Woke up with sun shining on the Klickitats and as the day has progressed seeing a full on embrace on the rest of our neck of the woods.

Have to check the NWS on a daily, and sometimes couple of times a day, in order to get a close forecast; been changing a lot lately.  Supposed to be 46* as a high, all ready 48*, but the rest of the week we may be in the low 50’s, or so they think today. 

Snow is quickly melting, except for the piles we made in order to clear paths, still in shadows or that fell of the roofs – have a hunch they may take quite a bit longer.

Well, Nancy, you were right to warn me, doc sending me over to an orthopedic surgeon, long list of damages to the shoulder and arm – just what I needed. 

John and Bruce Schwartz are retired, so have to go with one of the others.  Not all that concerned, but those two have done the work on me and family members since I can remember.

Not sure just what has to be done, will find out later.

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“Being filled with the fullness of God is like a bottle in the ocean. You take the cork out of the bottle and sink it in the ocean, and you have the bottle completely full of ocean. The bottle is in the ocean, and the ocean is in the bottle. The ocean contains the bottle, but the bottle contains only a little bit of the ocean. So it is with the Christian." - AB Simpson

Ephesians 3:19 “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”  KJV

God fills us and He can keep us filled with His Holy Spirit, all we have to do is open our hearts and receive Him. 

We get focused on our own little part of the world, and forget that we are but a small speck in the totality of this earth.

Property we own, no matter how large, barely makes a preview on an overview shot of the world. 

That bottle that Simpson is talking about can remain full and be refilled for eternity, and even if we had bottles representing everybody in the world filled from that sea it would not diminish the sea.

Thus is the spirit of our God.  We can’t get too much.  We don’t have to worry about God running out or depriving someone else of God’s goodness by having too much of Him within us.  In fact when we are filled to overflowing it pours out on those around us some that may not understand to seek it and they too learn that there is no stopping the flow of the Holy Spirit.

Each day I pray for my family, friends and special requests that come my way.  Sometimes I am specific when I know a special need, other times it is for God to cover, protect and give wisdom to each one of them.  And sometimes it is for them to understand a truth in God’s Word and that they will apply it to their lives.

I remember a conversation I had with someone once; she told me she never prays for little things, she doesn’t want to burden God with them so she only prays for the big things in her life.

I have never found that reasoning in God’s Word.  I have found many that contradict that thinking.

He knows every hair on our head, He knows the feathers on a sparrow and He wants us to trust Him, to depend on Him.

Mathew 10:29-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

³¹ Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”  KJV

Mathew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

⁸ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”  KJV

Are there conditions, yes, it has to do with our heart and praying with a connection through Jesus and the Holy Spirit with the will of the Father.

John 15:6-8 “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”  KJV

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

But He never said, pray only for the ‘big’ things, don’t bother me with those tiny things like helping you make day to day decisions on doing your job, or a decision on how to discipline your child, or what direction to drive to town – we rarely think to pray about those things, but they are not forbidden.

When we pray for wisdom, for assistance, for other people it gives God the opportunity to fill our lives and those of others with His Holy Spirit and bring others to Him.

We cannot wait for the big things to pray, if we had prayed for the little things that made up those big things, it may never have become such a large trial for us.

Later, Art (-:

Forecast was for snow and rain today in our neck of the woods with a temperature in a high of 38, however, thus far no moisture falling and the high is already 43, no complaints on our part.

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Numbers 14:25-32 “And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

²⁷ How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.

²⁸ Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:

²⁹ Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me.

³⁰ Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

³¹ But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.

³² But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.”  KJV

I cannot imagine having our God so angry at us that He would disinherit us, but that is exactly what He did to the men and women who refused to enter the Promised Land.

I have heard people say, well that was the Jews, He wouldn’t do that today, not since Jesus’ time.

Acts 26:15-18 “And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

¹⁶ But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

¹⁷ Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

¹⁸ To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” KJV

Some people, even some Christians, read scriptures such as these and say, see God has changed, He won’t cut us off like He did with the Jews.

But not only is that a promise, it is a guide to what He expects to be done by not only Paul, but all Christians.

But if they are not prepared, every day, for Jesus’ return, they will be left behind wondering why they didn’t obey God, follow His Holy Spirit and His commands that are laid out before all of us to follow.

The story of the 10 virgins in Mathew, make that clear:

Mathew 25:10-12 “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

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

¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

God is not going to change, just because modern society has decided what is right and wrong without considering what God has already deemed sin, they declare it is okay to act in a sinful manner and not worry about the consequences.

Malachi 3:6 “ For I am the Lord, I change not;” 

We can rely on that – and not only for adverse consequences but the promise that He will always be with us, that He is our hiding place and our fortress.

Psalm 18:1-2 “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

² The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”  KJV

Why do we so often forget that when we are faced with adversity?  Fortunately, He hasn’t forgotten and is only a prayer away.

I want to always have a full lamp and extra in preparation for whenever He decides to come and claim His church.

Later, Art (-:

Looked south out the window this morning and Mt Hood appeared to be about a five minute drive up the road, when it is actually a good 50 miles as the crow flies.  It just stood out the well.

Clouds have dissipated and we are having a beautiful, if a bit cold, day in our neck of the woods; even though clouds now obscure that majestic mountain they are miles away.

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Mark 14:61-64 “But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

⁶² And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

⁶³ Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

⁶⁴ Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.”  KJV

I was reading where yet another ‘Christian’ leader professed that while Jesus was a great man, he was only a man, and that He never proclaimed to be the Savior.

Either Jesus was the promised Savior or He is not.  He can’t be a great teacher if He isn’t. 

As for Him claiming to be the Savior, there was no doubt in the minds of the leaders of the Jews at that time, which is why they wanted to condemn Him to death.

The term ‘Christian’ can be used by anyone.  They can proclaim they believe in Him, but their words and actions deny their salvation and, unfortunately, can lead others astray.

Jesus was not ambiguous.  While this is the first real public affirmation of His divinity we read in the Gospels where He either alluded to it or confirmed what others said.

Mathew 16:16-17  “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

¹⁷ And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”  KJV

Frankly it is inexcusable for a ‘Christian’ leader to cast doubt on Jesus’ identity as the Christ. 

The very basis of Christian belief is that truth.  Why would someone question that and then proclaim themselves as Christian?

We cannot condone such mockery; we cannot shrink from telling of the saving grace of Christ.

Far too many people read these kinds of reports and either believe them out right or use them as an excuse as to why they won’t accept that they are sinners and that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ.

In the beginning I wrote these tombs as a way that I meditate.  I sent them out to family because one of my daughters had asked for meaningful quotes from friends and family to put together a daily calendar that would give her husband inspiration each day.

It went from children to family members to friends, and now I post it publically.  While it is still part of my daily meditative process it is also my desire to share ideas with fellow Christians to encourage them; and to share the Gospel with those that are trying to figure out what is happening to them spiritually.

WE are blessed with the Word of God.  He has given us a blue print that we can apply to our own life as we read of how He helped others over those thousands of years.

Jesus left no question about His deity and we shouldn’t either.

Later, Art (-:

In our neck of the woods we are still looking at snow slowly melting off, kinda like watching a pot waiting for it to boil; it is taking forever it seems.  Not that it is all the important right now, as long as we have enough time to prepare Carla’s garden and get it ready for the hot days of summer. 

Cold last night – not as cold as other places, but enough to freeze up the snow into ice, again.  Last night it was clear and down to 24 degrees up here, today, thus far, it is staying in the 30’s.

Not much else going on, just watching snow melt.

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“To please God, a person must be just an instrument for God to use. For a few seconds, picture in your mind the variety of wonderful and useful appliances we have in our homes. They have been engineered and built to perform tasks of all kinds. But without the inflow of electrical power they are just lumps of metal and plastic, unable to function and serve. They cannot do their work until power is applied from a dynamic outside source.”  AW Tozer

1 Peter 4:11  ^“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”   KJV

As I read Tozer comments it reminded me that we really are the instrument of God.  An instrument is absolutely no good until someone plays it, and plays it well.

If we are out of electricity and do not have some kind of back up any appliance, any device is worthless for that period of time.

There is nothing wrong with it, but it HAS to have that power to operate.

Now if we have a battery or generator backup we can get by with some things for a while, but eventually they will no longer be able to provide the power necessary to operate those devices.

As Christians we really do need the power of the Holy Spirit – every, single, day.  Yesterday’s power may still be in us and may go for a while, but without the resurgence of His power we will eventually become useless, or at least not able to perform our duties as expected.

Some will say that it is needed by preachers or teachers, but also say I am neither so what difference does it make?

When the Holy Spirit came to the 120 in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, only 12 men were recognized leaders of the movement – but ALL 120 people were filled. 

They were filled so they could testify of God’s goodness, grace and mercy AND the salvation that Jesus Christ gave to all mankind.

They didn’t go out and build churches.  They didn’t formally organize meetings with a curriculum.  They went out and shared their faith with others.  They may have become leaders of small groups, but it didn’t matter – ALL, every, single, person knew their mission, their duty was to serve God and share His Gospel and were given strength and power to do so by the Holy Spirit.

No matter what their avocation was, sharing Jesus was their primary responsibility; and now they had the power of the Holy Spirit to charge them.

