Every woman has a right to her own body when her mother is pregnant with her !
DEVISE
March 20, 2024 By Leave a Comment
Definition:
concoct; to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
Synonyms:
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib
– – –
How many of those synonyms seem to apply in America today . . . ?
+ politically—
Reread the list, with politics in mind.
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib
+ culturally—
Reread the list, thinking about the cultural tsunami wiping out everything in its path.
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib
+ morally—
Reread the list, observing the moral freefall today.
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib
+ spiritually—
Reread the list, in light of the ‘no man’s land’ with eroding spiritual foundations.
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib
+ financially—
Reread the list, and wonder what we’ve really created.
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib
– – –
I came up with this ‘word for thought’ as I was reflecting on how many Americans ‘revise’ Jesus’ words about money.
I thought to check out if ‘devise’ was a real word that might fit.
WOW !
Fits all over today.
YOU HAVE A BABY !
March 20, 2024 By 1 Comment
You have a baby inside, now !
Your baby started living before you knew it.
Your baby started living from conception.
Your baby started growing since conception.
Your baby will keep growing until it is ready to come out.
Your baby will keep growing after it is born.
Your baby will keep growing until it is an adult.
– – –
YOU HAVE A BABY !
– – –
You have a choice,
What do you want ?
– – –
Do you want a living baby ?
– – –
Do you want a dead baby ?
– – –
You have a living baby now.
KEEP YOUR BABY ALIVE !
– – –
(Inspired listening to Jeff Shreve on American Family Radio 3-8-24)
LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!
March 16, 2024 By 1 Comment
Since Christianity and Jesus’ relationship to His Church is compared to a husband/wife relationship, I thought I’d try an allegory with the song and the Christian life.
Oh, the weather outside is frightful
— If we live as authentic Jesus followers, we will not be comfortable in this world.
— “In the world you will have tribulation . . .”
But the fire is so delightful
— “. . . be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
— “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”
And since we’ve no place to go
— “Who do I have in heaven but You; and there is no one I desire on earth beside You.”
— “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
— “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”
– – –
Man, it doesn’t show signs of stopping
— “Relent, O Lord, how long . . .?”
— “My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O Lord—how long? Return, O Lord, deliver me.”
And I’ve brought me some corn for popping
— “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
— “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
The lights are turned way down low
— “When evening had come, Jesus sat down with the twelve.”
— “When evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
— “Let the lower lights be burning,
Send its beams across the waves.
Some poor wandering seaman
You my rescue, you may save.”
Let it snow, let it snow
— “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”
– – – – –
When we finally kiss goodnight
— “Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more.”
— “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”
How I’ll hate going out in the storm
— “I send you as sheep among wolves; be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
— “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus.”
But if you really hold me tight
— “I am with you always.”
— “Those whom You gave me, I have kept, and none of them is lost.”
— The Holy Spirit is the warmest Comforter ever, forever.
All the way home I’ll be warm
— The Holy Spirit is the warmest Comforter ever, forever.
— The river Jordan only chills the body but not the soul.
— Home, Home, Home at last, forever.
– – – – –
And the fire is slowly dying
— “The love of many will grow cold.”
— “Stir up the gift of God which is in you.”
And, my dear, we’re still goodbyeing
— “Because I said, ‘I Am going away’, sorrow has filled your heart.”
— “I go to the Father, and you no longer see Me.”
But as long as you love me so
— “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”
— “Lo, I Am with you always.”
Let it snow, let it snow, and snow
— “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”
RETIREMENT – – – SHORT TERM – – – L O N G TERM
March 16, 2024 By Leave a Comment
Retirement – – – Short Term
— someday, if you live long enough
— maybe, unless 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 happens
— everybody get ready, if you have enough money
— save, invest, prepare, live for retirement
Retirement – – – Long Term
— one day, no matter how long you live
— definitely, no maybe
— everybody get ready, no matter how much money
— get ready now, or not ? ? ?
WHERE YOU AT ? – – – WHERE YOU HEADED ?
March 16, 2024 By Leave a Comment
Do you know the answer to the first question ?
Where are you now, in the things that matter in life, “in the things that are for keeps” ?
Do you know the answer to the second question ?
Where are you going in life, and where are you going after life ?
How ? and Where ? do you get answers ?
