No Defense

Good Friday everyone,

Have you ever been unjustly accused of something? How did you react? Did you defend yourself or offer an explanation? 

Even small children will defend themselves when they think they are in trouble. From the dog did it, to "I don't know", it is human instincts to justify our actions. At work, we occasionally get what we call "flag" letters which basically are complaints that the public have lodged against an officer. HQ in Austin demands an explanation, etc. It sometimes feel like we are guilty until we prove ourselves innocent of the charge. Even though that is not the case, due process has to be observed in order that everyone's rights are protected. 

Jesus Before Pilate Matt 27:11 ESV

"11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed."

He offered up no defense. He did not call down a league of angels to take him into heaven and "show" them that He was the Son of God. Willingly, He went to the cross on our behalf. All because He loved us.

SJ

being prepared

Good Windy Morning dear ones.

It sounds pretty wild out there this morning. We have a front moving in. We look at the weather forecast and can see what is a head of us. Knowing what is going to happen, doesn't always prepare us for it though. Sometimes the reality of it, is different when it really happens. I have an SUV and driving in the wind can be quite an experience, even though I know it is going to be a windy day. 

[ Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time ] 

"And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Matthew 20: 17-19 ESV

He told them what was going to happen, yet the disciples were still unprepared for the reality of it. Let us hope that we are not caught unaware. Let us be waiting and watching for His return.

Hugs, 

SJ

A good cleaning

Good Morning Dear Ones:

Yesterday as I was cleaning, I kept wondering to myself where did all this junk come from? How did I let my home get so cluttered? It is just Me, Chris and the dog, how did things get so out of hand. The answer was easy. One piece at at time. One "I'll get to that later" at a time. In the end I have a home that God provided for me that was not something I was proud of. 

Matthew 21:12-17 (ESV)

Jesus Cleanses the Temple
12 And Jesus entered the temple[a] and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,

“‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise’?”
17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there."

Have we allowed stuff to get in the way of our worship of God? Is it time to clean our spiritual temples?

Have a blessed day,

SJ

Happy Friday

Good Friday Morning dear ones!

What is it about Fridays that just make us so happy? I don't know, but I look forward to each and every one of them. Today I have Officer of the Day duties so I will be able to stay warm and cozy inside. The weather has been so crazed around here lately that the refuge of my office sounds good.

Speaking of refuge:

Psalm 62: 5-8

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us."

I love all of the Psalms, they give me a peace and calmness. So what is your favorite Psalm?

Have a great day and hugs to you all;

SJ

"atta boy"

Good Morning dear ones:

This morning I had a dentist appointment and it was good to hear that I had no cavities. That positive affirmation was music to my ears. My attentiveness to my pearlies had paid off and another 6 months of no drilling. We all need that positive "atta boy" from time to time. It bolsters our spirit and gives us the stamina to keep going.

1 John 1:9 (ESV)

"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Matthew 25:21

"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’"

2 Kings 10:30 

"And the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”"

Luke 19:17 

"And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’"

Have a great day and know that I am so very proud of you all!

SJ

then came the morning. . .

Good Morning dear ones! 

Last night I was upstairs in my craft room cleaning and getting more and more frustrated with myself. I was gleaning out paper, etc to donate to the church's sale and the pile kept growing and growing. All I could think about was the waste of money this was and why did I buy all of this in the first place!!!

A friend of mine posted to my rant and said. Maybe it was for, just a time as this. God knew years ago that there would be a need and He provided for it. You just had to store it until such time as it was needed. 

Okay, I stopped berating myself and thought - what a wise woman my friend was. And Thank you God for allowing me to have the stuff to donate for such a time as this. 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Headed back upstairs to glean the corners of the harvest and take it to the church. 

Hugs everyone,

Stella

Paper overload

At first I was feeling pretty proud of myself because I had gone through my scrap pieces of paper and gotten rid of a tall kitchen garbage bag full of bits and pieces.  I decided to go through my 12X12 printed paper and honestly decide

1. do I have a project for that?
2. was there a reason I bought that?
3. is there a reason I need to keep that?

This is after Carla had helped be back in the spring last year,  go through all of it and sort it for my shelves.

Well tonight I am feeling pretty disgusted with myself. I have two 12X12X16 shipping boxes full of 12X12 paper that I either don't need or can't remember why on earth I would have bought it in the first place. Even at a penny a page - That was a lot of money I just flushed. I am so mad at myself I could just scream.   Grrrrrrrrrrr. I am glad there is a place to donate it rather than just throw it away. but still feel like kicking myself in the backside.

Okay vent over need to call it a night so I can start over again in the morning with the rest of my stash.

SJ