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BIBLE MEDITATION:

"And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels..." 2 Thessalonians 1:7.


DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Are you troubled today? Listen: "And you who are troubled rest with us." That is, be at ease. Quit your worry. It is not over yet. There is an unfinished story. If you are troubled, rest with us.

You say, "Pastor, it's so dark." Yes, it's gloriously dark, because the darkest hour of the night is just before the sunrise. Our hope is not in politics, our hope is not in sociology, our hope is not in science. The only sure hope for our world is the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Think about who is coming again. Underscore this: "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed." The Lord Jesus is who is coming again. We're not looking for some event in history. We're looking for Jesus Christ to be revealed. And when He's revealed, He's going to be revealed as the Lord Jesus. Today He is despised. He is rejected. He is mocked. But He is coming as the Lord Jesus to be glorified and admired.


ACTION POINT:

If you are unsaved, if you're not one of His saints, His coming will strike stark terror in your heart. But if you're saved, you're going to say, "Oh glory to the Lamb. Isn't He beautiful?" Say this aloud if you can say it and mean it: "Lord Jesus." The Lord Jesus is coming.

It is closer than it has ever been!

Great devotion Jeanne!

Don, it sometimes feels like it's imminent.   

Just a quick update on our Pat. 

She's in Guelph and is still wearing the monitor.  Paul was there too, and left to go back to Virginia on New Years Eve. Tuesday should be the end of that - she says it weighs at least 50 pounds. 

She's feeling low and can certainly use prayers. 

Jeanne:  Thanks for the update on Pat.  Her monitor sounds like it is terribly heavy.  Prayers for her and her family. 

Larry:  Thank you for the soothing music.  I am glad that your son will go to some dinners at the church with you - it is a start.  He is still grieving the loss of his wife and we all grieve in different ways for different amount of times.   - No exams.  The genealogy teacher went on for 3 1/2 hours and we do have homework. 

Jane:  Such excellent news on your health.  I have my yearly exam - the powers say that we don't need the exams so often but I prefer to ignore "new" ideas until they become normal.  So glad you can get that issue off your mind.

Janet:  No, we are not Jewish and there is none in our DNA.  It wouldn't have bothered me in the least as they have a special place in my heart for all of discrimination.  People think our last name is Jewish because of the spelling - it is actually a French name misspelled totally. 

We had snow in Tucson and it was heavy and beautiful.  They are skiing not far from here - it must be a short season.  Our family is used to months of skiing and snowmobiling, and X-country skiing (that is where I took my most painful fall - turning an entire side of my body purple.  Good thing it was when I was younger and could recuperate.   

we are concerned and praying for our friends at home.  He fell and she tried to pull him up for about 45 minutes, then had to call paramedics.  She didn't want to alarm the neighbors & has been so distraught (not at all like her) and finally her family talked about getting a bit of help for her a day or so per week.  Praying for all caregivers and those who are ill - for those who can't afford any assistance. 

Hi, friends,

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the posts since I last was here.

Larry, I so identify both with the issues with colds y'all have had, but also with holding on by faith for the salvation of our children.

Carol, your activities are always so interesting. As for me, I'd much rather look out at the snow than be in it. (chuckle)

Marilyn, I agree, Freckles is a wonderful dog. Y'all have good times together.

Jeanne and Jane, thanks to you both for the devotionals.

Jane, it's so comforting to hear your good post about your health.

And, I'm so sorry to learn Pat is still dealing with health problems.

Janet, you are handling your concerns and issues with the Lord's help.

May our Lord bless us all as only He knows what we need most.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on a very chilly morning down into the 20's.  However, we should see 46 degrees later this afternoon.  I have a very busy morning planned as have several things I need to get done including taking Pat for her eye appointment at 10 am.  Her cold still has her down.  Yesterday after church I stopped at Kroger's Deli to get some fried and baked chicken and some potato salad for our lunch.  That combined with a left over we had in the refrigerator made a very good lunch.  We will have a simple supper tonight of either hot dogs or hamburgers. 

Jeanne, that is a fine devotional and I have to wonder if we are not seeing the beginning of the time before Christ reappears. I appreciate your update on Pat and glad that 30 day monitoring will be over tomorrow. 

Carol, I just wouldn't be up to a 3 1/2 hour class anymore as that exceeds my attention span.    Hope your weather soon warms up for the winter months. 

I have read all of the comments but will just say I will be back tomorrow and not so busy.

Hmmm, icons above have been shuffled!  But I found blue, anyway! 

Carol, I can't even think what your last name is!  Hope you enjoy your classes.  I have never been tempted much to get into genealogy.  I think it would be interesting, but there just aren't enough hours in the day to do all I'd like.  I never had a chance to ski, snowmobile, sled or ice skate.  While we did have big snows occasionally, by the time all the chores were done, I was frozen enough not to play in the snow any longer.  (Even if we had had the equipment, etc.)  I always thought I'd like to ice skate, but no more! 

I sure hope Pat is feeling better.  I didn't know she was still wearing the heart monitor.  The one I wore for two weeks wasn't heavy and no problem to me at all; so I am thinking hers must be a different kind.  I need to call her!

Ruth Ann, good to hear from you.  You have been so quiet lately! 

Larry, I hope your Pat is feeling better now.  And I have noticed it doesn't take much to satisfy us for meals anymore.  That's a good thing!

Beth and John called to tell me her sister Denise had made each of them an album of the photos she took at their wedding.  They are really nice.  I wish I could have a copy of all those, too, but at least they have them, plus one nice 8 x 10 which she framed for them.  She and her husband came from Bakersfield, California, for the wedding, really surprising us!

Beth goes for an MRI tomorrow.  I am not going, as I am trying to hand off some of the responsibility for her to her new husband.  It is hard, after all the years I have been her care-taker and then her DPOA.  (I still am her DPOA)

Jeanne, I will try again!

Hi everyone on a beautiful 28 degree morning with the sun brightly shining and the temperature to get to the mid-50's this afternoon.  I read in the local newspaper that the South Carolina peach farmers are delighted to have these freezing nights as that is apparently what the fruit trees need.  I did get all of my errands attended to yesterday morning.  Last night I stayed awake until after midnight watching Clemson University lose to Alabama in the College Football National Championship game.  It was a good game and no run away.  I have a much quieter day planned for today.  I probably will go down to coffee  around 10 am and then spend the rest of the day at home. 

Janet, Pat does seem to be feeling better today.  Her main complaint has been a very tired feeling.  She actually got up this morning before I did, which is very unusual.  That was very nice of Denise and her husband to attend the wedding and then to prepare an album of pictures for Beth and John.  Good for you in letting John begin to assume the responsibilities related to Beth.  Don't be surprised if you find yourself feeling a bit sad at the turn of events at not being needed to attend to everything for Beth.  When Stacey got into recovery years ago I experienced that and couldn't understand why I wasn't feeling just the opposite but learned I no longer had a big role to play in her life and that she was able to make her own decisions and didn't need Dad so much.  When this was pointed out to me I realized what a blessing this was and the sad feelings were replaced with gratitude.   

Larry, you are so wise.  I had already anticipated that I might feel a bit "left out" but I know this is for the best.  I will know John is here for her when we go away for whatever reason, and I also know the nurses will let me know if anything is amiss!

Glad Pat is better today.  I was up at 4:00 this morning, don't know why, but I was done sleeping, I guess.  Of course about three hours later I felt the need for a nap!    We went to the gym and had a good workout instead.

Darrel says it's time to go to lunch, so I'd better scoot!

Hi everyone on another great day here in South Carolina.  It was 34 degrees when I arose this morning and will only get into the low 50's this afternoon.  I have a few errands to run later this morning and then late this afternoon Scott is planning on coming over and assembling a new set of shelves for my office closet.  I have one set and this will give me shelves clear across the large closet.  Then this evening is our Wednesday night dinner at church.  Pat hasn't decided yet whether she is going to feel up to attending her crafts group at church, which meets this morning.  I am hopeful she will be up to going to the dinner tonight. 

