The Lessons We Didn’t Learn From 9/11. Is America Mentioned in the Bible? Upate.

The Lessons We Didn’t Learn From 9/11

“Today a brand-new World Trade Center stands in the spot where wreckage smoldered 19 years ago. We’ve rebuilt, but what have we learned?

I was 11.

Mr. Dean and Mr. Blackwell had a clunky old CRT television mounted to the wall in the corner of their shared classroom. It was silver, I think, and had a VHS player.

We were in the middle of a lesson when a teacher rushed in and turned on the TV. There was smoke rolling out of a building I’d never seen before. People were panicked. They were saying someone had flown a plane into a building.

It was … surreal. I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it. How could I? I lived in America. America. That sort of thing didn’t happen here. It happened in other countries, or in movies, or … somewhere that wasn’t here.

Memorializing 9/11 while forgetting the lesson

For the United States, 9/11 was the day the world stopped turning—the day we were reminded that, yes, that sort of thing can happen here. That we are vulnerable. That we can bleed.

Four years ago, I visited the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum with my wife and parents. One of the larger exhibits focused on the events and aftermath of 9/11. There, in a circular room, stood a warped and twisted support beam salvaged from the wreckage of one of the towers. Screens set into the wall were playing time-stamped news footage on a continuous loop—the same footage I had watched in my sixth-grade classroom 19 years ago.

There’s a new World Trade Center now. It’s taller, more impressive and more imposing than before. One of the new support beams bears an inscription from President Obama: “We remember, we rebuild, we come back stronger!” But that gnarled beam in the presidential library was a sobering reminder:

It happened.

We can rebuild, but we can’t undo. We can come back stronger, but not invincible. We can remember what happened, but still forget the lesson.

Could something like 9/11 happen again?

For an extremely brief window of time, the collapse of the World Trade Center towers prompted many Americans to reexamine their lives and ask some probing questions. But it didn’t last. After 9/11, Gallup reported that church attendance in the U.S. jumped from 41 percent to 47 percent. Less than two years later, that percentage was down to 38 percent. Last year it hovered around 34 percent, with 79 percent of Americans agreeing that religion is losing its influence on American life.

For an extremely brief window of time, the collapse of the World Trade Center towers prompted many Americans to reexamine their lives and ask some probing questions. But it didn’t last. The effect faded with the shock, and nothing since then has left enough of an impact to replicate it. We’ve had mass shootings, we’ve had political and civil unrest, we’ve faced multiple moral issues contentious enough to divide the nation into staunch, unyielding camps—but through it all, our nation’s churches have only become emptier and emptier.’    Continue Reading at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/15-years-later-looking-back-on-9-11/?

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Is America Mentioned in the Bible?

“I just got off the phone with a friend from Portland, Oregon. He was describing to me the extent of the wildfires that are raging out of control in that state. You may have seen the pictures of reddish orange skies from the many fires, smoke and ash. Last night I heard one commentator call the scenes “apocalyptic.” That’s biblical language!

On top of the riots and political unrest in the country we still battle such natural disasters. It raises the question, “What is God saying to the nation?” Bible prophecy shows God does send waves of warning upon a nation before judgment falls upon it. Is that what we are seeing from God? Are we seeing warnings of a coming time of judgment?

Many students of the Bible have asked, “Is America mentioned in the Bible?” The answer is no, not directly by name. But when you look at the warnings to turn and obey God or face a time of trial and judgment, you realize the message of the Bible applies to all nations, but especially to America because it has been blessed by God. America has been blessed with the physical promises God made to Abraham. America has been great because God made America great.

This adds deeper meaning to all history for all people. It gives not only understanding but hope. It draws you deeper to the Word of Truth that God gave, "That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life." God has not only fulfilled the spiritual promise through Christ but also the physical part of the promises as well. The two are part of the true gospel of God. We may say that we are a nation trusting in God but the reality is that we are far from a nation truly under God living by God's teachings.

What should you do? 

You should do what Scripture says to do. You should save yourselves from this crooked generation (Acts 2:40). It may be too late for America but it's not too late for you. You can do something. You can turn to God. Pray to him, ask Him questions, thank Him for the blessings in your life and tell him about the things that worry you.

There's a passage from the 18th chapter of the book of Ezekiel where the prophet records the words of God to the nation of Israel. It has bearing upon our time and our people today. In verse 26 it says, "When the righteous man turns from their righteous behavior and starts doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds. And if the wicked people turn from their wickedness," God says, "Obey the law and do what is just and right, they will save their lives… Oh people of Israel, repent. Turn from your sins. Don't let them destroy you. Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, oh, people of Israel? I don't want you to die," says the Sovereign Lord, "turn back and live." 

This is what God wants! And it is a decision that you and I can make.

A recent Beyond Today program asks the question, “Has God Given Up on America?” (YouTube:  https://youtu.be/oUrg8PhCakg )    I think you will find this program compelling in light of what we are currently experiencing in our land. I hope you will take a moment to watch it.”    From:  https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?e=72c729d811&u=1d04480cefc2e7c4492fe4a04&id=788a418aa4

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Update.

Like most folks, I remember 9/11 very well.   My Johnnie was in his last days, but sick as he was, he was appalled.  What we were watching that morning was unbelievable.   It wasn’t long after that, that he didn’t really know what was going on around him, he died of cancer, eight weeks later.  But we will never forget…..

Another trip to the doctor here in Navasota to get a referral to see a podiatrist to get corns removed from the bottom of my feet.  I don’t know why I get them, but I have to get really thick foam insoles from Dollar Tree so that it doesn’t me hurt to walk.  I need to walk more, I have put on about 4 pounds.

My central AC did it’s thing again, or rather it didn’t, because it quit working. I had turned it off so that cold air wouldn’t blow on my newly washed hair, but then it wouldn’t turn back on again. I tried and tried to make it turn on but had to call the office.  At least we have a maintenance man again, and he checked the thermostat.  But with a lot of moving the switch back and forth, he got it going again, and has ordered a new thermostat.  Next time I wash my hair I will just move the temperature, not turn the system off.

A new neighbor moved in across the walkway to my apartment.  Boy, when I moved in I was teased for having so much stuff, but she beat me.  She introduced herself and we started talking, so it was soon discovered that we are both Sabbath keepers.  She said she wanted to go to Sherry’s on Friday morning and join our Sabbath school study in preparation for the study with the congregation the following day.  Neither Sherry nor I had a spare current study book, so I texted the ladies from the church who were handing out veggies and fruits at an apartment complex not far from ours, they do that every other Wednesday, to see if any of them had one in their vehicle.  No, no one had one, so I helped them distribute the food, and then followed them back to the church to get the study book. 

So, on Friday morning my new neighbor, June, and I walked down to Sherry’s and we went over this week’s study together.  On the Sabbath, I tried to get the Zoom thing going on my computer for the Sabbath School, but it didn’t do right, so the three of us went over to the church in my van and participated there.  The church is only 1.2 miles away.  June said that she enjoyed it and it was very interesting. There was a laptop hooked up to a TV so we could all see the others on Zoom.  Things are loosening up here, and there were more folks at church today.

Parenting. Honor Your Father and Your Mother. If Anyone Does Not Provide for His Own. Update.

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Parenting

“Being a parent is a job full of challenges, large and small. Wouldn’t it be great to have a source of expert parenting advice? And especially in the biggest challenges, wouldn’t it be reassuring to have access to the best parenting advice of all?

Practical Tips for Positive Parenting

Parenting can be one of the most wonderful experiences—but it can also be frustrating. How can we increase the wonderful—and lower the frustration?
From planning and preparing for a baby’s arrival to first holding that precious new life in your arms—it is hard to put into words the feelings we have when starting a family!
Then begins the process of taking a little one who is dependent on you for every need and helping him or her develop into an independent, well-mannered and productive member of society.
It is a daunting task, and there are bound to be bumps along that path!
No matter where you are in your parenting “career”—from brand-new, first-time parent to experienced grandparent—virtually everyone feels at a loss from time to time while raising children. This section has been written for those times when a fresh perspective or the seasoned words of veteran parents can provide the insight you need.
The world is changing rapidly, but the basic needs of children, from infancy to young adulthood, remain the same. Meeting their physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual needs are all as important today as ever.
The psalmist likened children to arrows in the quiver of an archer, stating that “happy is the man who has his quiver full of them” (Psalm 127:5 ). We invite you to explore the experiences and lessons in this section so your parenting experience can be more of the happy—and less of the frustrating!” More at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/parenting/
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Honor Your Father and Your Mother
“Why is the Fifth Commandment called the “first commandment with promise”?
Without the Fifth Commandment, society can (and will) collapse on itself. What makes honoring your father and mother such an integral part of human civilization?

In giving the 10 Commandments, God specifically highlights how keeping the Fifth Commandment benefits both you and all of society.

The first four commandments define how God wants us to show love for Him. This Fifth Commandment begins a series of six commandments that show us how to love other people—starting from our earliest years in the family.
In a way, the Fifth Commandment connects the two sections, since God reveals Himself as our loving Father. No father deserves honor as much as our Heavenly Father! Yet the Bible shows that humanity, and even those chosen to be God’s people, have often failed in showing that honor and respect to our Creator God.
God pointed out this much-too-common problem in Malachi 1:6: “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?”
This Fifth Commandment helps us see how learning respect and honor in the family setting helps prepare us to show honor to our ultimate Father.

The first commandment with promise

The Gospels record Jesus Christ repeating the Fifth Commandment several times, including Matthew 15:4 and 19:19.
The apostle Paul also reiterated the Fifth Commandment, emphasizing that it’s the “first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth’” (Ephesians 6:2-3). Paul adds to this in Colossians 3:20: “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” All of God’s commandments are given for our benefit, but this one is especially highlighted by God for the blessings that it brings for the individual, the family and society in general.
Paul expands on this subject of family relationships with commands to both children and parents: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (verse 1). A smooth functioning society and happy relationships are based on respect and obedience to authority. It is much easier if we learn this early in life—without requiring the harsh taskmasters of boot camp, prison or being fired.
God wants us to learn to “honor all people” (1 Peter 2:17). We must submit to authority, “For there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1). This does not mean God condones repressive, heavy-handed leadership. He holds parents, teachers and other leaders to a stricter judgment (James 3:1).

Honor shouldn’t end when we leave home

Family is a lifetime commitment, reflecting the permanence of the family relationship we are called to in becoming children of God. As the apostle John wrote, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).
Family is a lifetime commitment, reflecting the permanence of the family relationship we are called to in becoming children of God. God intends for us to continue to show respect and honor for our parents long after we leave home and perhaps even more as they age and may require support and care. Read more about honoring parents as adults in our article “How to Honor Your Parents as an Adult” and the blog post “Honor Our Mothers.”
Jesus Christ showed the hypocrisy of some who tried to get out of honoring and supporting their elderly parents:
“Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:3-6).
God wants our honor to extend throughout our parents’ lives.

The vital parental role

The apostle Paul also commanded parents: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). To the Colossians Paul added, “Lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Parents must not shirk their teaching role, but must do it in a way that is encouraging and doesn’t provoke their children.
The “training and admonition of the Lord” is explained more fully in the book of Deuteronomy. God told parents: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7).
The parental role is a vital one, and it is challenging. It is worthy of respect.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/10-commandments/honor-fifth-commandment/?
For further study about applying the Fifth Commandment and strengthening our families today, see the helpful articles in the “Family: Keys to Building a Strong Family” and the “Practical Tips for Positive Parenting” sections.
For more about the rest of the 10 Commandments, read the article “What Are the 10 Commandments?”
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If Anyone Does Not Provide for His Own

1 Timothy 5:8
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
The Bible teaches us to love everyone, but the religion of the Bible is a practical religion that gives us priorities and starting places. God gives us family as a support structure and a workshop for human relations.
Showing love must start at home and with our nearest relatives. If we can’t love and fulfill our responsibilities toward our own family whose needs we know, how can we show love for those we don’t know? Paul pronounced those Christians who did not care for their family members as worse than the unbelievers, since many unbelievers take better care of their families than that.
Jesus Christ mentioned an example of people trying to get out of caring for their own parents by claiming to dedicate the money to God instead (Mark 7:9-13). This tradition, called Corban, “was evidently a pious-sounding evasion of the requirement of honoring one’s parents by supporting them financially” (The Nelson Study Bible, note on Mark 7:11-13). Jesus said it was rejecting “the commandment of God” (verse 9).”  For more about the commandments of God, including the Fifth Commandment about honoring parents, see our section on “The 10 Commandments.”        From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/if-anyone-does-not-provide-for-his-own/?
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Update.
Like most folk now that the country, or at least my part of it, has almost shut down again, there isn’t much going on, not even the air conditioning!  It was off for 2 days and 2 nights.
On the Friday, I had called the emergency number for the apartment office and the answering service relayed my message so the apartment manager called me to tell me that she had left a message for the AC guy.  So I didn’t dare leave. I hardly even dared take a shower because you can’t hear the doorbell in there. If I had know that he wasn’t coming, I would have gone somewhere, a motel or something.  My family had already left on their trip and knew nothing about it, so I was on my own as usual.  I waited and waited, but by Sunday midday, I knew that I had to do something. 
My neighbor drove me to Lowes in College Station to buy a window unit.  I was feeling weak, and didn’t want to drive myself.  Before I left, I turned the system off, and then realized that IF the AC guy came, he would need it on.  After the 50 mile round trip to get the window unit, when I walked in I immediately knew that the AC was cooling again.  Before we left, my neighbor had banged on the old rusty outside unit, so we don’t know if the compressor was stuck, or if it had frozen up, or if it was a dodgy on/off switch on the thermostat.  The AC man had not been there, he didn’t show up until Monday and couldn’t find out what was wrong with it.
The new computer arrived, and it is fast.  I spent a few days getting it sorted out with the programs that I use, but I can’t get it to be friends with Open Live Writer, so I have to do this on my laptop.
On Thursday, I ventured back to College Station Lowes by myself and exchanged the AC. The one I had picked up on Sunday was the wrong one anyway, so I got the right one.  I will keep it it case the old central AC goes out again.  I really dislike driving to College Station, it is a fast 75mph road, and you know ‘they’ are going faster than that.  What would happen if they had a blow-out at those speeds?
I also went to a super Walmart, and to PetSmart. We don’t have either one of those in Navasota. No, my cat isn’t back home, but I needed new filters for my kitty water fountain. I looked at an older cat for adoption, but resisted because he is a biter! My thin skin would leak!  I went to visit my daughter and took a cauliflower crust pizza for us to eat.  I thought it was good, so did her father-in-law.
As usual, on Friday morning, my church neighbor and I studied the Bible study book. New health rules, so we couldn’t go to the church service, or even the Zoom Bible study at the church. We wanted to keep up with our studies even though we knew that we wouldn’t be going to the church Bible study on the Sabbath the next day.

A Forgotten Memorial Day: The Feast of Pentecost. Counting Pentecost. Update.

Today is the 42nd. day of the counting of 50 days to Pentecost.

A Forgotten Memorial Day: The Feast of Pentecost

“Monday is Memorial Day in the U.S. But there is another memorial day in a few days that commemorates one of the most momentous days in all of history.

On Monday, May 25, most schools, federal offices and some businesses in the United States will be closed to observe Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a U.S. holiday remembering the Americans who died in all the wars fought throughout American history.

But there is another Memorial Day approaching next week. On Sunday, May 31, is a day even more important than Memorial Day—it is the biblical Feast of Pentecost (or Feast of Weeks).

The unique feast of counting

In Leviticus 23 God gave Israel a list of special observances that He declared “the feasts of the LORD” (verse 2). These festivals were to be observed by God’s people as “holy convocations” (verse 2). Israel was to assemble together on these days to worship and learn.

The third festival in this list was unique. Instead of having a fixed date, the date of its observance was based on counting: “You shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath [during the Days of Unleavened Bread], from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath” (verses 15-16). In fact, the name Pentecost is simply the Greek term for “fiftieth.”

Every year when Christians gather to celebrate this day, they remember the events of the Pentecost that began the New Testament Church. A New Testament observance

Many, unfortunately, make the mistake of thinking that this day was just an Old Testament Jewish observance.

But the Bible paints a very different picture!

This special day is featured prominently in the New Testament. In fact, one of the most important events in the history of Christianity took place on this day. And that is no coincidence. Acts 2 tells the story of the beginning of the New Testament Church. You may have heard about some of the events of that day—tongues of fire, speaking in different languages, Peter’s powerful sermon, baptisms, etc. But have you paid close attention to why all these people were together in the first place?

Notice Acts 2:1: “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

Yes, the first Christians were assembled to observe Pentecost! What happened on this day would change history forever. On that day, God began the Church of God—a group of people called out of the world and together to be “His own special people” (1 Peter 2:9). No longer would God work only with the nation of Israel. Through the Church, He would now begin calling people of all ethnicities, races and nationalities into a relationship with Him (Romans 9:24; 11:11; Galatians 3:14).

The Bible shows that the Church continued to observe the Feast of Pentecost after this day (Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8).

The “memorial day” of Pentecost

In a way, it is interesting that Pentecost and Memorial Day fall around the same time. The word memorial means “serving to preserve remembrance.”

The Feast of Pentecost is also a memorial day.

Every year when Christians gather to celebrate this day, they remember the events of the Pentecost that began the New Testament Church (recorded in Acts 2). But it is a different kind of remembering. Instead of just remembering the past, the events of that Pentecost continue to live as a reality today. This Pentecost, Christians will memorialize:

• The giving of the Holy Spirit. One of the most significant “firsts” of that Pentecost was when those assembled “were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). Before this, the Holy Spirit was “with” Christ’s disciples; but now they were filled with it—it was now in them (John 14:17).

It is not a coincidence that the Holy Spirit was given on the same day the Church began. In one sense, it couldn’t have been any other way. The giving of the Holy Spirit—the very power of God—to a human being is what makes the person a member of the Church (Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

To learn more about the Holy Spirit, read “What Is the Holy Spirit?”

• Peter’s powerful sermon. In one way, Peter’s powerful preaching recorded in Acts 2 could be considered the inaugural address for the Church of God. It not only identified the incredible prophetic significance of that day, but it declared who Jesus Christ was, where He now was, what He was doing—and how those truths tied together to affect the life of every individual hearing the message.

