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 (-: