adventure is just his cup of tea. That one bathroom does not kill the mystique 😂 And that my love of painting had changed at some point to a need to fill a spot in my heart that was hurting, thus shutting God out of it. He knew. He understood. I was not ready then but in this “void” I now am in, I am soon to be ready to move on up the path at just the right time. What I have been doing is earthy things such as yesterday we were out at the property mucking about the soggy grounds digging ferns and trillium for our friend before the bulldozers go out to level the ground for the build. Note: not to worry as we only trekked through an acre of the 40 and one fern regenerates into a hundred. We also fit in to our “busy” schedule the riding of our bikes. The other day we brought along puppy Sammy, who unfortunately got motion sickness so we will try breaking him in to it on shorter trips. He says he still wants to go as he howls when we leave him behind as enjoys playing with his padded basket. Charly on the other hand enjoys his bed. His size alone gives the impression of living with a calf but his attitude is pretty chill, most of the time. But first, we start the day with bible time followed with prayer, including the Prayer of Jabez for blessing us and ours. Overr the past months we have noticed a change in the types of daily blessings from the big stuff to subtle soul enhancing experiences. So the lesson appears to be to get in the habit of living 2 Corinthians 6:2, For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” I am content, I think. I am not entirely sure as I have this nagging feeling of something is coming. God assures me that imaginations can be used for good as easily as dread and which I choose is up to me. 🧐 Life as a Christian is definitely not boring. 👍

Ella, the dancehall girl… I saw her sitting on the lawn looking so ill at ease, dressed in a stark geometric style that rendered her cheap and unwanted. Having spent the last few summers in the Black Hills of South Dakota perusing the old styles, the local saloons still in their glory, and the general ambience of days of old, I recalled seeing this little lady's family of parlor lamps lighting the way of swinging saloon doors and sawdust on the floors. Many have said they were born a hundred years to late and yes, she too thought this as well. As a product of the 1970s, she always knew she was out of sync with the times and the geometric look imposed on her. She has the most beautiful curves and legs worthy of fishnet stockings like her older sister unceremoniously named the "Leg Lamp". I knew she had a chance at another life if I brought her home but I hesitated. But as kids all do, my dearest son-in-law says "you want her? let's bring her home" and into the old green Jeep she went. I let her sit for a few days trying to decide just what would serve her best. It was decided. The ideas were in full swing and it was just a matter of time for her new threads to be delivered. But as other projects loomed on the horizon, she was stripped of and cleaned and her legs were sanded up to smooth out some of the time. No not all! Because all scars should tell a good story, and she certainly had hers, it was decided to honor her for keeping fit enough for the last fifty years. In the process of giving her back her life, she gained a name… Ella, the dancehall girl. She is not for sale anymore. I am pleased to introduce Ella, the Dancehall Girl of yesteryear.

If Van Gogh was a genius, why wasn’t he recognized as such when he was alive? Thank you for the A2A if Van Gogh was a genius, why wasn’t he recognized as such when he was alive? A fairly simple reason that happens over and over. The majority of people do not recognize greatness when it stares them in the face or pokes them in the eye with its glaring beauty. It is far more common, and “common” being the operative word, that people focus more for others to see them with a “look at me! look at me” noisy persona. Look at President Kennedy. Hated!! Detested. This Irish Catholic would doom us all!! President Reagan and his horoscope seeking wife with her need for new plates. Now both are historic in their saving deeds. Even the words spoken by Jesus to his own people in Nazareth were scoffed at because to them he was just the kid down the block therefore without authority to preach to them. Now Mother Theresa… a lowly sacrificing sister to the poor. Made worldly great by one Royal person who took an interest in her. That and that she appeared more lowly in life than she truly was. Her greatness was no threat to ours. Because we have one chance at life, we are driven by our esteem to make it count, to be remembered. This drive pushes folk to be so narcissistic that they have to be told what great is. God knew of this flaw about us. Even He had to proclaim “Greater is HE (Jesus) that is in you than he (you) that is in the world.

I can look where I choose. The Hostages. The Protesting. The Media. The Bills. The Diagnosis. The Changes. The Discontented. The Crime. The Loss… and more. There is always more. Will I will see what I want to see. Will I see what they cause me to see? Am I right? Are they right? Three times yesterday God proved me wrong. I am glad He did for His way was better and benefited me. Remember… Romans 8:6 “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,” He reminded me, where is your focus? Everything now has happened before. We puny humans are slow to learn as it is in our nature to drift away from God on a daily basis. If things are good, we drift in taking His good for granted. If things are not good, we drift in defiance. But God is the same. He was called upon by our fathers and mothers for hundreds of generations. He was called upon by Moses. He answered every question, and every plea… to those who asked. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is our God. So for the solution? God. Always God. Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=8txqw-u4V78&si=kldAX_MJxOsCmt2H

This is the Rescue of The Rose and like my paintings she comes with a story!

After ten years I moved from my “exit” house. At least I hoped it would be where I made my exit into heaven’s door. In my heart I knew it was not. How did I know? I was under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. And how did I know that? I fought too hard to control all aspects of it. The first sign was in the heavy furniture I bought that was only movable by professionals, and another was many times we traveled for Du’s work which also piqued my quest to see many places and their peoples. And then the Holy Spirit called me out on my heavy furniture. He let me know that there are people that will take care of that. He simply said “let’s close this door.” I was excited, yet reluctant, but because I belong to Jesus l will follow Him. He allows us the Ecclesiastical time to reflect and so I did. This past home was a time for personal soul growth. Observations were made, messages given and received. Theirs is on them. Mine is on me. And then my reflecting turned to self-doubt with a tint of pity. Leaving an opening when the devil came around to find me looking back at the routine, the order, the knowing. I was looking back just like Lot’s wife; the only woman in the entire bible that Jesus mentioned in Luke 17:32 “ Remember Lot’s wife”? She left her heart and her attention back in Sodom. My lesson was to be an up close and personal reflection regarding this comfort of “knowing.” The humanity version of it steals! Proverbs 18:15 states “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” This acquiring and seeking are action verbs. Like in GO. Mark 10:52 "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. And so on. So I will go and grouse no more. ☺️

While I am away my youngest granddaughter Ev is babysitting our pup. And he is teething… and curious… and nighttime was a struggle… and a lot of texting was sent to grama and papa. We prayed… fervently! We prayed from the need. We prayed with “oh please Jesus put your touch on this situation!” And thank you for rhe gift of this situation! Teach us our parts in it.” And then… Ev just “knew” what to do. The kennel was chucked to the side. Playtime was increased. Sammy was invited in to her space where he knew he was safe. And both found joy, peace, and confidence. All in less than 48 hours. Why so quick? They both understood their part in the relationship. But the lesson was mine as I watched this clip she sent and the song by Tom T Hall played in my thoughts of “old dogs and children, and watermelon wine…” https://youtu.be/e7luxiYV0Kk?si=vymea1AXDJKIf-62

I am in Mexico right now recovering from selling the house, putting everything in storage, and designing the new house… my territory is getting really large as stated in the Jabez prayer. Is this prayer “magic” - no of course not. But what it is is on God’s timeline for us in the Ecclesiastical way as in “for everything there is a season…” And as we have prayed in as an inclusion to pur morning Bible time, my prayers have expanded to others and by name as God pointed out!! 😀 Thank you Jesus ❤️ for putting this retreat on our timeline as well. You truly are the King of everything!

Well its done! Papers signed. New people moved in. Blessed beyond measure they are for the triple threat of the house, the property, the neighbors. It was tremendously hard to leave and a lot of tears fell from the depths where losses accumulated over the years. The home, the property, the neighbors had become a great source of comfort for 10 years and God called me out on it. Not only did the scenario cripple my soul, but He being a jealous God made it very clear that to grow, He is to be my source. And now our possessions are in storage, suitcases, baskets and we spend our time divided between our daughters quaint and cute cabin on a massive lake and the RV we purchased a couple of years ago that sat waiting. We often wondered what it was waiting for and now we know. It was a divine “heads up.” C.S. Lewis stated, “Crying is all right in its way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do.” And so I did. I will greet the day, thanking Jesus for it, and see where it goes. He is literally directing my path. One is never to old to embrace change. After all, “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Matthew 8:20. I have not one bed but 2 and sometimes 3. This Jabez prayer is working out really well. And to add a word of warning… Don’t pray it if you aren’t ready to go all in on changing things up!! Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:10

As I have endured through tremendous and multiple griefs over the years, I have found that our ministry’s are born in our pain. Every emotion, every feeling; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control all rise to the top and we become thee vessel for Christ. We endure as He endured. Eons ago I used to think His pain and anguish ended when He ascended into heaven. But thats not possible as He is still with me here helping me, nurturing me, feeling me for He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I learned the impact of loving from my heart to yours. May God strengthen you today and always, and May God fill you with peace from His heart to yours my friend. The waves will get smaller revealing two sets of footprints again. ❤️

This popped up for today. Praying in the Spirit is a directive from the Word of God. Romans 8:26 also teaches us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Unlike the Praying in Tongues, a gift (not all receive) of The Holy Spirit, praying in the Spirit, a fruit ( all should manifest in varying degrees as we travel up the path) comes from being secure in your position as an heir of God. For instance… “Jesus take this, fix this, do what you need to do and step me back out of the way. I trust you. Let your will be done, not mine. Into your hands I commit my life. In your name, Amen” I have found when I go all in, things happen. I have also found that I am often the cause of the holding pattern when it appears nothing is happening and when it seems God is silent. Because God is the epitome of gentlemanly, He remains quiet when I take over the conversation.

I once heard that in less than a generation the majority of us will be completely forgotten as if we never existed with the exception of our family stories being passed down as generational curses or blessings. If we want to be remembered then we need to care for our own circle, even if, and no matter what.