Peter proclaimed the ultimate call to action: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (verse 38).

This isn’t just a memorial message, though, because the message and work that Peter’s sermon described is still being proclaimed today.

To learn more about the vital essence of this sermon, read “The Sermon That Launched the Church.”

• The growth of the true Church. Acts 2 records that 3,000 people were baptized and added to the Church on that miraculous day. The early Church was described as continuing “steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (verse 42).

The rest of the New Testament records the progression of that Church—how it went forward and grew beyond the confines of Jerusalem through the work of men like Peter, Stephen, James, John, Paul, Timothy and many others. But when we come to the later books of the New Testament, we find a Church regressing—being attacked on many fronts, with many losing the doctrinal purity and spirit of the Pentecost of Acts 2 (Galatians 1:6; 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 1:3-4).

The Feast of Pentecost is a memorial that Jesus Christ did build a Church—which can only be identified if we understand the identifying factor of “the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). That Church exists today; and it will gather, just as it did exactly 1,985 years ago, to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost.

To learn more about how to find the true Church today, read articles on “The Church.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/a-forgotten-memorial-day-the-feast-of-pentecost/?

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Counting Pentecost 

Photos.com

"Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are seven weeks past and we are almost finished in the counting toward Pentecost. God’s Holy Days are rich in meaning and anticipation as we rehearse them once again – each of them unique in what they picture and adding to what has gone before.  The upcoming Feast of Pentecost is no different in these regards.  

One unique aspect of Pentecost is that it is not a fixed date on the Calendar unlike the other Holy Days – so while it is always on the same day of the week, it can “move” in terms of which week in May or June it ends up being on.

God charged the Jews with preserving the Old Testament, but the interpretation has not always been handed down accurately.  During the first century A.D., the Pharisees gained complete control of the Jewish religious observances.  They figured Pentecost beginning with the day after the first annual Sabbath - the first Day of Unleavened Bread.  Is this what God instructed?  Preserved in a book called the Mishna is recorded how Pentecost had been counted from generation to generation before the Pharisees took control. 

How the Jews count Pentecost now is not always how it had been done, or should be done.  The Jews count from the first High Sabbath of the Days of Unleavened Bread - rather than from the Sabbath in the Days of Unleavened Bread.  If Pentecost was to be counted from the High Sabbath of the Days of Unleavened Bread, what would be the point in saying to count the days?  Why not simply say keep Pentecost on Sivan 6?  Instead, the weekly Sabbath can fall on 7 different days within the Days of Unleavened Bread - hence the need to count to know when to keep Pentecost.  We must pay attention to know the right time, or day, to keep.

God instructed Israel to count 50 days from the Days of Unleavened Bread to determine when to keep Pentecost.  We are to count “from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the…wave offering” (Leviticus 23:15, NKJV).  The Hebrew word there for Sabbath is the word used for the weekly Sabbath - the same word used in verse 3 when God reminds Israel to keep the weekly Sabbath.  God instructs us to count 50 days from the weekly Sabbath which also means that Pentecost will always fall on a Sunday (first day of the week).  Pentecost this year is on May 31st.  Have you ever thought why God did that with this Holy Day?  Every other Holy Day is set on a given day in a given month in His calendar – but not Pentecost.

Part of the reason for counting is to be reminded of the distance that we should be gaining in coming out of sin during the Days of Unleavened Bread, and part of the reason is to count with anticipation of the giving of God’s Holy Spirit.  In Acts 1:4 Christ told those assembled in Jerusalem not to leave that city (before the Day of Pentecost), but “…to wait for the Promise of the Father…” that is, the giving of the Holy Spirit.  Although we have been called and given access to God through His Holy Spirit, do we also count toward the day when all of mankind (1 Timothy 2:4) will have access to the knowledge of the truth?

As we finish the count toward Pentecost, let’s remember why we count Pentecost and what God wants to us to see and anticipate in that counting.  It indeed will be a wonderful time when “…the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Eternal as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).” From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/counting-pentecost

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Update.

Stores are opening up and life is starting become normal, but with muzzles. Most people are still wearing masks, and it is required to wear one even walking around these apartments or to the laundry or mailbox.  

I took a neighbor and her dog to a vet almost into the town of Anderson to be groomed and vaccinated.  It was only 8 miles away, so we came back to the apartments until it was time to get him again. He was happy to be home. She wanted to repay me by taking me out to eat at the Mexican restaurant owned by one of our church members, so we took my church neighbor too.  With good distancing etiquette we were placed in a corner of the restaurant, and we all had a very good meal.

I pride myself on my good health for my age of nearly 85, but I had to break down and see the physician’s assistant. She examined me and made an appointment for me to see an internist in College Station.  He examined me and it is set up for me to go to the hospital on the 11th. June.  I hate going to College Station.  I have lived half my life in the Houston/Conroe area, and the layout of College Station just baffles my poor old brain.  My church friend went with me, and we went to HEB afterwards as there are so many items that we can’t get in our local small town grocery store.  We ate at The Cotton Patch, it was good food and service, but again we were distanced in an obscure corner.

Because I will probably have to go to the hospital, I was worried about who would take care of the cat, Casper, that I had rescued.  He has fattened up and has become a really loving and gentle pet.  My SPCA boss said that she would take care of him, have him checked for FIV and FeLV, neutered and vaccinated, so my wonderful friend Chris came from Willis and transported him.  Casper might even be up for adoption if his health checks out. I always feel that once I have them healthy and happy that I am too old to take up an animal’s time when he could have a younger person and permanent “furever” home. At my age this home might not be too permanent.  If he has FIV or FeLV the normal procedure is to have them PTS because he would be unadoptable, but he and I bonded so closely that I don’t think I could let that happen.  People who adopt animals don’t realize how much love and care the foster gives that pet, and the foster parents do want to hear how they are once in a while. 

My young, (in her early 70’s), church neighbor was worn out from going to College Station yesterday, and so she didn’t go to church with me this morning.  We did the Bible study on Zoom again.  There were only about 8 people at the church and the rest were shown on Zoom on the TV that I took over there as the laptop they were using is so small. The pastor streamed the sermon on Facebook.  The subject was the first 4 verses of  Tim. 2.  “Character of a Soldier of Christ”.  He said that the church is going to open up and be normal in two weeks on the Sabbath, 6th. June, won’t that be a great day!

Do You Pray the Way Jesus Taught? Praying and Preying! Update.

Do You Pray the Way Jesus Taught?

“People pray many different ways across the various denominations of Christianity. How do you pray? How did Jesus pray? What did Jesus say about prayer?

Most would agree that one of the basic elements of Christianity is prayer.

But when you survey the wide variety of forms of Christianity, you find that there are many different practices and ideas about prayer. Consider:

• Those who are Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox typically see prayer as the recitation of prewritten prayers. Roman Catholicism has hundreds of these prayers for people to recite in a variety of situations. For instance, there are specific prayers for Catholics to recite before and after meals, when dealing with depression, and in many other situations. Catholic and Orthodox traditions include the practice of praying to Mary, angels and saints as intercessors between God and man.
• In general, the Protestant world is less liturgical about prayers. There are many different forms of praying in Protestantism—from emotional prayers spoken from the pulpits of churches to prayer groups meeting together to pray about specific issues.

Though the way people pray varies within mainstream Christianity, all major branches frequently pray “the Lord’s Prayer” found in Matthew 6:9-13. Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants will pray the Lord’s Prayer many times throughout their lives because they believe that Jesus instructed His followers to pray this prayer verbatim.

But is this what Jesus Christ intended when He taught His disciples about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount? What did Jesus really teach about prayer?

What did Jesus say about prayer?

The Lord’s Prayer is found in the middle of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount—the heart and core of what genuine Christianity is all about. Christ broached the subject of prayer in a portion of the sermon that explains Christians should not flaunt their good deeds for everybody to see. He said that good deeds—giving to charitable causes, serving others, etc.—should be done “in secret” (Matthew 6:4).

He didn’t mean that we should be embarrassed about doing good, but that our motivation should be to do good because we are trying to please God and do the right thing. Our motivation should not be for other people to see us!

After making that important point, Christ transitioned to the topic of prayer. He gave a number of points that are very important for all Christians to understand—and that contradict many of the practices found in Christianity today.

Prayer is not for show

Jesus applied the same principle He made about good works to prayer: “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men” (verse 5). In other words, we shouldn’t use prayer to show off our spirituality to others.

Pray in private

Instead of a public show, Jesus taught: “When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (verse 6).

In order to build a strong relationship with our Creator, we need to spend daily, concentrated time praying to Him privately, one-on-one. Instead of praying publicly to be seen by others, prayer is to be done primarily in private. There is an important reason for this. Prayer is designed as a means of communication to “draw near to God” (James 4:8)—to deepen our personal relationship with Him. In order to build a strong relationship with our Creator, we need to spend daily, concentrated time praying to Him privately, one-on-one.

Jesus Christ didn’t just teach about this; it was a regular part of His life (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12).

(Note that there are times when praying in public is appropriate, such as at a family meal, church service, wedding or a funeral.)

Pray to the Father

Jesus was very clear that our prayers are directed to God the Father: “Pray to your Father who is in the secret place” (Matthew 6:6). Now that Jesus Christ is in heaven as the Mediator between God and man, we pray “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus said we can ask the Father for anything in His name (John 14:13-14).

Though Christ was very clear, it is amazing how many churches pray in ways that directly contradict this instruction. Prayers are not to be directed to angels, Mary or any saints!

Pray from the heart

Jesus made another clear statement that is widely ignored: “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7).

Christ was referring to the pagan form of recitation and chanting prayers based on the idea that repeating a prayer will bring favor from God (or the gods). This form of repeating or chanting prewritten prayers is practiced extensively in the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

God doesn’t want prewritten prayers to be repeated over and over. This does nothing to fulfill the basic purpose of prayer, which is to develop a close, personal relationship with God.

If you do a study of the many prayers recorded in the Bible, you will notice that they are distinct, personal and heartfelt communication between the individual and God. Here are a few prayers that are helpful to study:

• 1 Samuel 1:11; 2:1-10: Hannah’s prayer requesting a child and her prayer of thanksgiving to God after He provided her a son named Samuel. 
• Psalm 51: David’s heartfelt prayer of repentance for his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah the Hittite.
• 2 Kings 19:15-19: King Hezekiah’s prayer for God to deliver Judah from being conquered by Assyria.

To learn more about how to have real, meaningful prayers to God, read the article “Prayer From the Heart.”

Jesus Christ provides an outline for prayer

Then Jesus got more specific. He said, “In this manner, therefore, pray” (Matthew 6:9).

He then gave an example prayer that, sadly, has been misused by many in mainstream Christianity—in direct contradiction of His instruction in verse 7 to not use repetitious prayers! This is commonly called the “Lord’s Prayer” and is recited repetitively in many denominations.

But Christ did not give this prayer for us to repeat over and over.

So what was Christ teaching us in the so-called “Lord’s Prayer”? Essentially, Jesus was providing an outline to show the general structure and topics that should be included in our regular prayers to God. This outline would more accurately be called a model prayer.

Study the accompanying graphic to better understand what Christ was teaching through this example prayer.

God wants a deep, personal relationship with you. To build that relationship, you need to communicate with Him through prayer. In order for those prayers to be “effective” and “fervent” (James 5:16), we must allow Jesus Christ to teach us how to pray and remove traditions that contradict what He taught!

To learn more about the Bible’s teachings on prayer, read “How to Talk to God.”

View larger or download infographic PDF of Jesus' Model Prayer

Learn More About God

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Praying and Preying!

“Even during a crisis, our society cannot escape human nature.

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/xN4fpdlm7R4

[Steve Myers] This is a time that we have to be careful about praying. Now, what do I mean by that? Well, there’s a couple of different kinds of praying. Certainly, right now, during this difficult time of all the health challenges that we face, we definitely want to be praying. We have to be a praying people. We should be praying for our families. We should be praying for our communities. We should be praying for our government leaders. We should be praying for the church. Absolutely, we should be a praying people.

