The first of October, really, that late in the year?  Where in the world has time gone?

There is no doubt about the date in our neck of the woods, Fall is making itself known.  But love the smell, the freshness of the air, the vibrancy of the animals as they prepare for the winter to come.

Fall is a time of thanksgiving, harvesting the fruits we have so diligently worked for through the year.  It is a time of reflection; a time of resting from that work.

A time of preparation for the winter to come, preparing for the cold, the snow and the work of a different kind.  Shoveling the snow, working to keep warm and safe – spent many years helping people get up a hill, or off the side of an icy road; investigating accidents in below freezing weather, with icy winds bringing the wind chill factor to even lower temperatures and fighting the snow and ice to get through to assist someone.

I have left that to others, and I wish them well!

Winter will be its own master, demanding our energies in a different way, but we will also plan for Spring; Carla will start planting seeds, placing them in the front window to get some sun; to be transplanted at least twice in preparation for the warming winds and warming soil so she can once again share her seedlings, and plant and play in her garden.

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2 Peter 1:2-10   KJV  “ Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

³ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

¹⁰ Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

I was watching an ad for a television program that was talking about how we are trying to make contact with aliens.

We have massive instruments set in high areas sending out messages of mathematical and scientific information in the hopes that intelligent life ‘out there’ will respond and contact us via the equally massive receptors awaiting it.

Millions, probably more like billions of dollars have and are being spent to find life on other planets.

Why does the world wish to connect with extraterrestrials when we can’t even connect with the God that created it all?

Why does the world deny HIS existence, but is sure there is intelligent life “out there, somewhere?”

Why do we wish to connect with extraterrestrials when we can’t even connect with the people here on earth?

The world today is amassed with all kinds of communication tools, yet we can’t sit down and have a quiet conversation with each other.

It is easier to text, or use some social media to broadcast our displeasures and hatred, but we don’t want to listen to nor read what the other person has to say in their defense.

How do we think we can get along with an ‘alien’ from outer space, when not only do we not speak the language of our given country very well, let alone be able to speak to those that we hate.  What language are we going to use, why, if they exist at all, would they want to communicate with THIS world?

We need to concentrate on what God has given to us; HE has been trying to communicate with man from the very beginning of time.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

He created a perfect world with a perfect environment for man to live in.  He gave us air to breath, and what we breathe in plants breath out and vice versa. 

He gave us water to quench our thirst and to provide nourishment to plants that can give us food to eat.

He gave us soil to plant those plants, knowledge to grow and harvest them; He gave us animals to both help us and to provide nourishment.

He gave us so many things to make this life on earth comfortable for us.

But the most important thing He gave us was His Son.

Through Him we have the ability to:  “⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is there for us, not for the asking, but, for the receiving.

We don’t have to use energy or time, it is already prepared for us – yet we squabble and fight like a bunch of spoiled children.

Not accepting or realizing all we need for a strong spiritual life, a righteous life, a perfect life is within us through Jesus.

“⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

How often I have allowed myself to forget these truths.

How often I have been blinded by my own frustrations, my own desires, my own fears, my own anger, my own business.

How often I have forgotten that the Holy Spirit within me is all I need to live a life of purity for Him.

So often, I cannot count and I am ashamed.

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

Lord, how often I have failed you.  How often I have forgotten to renew my vow to you, to live my life for you.

To learn, to watch, to listen, to pray, to share Your grace and goodness with others both in word and in deed.

I need your help to lift me out of the mire and help me stand on the firm ground you have already provided me so that my service to you will be meaningful and productive.

AND through that service people will find the real you.  Not some fantasized figure, but the Creator, God, Savior and forgiveness.

Later, Art (-: