2019 January 31 Thursday

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2019 January 31 Thursday in Liberty Hill, Texas

Ain't nothin' but grey sky. No sun to be seen.

The day started with a cold drizzle. Fortunately at 42° it was well above freezing. Today toppled out at 49° while still under grey skies.

Thursday is Over the Hill Gang in Liberty Hill. It was "hat day" but very few remembered to wear one.

We had a good sized crowd today at 59 for lunch.

Unfortunately the only thing on the menu that didn't have onion was the pinto beans and the desserts. The beans would have been better with some ham.

We stopped at "Mom's"* on the way home. She had made another peach cobbler for us. It was for ME. I know that she intended it to all be mine. Mine! Mine!

2 o'clock in the afternoon looked just like 6:30 in the morning or 6:30 in the evening.

Ella's physical therapist came this afternoon. He was pleased with her progress. He plans to schedule her for 2 more visits before she goes for therapy at the office in Liberty Hill on Wednesday.

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*Mom (Florence) is a friend who is old enough to be our mother and does mothers us.

Q&A

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MUSINGS - January 31, 2019

Q&A

Matthew 8:28-34
When he arrived in the territory of the Gadarenes on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, two men met him. They were possessed by demons and had come out of the tombs. No one could travel along that road because the men were so dangerous. They shouted, "Why are you bothering us now, Son of God? Did you come here to torture us before it is time?" A large herd of pigs was feeding in the distance. The demons begged Jesus, "If you're going to force us out, send us into that herd of pigs." Jesus said to them, "Go!" The demons came out and went into the pigs. Suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the cliff into the sea and died in the water. Those who took care of the pigs ran into the city. There they reported everything, especially about the men possessed by demons. Everyone from the city went to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their territory.

Several questions cone to mind in this reading.

Are these men Jews living on the east side of the lake?

If they were Jews, why were their herds of pigs that were forbidden for Jews to eat, being "unclean" animals?

Why were the people so upset by Jesus?

I have come up some possible answers to those questions.

The question is significant because, with very few exceptions, Jesus's ministry was to the Jews only. It wasn't until just prior to his ascension that Jesus commanded his disciples to go into all the world.  We know from the 32nd chapter of Numbers that the tribes of Reuben and Gad asked for and received lands on the east side of the Jordon. In the centuries since then its reasonable that many Jews lived in the area. However, it was mostly inhabited by non Jews. So these men may or may not have been Jews.

Even if these men were Jews that doesn't mean that there weren't non Jews there who raised hogs. It is still possible that people who were Jewish by birth were not practicing the Jewish laws and had adapted to the culture in which they lived. This is certainly a problem faced but both Jews and Christians today. It it's difficult to be a "people set aside by God" when living in a culture who do not share the same values and have open disdain and contempt for our beliefs.

The third question why did they beg him to leave their territory? I would have thought that freeing these dangerous men from their demons would have been welcomed. After all no one could travel along that road because the men were so dangerous. And now they were no longer a threat. That's a good thing, right? Ah, I think the answer goes back to the large herd of pigs. After the demons entered them, the pigs ran off a cliff and drowned. That would have been a large financial loss for the owners. These people would rather have these men tormented than loose their livelyhoods. I can not cast judgement on them for their self interest. I too have been in positions where I could have been a help to a person in need, but the cost to me outweghed my desire to assist. Lord, forgive me and make me a better Christian.

I hope thesequestions and answers have given you seeds for thoughts.

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2019 January 30 Wednesday

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2019 January 30 Wednesday in Liberty Hill, Texas

The day started at 32° and hit 53° for a very brief moment before the sky turned a uniform gray. This was sunrise.

Today was Grandies in the morning. After that we stopped at the post office and got an arm load of mail.

Ella had to go to the physical therapy office to get registered for when she no longer qualifies for home visits. Wow, not only can you legally be tortured but they make you pay for it.

With that done we went to Jardin Corona for lunch. With my severe allergy to onions I must be very careful of what I eat. So why would I even consider going to a Mexican restaurant? Because my bride wanted enchiladas. As long I didn't eat the salsa, guacamole, or salad, I was alright with the steak.

The afternoon was quiet. We napped. We read. We watched TV. We played games.

Wednesday night is choir practice at Cross Tracks Church. Ella was feeling okay enough, so we went to practice. I really enjoy choir and I actually love the practice more than the performance. Practice is about learning and sharpening a skill. That means more to me than the presentation. I'm not a great singer and I don't really read music. But I know I can add something because I can hit the deep bass notes that the others aren't able to do.

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WHAT KIND OF MAN IS THIS?

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MUSINGS - January 27, 2019

WHAT KIND OF MAN IS THIS?

Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus' disciples went with him as he left in a boat. Suddenly, a severe storm came across the sea. The waves were covering the boat. Yet, Jesus was sleeping. So they woke him up, saying, "Lord! Save us! We're going to die!" Jesus said to them, "Why do you cowards have so little faith?" Then he got up, gave an order to the wind and the sea, and the sea became very calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!"

That it's the question that people have asked about Jesus for several thousand years. "What kind of man is this?" There are various ways to learn that answer. One way it's by studying the scriptures seeking understanding. Read these selected verses.

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.

Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Genesis 1:6-8
God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse “sky”. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.

Genesis 1:9-10
God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so. God called the dry land “earth”, and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas”. God saw that it was good.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh, and lived amongst us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Do you understand that Jesus has existed from the beginning? Do you understand that the same Jesus who, from the boat, commanded the sea and the sky to become calm, was the one who created the sky and the sea?

As I said, the scriptures are one way to understand the true nature of the man called Jesus. There are other ways. Perhaps it takes being knocked to the ground to understand. Acts 9:3-5
As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" Saul asked, "Who are you, sir?" The person replied, "I'm Jesus, the one you're persecuting.

Sometimes the truth about Jesus is a quiet revelation from God. Matthew 16:13-17
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They answered, "Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!" Jesus replied, "Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven revealed it to you.

Some people come to an understanding by observation of nature. Acts 17:26-28
From one man he has made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth. He has given them the seasons of the year and the boundaries within which to live. He has done this so that they would look for God, somehow reach for him, and find him. In fact, he is never far from any one of us. Certainly, we live, move, and exist because of him. As some of your poets have said, 'We are God's children.'

Some come to a revelation about Jesus's true nature by understanding events. Mark 15:37-39 Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice and died. The curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom. When the officer who stood facing Jesus saw how he gave up his spirit, he said, "Certainly, this man was the Son of God!"

What it's your answer to the question, "What kind of man is this?"

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DID THEY? WILL YOU?

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MUSINGS - January 27, 2019

DID THEY? WILL YOU?

Matthew 8:18-22
Now, when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he ordered his disciples to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. A scribe came to him and said, "Teacher, I'll follow you wherever you go." Jesus told him, "Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep." Another disciple said to him, "Sir, first let me go to bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

We read so much about the 12 disciples following Jesus that we may forget that they were but the inner circle of his many followers. The gospels record that great crowds followed Jesus. And we know from Luke 10 that at least 70 were called disciples.

Amongst all of those crowds, we have this narrative where two come and pledge to follow Jesus. Jesus warned one of some of the cost of following him, "the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep". To the other he demonstrated that, to be Jesus's follower, he must be the most important thing in their life, "let the dead bury their own dead."

The rest of the story is left unrecorded. Did they continue to follow Jesus? Or did they turn away because they could not accept him as the master of their life?

Today many claim Jesus as their savior. That's the easy part because that is his gift to them (us). But I often wonder, how many have accepted Jesus as Lord? How many accept that he is more important than their family, friends, jobs, possessions, comfort, and life? The only thing he requires of us is "everything". That is what it means to give our life to Christ. That is what it means to call him Lord. Is he your Lord and Savior?

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INVASION

NEWSLETTER

of RANDOM THOUGHTS

Here are some statistics that I found. They are not current but it gives us an idea of the enormity of the situation.

"There were 12 million immigrants living in the country illegally as of January 2015, according to the most recent estimate from the Department of Homeland Security. The estimates from two independent groups are similar: The Pew Research Center estimates the number at 10.7 million in 2016, and the Center for Migration Studies says there were 10.8 million people in 2016 living in the U.S. illegally."

.

If 10 to 13 million people illegally came into the country at one time it would be an invasion, an act of war. Does it make it less off an invasion of it is done slowly?

I have compassion for people fleeing wars and dangerous conditions in their home countries. They have a God given right to "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." That is, after all, the principle on which our country was founded. Later, a giant copper statue was erected off the coast of New York with the inscription "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door." If you hang a sign like that on your front door; how can you not expect the tired, poor, masses yearning to be free, wretched refuse, homeless, and tempest-tossed; to come knocking?

Many of my ancestors arrived here because they were escaping wars and famines. However, they did it legally.

I don't know what the solution is. It seems that their are two major ways of attacking the problem. One way is to tighten our border security. The other is to make the process for legal immigration more accessible. And one solution does not preclude the other.

I welcome your feedback.

PROOF

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MUSINGS - January 27, 2019

PROOF

Matthew 8:14-17
When Jesus went to Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law in bed with a fever. Jesus touched her hand, and the fever went away. So she got up and prepared a meal for him. In the evening the people brought him many who were possessed by demons. He forced the evil spirits out of people with a command and cured everyone who was sick. So what the prophet Isaiah had said came true: "He took away our weaknesses and removed our diseases."

In Matthew's narrative it appears that recording all the miraculous things that Jesus did was less important to him than the fact that Jesus did them. Here he could have written chapter after chapter by listing each and every healing and exorcism. Instead Matthew lumped them all together with the simple words, "many"and"everyone".

Matthew's purpose for writing this gospel was not to give a history lesson. Nor was goal to write a biography of Jesus. His gospel showed how the life and acts of power performed by Jesus fulfilled old testament prophecy, proving that Jesus was the messiah.

What proofs do you have or need to prove to you that Jesus came to bring you into the kingdom of God?

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2019 Januar 27 Sunday

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2019 Januar 27 Sunday Georgetown and Liberty Hill, Texas

48° and a few drops of rain overnight along with done thunder. Got up to 65 under nearly cloudless skies.

I left Ella at home while I went to church. I also went to Adam and Leigha's for lunch and Tate's flag football game.

On the way home, I called Ella to see what she wanted for supper. We settled on Subway.

Not a spectacular sunset.

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SO GREAT A FAITH

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MUSINGS - January 27, 2019

SO GREAT A FAITH

Matthew 8:5-13
When Jesus went to Capernaum, a Roman army officer came to beg him for help. The officer said, "Sir, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in terrible pain." Jesus said to him, "I'll come to heal him." The officer responded, "Sir, I don't deserve to have you come into my house. But just give a command, and my servant will be healed. As you know, I'm in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, 'Go!' and he goes, and another, 'Come!' and he comes. I tell my servant, 'Do this!' and he does it." Jesus was amazed when he heard this. He said to those who were following him, "I can guarantee this truth: I haven't found faith as great as this in anyone in Israel. I can guarantee that many will come from all over the world. They will eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. The citizens of that kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there. Jesus told the officer, "Go! What you believed will be done for you." And at that moment the servant was healed.

Back in Matthew 5:43 Jesus preached, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this scripture Jesus does just that.

And here he practiced what he preached. Israel was a conquered nation. They were under the thumb of Rome and the Roman army enforced that. Yet here came a Roman soldier to Jesus.

He came begging not demanding. He was humble. And he came not for himself not a family member but for his servant. He was a man of compassion. He went not to a Roman doctor but to a Jewish healer. He was a believer in Jesus's power and ability. So strong was his belief that rather than have Jesus go to his home,he said, "But just give a command, and my servant will be healed." It is no wonder that Jesus praised his faith.

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2019 January 26 Saturday

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2019 January 26 Saturday in Cedar Park, Leander, and Liberty Hill, Texas

45° and cloudy at day's beginning. 53 for the high.