But there’s another kind of praying that we’ve gotta be very careful about. And that’s this kind of praying. Yeah, believe it or not, during this time, there are those that are out there that are preying in this way. They’re preying on people. There is cyber criminals out there that are taking advantage of the Coronavirus. If you ever get an email that says, “Click here for a cure,” be careful, it’s probably a scam. If you get a text or an email that says, “Get your COVID-19 tax refund,” don’t do it. It is a scam. You’ve gotta be careful if you hear from the WHO, the World Health Organization, be careful. They don’t send out personal emails. That is probably a scam as well. And if you click on it, it’ll record every keystroke on your computer and they can steal your information. So, watch out. In fact, I’ve also heard about people that are going door-to-door. And they’re claiming to be able to come in and sanitize your home, so that you won’t be infected. That is a scam. They’ll come in and they’ll steal you blind. So, watch out.

What this reminds us of, these two kinds of praying, it reminds us that even during a crisis, there are people out there that cannot get away from their human nature. The Bible talks a lot about our human nature. A passage that specifically comes to mind for me is one that’s found in 1 John 2:16. It tells us about normal, everyday human way of thinking. It says, “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.” It is against God and there are those that are out there that would take advantage of you.

So, be careful. And of course, it’s a reminder for us, too. We need to be careful. Don’t be a hoarder. Don’t take advantage of others. Be selfless. Try to serve others during this difficult time. That’s the Godly thing to do.

So, let’s be sure we recognize the difference between praying and preying. And let’s be a people that’s praying to our God.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/praying-and-preying

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Update

Like everyone else who is ‘sheltering in place’ there isn’t much going on here.  My neighbor and I ventured to Tractor Supply, mostly to get some of the good pet food that they sell.  I had something to return anyway.  My neighbor has a sweet Westie, West Highland White dog, they look like a white Scottie. We have to go past our little Walmart to get there, so we went in, donned in masks and gloves. That seems to be everyone’s uniform these trying days.

Yes, I still have the cat that nearly died.  I am pretty sure that he has Feline Leukemia, among other things, but I want to give him some happy time as a beloved housecat before he gets too sick and has to be PTS.  He has lots of scars on all four legs where he must have gone through some awful trauma, but still has a very sweet personality. He finally realizes that he is going to be fed canned and dry food regularly, and doesn’t try to pry open the dry food bin anymore.  He had chewed through the bag when I got him, so I had to put it in a lidded pail. I have to mix canned pumpkin in with his canned food to help his digestion and elimination.  That works for people too.

Bible study was on Zoom, and I finally figured out how to make that work, but I didn’t know how to turn on my camera. When I was given this laptop, I was told to tape over the camera, so that “Big Brother Couldn’t Watch Me”, so had to take that off.  But that was OK, they didn’t need to see me.  The folks’ faces participating in the Bible study were so distorted anyway, their cameras didn’t do them justice.  I watched several church’s services on my computer, and spent more time watching them than I would have if I had gone to church.

Now we just have to do our best to help slow the curve, so that we can all live for a better day.

Prophecy: What Lies Ahead for You and Your World? Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Prophecy: What Lies Ahead for You and Your World?

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  Kingdom of God

  What is the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven? When will it come? Where is it? Why is the message of the Kingdom of God called good news?

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  Revelation

  Can the mysterious book of Revelation—the last book of the Bible—be understood today? What does it mean for your future?

• 

  Understanding the Book of Daniel

  Does the book of Daniel have any significance for us today? Or is it simply a good book for children’s stories like “Daniel in the Lion’s Den”?

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  End Times

  Where are we in Bible prophecy? Is this age the time of the end? Can people calculate the date of Jesus Christ’s return to this earth?

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  Prophets

  Was Nostradamus a true prophet? How can you tell a true prophet from a false prophet? What does God have to say about true and false prophets?

• 

  America in Prophecy?

  Many small nations are mentioned in Bible prophecy. Wouldn’t God also address a major world power like the United States of America in prophecy?

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  12 Tribes of Israel

  What promises did God make to the 12 tribes of Israel? What were His plans and expectations for them? What is the significance of these things today?

• 

  Middle East

  Bible prophecy is heavily focused on the Middle East. It is destined to be the focal point of end-time conflict—and of the Kingdom of God beyond!

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Update.

The post for last Sunday was all ready, but it is in my laptop, then a lot of things happened and I couldn’t post it.  So now this quick one, hopefully with a lot of Bible info.  One thing which has really hampered me this week is that I hurt my tail-bone and it hurts to sit down and even worse getting up.  So I didn’t go to the YMCA for the Yoga and Senior exercises. I did a lot of standing this week and cooked a lot of veggies that I had been given, including two great big Bok Choy.

I bought a used fridge for the mini-house, it is 5’ tall but only 24” deep, so it doesn’t overpower the space like the deeper, taller one did.

My new 14 year old foster cat arrived, a full grown skinny bag of bones weighing only 4 lb called “Oreo”.  She has to have thyroid and heart medicine rubbed inside her ears twice a day, and she wouldn’t eat. Her previous foster-mom had been force-feeding her with a syringe (without a needle, of course), and poor little Oreo didn’t like that, and nor did I. 

I wanted to get her eating by herself, so I bought her some KRM (Kitten Replacement Milk, that is for orphan kittens) which she would lap up a bit from time to time.  Gradually, she ate some Greenies, a nutritious cat treat, and then a couple of days later I took her to the vet for her twice monthly thyroid blood test, and they also gave her a B12 shot.  They said that she looked a lot better now as she was allergic to something at her previous place where her nose and sinuses were so messed up that she had to have a humidifier there.  She hasn’t shown any signs of that here. 

Poor little black and white Oreo, had been in a cattery, in a cage, with no home life for 12 years, and my SPCA boss wanted her to know what it was like to be in a loving home, being individually loved, and sleeping on someone’s bed.  That is why I was given the privilege of caring for her.  She is really loving it here, and last night she crawled up on my bed and slept there, purring. Finally, she is eating a little canned food, (Wellness, the best), diluted with water, so I hope when she goes back for her next thyroid check in two weeks, that she will have gained some weight.

As usual, we have been battling the winter scattering of pine needles and pine cones.  I heard that the pine cones will really do a number on a mower blade, so we have been raking and picking them all up before it was mowed.

Then more battling with this desktop which kept suddenly restarting like there had been a power failure, and I was frantic to save my pictures which I thought had gone into Google Drive but they hadn’t.  I need My Pictures to earn money by selling stuff, and if this computer dies, then I need my pictures in my laptop.  Finally, we got them on a thumb drive, so now Maybe I can get them in the laptop. Well, not me, I will have to get my neighbor to help me, as I don’t know how to do that. 

I am just an old great-grandma who all she knew when she was given a computer was how to type so I have had to teach myself how to work it to sell things to help pay the bills.  In the beginning, I knew how to sell stuff on eBay, but didn’t know how to write an email !  So, after a few weeks, I went to the library for them to show me how to do that. 

As I had some stew meat, I made a Beef and Barley Stew with organic veggies for the church potluck. Then there were the usual salads, lasagne, other beef dishes, pies, cookies and fruit.

The Bible readings were Prov. 8:1-17, Exo. 2:23-4:11, Isa. 40:11-19, Acts 10:9-28 and all of Matt 10.  The Teaching wa about The Readiness in The Believer.  About the desire to do something and then the preparation.

It was another ‘no-heat-nor-air-needed’ day.

Slave to the Lender. Six Biblical Personal Finance Principles. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Slave to the Lender

“Credit is an easy way to buy what you want now. Used wisely, credit can be an effective tool; but without restraint, it can make you a slave to the lender.

Don't become a slave to the lender.

The importance and usefulness of credit in our modern life is evident. The value of a good credit rating is emphasized by the prevalence of credit reporting and credit protection products and companies. A poor credit rating can be a rude awakening for someone trying to buy a house—or even applying for a job!

A culture of credit

For the average family, a major purchase such as a new automobile or a home would not be possible without the ability to borrow money on credit and pay it back over time. Many businesses must also occasionally borrow money to upgrade facilities or purchase equipment. Without sufficient capital on hand, credit becomes an important means to keeping a business growing and profitable.

These are important uses of credit in our society today. And used wisely, it allows a family or a company to take advantage of opportunities that would otherwise be lost. Gains in business and equity for a family are all positive outcomes of credit used wisely.

Not all credit is created equal       

Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/finances/slave-to-the-lender/

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Six Biblical Personal Finance Principles

“Money affects every aspect of our lives, and God’s financial principles can help us gain control and find peace of mind.

The other day it seemed that just about every conversation I was part of or overheard related to money.

At lunch, a friend told me she needed to take a second job to pay for her son’s college tuition. Another friend called me, discouraged about her upside-down car loan. A radio talk show host discussed consumer debt levels with his listeners. The couple behind me in line at the supermarket argued about whether they could afford certain items in their shopping cart. After receiving our latest utility bill, my husband and I had a long chat about how we could cut back on energy usage.

Truthfully, that day probably wasn’t much of an aberration—for me or for the people I was in contact with. The fact is, our personal finances influence much of what we think about, talk about and do day in and day out.

Often we’re worrying about whether we’ll have enough money to make ends meet, pay for an unexpected expense or retire. Some people become obsessed about amassing their fortunes and turn into workaholics. I’ve known people whose mood changed, depending on what the stock market was doing or how many bills were outstanding.

Our finances affect where we live, our work schedules, what we do with our free time and on and on.

So it’s not surprising that the Bible—the owner’s manual for living—has a great deal to say about money.

What follows are six biblical personal finance principles, along with some elaboration from professional financial consultants.

1. Follow a budget

The Bible doesn’t use the term budgeting, yet it offers clear direction on the importance of such planning. Simply put, a budget is a written plan to track and control income and expenses.

Proverbs 27:23 says, “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds.” Put in modern terms, we need to be aware of how we’re using our income, so we can know whether we need to make adjustments in our spending.

“Budgeting helps us avoid impulsive and unnecessary spending, live within our means, and prepare for future needs,” explains Bill Gustafson, senior director of the Center for Financial Responsibility at Texas Tech University. “If we don’t carefully plan our finances and direct them where to go, we will one day find ourselves broke.”

To set up your household budget, figure out how much you spend each month for different categories (such as housing, food, transportation, entertainment, clothing, medical, etc.), and compare that to your monthly income. If your expenses are more than your income, you will need to cut out unnecessary purchases.

Once you’ve established your budget, use either a ledger or a budgeting program on the computer to start tracking your monthly expenses. “If you get to the point where there’s no more money left for the month in a particular category, stop spending,” Dr. Gustafson says. “It’s going to take some determination to do this, but it’s a necessary step if you’re going to get your finances under control.”

For more on budgeting, see our online article “The Bible, Budgeting and You.” It includes a downloadable sample outline budget.

2. Tithe faithfully

The top priority on our income, before we do anything else with it, should be God’s tithes. God says in Malachi 3:10, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house.”

A tithe is 10 percent of a person’s “increase” (Deuteronomy 14:22), which is given to support the ministry and work of the Church. When we tithe, we show God that we are putting Him first in our lives.

Certainly God doesn’t need our money. Everything we have ultimately belongs to Him (Exodus 19:5). The real beneficiaries of tithing are those of us writing the checks. In the last part of Malachi 3:10 God makes the promise that when we faithfully tithe, He will “open … the windows of heaven, and pour out … such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”

The blessings can be physical or spiritual. Financial expert Dave Ramsey explains in his blog that tithing teaches us to be good stewards of what God has given us and to live unselfishly. This can lead to improved household finances and can help us become better spouses, friends, relatives, employees and employers.

Tithing can also help us learn to trust God more fully and build a closer relationship with Him. Often people who tithe can think back on times when—at least on paper—it didn’t look like they could afford to tithe. Yet they did and had enough—sometimes even more than enough—for their physical needs.

One friend put it this way: “Tithing has helped me to stay more focused on God, to not just look at the ‘facts’ from a human perspective, and to remember we can always count on God in all situations.”

3. Avoid unnecessary borrowing

The Bible warns against the use of debt. Proverbs 22:7 states, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” If you become burdened with a heavy load of debt, in essence you’ve become a slave to your creditors. You no longer have the freedom to decide how to spend your paycheck because you’re obligated to meet those debts.

The way to keep debt in check is to be careful about buying on credit. “Only borrow for purchases that will increase or hold their value, such as home or college tuition,” advises Erica Sandberg, a San Francisco–based money management consultant. “Don’t take out high-interest loans for nonessential items that are likely to depreciate quickly, such as new automobiles, clothing, furniture, appliances or jewelry.”

According to a 2018 report from Creditcards.com, the average credit card interest rate in the United States is around 17 percent. This means you’ll pay $170 in interest annually on every $1,000 of debt.According to a 2018 report from Creditcards.com, the average credit card interest rate in the United States is around 17 percent. This means you’ll pay $170 in interest annually on every $1,000 of debt. If you let the balance carry over month after month, you can quickly end up owing far more than the original price of your purchases.

Erica Sandberg recommends only using credit cards if you are able to pay the full balance on the statement each month, so you don’t have to pay any interest. If you have a lot of outstanding revolving debt, this should be paid off as quickly as possible, starting with the credit card that has the highest interest rate.

4. Save up before spending

Financial planners generally suggest saving at least 10 percent of your income every month. Have three different accounts: a short-term savings for major purchases (such as new household furnishings or vehicle repairs), a long-term savings (for your retirement or children’s college tuition), and an emergency fund (in case of a job layoff or large unexpected expense).

“Saving up money before making a purchase is one of the smartest ways to keep out of financial trouble,” says Dr. Gustafson. “By having money set aside for ‘big ticket’ items, you won’t be tempted to use credit cards to pay for them.”

This is another biblically based financial principle. Proverbs 21:20 says, “Be sensible and store up precious treasures—don’t waste them like a fool” (Contemporary English Version). Proverbs 6:6-8 describes the ant, who saves during a time of plenty for a time when there will be need. We, too, should save now for future expenses.

5. Give to others

Everything we have—our money, physical assets, jobs and even the ability to earn money—comes from God (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19). After meeting our own needs, He wants us to share some of what we’ve been given with others.

In Acts 20:35 Paul quotes Jesus as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” We should give unconditionally—even when the recipients cannot repay us (Luke 14:12-14). That could mean donating to charity, buying someone a gift, having people over to dinner or buying food for a homeless person.

While we need to exercise wisdom in how much to give, we shouldn’t be so tight with our money that we’re reluctant to part with any of it. As with tithing, God blesses us when we’re generous (Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6).

There have been times when I’ve given and afterward seen a disconcerting emptiness in my pocketbook. But then seemingly out of nowhere I received some unexpected cash or other financial blessing that filled that gap.

When we have the desire to share, God gives us the means to do so.

Of course, not everyone has the same financial means. We may genuinely be struggling monetarily. But even then, we can still give of the time, talents or other nonfinancial assets that God has provided for us. The point is, God wants us to use what He has blessed us with so we can be a blessing to others, not just so we can fulfill our own needs and desires.

6. Put your confidence in God, not in your finances

When it comes to finances, people often go from one extreme to another. If our bank accounts, retirement portfolios and home values are increasing, we might start trusting in them. When we’re facing a job layoff, stock market losses or unplanned expenses, we may worry anxiously. Neither extreme is the biblical approach.

The Bible makes it clear that true security can only be found in God (1 Timothy 6:17) and that trusting in riches will destroy us (Proverbs 11:28). Our wealth and possessions are temporary and can easily be wiped out in an instant, perhaps through theft, accidents or natural disasters.

If we’re struggling with our finances, we must remember that God is our refuge, and that He cares for those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7). We shouldn’t be anxious about money problems (Philippians 4:6). We must do our part—to not overspend, but to save and invest our money in what has eternal value. The rest is in God’s hands. If we’re seeking God’s Kingdom first and foremost, we can be assured that God will provide for our physical needs (Matthew 6:25-34).

By committing to these financial principles, we will benefit from improved finances and financial peace of mind. There may be less tension about money at home and a better connection among family members as well.

Most important, we will learn to trust God more fully, develop a deeper appreciation for His purpose for us and build a closer relationship with Him.”  From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/finances/six-biblical-personal-finance-principles/?

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Update.

One reason that I chose these topics is because when I left England it was the rule that you had to put a third down on something you wanted to get on credit, “on tick”, they called it.  I think that stopped a lot of unecessary debt, which is too prevalent these days.  So I hope that folks will go by these good principles when borrowing.

Just regular maintenance around here this week.  Raking and burning and trying to keep abreast of the leaves and pine needles, and we also had to burn some old termite-eaten lumber.  One morning I took Zack to the local food pantry operated by the local churches, to get his ration of free food.  

On Wednesday, I took a day off and looked in various thrift shops. in Conroe. One find was “The Bible from 26 Translations” and I also bought one of those old glass electric hot plates, but this one is about 3 feet long.  It will keep a lot of the church potluck food at serving temperature.  My daughter called my cell while I was at Walmart ordering my new eye glasses, she was in Conroe so we met and I saw her new German Shepherd pup, “Ruckus” for the first time. He is big.  I tried to take a picture, but he wouldn’t hold still.

On Thursday, the usual Yoga and Senior exercises at the “Y” and they put on a lunch there this time.  Friday, a visit to the doctor, just routine stuff, and  then because it was “Preparation Day”, according to the Bible, I got my church clothes ready, cooked for the church potluck, and set my hair.  A quick brush through and it might look decent.

For the Sabbath potluck I took Turkey Spaghetti Bolognese, Whole Grain crackers and White Cheese dip.  I also took the rest of that enormous cookie that had been taking up room in my deep freeze.  But the favourite dessert there was a cheescake, and that went fast!

The Bible readings were Gen. 49:1-27, Zech. 14:1-11, Luke 23:13-34 and all of Matt. 7.  The teaching was the second part of “Messiah, Our Advocate”.

The computer guy was at church this time and now I have my desktop back, hurray!  Even though I found out how to use my regular monitor instead of hunching over the table-height laptop screen, it just didn’t do right for me.  It has Windows 8 and I am used to Windows 7.  I hope I never have to get used to Windows 10!  The keyboard is a little different, too, so that made me make mistakes, 

Still crazy weather around here, you can’t get bored.  Really cold, and then just to surprise us, a warm day.