The eternal mountain

Love Letters of Jesus & his Bride, Eccelsia-THUMBNAILThe Scripture for today, April 24 (4/24), is Jeremiah 4:24 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying.”

I was living in a village near the bottom of Mt. St. Helens when it blew.  We had lived there for eight years. We had taken our children up to it and gone sledding, building snow forts, making snow angels, the works. 

It was our mountain. Our beautiful mountain. It reminded me of an upside-down ice-cream cone.  It was perfect in every way.  Everyone knew it was a volcano, but it had formed thousands of years before and would continue like it was for thousands of years in the future. It was our mountain, and it belonged to us to do with as we pleased.

But it wasn’t our mountain.  One morning I looked outside. It seemed as though we had been plunged into the inside of a furnace with all its ashes. I stared. It was snowing gray ash.  I stared more, wondering what the birds had done.  Relieved, I saw them huddled together under bushes.

Of course, the radio and TV had switched to Emergency. We were told to stay indoors because ash is deadly to the lungs. If we did go out, we had to wear surgical masks. If we drove, we were told to put nylons over the air filter and to not go over 10 mph.  Even then, the ash flew everywhere. Our freeway entrance and exit were blocked. The most disturbing thing I heard on the radio (yes, everyone kept their radio on) was that we were at the top of the San Andreas Fault.  And so, we like the birds, huddled and waited for more unknown.

Not only was our mountain turned inside out, but our world was too.

People have expressions that something is “as eternal as the mountains” or “as old as the hills.”  Not true. Nothing on earth is eternal. That also includes things, people, power, position, belongings, even dreams.  Eventually, they quake and sway and are gone. Only that which is spiritual is forever.

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I pen my thoughts to reach out to souls. Will you help me tells others about this book?          https://amzn.to/3eP9tWm

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Love Letters of Jesus & his Bride, Eccelsia-THUMBNAILLOVES LETTERS OF JESUS & HIS BRIDE, ECCLESIA, is based on the Song of Solomon and portrayed as the church (“ecclesia”) being his bride at the end of time when the wedding feast will be held in heaven.  Each chapter in this book reflects events of each chapter in the S of S in a spiritual way.  Good for both a Bible class and personal reading and meditation.  Also a gift book, the font is in papyrus script and a watermark of a bride appears on each page of the interior.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/3eP9tWm  

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Beyond me.

365 Dat by Date-Front-ThumbnailAh, God of life, God of the seeable and of the hearable. I magnify your very name and look up to you beyond the stars. You made me so you could love me. You are my life and love. You take pleasure in me even though I am weak and sinful. Your mercy and love are beyond me. You envelop me in your arms of safety and comfort. You cover me with your wings of shelter during the storms of my life. You are my all.

There is so much to be grateful to you for. Thank you for making it possible for me to speak directly to you. Still, my restless nature fights it. My mind wants to be in control of everything I do and say. My body is restless and wants to keep moving around. You draw my mind into prayer with you and, when I do not fight it, I find you. Then, empty of my will, I whisper to you, I shout to you, I sigh to you. Make your will mine, I declare. And so you do. While hungering for you, you fill me with thoughts of activities to redirect my body so it, once again, is a reflection of you and your doings. Thank you, Lord, for being in me.

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I pen my thoughts to reach out to souls. Will you help me tells others about this book?      https://amzn.to/3eHcwQx

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365 Dat by Date-Front-Thumbnail365 LIFE-CHANGING SCRIPTURES DAY BY DATE.  This unique daily devotional reading has no order except the calendar.  Since March is the third month, on 3/16, guess which Bible verse does it speak of?  Yes. John 3:16.  Look up your birthday or give it as a gift for a birthday or anniversary with a bookmark for their special date.  While everyone is quarantined, why take the challenge and read one month every day?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/3eHcwQx

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His deepest thoughts

0-BOOK 4-FOLK HERO-Child'sCartoon-MediumI lift up my praises to you, the self-existent one.  Both Father and Son and Mighty God. The great wellspring, mind, and will of all things. The only life-giver to all things. You are all life, all truth, and altogether love. You are so far above me and yet so near. You fill the universe, yet make your home in my heart. Even the stars bow to you in effervescence. You are the Prince of all princes, the King of all kings, the Heart of all hearts. When you speak, may the world sit up and acknowledge you. You are wisdom incarnate. You even poured out your deepest heart in the Bible. I know of no one willing to do that to friends. You even exposed your deepest thoughts to your enemies. You are my glorious example.  Ah, You are my heart.

