Mount Rushmore Road Trip Part 15

3 Feb

A Slice of Life

Bill LItes

Day 15 Wednesday 

9/23/2020  

After Breakfast this morning I headed northwest 15 miles on US-50 to visit the Rocky Ford Museum located in downtown Rocky Ford, CO.   This museum is located in the former 1908 Rocky Ford Library, and has two floors filled with artifacts and memoribilia related to Rocky Ford and the surrounding Arkansas Valley area, of southeastern Colorado, dating from 1878 to the present.  The museum also has the recorded history of the early Arkansas Valley Fair & Watermelon Day celebrations from 1878 to the present.

As I headed northwest out of Rocy Ford, I came across a detour that took me north 10 miles, out of my way, on CO-207.  At the junction of CO-207 and CO-96, and just south of Crowley, I was finally able to turn west again.  What a waste of time and gas that was!  However, when I mentioned that I had been thru Crowley, DiVoran reminded me that her family  had lived in Crowley for a while, when she was about 5-years old.  Her father had been the maintiance forman for a tomato factory there, and her mother had the job of feeding the factory workers lunch every day.  It was another 30 miles west on CO-96, thru Olney Springs and Boone, to where I could meet back up with west US-50 again.

US-50 intersected with I-25, 15 miles later, at the Fountain Creek Corridor, where I headed north toward Colorado Springs, CO.  I had seen an ad for The Airplane Restaurant in a tourist magazine and wanted to have lunch there on my way north.  Greta (my Garmin) took me right to the restaurant, located adjacent to the Colorado Springs Airport.  The restaurant has been built around the entire airplane in a very creative way.  The upper fuselage of this retired U.S. Air Force KC-97 Tanker (#30283) has been converted into a dining area with 2 & 4-person tables.  If one doesn’t want to climb the stairs to the upper deck, there are pleanty of tables and a bar downstairs.  My ‘Piper Cub’ (BLT) sandwich and French Onion soup was very good, and I loved being able to view the cockpit and the boom operators position from the upper level.  If you are ever in the Colorado Springs area, I can highly recommend this restaurant.  Check out their website for their menu of delicious ‘airborne’ goodies.

After that delicious lunch experience, I continued north on I-25, thru Larkspur and Castle Rock (and miles of road construction), around Denver, all the way to Globeville, CO.  Then I went west on I-70 to Arvada, wheree I wanted to see if, by chance, the Cussler Museum was open today.  It was still closed, so I headed back east, skirting Denver on I-70, to visit the Aurora History Museum located in Aurora, CO.  This museum has a large number of historic displays and antique artifacts related to the history of Aurora, Arapahoe county, and the central Colorado area.  The main attraction among their artifacts is a restored 1913 Colfax Ave. Trolley (# 610).

It was that time that comes at the end of all of my road trips; time to give up the hunt for another museum before the day ends.  So, I called it a day and head for my motel located there in Aurora.  After I got checked in and got my things in the room, I heated up last night’s left-over Chili Rellenos from the El Azteca Mexican Restaurant.  The meal was wonderful.  Yummm!  Then with a full tummy, I recorded today’s activities and tried to watch some TV.  But of course, that only put me to sleep.  So I turned it off and slipped under the covers for a good night’s sleep.

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 63 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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Mrs Lee’s Rose Garden

2 Feb

The Story Teller Almanac

REBLOGGED 2/2/21

This weeks’ episode is called, “Mrs. Lee’s Rose Garden.” It’s one of my shorter podcasts (about 5 minutes long) and presented in the mystery or what I refer to as “…The Rest Of The Story...” format. In other words, ya’ gotta listen to the end to find out just who Mrs. Lee is and why her rose garden is important.

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I’ve been ‘clickin’ the shutter since I was about 16. I morphed into video production when I went to work for The Walt Disney Company many years ago. Currently, I still work for Disney. But my real passion and path is utilizing my photography and multimedia skill sets for the greater good. Translated, anything or anybody that deserves recognition, appreciation or documenting for future history, I’m all over it. Too many important things just slip away in a fast moving, fast paced world / society. ‘If ya’ wanna know where you’re going, ya’ gotta know where ya’ come from’ (Sir Lawrence Olivier – The Jazz Singer 1980). 

If you feel so inclined, I’d sure appreciate you subscribing to Storyteller Almanac on any of the major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and more. Really helps me grow the po

To contact me for any reason, please click or copy & paste: 

MikeThomasImagery@gmail.com

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Worry-Wart

1 Feb

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Photo credit Pixabay

My mother and grandmother were worry-warts, and I took after them. That was the reason I was so surprised when I read a book by an old-timer pastor that said he never worried. I had not known that it was possible. Right then I decided to try to figure out how to stop worrying,

Photo credit Pixabay

I’m re-reading a journal from 2004 and am appalled at how many worries I penned into it. My prayers sounded more like panic attacks. I wanted to do something to fulfill my commitment to Christ, so I wrote troubled stories people told me and asked God to help. That is called intercession. I’m sure those prayers were answered. All prayers are. And we must know that we aren’t praying alone. The world is full of intercessors and prayer warriors, and it’s great to know that Jesus/Holy Spirit is always praying for us. If we have asked him to become our Savior, he’s in our spirit and always aware of what’s going on with us and our prayer friends. 

Photo credit Pixabay

Now that we are quarantined and don’t have a lot to do and don’t see a lot of people, I’ve come to the place where I feel satisfied with life. I’m not begging God to help me anymore or trying to come up with answers on my own. I’m asking for Him to just tell me where to go and what to think.  One of the best teachers I’ve known: brain specialist, Dr. Caroline Leaf (a dedicated Christian) teaches people how not to worry. I took her online course, and it helped a great deal. Now I try to listen to God more than I talk to Him. He always comes through with the answers and I’m glad to say, I have more faith and thanksgiving and fewer misgivings than ever, which is quite fulfilling. 

“The Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty, to impower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.”   Romans 8:26 The Passion Translation

Dr Caroline Leaf offers a 21 Day Brain Detox.

 Song, “He Has Made Me Glad 

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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Random Memories of Germany

31 Jan

BERLIN – PART 3

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

One of the things we did while in Berlin, in 1983 when we went with our daughters, was to visit the Olympic Stadium, site of the 1936 Olympics.  It was an impressive stadium, but rightly so, I guess, since Hitler wanted to show how the Aryan race was superior, and how “friendly” and welcoming Nazi Germany was.  USA runner Jesse Owens most certainly squashed that theory!

Das Olympia-Stadion in Berlin

Photo credit Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-R82532 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 Photographer – Hoffman

We took only a few pictures of the stadium. 

Here Karen, Janet and I are standing in front of the pillars.  If you look in the professional picture, you will see those same pillars in there.  It was an AMAZING structure.

One of our favorite structures in Berlin was the Brandenberg Gate.  Of course, when we saw it, it was in East Berlin, behind the Berlin Wall.  The best we could see it was on the tour bus, which puts us up higher than in a car, or walking.

When Fred and I, along with Karen, went to West Berlin in 1969, one of the places we visited was the Berlin Baptist Church – an English speaking Baptist church within the city.

After the service, Berlin Baptist Church – 1969

It was so refreshing to know that there was a body of believers there who worshiped together.  As I recall, as we were in the service, the regular pianist was out for some reason, and they were desperate for someone to play the piano.  Since I was doing that at our church in Wiesbaden, I volunteered to play for them.  It was an honor to play, and they seemed to enjoy having the instrument to help them sing along.

One other thing we enjoyed doing was just walking around the city.  Here is a picture of Karen and me during that visit in 1969, in front of the Congress Hall (Kongresshalle).  

Karen was just two years old at this time.  And did I mention that she and I went with Fred for his two-week TDY (temporary duty) at that time?  That’s how we were able to see and do so much of that I’m sharing with you.

I do remember once, in 1983, as we were walking with Karen and Janet, that Fred decided that, since it took so little time to go via the U-bahn (underground rapid transit system), that it shouldn’t be too far between stops.

Credit Google Search and Wikipedia

So we walked between two stops – and it probably took us nearly an hour to do that!!  That little train just whizzes along, but the distance is MUCH farther than we thought!  We were all exhausted by the time we got to the second stop.  As I looked at our girls faces, they both had the exact same tired expression on their faces!  Well, to make a short story long….we rode the U-bahn from then on!  We did our fair share of walking, but not when we needed to get from one place to another in a short period of time!  Whew!

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Is serving God the answer to our troubles?

30 Jan

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged January 22, 2021

January 22, 2021

Remember those days when Zoom was just a silly word? Remember those days when we attended conferences, public events, and concerts in person?

I recall those days. And during one of those conferences, I sat in the back row. The speaker approached the podium and began his talk with humor. But shortly into his story, he related something that made my nose wrinkle in disgust.

I turn to the friend beside me. “Did he say what I thought he said?”

He sure did. With a matter-of-fact tone he announced he made jewelry out of, are you ready…moose droppings!

Nope. I’m not kidding. (Friends, check the picture below to prove it.)

The art of creating these pieces of jewelry depends on the vision of the artist. He has the outcome and the end result in mind. The unpleasant material isn’t the focus, the end product is.

The same applies to the events of today. What we have to work with is not just stuff that stinks, but unpleasant events, shocking episodes, evil, lies and disturbing news all around.

But what are we going to do with it all?

The choice is up to us.

If while facing the not-so-pleasant situation of the world, we rebel against God, we create misery.

We ridicule His Word. We create our own pain. We disregard His call. We go to bed in despair and wake up desperate.

But on the other hand, if we face the same stinky situation and turn to God, security visits. If we choose to serve Him, peace reigns. If we choose to seek him, blessings pour. And if we obey His instructions, the ending brings triumph.

Here’s how God compares those who choose to forsake Him while driving down the road of pride. In contrast, He addresses the future of those who choose to serve Him.

“But as for you who forsake the LORD and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bend down for the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; my servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit.

You will leave your name to my chosen ones as a curse; the Sovereign LORD will put you to death, but to his servants he will give another name. Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth.

For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.” (Isaiah 65:11-16)

Jesus gave this same message when He said He overcame the trouble-filled world. And if He is our Savior, overcomer and redeemer, serving Him is the only option to reach the richness of life. Then He will restore. He will rebuild and redeem His own.

As servants we possess the peace few know. The confidence most seek. And the triumphant freedom everyone longs for. Christ’s servants live with the expectation that His hand will take us through, lift us up and shield us to the end.

Let’s pray.

Father, grant me wisdom to choose not to focus on the events, the chaos, the mess out there in the world. Show me to prepare my heart to love You more intently, to serve You more diligently and to trust in You more firmly. In Jesus’ name.

In view of today’s events, whom will you serve?

Janet

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Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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Turn on a Dime

29 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

This week has flown by. Three doctor appointments in a row can do that. Thankfully, they were all good. I was especially happy that my husband’s two week post op back surgery visit went well and he has been released to drive.

Yesterday my husband drove ( very excited about that) us to the grocery. On the way home we were stopped at a traffic light behind this truck.

Do you ever snap random photos for no purpose just because the subject sparked your imagination or curiosity? It was a gorgeous Florida day, breezy, chilly and sunny and the truck was loaded with outdoor gear. But this was different. Most of the time, the bikes are shiny, mounted with efficient mounts. These bikes had rusty handlebars and were attached by orange strips. The boat on top was not a sleek canoe or kayak as normally seen, but an old aluminum one.

I imagined a family in the truck excited to be going camping and boating. Not a rich family with shiny bikes but an everyday type of family, enjoying being together. It was a nice imagination. Then my husband noted the truck’s license plate…New York. My Imagination shift! The truck now belonged to someone down in Florida for the winter, and picking up used items to sell at a Flea market. Imagination is like that, it can turn on a dime!

Before returning home, I asked my husband to drive me to one of our riverside parks. The winds demanded a “wind fix.” I love wind. Not the hurricane, tornado kind, but wind that comes with a weather front pushing through. It makes my heart soar and I want to spread my arms and embrace it. Think Titanic.

The park has swings and I enjoy sitting there even without the wind. While I sat in the swing, my husband took a short walk. He’s working on building up his strength after surgery. We have plans. (And I have a list of projects for him)

This park is a favorite of mine for a picnic. I posted this video on Facebook to tease my friends who like to picnic but aren’t a fan of wind and cold.

Did I mention that on Wednesday it was 81 degrees and we were running the a/c? Temperatures, like imagination can turn on a dime!

I'm a winner

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

My 2020 goal is to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.

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Mount Rushmore Road Trip Part 14B

27 Jan

A Slice of Life

Bill LItes

Day 14 Tuesday – Continued 

9/22/2020  

Continuing north another 25 miles on KS-25 I next visited the Kearny County Museum located in Lakin, KS.  This museum consists of the main museum building filled with artifacts and memorabilai related to the history of Lakin and the southern High Plains area of Kansas from as early as the late 18th century.

Outside there is an annex which has an 1831 Conestoga wagon, as part of their Stnta Fe Trail exhibit.  Also outdoors you will find the original Great White House built in 1875 by Alonzo Boylan, and filled with period fernishings.  Another outdoor exhibit is a restored old 1882 Santa Fe Railroad Depot that served Lakin for 100 years.  There is also an 1893 one-room school house, a 1909 12-sided (round) barn, and the 1923 Deerfield Texaco Service Station, all of which have been moved to this location over the years.  The separate Machinery Building  houses examples of early farm equipment, a vintage fire truck, a grain wagon, and several antique tractors.

After that informative experience, I headed west 75 miles on US-50, across the border into Colorado, to visit the Big Timbers Museum located in Lamar, CO.  This small museum is housed in the old 1929 AT&T equipment building, and  is loaded with local artifacts and memorabilia about Lamar and the southeastern area of Colorado from the mid-1800s.

Now, continuing west another 55 miles on US-50, and skirting the Arkansas River, I stopped to visit the Koshare Indian Museum & Kiva, located on the Otero Junior College campus in La Junta, CO.  The museum was closed, but their website tells me that the museum tells the history of the Native American culture, with artifacts from early southwestern Colorado.  Guests can visit the Koshare Kiva that is a representation of the kivas used by Native American Indians, over the centuries, for many of their ancient spirtual rituals. 

After missing that unique experience, I headed the short drive out CO-194, northeast of downtown La Junta, to check out Bent’s Old Fort. The fort was built in 1833 by William & Charles Bent amd served as a trading post for fur traders and the southern Cheyenne & Arapaho Plains  Indian tribes.  The museum displays many artifacts and memorabila related to the early pioneer days in the High Plains area of eastern Colorado.  It served as one of the many  stopping  points, between Missouri and New Mexico, for Army and pioneer travelers heading west on the Santa Fe Trail.

I was ready to head for the motel, there in La Junta and get something to eat.  After I got checked in I ask the motel clerk for his restaurant recommdations in town.  He said he liked the El Azteca Mexican Restaurant just down the street a few blocks.  I had their Chili Rellieno Plate with Pinto beans and Spanish rice.  The meal was exellent and I had enough left over for my evening meal tomorrow.  Back at the motel I recorded the day’s activities, watched a little TV, and headed for the “Land of Nod.”

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 63 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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The Grand Marshall Picker

26 Jan

Do you remember lining Main Street at Walt Disney World, waiting expectantly for the two o’clock parade? Finally you hear the music heralding the procession and leading the parade is the Grand Marshall.

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Mike Thomas over at The Story Tell Almanac has a treat for you today. An interview with Dean Gaschler, the man who for twenty-two years chose who would be honored as Grand Marshall of the Magic Kingdom Main Street parade!


CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

“Now retired, Dean was the person who used to choose who the Grand Marshalls would be for the afternoon parade at The Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Florida. He shares both some heartwarming and whimsical memories from his 22 year career with Disney.”

About Mike Thomas The Story Teller Almanac

I’ve been ‘clickin’ the shutter since I was about 16. I morphed into video production when I went to work for The Walt Disney Company many years ago. Currently, I still work for Disney. But my real passion and path is utilizing my photography and multimedia skill sets for the greater good. Translated, anything or anybody that deserves recognition, appreciation or documenting for future history, I’m all over it. Too many important things just slip away in a fast moving, fast paced world / society. ‘If ya’ wanna know where you’re going, ya’ gotta know where ya’ come from’ (Sir Lawrence Olivier – The Jazz Singer 1980). 

If you feel so inclined, I’d sure appreciate you subscribing to Storyteller Almanac on any of the major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and more. Really helps me grow the po

To contact me for any reason, please click or copy & paste: 

MikeThomasImagery@gmail.com

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Thinking and Understanding

25 Jan

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Rodin’s Thinker Photo Credit Pixaba

As I read my old journals, I see things that I had forgotten. In one, I read that my thirteen-year-old grandson said, “Grandmother, you’re like a Rubik’s cube, and I don’t understand you.”  I wondered what he meant, but then I realized that I couldn’t understand him either. You see, he turned out to be one of those young people whose life revolves around being a computer programmer. He didn’t take note of much else, therefore that was all he had to talk about. We deeply love each other, however, so we just communicate any way, we can. Sometimes I make a fuss over him. I say, “You’re handsome, kind, sweet, smart, and good, and I’ll love you forever. He still likes those words coming from a grandmother’s heart. 

Rubik’s Cube Pixabay

Later, a friend at the art league said she missed me when I quit going. “I like your different way of thinking.”  That was a compliment, but I had no idea what she meant. 

When we were in Europe on vacation, we ran into many people who didn’t understand our language, and of course, we didn’t understand theirs, either. 

When I thought about the most important things in life, I decided there were so many differences of opinion that I might as well pick one way and stick with it. I chose Christianity and the Holy Bible to be my lifelong guide. Oh, yes, I read lots of things besides that, but God’s Word was my most important influence. 

Here’s what Roman’s 10:1-15 says: My message is close to you, as close as your own heart beating in your chest and as near as the tongue in your mouth.” The Passion Translation

Dove- Symbol of the Holy Spirit Photo Credit Pixabay

Millions of people also live by what Romans 12:2 says. It goes like this: “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”  (TPT)

Here’s what Romans 12:3 (TPT) says, “I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.” 

Light Photo Credit Pixabay

If you’d like to have a huge choice of Bibles to read anytime you want them, you can find them in a free App on your phone at Bible Gateway. My current favorites are-  The Passion Translation, Amplified Bible, and the Message. Once you have the free App, you have free Bibles for life. 

Spirit of the Living God 

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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The Lord is my Shepherd

24 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

The Lord is my shepherd;

      I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

      He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

      He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

      I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

      Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

      You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

      Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

      And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

            Forever.

                        Psalm 23 (NKJV)

That is probably one of the most quoted scriptures in all of Christendom.  My husband, Fred, graduated with two degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. 

SWBTS – Rotunda Credit Google Search and SWBTS website

He said that one of his professors stated that the Psalm was quite probably written from the viewpoint of a sheep…looking toward his shepherd.  Makes sense to me….and puts a different slant on the Psalm.

Credit Pixabay

Recently, our Minister of Music, Rick Steele,

Rick Steele

told of his time at the same Seminary, and a study he had done with T.W. Hunt, about prayer.  Quoting from Dr. Hunt’s workbook, Prayer Life – Walking in Fellowship with God (T.W. Hunt and Catherine Walker), Dr. Hunt stated: “One morning I woke up at 3:00 a.m.  With excitement, I entered the prayer room in my house, dropped to my knees, and exclaimed, ‘The Lord is really my Shepherd!’  But I suddenly realized the truth was that I knew very little about shepherds and sheep….So I wrote a highly personal version of Psalm 23….David was a shepherd, and his prayer fit his life peculiarly.  I was a professor.  Now I have my own prayer identity and pattern that is pleasing to God and exciting to me!

[His prayer:]

The Lord is my Professor;

      I shall not lack knowledge of God.

He makes me understand His ways;

      He leads me into refreshing new insights.

He restores my mind:

      He leads me in an understanding of holiness for the sake of His glory.

Yes, though I walk in an age of dangerous untruth,

      I will fear no evil; for You are with me;

Your Spirit and Your Book, they reassure me.

      You prepare a curriculum before me in the presence of my detractors;

You anoint my mind with glory;

      My notebook overflows!

Surely wisdom and knowledge shall fill me all the days of my life,

      and I shall sit at the feet of my Teacher forever!”

WOW!!  If that isn’t wonderful!

But that inspired Rick to write his own version.  Being a musician, he wrote:

The Lord is my Conductor

      I shall never miss a beat

He brings me to experience the Glory of His loudest crescendo,

      He lets me rest in the quietness of His softest pianissimo;

He restores the harmony in my soul.

      He helps me to understand His perfect tuning

In every instance, for His name’s sake.

      Yea, even though I miss important entrances

Or even become lost in the score; I will fear no evil.

      Thou preparest a royal concert before me

As if I’m the only one attending.

      Divine music anoints my mind with Your presence and Glory

My score is dynamic and alive!  It’s overflowing!

      Surely worship and praise shall follow me all the days of my life

And I will dwell in the Concert Hall of the Master Conductor

      Forever and ever...Amen.

Rick gave me permission to share his prayer here.  He encouraged me to think of and paraphrase my own version of the Psalm.  I would like to do the same for my readers.

MAY GOD BLESS HIS HOLY WORD

Credit PixabayCredit PixabayCredit Pixabay

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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