Happy Friday! Expecting snow tonight. Still in denial that Governor Walker didn’t win another term. Will avoid local news for next 4 years.

Saturday Morning

Walking to the store
on a Saturday morning
need to buy some milk
and paper towels.
The streets are covered
with a thin coat of ice
the winds are still
an old woman with a push cart
is beating me to the store
she is gliding like a slap shot.
I continue to walk cautiously
don’t want to slip
don’t want to fall
the light turns yellow
I don’t even think of trying.
I wait for it to turn back
Then I walk walk slowly
the old woman is already in the store.
Inside the store I am greeted by
a young store cashier, her voice is full of energy
she smiles and looks like life has not
___ with her yet not yet...
I say good morning and head for
the paper good aisle.
A man who is still a stockboy is stocking
cheap single sheet rolls of toilet paper in aisle 5
I pick up a roll of paper towels
it’s on sale and I save 34 cents.
I get out of the paper aisle
and run into the old woman
she is well dressed and very short.
I look at her, she looks up at me and smiles
I smile back get a gallon of milk
At the cashier, I pay for my stuff
the cashier asks me if want paper or plastic
I choose plastic and then she smiles and
puts the paper towels inside the plastic bag
I decide I will carry the milk.

Charles Lara

Happy Caturday, Dogurday and Bunnyday, everyone!

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Power of Touch

November 17, 2018

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. Mark 1:41 nlt

Dr. Paul Brand, twentieth-century pioneer medical missionary to India, saw firsthand the stigma associated with leprosy. During an appointment, he touched a patient to reassure him treatment was possible. Tears began to stream down the man’s face. An attendant explained the tears to Dr. Brand, saying, “You touched him and no one has done that for years. They are tears of joy.”

Early in His ministry, Jesus was approached by a man with leprosy, an ancient label for all types of infectious skin diseases. Because of his disease the man was required by the Old Testament law to live outside his community. If the sick man accidentally found himself in close proximity to healthy people, he had to call out, “Unclean! Unclean!” so they could avoid him (Leviticus 13:45–46). As a result, the man may have gone months or years without human contact.

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. Jesus had the power and authority to heal people with just a word (Mark 2:11–12). But as Jesus encountered a man whose physical illness left him feeling isolated and rejected, His touch assured the man that he was not alone but accepted.

As God gives us opportunities, we can extend grace and show compassion with a gentle touch that conveys dignity and value. The simple, healing power of human touch goes a long way to remind hurting people of our care and concern.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the personal way You reached out to care for hurting people. Help me to follow Your example and extend compassion in my actions.

Caring for others may include a compassionate touch.

INSIGHT

After Jesus healed the leper, why did He warn him not to tell anyone? (Mark 1:44). The Scriptures don't reveal Jesus's motive, but what follows could provide a hint: "But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing." The first priority was to show himself to the priest. Why? In ancient Israel, leprosy was seen as a physical disease with spiritual implications. Therefore, when the first symptoms were experienced, the afflicted person would go to the priest—not the doctor—to be diagnosed (Leviticus 13). If cleansing took place, the priest would need to confirm that healing. Additionally, the priest was required to offer a specific and unusually detailed sacrifice after a leper was cleansed (Leviticus 14). In the entire Old Testament there are only two recorded healings of lepers-Miriam (Numbers 12:10–15) and Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5:1–14), and in neither case does the Scripture record that this specific, detailed sacrifice was made. Therefore, it's quite possible that the first time this specific sacrifice was offered was in response to the healing described in Mark. But first the leper must "show [himself] to the priest" to have his healing confirmed.

OK. Happy Cat/Dogurday.

And there is snow on the ground in New England.

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

Happy Caturday
From Mystery
Don't ask. LOL!

*Happy Caturday To Amy's Place*

It's sunny and 70 degrees here!

"I love this kind of day."

*HUGS*

Hi there! Smiling kitty is cute. Got a little snow over night. Didn’t see the sun today but was pretty with the snow anyway.

Have a great and blessed Sunday

Those pups are adorable! We got snow Friday night . Less than 2 inches. Just enough to shovel. Looks nice.

There was snow on the trail today, but the sky was blue and temps about 44, so Penny and I went for our usual hike around the cranberry bogs.

Was first day of deer hunting season here...so me and Moose stayed inside most of the day. Hunting lasts until the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We got in good walks all week though.

Ooops...Time to wear Blaze.

Yeah, had to put on orange vest to go get the mail!

St. Olaf Choir~When Peace Like A River

Aron Wright~Surrender

Providence~Sweet Beulah Land

Casting Crowns~Thrive

Glen Campbell~Amazing Grace [Live & Playing Bagpipes]

Passion~In Christ Alone

Newsboys~We Believe

God Bless You All....

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Don’t Stop Building!

November 18, 2018

The eye of their God was watching over [them] . . . and they were not stopped. Ezra 5:5

When an opportunity came to take on a new role at work, Simon believed it was a godsend. After praying over the decision and seeking counsel, he felt that God was giving him this opportunity to take on bigger responsibilities. Everything fell into place, and his boss supported his move. Then things began to go wrong. Some colleagues resented his promotion and refused to cooperate. He began to wonder if he should give up.

When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to build the house of God, enemies sought to frighten and discourage them (Ezra 4:4). The Israelites stopped at first, but continued after God encouraged them through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (4:24–5:2).

Once again, enemies came to hassle them. But this time they persevered, knowing “the eye of their God was watching over [them]” (5:5). They held on firmly to God’s instructions and trusted Him to carry them through whatever opposition they’d face. Sure enough, God moved the Persian king to support the temple’s completion (vv. 13–14).

Similarly, Simon sought God’s wisdom to discern whether he should stay or find a new position. Sensing God calling him to remain, he relied on God’s strength to persevere. Over time, he slowly gained his colleagues’ acceptance.

As we seek to follow God, wherever He places us, we may face opposition along the way. That’s when we need to keep following Him. He will guide us and carry us through.

Remain strong, for God’s eye is on you.

INSIGHT

It was a Persian king by the name of Cyrus who ordered the release and return of Israel from Babylonian exile (Ezra 1:1–7). Israel had been waiting for a national deliverer who would be a descendant of King David. Yet according to Isaiah, God had called Cyrus to be his servant and shepherd (Isaiah 44:21–45:6). Is it possible that long before Jesus, God was giving us reason to never give up on His ability to come to our rescue in the most unexpected ways?

Yikes!

Beautiful. Thank you, LUV W.

~Good Sunday Morning To Amy's Place~

***
Psalm147
7.Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
8.Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the
earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

Lord's Day Blessings To All

Beautiful, MEG. All of our leaves are gone.

Thank you, trish!
I can see yellow leaves now in the woods...

Happy Sunday!

May Your Day Be Filled With Blessings!

"The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance..” Psalm 33 NASB

God Bless America!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS