it's a rambling kind of day.  mixed up thoughts going every direction.

 Baby it's cold outside.   At 7A.M. it was -4* outside, and as my fur babies went outside to potty, the doggie door flap snapped off.   around 9 Charlie wanted to go out again, and it was hilarious watching them go thru an open doggie door.  they kept trying to put there head against the non-existent flap :)    I had to open the door for them to come back in.     

Being retired means I only go out in the snow when i have to, not to go to work.   I can sit in the warm house, in my pj's, curled up on the couch with the fur babies.....or I can  do whatever I want :)   

Yesterday I watched the inauguration of our 47th President.   NO president is perfect, but I do feel like with President Trump in office, we have a reprieve. If we listen to the news media, they are very one-sided and very opinionated in what they report.   If you listened to the Presidents inauguration speech, he didn't say half of what they are implicating.   He did not say all illegal people will be sent back to their country.  he said those who are bad, who have done wrong, who are filling up our prisons, need to go back.  I never once heard that he was splitting up families, nor that "all" immigrants have to go.  I applaud that he stated there are only 2 genders, male and female, none of this non binary ...  you are either born with female or male parts, so you are one or the other.   He did not say he was taking away the rights of "those who do not support him", he said he wants equality for all,  thru race, religion, creed, etc.   He pardoned those involved in the Jan 6th attack on the capital.  I'm fine with that.  I may not be as right wing conservative as they were/are, but  if it was okay for President Biden, while still in office, to pardon his entire family, then it makes you wonder what he wanted to hide?    People have hated President Trump, because he does not cowtow to any certain group.  he s not easily bought off, and does not allow other extreme liberals to come in and turn him into a puppet.  He is for helping Americans be able to afford to live, not drown in high prices.  

We have seen revival happening all across the USA. on college campuses; hearts are searching for something, and that something is Jesus.   We will still have the freedom to worship as we choose.  Although I am Christian, and I believe that Jesus is the only answer, I know others don't see things the same way.  We must learn to agree to disagree, and remain friends.   I am pro-life and pro man/woman relationships, but I will not condemn someone who is not.  Yes, we were created in God's own image, BUT he gave us a free will, a free choice, to make our own choices.  And even as a believer in Jesus, I have made a multitude on wrong choices.   But I always know I can go to God and seek forgiveness, IF i am truly and wholly repentant.   He will not accept superficial repentance.  we don't either, so why should God?  

God didn't cause the fires in California or the Hurricane which swept across the east and left massive destruction in both areas.   God is not a God of evil, come to wreak havoc, but there is one who desires to cause trouble, pain, hurt, divisions, calamity, sorrow and that would be Satan.  He is no respecter of persons,  and he will try to draw anyone into his snare.  Our only hope is in Jesus.  But just because we have that hope, it does not mean we won;t have struggles and trials, sorrow and pain, but when we have Jesus, we have a hope and a peace that the world knows not of.  

as we move into 2025, may we put God first, spend time praying for our beautiful USA and show kindness to all.  and be grateful and thankful for what we have .  and cherish our family and friends, as we do not know what tomorrow holds.  And keep our eyes on Jesus!

 I  have a very dear friend who has battled a  muscle disease for quite a few years.  We met when I moved to Wellington in 1985, and she was a teen at the church I attended.  A friendship of sorts was formed at the at time and over the years we have become best of friends.  We have laughed together,  cried together, we know each others secrets, and we have shared deep sorrow, and much joy.  and thru it all we have been unconditional friends.  no matter what, we have always had each others back.  

last week she told me and another friend (we call us 3 the hip sisters) that she had a cold or respiratory issues again.  Because of her muscle disease, sometimes fighting this crud off is not easy for her.  Last Thursday, the 9th, she ended up going to the hospital because she was having trouble getting air.  Yesterday, the 13th, they intubated her, hoping this will help her breath easier and rest to heal.  They hope to start weaning her off it in a couple days. We wait in hope and faith, trusting that God will heal her.

Yesterday, Cathy and her husband and I went to the hospital to see Sissy.   Do you know how hard it is to see one of your besties, lying in that bed, not moving, not responding?,  we held her hands (I knocked the oxygen meter off her finger ).  we prayed with her, sang to her, and reminisced .  

We don't know  what God has in store for our dear friend.   We do know that he will heal her, either here on earth or at home in heaven.  We pray we get to keep her for longer. 

When storms like this arise,  we begin to remember things we had forgotten.    We pray harder, more earnestly, and sometimes we pray with tears, because words won't come.  We wrap the family in prayer and love also.   and thru the storm. we trust God, because we know that He is always there, always in control, and He knows what is best.  

we  have laughed so hard at stupid things, and then laughed more because laughing made us laugh til we couldn't catch our breath.  We have loved each other thru good and bad.

So, Sissy, I offer up this prayer for you, that God will give you peace in this storm, that he will calm your spirit, and you will know He is holding you in His arms.  I pray that God's will will be done.  I love you my friend.  I pray God lets us keep you longer here on this earth. 

 Mom's birthday was Jan 8th. i have been reflecting on her favorite Bible verse :Psalm 46:10
"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. "
Be still......doesn't mean sit still and do nothing. be still. be quiet. listen ..let go...wait patiently on the Lord....don't plow ahead on your own.....quit stressing... stop fighting God....leave yourself behind and come into His presence...
And know that am God........clear your mind of you and focus on God. be aware of His presence....He is our hope, our strength, our grace, our redeemer, our strong tower, our mighty fortress, our re-newer of life, our healer, our forgiver....
I will be exalted among the nations, i will be exalted in the earth..........We will left Him up...place God above all else in our lives....we will praise with our hearts and mouths..

Then we will find peace.............a peace that only comes from God........

are you searching for that peace?   reach out..I'd love to share more about my Jesus with you.

 

Welcome to 2025. I am determined to start blogging again, and keeping it going, rather than writing every few months.  I have so many thoughts that run thru my mind, ones I want to share, but some social media platforms  censor what you share, or lock you out or won't let you use certain word. 

I am a believer in Jesus, and I want to be able to share what I want, when I  want, using the words I want. 

As I'm writing this today, it is snowing outside.  Beautiful tiny flakes, falling straight to the ground.  And the best thing bout snow?  I'm retired and I do not have to go out in it.

The pristine white of the snow reminds me of how the blood of Jesus can cleanse our hearts.  I'm leading Bible study with my friend Annie, and we are doing the exposition of the old testaments books, showing how the old testament speaks of Jesus, and continuously points us the the Messiah of the New Testament. 

As time passes, I will share some  thoughts from each Bible study, and some personal stories that touch my heart .

2025 is a new year, and we can go forward,  We don't look back at our past or our past mistakes.  they are behind us.  we can look forward and go forward in the belief and faith that God is n control and He will go with us.