Most people try to come up with their own answers.
That may work for many of life’s day-to-day decisions, to be successful, to make it another day, year, decade.
But sooner or later, after a number of birthdays, or crises, or close calls, or funerals of friends and family—who can tell you what you really need to know ?
Over and over people have found that the answers are not found where they were looking.
Everyone is looking for God, and how to please Him.
In desperation, people make up ideas, religions, rituals, and behavior to get right with God.
For one thing, they can’t all be right.
So, one must be right—different than all the rest.
Yes, there is one true God.
And, He told us, in writing, Who He is, and exactly where we are, and where we’re headed—and our condition is not pretty.
But, He told us, in writing and in action, how He fixed that.
“God loved the world so much, that He gave His only dear Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Jesus in the Bible is the answer, the only way to God.
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to God the Father except through Me.”
You can stop searching—you’ve found what you’re looking for.
Talk to Jesus, believe what the Bible says about Him , and believe what He says in the Bible (the two verses above).
Tell Him, “God, be merciful to me a sinner”, and Jesus says you will go home justified before God today.
Where you at ? – – – I’m a forgiven sinner.
Where you headed ? – – – I’m going to heaven.
RESERVES, OR ACTIVE DUTY SPECIAL FORCES ?
March 16, 2024 By Leave a Comment
Christians, where do you stand ?
Are you safe—or signed up, sold out, for special service, for any service, any cost ?
AS YOU GET OLDER . . .
March 11, 2024 By Leave a Comment
As you get older, spiritual matters will matter more.
Why wait ?
Spend time with Jesus now.
Pray often now.
Read your Bible often now.
THE BEST WAY TO STASH FOR THE FUTURE
March 11, 2024 By Leave a Comment
Is there a plan that is guaranteed, better than any other, for saving stuff for someday ?
If you let that question be known, you will have no lack of responding advisors.
There is a six-point outline, the very best, for permanent benefits, for sure.
1- Do good, anytime, anywhere, with your money and with your time.
2- Seek to be rich, in good works that help people in need.
3- Look for opportunities ahead of time, so you will notice and be ready to give right away when you have a chance.
4- Condition your attitude about your money and your stuff, so you will always be willing to share with anyone.
5- This involves storing up for yourselves for the future—with an entirely different perspective.
The time to come is so much more than the future in this life.
6- How you give and what you do for others and your willingness to share builds a foundation for the times ahead—after all the times ahead are behind you—to lay hold on eternal life.
– – –
“Do good, be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for yourselves a good foundation for the time to come, that you may lay hold on eternal life.”
CAN GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING RIGHT ?- – – YES, IT DID ONCE
March 5, 2024 By Leave a Comment
Many decades ago, the government banned cutting down cedar trees in Central Texas and the Hill Country—to ‘protect’ a small bird that nested in cedar trees.
In my lifetime, I have observed the extreme proliferation of cedars, taking over vast amounts of grassland that had been suitable for livestock grazing.
And I observed firsthand the devastation from cedar trees’ enormous consumption of water from the ground, actually killing much more desirable trees like oaks and elms.
– – –
Over fifty years ago I had the privilege of working with a rancher, driving a big skidsteer with a sheer, participating in a government program reflecting a change in policy.
The government paid the rancher half the cost of removing all the cedars from a specified area, leaving all the good trees.
In the rancher’s house, I saw the ‘bales’ of natural grass seed, provided by the government, to restore the land to its original, productive grazing potential.
One day the rancher’s son showed me a creek below where we were working, and said,
“We used to swim in that creek—if all the ranchers in the area would do what my dad is doing, that creek would run again.”
That was profound, and gave me food for thought to this day.
The government did one thing right.
The Colorado River runs through the Texas Hill Country, with numerous lakes that suffer from lack of water, due in large part to the enormous increase in cedar growth over several decades of the ban on cutting cedars.
Government could do one more thing right in this scenario affecting thousands of acres destroyed by the takeover of cedar trees.
Using the same logic of paying ranchers half the cost of removing cedars and leaving good trees and providing native grass seed to recreate the natural landscape—on a larger scale, the government could fund the removal of cedars, mulching in one operation to protect from erosion, and then re-seeding.
I sent a letter to a Texas state senator with this suggestion, but never heard from him.