We have an energy source for our spiritual lives, we must never take it for granted nor should we treat it lightly.  It is the Holy Spirit that guides us to people, that helps give us the words that are needed by those people and then applies those words to the sinner that he might be free.

We don’t have to work up courage, we don’t have to go through lots of steps to get in touch and filled with the Holy Spirit, we just need to plug in to Him and His power, accept it and move forward.

Later, Art (-:

I was watching ‘How’s Its Made’ episode today.  They showed how one company makes watches.  One of the final tests it must pass is to place it in water to make sure it is water proof.  There were about 20 watches on a board placed in the water – NO two watches had the same time.  While I didn’t really expect it, I still thought that was hilarious.

Goes to remind us that if you have one clock in the house you know what time it is, if two you are never sure....  (-:

Snow around us, in our neck of the woods, is quickly melting EXCEPT our driveway, garden and yard – we are backed up against the west side of a hill and it takes until mid-day, or so before the sun hits us on the west side of the property.

The garden is about 200 feet in elevation, the house in about 250 and the east part of the property a little over 300 feet.

With longer days it does get here a bit quicker.

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Romans 8:38-39   ^“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. “  KJV

As the world seems crazy, as our nation is deeply divided it is easy to go into despair and think that we are doomed and have no hope.  That God is finalizing His plans for the destruction of this world and we will be caught up in the middle.

Will God forsake us as He will those that continue to disregard His Word and do all in their power to live a life of decadence and sin?

These verses reassure us that no matter what may happen to us we will not be separated from God.

The only way we can be disconnected from God is to let go of His hand.  Forgetting where our strength lies, where our promise lies and who really is in charge.

The world mistakes God’s Grace and patience for apathy.  They are mistaken and there will come a time when God says it is enough and the world will then encounter the wrath of God and learn that He is not persuaded by their own self-importance and worth.

Later, Art (-:

Everyone that has had a MRI raise your hand.  Wish I could, but being in the machine, the noisy very cramped machine for the doctor to determine if the damage to my arm and shoulder is a torn ligament, rotator cup or I squeaked by and neither has happened, has caused a bit of discomfort and immobility in my other arm. 

I cannot raise either.

I am greeted by the tech, “You are a big man like me, you may not fit into the machine, but we will have to put your other arm up over your head if we can put you through.” 

“Can you do that for half an hour?”

Since I didn’t have much choice I did so – “Do you want to listen to some music through these ear muffs we are putting on you since the machine is so noisy?”

Yes, classic music, I said, and Copeland would be preferred.

Couldn’t hear a note.  They were right, those machines are incredibly loud as it goes through the process of doing its thing.

Half an hour of laying there immobilized and not very comfortable.

Went to my quiet place, at the top of a mountain sitting on a bench with Jesus; sometimes we talk other times, like today, we just enjoy each other’s company where words aren’t necessary.

We can see down through the mountains and Crater Lake to the Redwood forest on the south side, the ocean, on the west side, more mountains on the north side and the high desert to the east. 

Lots of memories in those places.

We walked around Crater Lake, went through the redwood forests with those huge trees all around us, walked through the drive through tree – the machine started a chug-a-chug sound that reminded me of when I was commercial fishing out of Newport and we trawled the ocean for salmon.

Eventually the tech announced we only had three more minutes to go until we were finished.  So, I headed back to Wasco County going up the Columbia River and through the locks at Bonneville Dam, in that fishing boat, landing at the Port of The Dalles just as the three minutes were up.

I was released from this contraption to find that not only did I have limited mobility on the ‘bad’ arm, but the other now was also all stoved up from the half hour in one position.

I wasn’t even sure if I could climb into the truck since it is a ways off the ground, but we managed and Carla brought me home.

It is a lot better now, and I have almost full mobility.

In my mind when the doctor told me she was going to order a MRI, I was thinking cat scan – it ain’t the same.  When Carla asked how long it would take, I told her about five minutes, it is a quick in and out.  Nope 40 minutes later I was back in the waiting area. 

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“One man picks up a violin and he gets nothing out of it but squeaks and raucous sounds. That man doesn't have the ability to do. Another man picks up the violin and he is soon playing beautiful, rich melodies. One man steps into the prize ring and can't even lift his hands. The other fellow walks in and he has power to do, and soon the fellow who did not have the abiltiy to do is sleeping peacefully on the floor.

It is the man with the ability to do who wins. It means the dynamic ability to be able to do what you are given to do. You will receive ability to do. It will come on you.”  - AW Tozer  

Luke 24:49 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”  KJV

All too frequently we get ideas and jump right in and try to get things started.  Without drawing up a plan, or making sure we have the right tools for the job at hand.

The old saw “Failure to plan is planning to fail;” holds very true in life.

Sometimes we are lucky and get by, but most of the time we find a flaw that could have been anticipated and taken care of with the right planning and attitude, people or tools.

Christians are very fortunate.  We can kneel before God and ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us.  It doesn’t always come right away – sometimes we just need to wait for Him to give us the power to achieve what He has given us a vision to accomplish.

I read, in another devotional this morning, which reminds us that Joseph had a dream when he was a very young man.  He told his brothers about the dream and they understood it to mean that he would rule over them, even though he was the youngest.

They were not happy and started plotting against him.

His dream eventually came true, but only after he had been sold into slavery, put in a prison and learned to grow in his life, to depend and remain true to God.

The Apostles were told to wait, they did so and the result – that very first day they received the infilling of the Holy Spirit – was thousands of people who accepted Christ as their Savior; the Holy Spirit has been working through the lives of men and women ever since.

When we are confuse, when we just don’t know, God does and His Holy Spirit will guide us through the situation – we may stumble and fall, but it is all part of the journey we take in growing in Christ and fulfilling the dream He has given us.

It comes with the Power from the Holy Spirit.

Later, Art (-:

It is quiet in our neck of the woods. It rained, softly, last night and as I write the sun is starting to shine of Cherry Hts. with blue sky peeking through the clouds. 

Even as I write it starts shining on Carla’s garden.  But the temperature remains in the low 40’s in her garden thus it will take a lot longer to melt down so she can start preparing the ground.

Still it picks up her spirits and encourages her that this, too, will be over and she can once again ‘play in the dirt.’

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Job 12:7-10   “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

⁸ Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

⁹ Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

¹⁰ In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.”  KJV

I woke up this morning thinking of how great God the Creator is and how much He means to me.

We are so used to modern conveniences we forget there was a time when everything was made by the hand of man, one item at a time.

Craftsmen learned as apprentices, they put their own special talents into everything they did.  They did some amazing work with tools most people today don’t even know what to call them.

But, if something broke it couldn’t just be replaced, it had to be redone.  Not like today where we just go down to whatever store has replacement parts and buy it and then fix it – or have someone do it for us.

Now robots and other machines do the work on a lot of the things we buy.  One of the shows I watch from time to time is called “How it’s made” while not going into a lot of details, it does show us how things are cookie cutters, same thing over and over again in hard to believe speed and accuracy.

Think for a moment about Oreo cookies, two wafers with a white sugary substance in between.  Whether you buy a package on the west coast, east coast, north or south it is the same product.  It has the same number of cookies that are identical in every way.  Millions of packages a year are sold.

If your car is in an accident, or has mechanical difficulties you take it to the shop; the body man or mechanic goes to the phone and orders a replacement part.  It is exactly what he is taking off the car and once done it is hard to see any difference.

Science is finding incredible things about this world.  The tools used show us the minutest things are so well designed that quite frequently they can take something from one body and place it in another with little adjustment.

They are finding that OUR bodies, in many ways, can be replaced by a transplant.  Hearts, lungs, livers and other body parts are taken from one person and placed in another person with little adjustment.

Blood transfusions are done every day and we don’t consider the wonder of that medical discovery.  The human body is so well engineered that we can, in many cases, repair the body so that it will be very difficult to see that it was done.

God’s designs are far more superior to anything man has ever, or will ever design, yet, the world gives credit to the scientists and engineers for designing these interchangeable parts but says that man came about, over a period of time, from a rock and just evolved into this incredibly complex body of work.

The animals, the birds and even insects have been the catalyst for many inventions as the inventors have watched and learned from them.

We call it nature as if it is some ‘thing’ that does all this instead of the God that spoke the universe into being and all that is within it, with the exception of man who He formed from the clay of the earth and breathed life into him.

If we praised and thanked God even have as much as we do mankind this world would be in a much better place.

Later, Art (-:

Looking out at her garden Carla says, “I don’t think I am going to get the peas planted at the end of February.”  We have a good two feet and more of snow on top of the garden. 

For the first time in 74 days I was able to put food in the bird feeder without having to walk on snow and ice.  It is now bare to the ground, however, the path goes through a wall of snow about 18 to 24 inches from both the snow fall and the snow piled up from clearing the path.

It will be an interesting gardening year, for sure.  Since we have been here this is the hardest winter’s snow fall and it is lasting far longer than any other year. 

I said way back in October that this was going to be a heavy winter – the Almanac said so – she reminded me of that yesterday saying, “you were right.”

Nice to be right about something.

Forecast says we may get some more snow later this week.  Poor forecasters have to change the forecast on a daily basis, it seems, the weather is so unstable.   

We have piles of debris to burn that we couldn’t last fall – the City Council decreed certain dates that open burning would be allowed in The Dalles, unfortunately for the past few years it hasn’t coincided with dry enough tender to burn.  ‘twould been a lot better if they just stated that the Fire Dept. will allow a six week window in spring and fall and let them designate when we could start and end.  They are quite capable of making that decision; they do it all the time in the county where burning is allowed all year long, EXCEPT when the fire dept. deems it is to hazardous to burn.

1300 and the sun came out of hiding. 

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2 Timothy 2:17-18 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

¹⁶ But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

¹⁷ And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

¹⁸ Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”  KJV

There are so many people masquerading as preachers whose sole interest is lining their own pockets, or having their egos stroked, it is often difficult to discern between the truth of God and man’s false interpretations of God’s Word.

This is an old problem that was going on even shortly after Jesus’ assertion back to heaven.

Satan uses these people to further his plan to dominate the world and cast God aside.  If we are not careful these people can make it sound like they really know their bible and have new insights into how to live for God. 

However, when we search the Word, asking God if these new ideas or new procedures are correct, we find that these people are leading the listener astray.

We tend to believe those with credentials, or are hailed as great speakers and those that stand behind the pulpit - without question – we get lazy and forget that we are responsible for our own relationship with God and just because someone says something doesn’t mean they are correct.

It is up to us to be sure what we believe in God is correct according to His Word.

Just as important, before we share something with others in hopes to see them accept Christ or grow in the Lord, we must be sure that what we share is according to God’s Word.

We do not want to lead others astray.  It is bad enough that we often do not act like a Christian, it is far worse to teach heretical ideas.

While we may stumble and make bad decisions; while we may have led some down a path away from God, He is still in charge and He will continue to guide people to Him through the Holy Spirit sending someone in our place to correct the misconception.

Obviously we cannot depend on that so we still want to be sure of our grounds; but the weight of the world is not on our shoulders, it is on God’s.

Verse 19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

And He is victorious and will continue to bring people in from the cesspool and darkness of sin into the light of righteousness.

But, let us be so tuned to Him that we do not let Him down and He has to send someone else to straighten things out.

Later, Art (-:

Winter is having an interesting mind game in our neck of the woods, today it was overcast and fogged in, with just a hint of sun.  Rain came down but slowly, which is really good.  It helps melt the snow and ice without flooding at these lower temperatures.

Carla worked on the snow around the Toyota, we could get it out now, but no guarantee we could get it back in and it is too low to the ground to make it up the driveway, so it sits all by itself waiting for the snow to almost completely recede from the driveway.

Not one of my better days, today, took a nap this afternoon and felt better.  Arm and shoulder are still letting me know they aren’t happy, along with a sinus infection – oh, well, this too will soon pass.

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Isaiah 30:1  “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:”  KJV

It is too easy for us to forget that God is the counsel, as Christians, we need to listen to in order to do what is right.

I have had many people I have gone to throughout my years, rarely does a Christian give me bad advice, rarely, when I followed it did I have problems.

Men and women who love the Lord and are in constant communication with Him can be a very big assist to us.  Either they have the answer given by the Holy Spirit, or they confirm what God has already advised us.

The first thing we need to do is remember that God has our best interest in the outcome and go to HIM for advice.

When we get busy, when we get wrapped up in our job and under stress, we too often rely on man’s advice and not God’s.

Even though it is difficult, we must always take a few moments to ask God for guidance – He will do so.

God’s Wisdom is so much higher and better than man’s. 

In business, in life we often have to rely on those that ‘have been there’ and are experienced and seasoned in the job.  Naturally we need to take into account what they are saying; however, if it entails doing something that we know will detract from our stand with Christ, we need to address that issue until we are satisfied.

When I was working as a Realtor our firm had the condominiums along the river.  It was my turn to have open house.  I sold one of the units and listed the buyers’ house.  The next time I was there another person wanted to buy that same unit.

I referred it to another Realtor in our office; they are the ones that subsequently purchased the unit.  So I lost the commission, and my buyers took their home off the market since it was being sold solely to be able to buy the condominium.

I was assured, by other Realtors, that there was nothing unethical about selling to the second buyer I felt that it compromised my integrity and even though I lost a sizeable commission, I felt better about myself.

We encounter these kinds of decisions more often than we think, most are minor and really don’t make much difference; however, we never know who is watching us and how our actions will affect their ability to find the Lord.

It is not always that easy to know what is the best thing to do, that is why it is always best if we remember to given even a moment’s prayer, whenever possible, to ask God to guide us.

Proverbs 1:2-7  “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

³ To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

⁴ To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

⁵ A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

⁶ To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  KJV

May we not fall into the latter category!