Janet, I hope you are going to be relieved from some of the strain you have felt for a long time with all that responsibility for Beth's care and other concerns.  You should have more time to do the things you enjoy doing now. 

Just a little something to brighten your day.  This young lad has a great talent.
https://www.facebook.com/FotosIneditas/videos/900147803407895/

We are glad that we were not in our favorite coffee shop this morning - an elderly man hit gas instead of brakes and drove through the front patio right into a window.  He must be feeling terrible - no one was hurt that we have heard. 

Praying for grandson who is driving from New York to Wisconsin this morning and no doubt one night at a motel.  I have not looked at the weather. 

Gotta go.  Don has acupuncture treatments twice weekly for arthritis in his shoulder.  I don't know - it does seem to help the next day or so...   verdicts out on this one. 

Janet:  Beth's happy marriage and John - it is a blessing. 

We watched the State of the Union "speech" last night.  What a boring, lying, total waste of time!    Okay, enough of that!

Larry, thanks for the link to the boy at the piano--remarkable!  Hope you have a great day!

John said they didn't have any trouble getting the MRI on Beth, and also that her eyes are looking better.  Now we wait for the report after they read the MRI.

Carol, so glad you and Don were not in the coffee shop just then!  Poor guy, you can't help but feel for him.  Simple mistake, but could have had catastrophic results.  "There, but for God..."

I did get Darrel's hair cut and am going to try to get some photos emailed after I finish this post.  The operative word here is TRY.   

It's warming up nicely here again today!

Janet!!!

You did it - it worked!  Five pictures of Beth's wedding are posted HERE

Hi everyone.  This day starts out of 32 degrees but we expect to hit 60 degrees this afternoon and it will be sunny all day long with no chance of rain.  Yesterday turned out to be a full day but felt quite a bit was accomplished.  I met Scott at church for the Wednesday night dinner and he brought Pat's dinner here to her and spent the evening with us. Pat felt too tired to try to get out last evening for the dinner.  While here he put together my other set of shelves so today my task is to organize them, which won't take very long. 

I am going to coffee and then the Wisdom group at church.  I expect my friend to call and ask for a ride this morning.

Carol, just in the last few days a semi-truck driver apparently fell asleep or for some reason lost control of his truck and it plowed into a Burger King downtown.  It was 6 am and all of the staff was in the kitchen area and no customers so no one hurt.  Several years ago where we moved from a lady lost control of her Lincoln and went across a busy highway and a fairly large parking lot and crashed into the front of a Chinese Buffet.  It missed the pillars in front of the business and no one was hurt.  Hope your grandson has a safe trip but sounds like he will be going through some bad weather. 

Janet, we took a pass on the State of the Union speech and I read nine out of 10 citizens did the same thing.  Glad that Beth's MRI went well and her eyes continue to improve. I just viewed the pictures from the wedding.  What a happy occasion.  Jeanne, thanks for posting these for Janet so we can all share in the joy of her wedding via the pictures.   

I am here to state that I did not watch, listen or read the address whatever night it happened.   

Yes, it sure is easy to hit the gas and these engines are so powerful.  I hope I can gracefully give up the keys when the time comes and know it will be so hard to give up independence.  It sure doesn't seem like younger drivers have ever learned the rules of the road or even general courtesy - such as, letting someone change into your lane. 

Janet:  good for you!  Ditto to all Larry said about the sharing the joy with you. 

Larry, glad it warmed up  so nicely down there for you!  It was chilly here, but pretty nice.

Carol, you certainly made the right decision to skip the State of the Union speech. 

I had a call today from a tech support guy at Windows.  Wasn't sure whether to trust him or not; could barely understand him.  Anyway they (talked to two guys) said that last night at 9:30, nine people had hacked into my computer and there were thousands of errors on it, and most of its default programs were stopped.  There were 16,445 errors!!  They were shocked it would even run, as the max it usually will support is 100.  (support is the wrong word, closer to "tolerate")  So after staying on the phone with them for almost two hours, I was ready to throw the machine in the trash and go back to using smoke signals!        Finally I did agree to pay them for two years worth of protection and support, and for them getting rid of all the junk and blocking all the hackers---by then there were 18, plus dozens they had blocked last night!  What a mess!  So frustrating!  Now I am almost afraid to even use my computer!  And of course it lost my username and pass code for this site.

Uh, can you tell I am a bit miffed about this whole mess? 

Tomorrow is another day! 

Hi everyone on a very wet and rainy Friday morning here in South Carolina with temps in the mid-40's.  It is to rain most of the day and we should have several sunny days again.  Fortunately I will be able to stay in all day long so won't have to deal with the rain.  Our housekeeper is due this morning.  We have been going out to eat on the Friday's she cleans we decided to stay home today although that may change by evening and we might go out to eat depending on how Pat is feeling.  She did feel up to getting out yesterday for awhile. 

Carol, I did watch all of the debates last night and found them quite interesting.  I agree with you on how difficult it will be to give up driving.  While I hope I am not anywhere near that time I do detect my movements being slowing and being more cautious.  Fortunately the driving is pretty easy around here.

Janet, I hate to be the bearer of bad news and hate to think I may be ruining your day but you undoubtedly got scammed with that computer call.  However, what is done is done so I hope you won't fret over it and perhaps I am wrong.  To my knowledge Microsoft (Windows) would never call you unless returning your call.  Here is a link a quick search provided about this scam:  http://www.computerrepairtips.net/phone-call-from-microsoft-about-virus-is-a-scam/  You might be able to stop payment on your credit card. 

Janet and Larry ... I hate to admit it, but that same sort of scam caught me when I was in California.  I was using my granddaughter's laptop when this pop-up came along and froze what I was doing and a very annoying voice told me, over and over, that I needed to call a number because I had been hacked and my computer was in danger.... I couldn't get rid of the recording nor access the internet.  Finally, I called the number and this person I could hardly understand informed me he was with Microsoft and could fix my problem.  I let him take over the computer and "fix" the myriad of hacked and compromised files and remove the virus ..... for a price!  Since it was Becky's computer I felt obligated to get it fixed for her.  I called her at work and left a message that she should not do any online banking or such.  I ended up paying a lot of money, after arguing and refusing for a while, because this guy had me in a spot ... I needed the virus removed ...

When Becky got home she said "Gram I can't believe you did that!  My computer isn't even worth that much!" She went into research detective mode and found out the phone number was one of those throw-away things, and the whole thing was a scam.  I called my bank and put a stop payment on the check! 

Once, after I got home, I got that same pop-up and recorded annoying message .... BUT  I was wise to them by now, and I also have an account with a tech support ... I called them and they worked for several hours to clear that virus ... in fact, I had to call them back a couple times because it didn't clear completely at first.

Yesterday I got a call from a barely understandable person who claimed to be a Microsoft tech .... I hung up!!

Oh, I hope I didn't get scammed--again!  He showed me that they were backed by the BBB, and other things......Why do people like to rip us off like that?  It wasn't a LOT of money, but, more than I want to give a thief, for sure.  If this is true, and I lost the money, it's a fit ending to a day of heartache for me.  Beth's doctor had his nurse call me for an appointment to discuss her MRI results.  I went in this morning, and he told me it appears she not only has the NF which we have dealt with since she was four and we first learned she had it, but now the MRI appears to show she has MS as well.  He said she has "hundreds" of lesions on her brain, and they are going to do another MRI with contrast, next Tuesday.  She also has Neurofibromas squeezing her spinal cord, in the cervical area.  The only ray of hope is that if she does have MS, at least there are medical things they can do, to slow its progress.  But no cure.      

I am going to a meeting of United Sisterhood tonight; maybe the Lord will give me something to hold on to, and lessen my distress at this news.    Life is tough, sometimes.

Hi, friends,

Well, I'll try again to post.

I've been a busy person taking family and friends to doctors, pharmacies, grocery stores, and health related locations for treatments.

