Carla pointed out just how much difference 20 miles means.  This morning the report was that Hood River – 20 miles to the west – had 1.11 inches of rain, while we had .24 inches over the same period of time.

Hood River valley is beautiful and has many lush pastures and orchards – but we like this ‘bit’ dryer climate.

Pulling out all the blackberries from the freezers – or at least most of them and making syrup.  It is freeing up some valuable freezer space and makes it easier to figure out and get what we need for meals.  Surprising how many berries are needed to work down into a couple batches.  I had hoped we would have several jars to can – I was wrong by at least half.

Psalm 119:103-105  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

¹⁰² I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

¹⁰³ How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

So many people are lost today; they don’t know where to turn and are in a spiritual turmoil.

Looking to feed the soul they strive to study different religions, hoping they will find one that gives them peace and tranquility.

They want to follow something that reaffirms their beliefs on what they should do to obtain harmony with their souls.

Some will try strident methods, depriving themselves of all material things; change their diet to try and find a sanctuary for their souls.

Others look for the religion that demands little of them, but makes them feel good about themselves and their decisions, they don’t want challenges or preaching, just a feeling of self-satisfaction.

Others turn to hobbies or sports to assuage the desires of the soul within, something to take their minds off of their troubles and settle their souls down, thinking that by focusing elsewhere they can ignore the hunger from within.

Others turn to work, using it as a means to satisfy that gnawing at their heart that tells them they need more, need something to fill the void. 

Anyway satan can take our minds and hearts away from the answer to the spiritual voice within us that says it needs to be fed the Words of God, he will use.

He wants to keep people away from God’s Word – he doesn’t want them to find the answer to their hunger is found in God’s Word which fully points to the Savior.

Yet, those of us that have found God, have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus and accept His redemptive powers, find that peace that others hunger for; and it is our responsibility to help the lost to find that peace.

It is up to the Christian to show them the way, that is why we are still here on earth.  God wants us to use our experience, our personalities and the training He has provided for us to proclaim Christ’s salvation and help others find Him.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

In Search and Rescue we trained men and women to look for lost people, what to look for, how to search, and the best methods that will allow the lost person to be found.

Usually those that were lost were ill-prepared to go into the wilderness.  They didn’t have the proper knowledge or the equipment to survive if we didn’t get to them right away.

In Oregon, it is the Sheriff’s responsibility to get up the searches and guide them as they search.  It is up to us to train them and then to trust in that training as they enter the wilderness in search of that lost soul.

Just as those people depended upon the searchers – even if they didn’t realize they were available and looking for them, we had the means and expertise to find them.  Not all were found, but the vast majority were, because the searchers were prepared, dedicated and determined to find them.

The Word of God is full of strong encouragement and examples for us to see how turning our lives over to Him will calm our soul and will give us confidence that God, the Creator, is still in control.

The Word is our training guide and applying those lessons in leading others to Christ is paramount to our mission on earth.

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

As we read and pray we find that His Word is so much more important than anything else we read.  That the wisdom contained in His Word can infuse us with much of that wisdom and give us comfort as we live our lives.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

God’s Word will not let us down, it will help us through any conflict and will feed our soul to its satisfaction and flowing over. 

But to accept and stand on these promises we must read them; we must accept that they are the Words of God to help direct our path; we must live them and we must strive for righteousness that others will see who is within us and give God the glory. 

God loves us so much; His desire is for us to live a righteous life – our souls hunger for that same desire – we need to use the ‘lamp’ and depend on it to guide us, every, single, day.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again