Later, Art (-: 

Hey, in OUR neck of the woods we got sunshine!!  Some clouds and we can’t see the mountains, but there is a blue sky out there and sun shining around us.

Just hope it stays, at least until Carla gets off work.  Today was supposed to be her days off, but the person opening was very sick, called Carla and she went in.

Carla had a three day weekend, but getting called in didn’t disrupt anything, with both cars still buried and unable to get up and down the driveway, we were staying home anyway.  Might go into town for a bit, but right now just tinkering around the house.

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As a Christian I have been, once again, called bias and stupid because I believe that only Christians will get into heaven.

Now why do Christians believe that?

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. KJV

There are many verses in the Bible that are just like this one.  It is clear in God’s Word that the only way to come before God the Father is through His Son, Jesus the Christ.

Most companies have a written procedure and policy on how the employees of the company are expected to act. 

Even small businesses have a structure and while it may not be in writing they have a standard that all employees must adhere to and follow.

Should an employee say, ‘I know better than the boss, I am going to do it my way – however, I expect to be able to continue working here and be paid, regardless of whether I follow the rules or not!’ will soon find themselves unemployed.

The policy and procedure manual for Christians is the Bible.

Fortunately for us, He is forgiving and will work with us right up until the day we die, to be better servants for Him.  But He does have certain unbreakable rules and one of those is that the only way we can come to Him is through His Son.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. KJV

Psalms 119:15-17  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. KJV

For thousands of years the world has tried to over throw the Word of God, bash it and destroy it.  Call it archaic, out of touch, foolish and any number of adjectives trying to make it a book that is worthless to modern man – whatever the modern age was.

Others read what they want and profess that Jesus was a great teacher – forgetting that if that is all He was/is then He leads people down the path to hell, since HE proclaimed He was the Son of God and was the only way to come to the Father.  He wasn’t a great teacher under their terms, He was a liar.

But just because the world doesn’t want to believe in Him; just because they feel they have out grown the need for God or His precepts doesn’t mean God doesn’t exist, nor does it mean that He will lower His standards so more people can get into heaven.

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. KJV

The Bible is the manual for life.  It covers every aspect of it, while it is thousands of years old, beginning with the Old Testament – it is relevant to today’s world, the Holy Spirit speaks through God’s Word and brings God’s truth to men’s hearts.  EVEN if they choose not to accept it.

We learn, we grow, we have a standard, we have advice and we have a means to improve our life and serve God where no other religion can compare.  The Bible is our guide.

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth KJV.

I do not write this in anger.  I write it out of a sorrowful soul and a desire for all I know to come to Christ.

I do have a temper, and, unfortunately it still comes out when it shouldn’t.

But not now, because I am a Christian, because I sincerely believe that Christ IS THE ONLY WAY into heaven I cannot compromise His message.

The following verses are a guideline to me in reacting to those that belittle my God and my beliefs, it is difficult at times, but I remember it took me a while and many questions before I realized that truth.

2 Timothy 2:25-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

²⁵ In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; KJV

That truth, by the way is:

John 3:14-16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

¹⁵ That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” KJV

Even me; even you.

Later, Art (-:

In our neck of the woods we still have fog.  Yesterday the temperature varied by one degree, 33 -34, but today we are supposed to be warmer – into the 40’s – then low 30’s tonight and the rest of the week into next week.

It was raining today, not real hard, but it helps to break down the snow that is still all around us and as long as the temperatures stay low and the rain is not hard we shouldn’t have too much flooding.

Carla was supposed to close the shop tonight, but someone asked her to change and she now gets off at 1630 instead of going to work at that time.  We both prefer that.

Just pulled a pie out of the oven.  Teresa puts the dry ingredients, for the crust, in a bag then I just add salad oil and milk, mix it together in the pie plate and put the ingredients in.

I usually use a can of pie filling and finish it off with an equal amount of fresh or frozen berries without adding any sugar.  Then, because the dough isn’t very good to roll out I add a store bought crust – or more often a crunchy top of oat meal, butter, flour, cinnamon and some brown sugar.

They come out great and sum up the meals very well.

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“Each generation of people tends to regard its own times as the most significant of all, toward which all past history has been merely a preparation. The fact is, however, that God has “been our dwelling place in all generations” (90:1), and He is equally concerned about any generations yet to come.” – Our Daily Bread

Psalm 78:5-7  For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

⁶ That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

⁷ That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

Right now there is turmoil in our country that we haven’t seen in a long time. 

The left attacks the right, the right attacks the left and almost everyone forgets the responsibility we have as Christians to continue to share God’s Word; share His Promise of redemption. 

Especially to our children.

Anger still wells up within me as I watch the news, to the point where I watch the weather and that is about it.

I do read articles, but I have to admit I am careful there also, there is no point in listening to views that in the end turn out to be headline ‘fluff’ with no real substance within it, other than to spread hate and discontent.

While my fingers burn with the desire to strike out I know it will virtually do absolutely no good to do it.  No one cares about my point of view, other than wanting to attack it.

I know there are millions of Americans feeling the same way.  There are millions of Christians also feeling that way, and some are striking out, not so much from love as their anger is welling up inside so deep they can’t contain it any longer.

It is more important today than ever before that Christians pray and witness to God’s Power.  It is more important today that people understand that God is in control, no matter how we may think it looks.

We need to maintain an above the fracas mentality, expressing a desire to see our country healed no matter our political beliefs.

So much energy is being consumed by this hatred that we are forgetting the need to help others.  Too many of us are spending time being angry and not enough time in prayer and reading God’s Word.

Many countries in the past have gone through what we are now experiencing and many were destroyed because of it.  Rather than re-evaluate their dedication to God, they found as many ways as possible to undermine their fellow citizens that do not share their views – and in the process destroy not only that person or group, but the principles that God has told us to follow.

Instead of honesty, we find deliberate lies or twists on someone’s behavior or comments to make it look foul and disgusting. 

Christians, while vilified by some, have the answers to this burning destruction and somehow we need to get that message out to those that hate us and each other.

I don’t know if it will make a difference, I don’t know if God has finally said “it is enough America, I am lifting my blessing from you” but we cannot allow ourselves to travel in the gutters that lead down to the cesspools in this country – and that only comes with accepting guidance from the Holy Spirit.

I have children and grandchildren, I don’t know if I will be around when my grandchildren have children – but generations continue on long after we are gone, and they deserve as peaceful an earth as peaceful America as we can give them.

God cares for them, and so should we.

Later, Art (-:

Fortunately for us, our neck of the woods did not receive the freezing rain forecasted.  We did get some rain, but our temperatures are above freezing, so thus far we are kinda okay.

Rain on top of icy snow doesn’t provide the best traction though.  Farther west Mosier, Hood River, Cascade Locks (and Bonneville Dam) right through Multnomah Falls is a bit of a different story – and farther east is also finding slick roads from the black ice caused by that freezing rain.

I am very happy that neither of our dam operators have to travel east through the gorge anymore.  It is bad enough that Deed has to start across from Hood River, but at least she is going east.

We are getting a lot of fog and have more to receive over the next few days.  Does make it a bit dreary, but rather have this and a slow melting of our snow than the alternative.

All the pets continue to just hunker down and wait for the sunshine and the snow to be gone so they can once again go outside and sleep out there.  It is hardest on Abby, one of the cats, she loves it outside and just hates this snow.

She will go out and stand on the stoop looking out, then looks back at me and comes back in.  Even if she does go out, she is soon climbing back into the window to find her napping place.

Carla and I are catching up on some of the programs and movies we have saved on TiVo, or whatever it is called, and just laying back waiting for the busy season of her gardening to start.

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John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  KJV

God created us, so why shouldn’t He love us?  Even though we reject Him, curse Him, use His name in vein, ignore His Holy Spirit, refuse to accept Jesus as the Christ – He is God after all and should love all He creates.

AND He does, the problem isn’t with God and HIS love, the problem is with man and His refusal to accept it.

We say our nation is a nation of laws.  People committing criminal acts (and caught) have to go through a process to first determine if they are guilty and then what would be the appropriate way, not to punish, but to rehabilitate. 

We ask for clemency, we strive to keep from being held accountable by using emotions or excuses.

We are used to a sentence in prison being adjusted for various reasons so the criminal rarely serves the full term – whether rehabilitated or not.

So, we think God should use the same standard that we use because we are so enlightened.

God has incredible patience.  His Holy Spirit continues working with sinners, long after everyone else has given up on them.

However, He has also made it clear that the only way we get into heaven and avoid hell, is HIS way.

There are no do overs, man has been given ample opportunity in life to be forgiven, to be given chances to accept His rules.

They are clear, they are concise and they start with the acceptance of His Son Jesus, as the Christ and the Savior through whom we go in order to enter heaven.

He is God.  His standards will not be modified by man’s wisdom or fear, it will only be upheld.

That doesn’t mean He doesn’t love the sinner, after all He gave His only begotten Son to redeem us; every one of us.

He is not required to do anything at all for us, He does it because He loves us.

Later, Art (-:

Went to the doc yesterday for the bruise that keeps getting larger and larger and more colorful.  Sat down with the nurse that went over my medications, took my blood pressure, etc. and entered it into the computer.