So, I've stayed pretty tired each day. And, every day next week is already booked.  Even tomorrow, come to think of it.

Isn't it humbling to receive a message asking for prayer. I've had one today and of course have been thankful to be able to pray for the individual and for God's guidance in their life.

Y'all have kept me busy reading, and enjoying the links, etc. You're a big part of my life, and I always feel refreshed after being here.

Have a wonderful rest of the day with our Lord.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on this 48 degree and sunny Saturday morning. I had a good nights sleep so got up at 6:30.  Pat and I did go out to eat last night at a Chinese Buffet not too far from us.  Today I have nothing particular on my schedule so should be a restful day.

Jane,  as I suggested to Janet yesterday don't be hard on yourself over the scam.  You did what you thought was right at the time and there is no point in beating yourself up over something that is past. In the total scheme of things it just isn't very important. 

Janet, how unimportant is the computer virus issue when compared to the unhappy news from Beth's MRI.  I just can't find any word that seem helpful to offer other than I will certainly be keeping Beth, John, you, Darrel and the whole family in my prayer. 

Ruth Ann, it sounds like you may have to get a taxi driver's license with all of the transportation you have been providing. 

I went to town and visited Beth; talked to John about what the doctor told me, and stayed to clean out her little refrigerator.  John sticks stuff in it and forgets about it, it was packed to the door, and lots of stuff was spoiled.  Ugh.  The freezer compartment was full of ice.  What a job.    And all that chipping with a table knife has my wrist problem screaming.  I finally had to quit and leave the last of it to Jennifer, Beths friend who works there at the Legacy.

I didn't tell Beth about the possibility of her having MS, as there is no reason to upset her before we have the final word and know what, if anything, they are going to do for her.

Now I must get packing!!  We leave one week from today!

Hi everyone on this chilly Sunday morning with 100% chance of rain today.  We plan on attending Sunday School and Church this morning and expect we will find something to eat before coming home.  We will then enjoy a quiet afternoon and evening. 

Janet, I remember the days before self-defrosting refrigerators and how much work it was to get the ice out of the freezer.  Sure hope you wrist is feeling much better today. 

Good morning!  It is another Lord's Day, and we will be attending church this morning, and our small groups (called Connections Groups in our church) start again tonight, and I'm looking forward to that! 

Yes, Larry, that frost and ice in freezers is a real problem.  We haul our big freezers outdoors on the driveway (using our appliance dolly) when it's warm weather and let them thaw; wash them out with a hose, let them dry and haul them back in!  Jennifer suggested taking Beth's little refrigerator outdoors, but I told her it wouldn't thaw, when the temperature was below freezing!    She said she did that last summer.  I had been needing to get that chore done for a while, and am relieved it's over with for a while, even though my wrist is still feeling the effects.

I got a good start on my packing yesterday, too, so I'm making progress.  I hope we aren't taking too many cold weather clothes.  The temp is supposed to be around 51* or so, so long sleeves and jackets are needed.  Also, being on the water, it will likely be damp.  I don't like to take more than I need, so try to be selective in packing.

Beth and John called to ask what time church starts, so I assume they plan to come to our church today.  They usually attend another one.  And that's fine--they are in church!   

I wish you all a wonderful day, worshiping with other fellow believers in the house of God.  Or wherever you are and whatever you're doing.

   Hi to all.  This is Gordon.    I have had my brother from Scotland for one month he has gone home.  We had a good time.   Please pray for Noreen and myself as Noreen's leg has been acting up a bit she had to get some meds for it.   I have also been at the hospital twice and am about to go again as I have what they call a  Bundle Branch Block and it seems to be getting worse so again we would be very thankful for your prayers.  We are just waiting for a ride.  God's richest blessing's.    Gordon and Noreen.

Good morning, Gord!

I'm sorry to see that Noreen is having more leg trouble.  And it doesn't sound as though things are going easy for you, either.  You will both be in my prayers, you can be sure.

Hi Everyone!

Time to start a new "Thoughts"...

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