I am depressed again today. That is not like me. Forgive me for complaining about it. Help me see it as a day of rest for me.

Thank you, God almighty, for all you did to save me from Satan’s hell. So complicated. Yet you stayed on track. You gave mankind a chance to earn and deserve our salvation by giving us the Law of Moses which we just could not keep perfectly. You let the rest of the world come up with their own god-laws. Nothing worked. We could not be perfect. Then Jesus came and did it for us. You were perfect for me and for everyone. Now, You see me as perfect as Jesus was. Oh, Lord, you are so wonderful and merciful. I do not deserve your presence, but you love me still and stand by me always. I worship you.

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I pen my thoughts to reach out to souls. Will you help me tells others about this book?        https://amzn.to/3cnlXmd

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04-FOLK HERO-Child'sCartoon-ThumbnailFOLK HERO is storybook #4 in A CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST for ages 3-12.  At the end of every chapter is “Think & Do” for your child to apply something from that chapter in their life, usually a good work such as taking a cookie to a neighbor and calling a shut-in to sing to them or calling an unpopular child at school to say hi.  Perfect for the early reader with large font and dashes between syllables of big words. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….   https://amzn.to/3cnlXmd

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Listen! Do you hear them?

02-DreamMakerChildsCartoonSmallThe scripture for today, April 14 (4/14), is Esther 4:14b as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Today’s scripture is about a reluctant young lady who won a beauty contest and was chosen to be queen of Persia. Time has passed, and now a command has just gone out to kill all Jews. Queen Esther was a Jewess but had not told anyone at the royal court. She could continue to hide her nationality and let all her people die, or she could try to intervene with the king. She was the only Jew the king would have listened to. So, realizing she could be killed too, she spoke on behalf of her people. They were saved.

There are always situations in life in which you are the only one who can accomplish something very needed. Perhaps you are the only adult standing near a strange child about to run out into a busy street. Perhaps you are tall, and a short person needs to reach something at the store. Perhaps you know a particular language and others around you need you to explain something to them. Perhaps someone called a wrong number on the telephone and reached you instead.

What about during this word-wide pandemic and people without computers? What can you do while quarantined from everyone except those in your home?

  1. You can go to the home of someone living alone, and sit on their porch in a lawn chair and visit through the screen door. 
  2. You can lead others to form a parade to the home of a young person who is missing out on a graduation exercise, wave signs, honk your horns, put decorations on their front lawn.
  3. You can go to the home of a sick person and serenade them. 
  4. If you are a retiree and getting a regular monthly check, you can tighten your belt and send money to the church that is going to be overwhelmed with aid requests. 
  5. If you have old toys, you can wash them, put them on the porch of a family with children (duly disinfected), or tools you don’t use to the home of a craftsman, or your extra fabric to the home of a seamstress.
  6. What about calling a child and reading a story to them or an older person and singing to them?
  7. Is there a book you’ve wanted to write for years when you had time?
  8. Put storybooks or puzzle books or magazines or jigsaw puzzles on the porch of a family or person living alone
  9. Can you begin writing the story of your life to pass on to future generations?
  10. For large families running out of paper products, take over a supply of cloth handkerchiefs or cloth towels. A young family could use a supply of cloth diapers. 
  11. Take a supply of hand, dish, or laundry soap to a large family.
  12. Make a stew or cookies or a roast for someone.
  13. Do yard work for people.
  14. Repair or paint house exteriors.
  15. Make  100 or1000 handmade thank-you notes and leave them at a hospital for all the workers.
  16. Go through your congregation’s membership directory and pray for everyone by name.
  17. Go for a walk around your deserted neighborhood and tape an encouraging Bible verse on each front door. 
  18. Drive past deserted stores and office buildings and pray for those who are losing income.
  19. Read your newspaper, pray for everyone in it and, using your phone book, send them a note saying you did.
  20. If you get home deliveries, leave a box of goodies wrapped in individual packets at your door with a note, “Take one: This is my thank you.”
  21. Oh, and give blood.

As you go through life, there are situations in which you are the only one who can handle them or the only one who has thought of doing what others could be doing. Do you do them? Do you watch for those situations, or do you walk around in your own little world? Dare to be a queen. Or a king.

Listen! It’s the silent cries of people only you can help. Do you hear them?