The first thing on my list today is tho do the laundry, So, here I am in Leander art the laundromat. I won't be able too take my usual nap today. Ella is not here to wash, dry, and fold while I sit on the couch and snooze.

Ella ended up sleeping the last party of the night inn bed. That's the first time since her shoulder surgery that she hasn't slept in her recliner.

She is doing very well. For the most part she has switched from the narcotic pain pills tho Tylenol.

Then to Wal-Mart for a few food items.

And then to the automotive department for some tires. Rudolph the red nose pick up now has some new shoes. And with a tank full of gas he now has a full tummy too.

There were a couple of things I was unable to find at Walmart. So I stopped at HEB. I found the coldbrew decaf teabags and the cream of rice that Ella had requested.

Sunset was less than impressive tonight.

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YOU CAN, IF YOU ARE WILLING

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MUSINGS - January 26, 2019

YOU CAN, IF YOU ARE WILLING

Matthew 8:1-4
When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. A man with a serious skin disease came and bowed down in front of him. The man said to Jesus, "Sir, if you're willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out, touched him, and said, "I'm willing. So be clean!" Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean. Jesus said to him, "Don't tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifice Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean."

Matthew records that Jesus, having completed his teaching, came down from the mountain and began a series of healings. The first one was a man with a serious skin disease, leprosy.

It was considered that leprosy was punishment from God for the person's sin. Because it was a mark of sin, the leper was not to go to a physician for diagnoses and treatment. He was to present himself to be examined by the priest. The priest could offer no healing if the skin disease was found to be leprosy. Only God could forgive the sin and remove the disease.

A leper, buy the law of Moses (Leviticus 13) must isolate himself away from everyone except other lepers. He could no longer live with his family. That also meant that he was not allowed in the city. If another person approached him, the leper was required to announce his disease by loudly saying, "Unclean!"

This is the life that this man had been living before coming to Jesus. He came believing that Jesus could heal him. Listen to his words. "Sir, if you're willing, you can make m, e clean." He doesn't say, "If you can." He only said, "if you're willing." Understand that by saying what he said, the man was recognizing that Jesus was God. Jesus immediately declared, "I'm willing. So be clean!" Jesus then sent him to the priest to fulfill the law*.

When we come before the Lord with our petitions, we must come believing that he can. We must also understand that it must be within the will of God, "Not my will but Thine."

*Leviticus 14:1-22 The LORD spoke to Moses, "These are the instructions for making a person clean after a skin disease. He must be taken to the priest. The priest will go outside the camp and examine him. If the person is healed, the priest will order someone to get two living, clean birds, some cedar wood, red yarn, and a hyssop sprig to use for the cleansing. Then the priest will order someone to kill one bird over a clay bowl containing fresh water. The priest will take the living bird, the cedar wood, the red yarn, and the hyssop sprig and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. He will sprinkle the blood seven times on the one to be cleansed and will declare that person clean. Then he will let the living bird fly away into the open country. "The one to be cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash. Then he will be clean. After that he may go into the camp. However, for seven days he will live outside his tent. On the seventh day he must shave off all the hair on his head, his beard, and his eyebrows, and he must wash his clothes and body. Then he will be clean. "On the eighth day he must take two male lambs that have no defects and a one-year-old female lamb that has no defects. He must also take eight cups of flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering along with a quart of olive oil. The priest who will declare him clean must bring the person and his offerings into the LORD's presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The priest will take one of the male lambs and the quart of olive oil and present them to the LORD as a guilt offering. He will slaughter the lamb in the holy place where he slaughters the offering for sin and the burnt offering. He will do this because the guilt offering, like the offering for sin, belongs to the priest. It is very holy. Then the priest will take some of the blood from the guilt offering and put it on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. The priest will also take some of the olive oil and pour it into his own left hand. He will dip his right finger in the oil in his left hand, and with his finger sprinkle some of the oil seven times in the LORD's presence. The priest will put some of the oil that is still in his hand on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. These are the same places he had put the blood of the guilt offering. The priest will put the rest of the oil in his hand on the head of the one to be cleansed. So he will make peace with the LORD for that person in the LORD's presence. The priest will also sacrifice the offering for sin to make peace with the LORD for the one who is being cleansed from his impurity. After that, he will slaughter the burnt offering. The priest will sacrifice the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest will make peace with the LORD for that person, and the person who had the skin disease will be clean. "But if the one to be cleansed is poor and cannot afford that much, he must take one male lamb, present it to make peace with the LORD for himself, and use it for his guilt offering. He will take only eight cups of flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering, a quart of olive oil, and two mourning doves or two pigeons (whatever he can afford). The one will be an offering for sin and the other a burnt offering.

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DON'T BE FOOLISH

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MUSINGS - January 25, 2019

DON'T BE FOOLISH

Matthew 7:24-29
"Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who built a house on rock. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not collapse, because its foundation was on rock. "Everyone who hears what I say but doesn't obey it will be like a foolish person who built a house on sand. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and struck that house. It collapsed, and the result was a total disaster." When Jesus finished this speech, the crowds were amazed at his teachings. Unlike their scribes, he taught them with authority.

One year ago in January 2018 100 homes were destroyed and at least 17 people died when deadly walls of mud and debris roared down California hillsides.

Over the years I remember seeing many news reports of homes, that had been built on the edges of cliffs, destroyed when the earth gave way after heavy rains. And yet people continue to build in precarious places.

People are foolish. They are foolish in this natural world and they are foolish in the spiritual world. A life built on anything but the Word of God is foolishness that leads to destruction that never ends.

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2019 January 24 Thursday

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2019 January 24 Thursday in Liberty Hill, Texas

28° just like yesterday morning. Completely cloudless.

Ella is continuing to get better. She has begun weaning herself from her medications. She's gone from one pill every 4 hours to one every 5 hours. Here is an image of the wound. It's about 5" and to the front of her right shoulder.

Ella doing physical therapy. Using the left hand tho increase range of motion on right arm.

video of Ella doing physical therapy

Ella preparing tho beat me at Fast Track. She had three players on the board and I have none.

Of the 3 packages that arrived yesterday, these jacks are the only ones that came as advertised. The pjs that were ordered xl, came with thetop being a large and the bottoms a medium.

I already posted about my disappointment at the "Big and Tall" sleeping bag that was only tall and not big. I know I'm large but not gigantic. So I really looked forward to that sleeping bag.

G'night and God bless.

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CAN'T FOOL GOD

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MUSINGS - January 24, 2019

CAN'T FOOL GOD

Matthew 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?' Then I will tell them publicly, 'I've never known you. Get away from me, you evil people.'

Jesus has in the previous few verses warned us to not be mislead by false prophets. He said tho judge then by their fruit. Now he said many will claim to have performed deeds of power in his name. Too which he replied, "I've never known you."

Clearly, judging then by their fruit is not easy. They can be very good at deception and will fool many.

I'm going to sound like a broken record here. I've said this so many times. Read your bible. Read it seeking understanding. The scriptures are given as our guide to life eternal. Surely that should be worth giving up a TV show, or dinner out, or a round of golf or whatever your excuse has been for not having enough time for bible study. Certainly, if you were diagnosed with a terrible disease, you would follow the instructions of your doctor. Well you have an incurable disease called Death. But whether death is a door to heaven or hell is up to you. Jesus has done his part. And now it's up to you.

The false prophets are warned that theycan't lie their way into heaven and neither can we. You can't fool God.

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WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE?

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MUSINGS - January 23, 2019

WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE?

Matthew 7:15-20
"Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves. You will know them by what they produce. "People don't pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they? In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. Any tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into a fire. So you will know them by what they produce.

Who are the "prophets" in our time? It occurs to me that few are religious leaders. Most of the prophets of today are scientists. These are the ones ones who are predicting mankind's future. And like the prophets of old, some are twisting "facts" to fit their world view. Which are right and which are wrong? I don't know. But I do know who holds the future and I know he holds my hand.

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2019 January 23 Wednesday

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2019 January 23 Wednesday in Liberty Hill, Texas

28° that feels like 20 and it hailed overnight. I slept besides her in my recliner until Monday night. P

Grandies

Ella all snuggled into her recliner. She's lived there day and night since last Thursday. I slept in my recliner next to her until Monday night. Sleeping in a recliner was really bothering my legs and hips so I quit. it also bothered my left shoulder pushing myself up out of that chair all of the time.

I ordered a shower seat that Ella can use now and I can use next year after my knee surgery.

Today's mail brought get well cards for Ella and birthday cards for me. It all's brought pjs for Ella, jacks for the trailer, and a sleeping bag for me. It was advertised as "big and tall". I'm big and tall. Sofor my birthday gift for myself, I bought it. Unfortunately it may be tall but it's not big enough for me. I couldn't get both arms in. How disappointing.

G'night and God bless.

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2019 January 22 Tuesday

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2019 January 22 Tuesday in Liberty Hill, Texas

54° and partly cloudy that turned completely cloudy and 62°.

It was windy throughout the night and continued through morning and finally died around 2 p.m.

[wpvideo Z213DPCM data-temp-aztec-id="91b97d87-40c4-4314-bfdc-33ac924f9a74"]

That's it nothing happened and we went no where today.

G'night and God bless.

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SET YOUR GPS ON HEAVEN

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MUSINGS - January 21, 2019

SET YOUR GPS FOR HEAVEN

Matthew 7:13-14
"Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate. But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate.

This is a very pessimistic metaphors that Christ has uttered. But it's because he understands humankind so very well.

I found this little gem of a fact by asking google, "What state has the highest legal speed limit in USA?" The answer is: "With segments of rural interstates, Texas is the fastest state in the country. The state's average speed limit for all three types of roadways (rural and urban interstates and limited-access roads) is 78.3."

Now, I confess trust I knew the answer before I sought documentation. I've been on an 85 mph road in Texas. If you do only the legal limit, you'll get run over. We were passed by people who had to be doing 100.

Why am I telling you this? Because it's a real life example of what Jesus was saying. Given a choice between a straight wide smooth road with gentle curves or a narrow, twisting, hilly, rut-filled road, most will choose the easiest road and still push it past it's limits. Left to our human nature, we rush headlong toward oblivion ... both metaphorically and literally.

Jesus repeatedly tells his followers that living a Christ-filled life will be rough, "Pick up your cross and follow me." (Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27) To be a true follower filled with a Christlike life (What Would Jesus Do?) we must be willing to be put to a shameful, cruel death rather than go back back to our old human nature.

We must constantly check our path, will it lead to life eternal? Set your GPS for heaven.

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2019 January 21 Monday

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2019 January 21 Monday in Liberty Hill, Texas

35° and partly cloudy that reached 61°

Ella received a text from Wal-Mart that sure had meds tho pick up. So off I went. While I was there I purchased tho sweatpants for Ella to use as pjs.

This afternoon both the home health nurse and the physical therapist were here to chicken on Ella's progress. She got good reports from both.

Her nerve block pump was empty so I removed the bandage and the needle. That is one less thing to have hanging around her neck. She seems to be keeping ahead of the pain with low doses of the oral pain meds.

G'night and God bless.

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions0.wordpress.com/

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2019 January 20 Sunday

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2019 January 20 Sunday in Liberty Hill, Texas

I went to church while Ella stayed home. She's not ready to try climbing into the truck.

After church I returned the carpet cleaner to H.E.B. From there I went to Wal-Mart looking for a pajama set for Ella. She wanted fleece with a button front. The summer wear are out now so no fleece to be found.

However I found a 2 piece fleece sleep suit with a zippered front. If she it's unable to work the zipper (as I suspect) I can help her with it until I can get it to a seamstress to have buttons replace the zipper.

This afternoon both the home health nurse and the physical therapist were here to chicken on Ella's progress. She got good reports from both.

Her nerve block pump was empty so I removed the bandage and the needle. That is one less thing to have hanging around her neck. She seems to be keeping ahead of the pain with low doses of the oral pain meds.

G'night and God bless.

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions0.wordpress.com/

my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

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All content (except quotations) ©2019 Thomas E. Williams

DO!

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MUSINGS - January 21, 2019

DO!

Matthew 7:12
"Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is the meaning of Moses' Teachings and the Prophets.

Jesus here gives the practical application to all the spiritual laws. This is the law of true love.

If you were oppressed, persecuted, and abused, you would want someone to free you. So, free the oppressed.

If you we're hungry, you would want to be fed. Feed the hungry.

If you were naked, you would want to be clothed. Clothe the naked.

If you were helpless, you would want to be helped. Help the helpless.

Or you were unloved, you would want to be loved. Love the unloved.

If you were homeless, you would want a home. Provide shelter for the homeless.

The prophet Zechariah delivered God's message this way, "This is what the LORD of Armies says: Administer real justice, and be compassionate and kind to each other. Don't oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And don't even think of doing evil to each other." (7:9-10 )

Put feet to your faith, do something.

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SO ASK ALREADY

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MUSINGS - January 20, 2019

SO ASK ALREADY!

Matthew 7:7-11
"Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the one who knocks, the door will be opened. "If your child asks you for bread, would any of you give him a stone? Or if your child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake? Even though you're evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?

God loves us. He wants what is best for us. Ask, and if is good for us, He'll provide it. However, He is not a genie in a magic lamp there to grant your every wish.

Imagine that your three year old daughter asked for a real pistol with real bullets. She really, really, wants a loaded gun. She asks for it repeatedly. Would it be good parenting to give her the loaded gun for which she's been begging? I pray that you said NO!

The child may sulk, stamp their feet and yell, "You don't love me!" When, in fact, the very reason you didn't grant her wish is because you love her too much to allow her to harm herself our others.

God will always give you what you need and is best for your soul. He loves you. If you want something, ask God for it. He may see that you get it. In my experience, he gives me something better than the thing for which I ask. But there are times when the answer is, "No, it's not good for you." You never know until you ask. So, ask already.

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CHECK YOUR OWN EYES

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MUSINGS - January 18, 2019

CHECK YOUR OWN EYES

Matthew 7:1-5
"Stop judging so that you will not be judged. Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you. So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer's eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to another believer, 'Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,' when you have a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer's eye.

I am farsighted. That means that, while I can see objects at a distance clearly, I can't read without glasses. Without glasses, I would not be able to remove the sawdust from your eyes even if I tried. I'm not qualified.

There is a reason I named these devotions "MUSINGS". The dictionary defines it this way: mus·ing /ˈmyo͞oziNG/ noun. plural noun: musings a period of reflection or thought.

I pray, I read, I pray again, then I sit and listen and think. The message I receive from the scripture is always for me first. Then I share these musings with you. I make no judgement as to your need for the message. If they are a help to you, wonderful. If they are of no use to you, that's okay, because the message was for me. It's to help remove the log from my own eye.

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2019 January 18 Friday

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2019 January 18 Friday in Liberty Hill, Texas

44° and partly cloudy start to the day. Other areas nearby have heavy fog alertes but we appear to be fog free. It reached 65° under mostly clear skies.

61° inside before I started the heater going. It didn't take long to be warm enough to open the door. And three for stayed open until sundown.

It may be because I didn't sleep well in the hospital or maybe it was because the recliner was so comfortable, but I slept very well last night.

My new "CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES" Santa suit arrived today. I'm six foot plus and 300 pounds. The 3x suit fits very well. Pants are long enough as are the shirt sleeves. Even the gloves fit my oversize mitts. What y'all think?

Today Ella had visits from her home health nurse and later from the physical trainer. Both gave her thumbs up for the way she doing ado far. She slept most of the day.

G'night and God bless.

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions0.wordpress.com/

my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

Random Thoughts https://thethomasewilliamsnewsletter.wordpress.com/

All content (except quotations) ©2019 Thomas E. Williams