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-Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. –Proverbs 4:23 -“You shall not pass!!” –Gandalf, “Fellowship of the Ring” -I called to the Lord from my narrow prison and He answered me in the freedom of space. –Viktor Frankl, “Man’s Search for Meaning” -When hard pressed, I cried to the […]

-“…My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me…” –John 10:27 -“…What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go look for the one that wandered off?…” –Matthew 18:12 -Good Shepherd, You

-data (n.)–facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis -fitness tracker (n.)–a wearable device that monitors your physical activities and provides data on your fitness progress -You can’t quantify God or the Word. –field notes, 2023 -“…Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look

-There are 32.1 million voters registered as independents, undeclared, or no affiliation. –from usafacts.org -For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. –Ephesians 6:12 -“You know, some Christians are

-“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word, would smell as sweet.” –Juliet, “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare -All of the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names, they never let poor Rudolph, join in any reindeer games… –“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Johnny Marks, 1939

-“…only after I’d come to everything else did I come to Christ. Only after I tried drugs and addiction and approval and fame and prestige and privilege and money and indulgence and hedonism and epicureanism and rationalism…” –Russell Brand, from interview on Apologetics Canada podcast #535 -For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus

-“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish and then the outside also will be clean.” –Matthew 23: 25-26 -Therefore, if anyone is

-worship: the act of honoring, adoring and giving praise to God -David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord…I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this…” –2 Samuel 6: 21-22 (excerpts) -Wave your hands in the air like you don’t care… –Word Up by Cameo -I will bless

-But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain. –Psalm 3: 3-4 -Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of Your unfailing love. –Psalm 6: 4 Anyone who has ever been involved

-“Time is the greatest gift you can give someone. Because it’s like giving a portion of your life that you’ll never get back.” –Unknown -ate and left no crumbs (def.): someone who did a very good job; synonym for amazing, awesome, or slay –urbandictionary.com -He said, “Come to the table, come join the sinners who

-“I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school boy…” –Scrooge, “A Christmas Carol” -Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world… –“Jesus loves the little children” by C. Herbert Woolston -“…Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive

-Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be–That we may then all unite in

-All my life You have been faithful, all my life You have been so, so good, with every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God… –“Goodness of God” -Bethel Music -And He said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” –Mark 16:15 -His

-“The bird is the word?” No, the Word is the word. –field notes, 2020 -word: def. (colloquial) a. truth or to speak the truth b. an informal expression to confirm or acknowledge what someone has said -Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. –Ephesians 6:17

-The truly terrible thing about this life, was not knowing what you want, but only able to recognize what you do not want. You have to spend so much time and energy trying to find it out, time that other people spent in the pursuing of their desires. –Quote from Finn, “How to make an

-…one nation, under God… –from Pledge of Allegiance -“To be silent the whole day, see no newspaper, hear no radio, listen to no gossip, be thoroughly and completely lazy, thoroughly and completely indifferent to the fate of the world is the finest medicine a man can give himself.” –Henry Miller, “The Colossus of Maroussi” -…With

-…and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children

-What’s in your head? In your head? Zombie…zombie… –“Zombie” by the Cranberries -All you zombies show your faces, all you people in the street, all you sittin’ in high places, the pieces gonna fall on you! –“All You Zombies” by the Hooters -As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which

-“The three grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.” –Alexander Chalmers -Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. –Colossians 3:

-For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. –Hebrews 4:12 -The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was

-God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any of us. –Acts 17:27 -“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat

-About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. –Acts 16: 25-26 -On June 12th, 1999,

-“The perfect job is a myth. No job is perfect, and no career path is without its challenges and setbacks. Even if you land your ‘dream job,’ you’ll likely find that it’s not exactly what you imagined it to be.” –John Lovig, linkedin.com -What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden

-How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?…Turn and answer me, oh Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die! –Psalm 13: 1,3 -“Because you’re not quite evil enough. You’re quasi-evil. You’re semi-evil. You’re the margarine of evil. You’re the Diet

-“…the harsh reality (is) that replying to your BFF’s Instagram story doesn’t count as catching up. I’ve done this for so long that it’s become a guilt-inducing normality for me–the lazy girls guide to friendships. I want to connect more, to have a real conversation beyond the somewhat vapid small talk and reactionary comments, but

-This is what the Lord says–the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it… –Isaiah 42:5 -…since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. –Hebrews 17:25

-She: My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills. –Song of Songs 2: 16-17 Stop me if you’ve heard this one before… There’s a girl

-side by each (colloquial expression, origin Quebecois): next to each other; side by side -By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me–a prayer to the God of my life. –Psalm 42:8 -In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and

-“Prove to me that God exists.” Prove to me that He doesn’t. –field notes, 2023 -“If you can understand it, it’s not God.” –St. Augustine -Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know

-service: the action of helping or doing work for someone; contribution to the welfare of others; a period of time spent in the military -“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” –Mark 10:45 -Each of you should

-“The Chevrolet Corvair…the most dangerous automobile on the road…” –“Unsafe at Any Speed” by Ralph Nader -“Ralph Nader, kiss my rear-mounted engine!” –teenage Shelbo -But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so

-closure (psych.): a feeling that an emotional or traumatic experience has been resolved -Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. –Romans 12:19 -But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since

-Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.” The light flows from their branches. –“When I am among the trees” by Mary Oliver -Their massive size makes them out of scale for all but the largest landscapes. –“Planting Cottonwood Trees” from gardeningknowhow.com -“But blessed is the one who trusts in

-Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon Your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or

-Went to church today. It was like Noah’s ark…the animals come in two by two. Except for me. –journal entry, 2016 -Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty together again. –British nursery rhyme, 1882 -Turn to me and

-So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. –1 Peter 2:1 -“…Then it (impure spirit) says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean, and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits

-Reality, you are the only thing standing between me and a perfect life. –field notes, 2023 -For I have the desire to do what is good, but I can not carry it out. –Romans 7:18b -Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth

-…that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. –portion of the Oath of Enlistment

-Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. –Colossians 3:2 -Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. –Romans 12:2 -Me: Be kind, you never know what someone is going through. Also me: Nice turn-signal, $%#@%&!!! –popular meme Traffic. Ugh. The Achilles’ heel

**I was reminded of this “field note” the other day…in a random/not random way. It’s time to share it. -I love Your voice, You have led me through the fire; in darkest night, You are close like no other… –“Goodness of God” -Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,

-Is prayer your steering wheel, or your spare tire? –Corrie Ten Boom -Sometimes God says, “No.” Sometimes God says, “Slow.” Sometimes God says, “Grow.” Sometimes God says, “Go.” –Greg Laurie, among others -…We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? –Romans 6:2 I stood there, contemplating something…”quasi-dishonest.”

-“The bad stuff is easier to believe. You ever notice that?” –Vivian, “Pretty Woman” -I trusted him to be honest. He wasn’t. I trusted that he loved me. He didn’t. I trusted that he would protect me. I didn’t realize that he was my biggest threat. –journal entry, 2018 -Love is patient, love is kind.

-We can talk with God just like we do with a friend. As if He’s sitting right next to us. –Adam Weber, “Talking with God” -The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him and He makes known to them His covenant. –Psalm 25: 14 -Friendship is a verb. –Shelbo’s field notes, 2020

-trail guide: someone who assists others as they travel to reach a destination on a path across a wild region over rough terrain -Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we

-Instead of aiming for perfect, try aiming for great. –Tony B. -And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. –Romans 8:28 -“…God will use you, this God will use all of you, and not just your strengths, but

-Jesus extends acceptance and kindness first. He never says, “First clean up your act, then come to me.” Rather He first says, “Come.” –hopeline.com -“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” –Matthew 11:28 -“How’s it going, Jerry?” “Not too worse!” –my dad -Farm workshop facilities: A

John 3:16–For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Matthew 28:6–He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. From “Good Enough” by Kate Bowler–“So, blessed are we then who have been excluded, shunned, or

–“No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.” -Yoda –You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:13 –“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” -John 15:9 People will say, “Don’t talk to me about

Psalm 27:14–Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord. Romans 12:12–Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Ecclesiastes 3:1–To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Time. A blessing among so many others from our Father. In 2009 I was

*I had the honor of being asked to do the opening for our amazing Community Bible Study. Several members urged me to publish it as a blog post, so here it is, in all its perfect imperfection. I pray that it will inspire and encourage whoever needs it. 1 Corinthians 3:7–So neither the one who