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I pen my thoughts to reach out to souls. Will you help me tells others about this book?        https://amzn.to/3ckTnSi

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02-DreamMakerChildsCartoonSmallDREAM MAKER is storybook #2 in A CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST for ages 3-12.  At the end of every chapter is “Think & Do” for your child to apply something from that chapter in their life, usually a good work such as taking a cookie to a neighbor and calling a shut-in to sing to them or calling an unpopular child at school to say hi.  Perfect for the early reader with large font and dashes between syllables of big words. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/3ckTnSi

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Of Governments & God

365 Dat by Date-Front-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, April 5 (4/5), is Micah 4:5 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”

Nations rise and fall. Nations come and go. Nations are founded upon terror and aggression, or peace and democracy. Some nations follow religions which declare that peasants are peasants as punishment for previous lives, so must remain peasants. Some nations follow religions chosen by their national governments and which must be followed upon pain of death. Some nations deny religion completely and destroy anyone who believes anyway.

What kind of nation do you live in? As strong as your nation is, it cannot control your heart, your spirit, your soul. As strong as your nation seems to be, as much power as your government uses to control its citizens, it will not and cannot last forever.

Always remember, there is a forever nation ~ the nation of God, the kingdom of God. No matter what nation you live in, you can have “dual citizenship.”  And by being a citizen of God’s forever kingdom, you will walk in it forever and ever and…

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I pen my thoughts to reach out to souls. Will you help me tells others about this book?         https://amzn.to/2V4L8D0

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365 Dat by Date-Front-Thumbnail365 LIFE-CHANGING SCRIPTURES DAY BY DATE provides a heart-to-heart to go with each scripture.  The scripture each day corresponds with the date.  March is the 3rd month of the year, and 16th is a day in that month. So on March 3/16, your scripture will be John 3:16.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2V4L8D0

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Prayer for Sunday 3/29

04-FOLK HERO-Child'sCartoon-ThumbnailAh, Lord God, you, are my warrior who keeps Satan away, my priest who presents me to yourself, my king who welcomes me into your kingdom. You are my shepherd who feeds me, my Creator who gives me life every day, my sun to bring me light. You are my guide, my love, my savior, my friend. You are my Lord whom I adore. I fall at your feet overwhelmed with your love.

Thank you, God of mankind, God of angels, God of all inanimate things. You created beauty for me and music. Oh, music with its sounds high and low, fast and slow, rhythmic and steady ~ all orchestrated to be your song to me. For colors. Oh, colors! dark and light, meshed and singular, flowing in and out of each other, painted by your finger as a gift to me. For touches soft and rough mixed and alone, fast and slow, all put together to form your embrace. You delight in me and how I adore you.

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2QNRWUn

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04-FOLK HERO-Child'sCartoon-ThumbnailFOLK HERO is storybook #4 in A CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST.  It has the same chapters as the adult HEARTS AFIRE in THEY MET JESUS series with stories on a child’s level.  At the end of each of the ten chapters in each storybook is Think & Do to help the child apply that story to their daily life.  This is a great time to read with your child.  Understandable at age 3 and up to 12. At age 13, they should switch to the adult version.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………  https://amzn.to/2QNRWUn

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Prayer for Monday 3/23

00- Worship Changes KC COVER-thumbnailI lift up my praises to you, God of the universe. They swirl around the universe and finally to your throne. You are all might and power and everything good. You are right and just tempered with unimaginable mercy.  You alone are God. I will serve you all the days of my life. Take me to your home soon, though. How much longer will it be? A year? Ten years? Twenty? How long? Take me to your home and I will serve you there forever.

Ah, my Lord God, in deep gratitude that pierces my soul, I thank you for forgiving my many sins. I sin against you daily with bad attitudes that creep in and good things I should be doing for others but which I don’t do. I am so ashamed. You forgive me anyway and I am not worthy of this. I fall at your feet and perpetually I whisper thank you. And spring.  Spring is here and the daffodils are peeking their heads out, laughing with the sun, and singing, “I’m back.  Didn’t I promise you I would be? What a winter nap I had. I’m all fresh and envigorated now.  And just wait until you see all my friends as they wake up ~ flowers in the soil, fruit in the trees, and grass to wiggle your toes in.” My Lord, you must have had such fun creating this earth.  Thank you for being the God of happiness too.

[I THINK TOMORROW I WILL RETURN TO MY INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS.]

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2Ut632w

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00- Worship Changes KC COVER-thumbnailWORSHIP CHANGES SINCE THE FIRST CENTURY is the second book in the series WANDERING SOUL, ENTITLED HEART, & THE SIDE-TRACKED CHURCH.  This book gives you the exact year something was changed in Christian worship or government and what they did to protesters. Hymns written by some of the martyrs who protested are included.  A real eye-opener to what we take for granted in worship.  Share with your friends.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/2Ut632w

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Prayer for Saturday 3/14

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-newAh, Lord, you are strength under control.  You only step in when I need your help. Then you back away to let me strive and accomplish with what strength I have, the strength you give me. You always know just when and how much. Amazingly, you keep everyone all sorted out. Millions of prayers rise up to you, and you know who is who and what is what. You are everywhere, but you are also in my heart. You are the grand, the magnificent, the glorious. You are higher than my imagination. Lord, expand my imagination so I  can praise you more and worship you with greater splendor.

Father, people have pounced on me for doing what I think is good. Give me courage to let go, even if they say and do things against me a thousand times over. Give me courage. Help me smile when they insult. Help me bless when they tear down. Help me know how to give my enemies my heart.

Thank you, Lord God, for the beauties of your nature. Sparkling sunlight on the late winter snow, crocuses budding to hint of soon-coming spring, branches fluttering in the breeze, birds flying here and there deciding where to build a nest for their families.  Clouds bumping playfully into each other, sounds and color.  All that you delight in.  Thank you for the free gifts of nature all around me. Free gifts just for my delight.

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2IIGkgL

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0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-newHEARTS AFIRE is lyrical novel #3 in the series, THEY MET JESUS.  At the end of each chapter is a list of scriptures the story was based on, historical sources such as Josephus, and life-application questions.  It is a commentary in narrative form.  Great for personal reading, reader clubs, and older homeschoolers.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2IIGkgL

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Prayer for Tuesday 3/10

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-ThumbnailI praise your very name, Lord God. Your name is holy. The angels praise you day and night. The heavens praise always. I praise you forever. But it is never enough. You, our Creator, are worthy of so much more. Accept my puny efforts as a little child standing before a giant. And as a little spider crawling through the sands of a great desert. And as a single little star surviving amidst untold trillions of galaxies. How overwhelmed I am that you actually notice little insignificant me. You not only notice me, but you love me and take me as your child. I am the child of the Creator and am consumed with amazement.

Lord, sometimes I say too much.  I know it. Help me remember that my story of some event in my life is nothing compared with the stories of others who are surviving against overwhelming odds. Help me ask more than I tell.  Humble me, Lord. And forgive me once again for this sin.

Thank you, God, for loving me and caring for me. I cannot see you but you are everywhere I look.  I cannot hear you but you are in every sound I hear. I cannot feel you but you are in everything I touch. Most of all you are in my heart. Thank you for being there. Thank you for staying so close and making me feel as though I am the only other person in the world. Ah, even amidst turmoil, I feel such glowing inner peace.

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2wHyC3R

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Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS is book two in the meditation trilogy, TOUCHING GOD.  Each day read a little from Proverbs and a little bit more from one of the others of the Wisdom Literature of the Bible.  The cover for each book in this series is an original painting by famed watercolorist Betsy Kemp Thompson. The interior font is Egyptian papyrus.   A perfect gift set.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2wHyC3R

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Prayer for Monday 3/9

Golden Cover-KINDLE-thumbnailI praise you, God of my life. I praise you in song and word and time. I do not know how else to praise you. You are worthy of it all and so much more.  Break through the barriers people have put up between them and you. Break through with your powerful love that will not let them go. May I be your instrument somehow in my puny way. You are holy. Every place people step is holy ground, for you have already been there. You made it all. Shine through black hearts, bring your light into their lives and let their souls live again.

Lord, forgive me when I try too hard. Help me let go sometimes and step back so you can do your work. Sometimes I worry about politics, sometimes about the environment, sometimes about crime and immorality and people trying to turn false gods into you. Help me take a deep breath sometimes so you can move in and penetrate o heart. Forgive me when I think it all depends on me. It does not. You are in charge of all. Everything will ultimately work out to somehow glorify you. Everything and everyone will somehow bow to their Creator.

Thank you for modern computers where I can type words so much faster than handwriting as we did before, and talk to multitudes instead of licking a stamp and putting it on an envelope to just one person. How amazing all this technology.  May the forces of good outdo the forces of evil who try to use the same means to penetrate people’s hearts. And thank you for my family, my neighbors, the school teachers of the children, the medical providers, our government, and mostly for you, the lover of my soul. How I adore you, my Lord and my God.

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/3cINWOf

 

Golden Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 GOLDEN BIBLE THOUGHTS: GOD’S HEART TO YOURS is meditation book one in the TOUCHING GOD trilogy.  Also a beautiful gift book with original art on the cover by famed watercolorist Betsy Kemp Thompson, and classical Egyptian papyrus font on the inside.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/3cINWOf

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