Doc came in and we conversed, she had me do range of motions, etc. and then went out to confer with a colleague, came back in and suggested I get an MIR – I may have damage to a ligament in my arm or rotator cup.  We will get it next week which was the earliest time available.

While I am sitting there I got to thinking that my entire medical history is in that mainframe computer at OHSU, or at least those over the past 50 years I have seeing doctors in this community, along with tens of thousands of other patients.

Information that is available to all medical staff that have access to that mainframe.  My insurance companies also have that access by asking for it.  The advantage is if I have to have a new doctor everything is in front of them to help me maintain my health, or as a reminder to my current doctor who has several other patients and can’t keep up with us individually; it is available to the hospitals in case I go in for an emergency – but, it is also vulnerable to hacker OR unethical employees.

Then, later, I am watching a commercial on television that shows a father reading to his daughter and she asks ‘what sound does a whale make?’

He calls this little device that sitting on the end table next to him by name and asks it what a whale sounds like and the little device tells him.

I go shopping for something on line – or I want to check and see what is available, and every ad that pops up for the next few days calls my attention to that item I checked on.

Rather than adding something to my ‘favorites’ I ‘google’ it a few times over a period of a few days and ‘google’ notes that I have done that several times and asks if it can help me.

Who is in control of all these things?

Where is the information stored?  Who has access to it?

Some sites say they don’t sell or share information while others pride themselves on doing just that for our benefit.  Uh-huh

How do we know it is accurate when we ask that little device a question?

Who put the information into the mainframe AND are they ethical?

We know that Wikipedia allows people to go in and change information and many have putting lies and false information on the site.

Information is always changing.  Some because new discoveries are made, some in an effort to control what we read, do, say, feel, want – they have us pegged in this hole and feed us the information they think we can use or THEY want us to have – thus influencing our opinions and thoughts.

We know the big hub-bub every time government wants to invade our privacy, but they don’t have to anymore – it is out there on social media to discover.  Many people have that little device in their house that listens to everything said, how much of what is said is sent to the company that sold it to you?

We post intimate details on social media for all to read.  It is recorded, what we like and don’t like, what we think about issues, and it sends it to that mainframe that will direct the post it thinks we want or need, or just wants to control our access to information and gives us what IT wants to give us.

Unethical people are already amassing this information and will use it to attack bank accounts, credit as well as sending computer attacks on the individuals to the tunes of thousands of people every day, costing citizens billions of dollars every year.

Technology has grown and in and of itself it can be very helpful, but ill-used and it becomes a cancer on our minds and souls, our very base.

Knowledge is expanding at a rapid rate.  Computers have eliminated the need for encyclopedias – which were outdated even before they were sold – especially over the last few years.

Text books, especially science and history, are obsolete when they too are sent to the printer, because there is more information available that can’t be continually updated in a bound book.

Pretty soon we won’t even have to have teachers – Google and other sites like it can already take the place of a lot of what is taught.

Something to think about – just where are we really heading and who is really in control?

Like a lot of what is happening in our world today, God’s Word has warned us about what will come about:

Daniel 12:4” But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”  KJV

Sure looks to me that this prophecy is becoming true.

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Psalm 86:10-12 “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

¹¹ Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

¹² I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” 

Who are we using as our teacher, who is teaching our children?

Where does the information come from?  Who condenses it down so they can expose us to that information?

How do we know that the information we are receiving is correct?

That the teacher is honest and isn’t trying to draw us away from what is true and making their opinions facts instead of opinions?

How do we keep up with the shifting society that one day calls something wrong and the next makes it legal?

How do we know what is right and what is wrong?

Who are we listening to and how are their opinions or ‘facts’ influencing OUR opinions and those of our children?

Proverbs 25:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Who is training up our children?

What is influencing them – video games, television, movies, news, magazines, public education, music, peers?  WHO? What?

What are WE teaching them, or are we letting all these different mediums take the place of OUR responsibility to our children to train them up to believe in God and obey His Word?

It is interesting that among the first things dictators do is indoctrinate the children.  They know that if they can get the mind of a child, they can train them into thinking the way they want them to think.

There are those in our country that are advocating their point of view to vulnerable children and turning them against even their parents – because they know better than the parents.

There are those in our country that advocate that a child is the responsibility of the state NOT their parents and that the state and the state alone should dictate how they should be raised.

AND that movement continues to grow almost unabated.

But that is not how God intended children to be raised, the sixth commandment doesn’t say, ‘honor the state.’

Exodus 20:12  ^“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

So what are we teaching and training our children so they can respond to an ever changing society that is pulling farther and farther away from individual responsibility and the value of hard?

Being a good parent gets harder and more difficult each day; fortunately they are not alone.  Christians need to support and pray for these young parents and help them to:  “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Later, Art (-: