11.13.2023

33⁰F clear WNW@10mph SR0654 SS1639

Morning Offering given

Village waking

No coffee this week. I’m doing a caffeine free week challenge. May God have mercy on those around me.

Week 5, period 4-Intermittent Fasting – down 8.6 #, clothes fitting looser, still struggling with the water intake, still haven’t measured, still not active enough. Less joint pain.

Cpap finished night 4, another morning headache, ridiculously dry mouth & nose (even with humidity turned up), dry cough has started. Sleeping on back is an issue. I am a side sleeper, which messes with the seal on the mask. Also, have an open mouth. They want me to use a chin strap… I will not! The full mask is irritating enough. 😒

Today’s devotion, “the angel & the shepards” St. Luke 2:8-12. Help me, my God, to make a good meditation, and to consecrate to thee all my thoughts and resolutions. Jesus wishes to be mySavior and Redeemer. He took upon himself my weak nature. He knows, in spite of my good intentions, my weakness is yielding at the first difficulty.

The day will be a steady one.

Know you are prayed for.

11.12.2023

41⁰F cloudy SSW@16mph SR0653 SS1640

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

The man sleeps

Coffee good

New Daily Devotion “CRIB TO CROSS” meditations on the life of Christ. Angelus Press 2019. Translated from the French “De la crèche au calvaire” Messieurs Poussielque Freres Paris 1884 The Crib St. Luke 2:7. Help me, O my God, to keep my thoughts for a few moments from wandering so that I may remain recollected in Thy presence and solely intent on Thee.

Today, my brother Jeff would have turned 66. May he rest in peace.

MV Delhi musical today at 2pm. Looking forward to it.

Bible Study lesson on the Torah needs to be completed.

My plants need attention.

The boy got a dog. “CHOPPER”, some kind of hound.

Can we discuss the ugly face of alcoholism without giving offense? Without pointing fingers? Without taking offense?

. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Know you are prayed for.

11.08.2023

40⁰F cloudy ENE@8mph SR0647 SS1644

Morning Offering given

Village waking, traffic moving

Coffee good… what is it about that first cup?

The man still sleeps

Office coming along nicely. Perhaps move in is closer.

Intermittent Fasting-still going fine. I need to walk more. Water consumption is improving.

Bible Study was really good last evening. We talked about the Golden Calf. Discussion was lively. H & C were missed.

I love standard time! My sleep has returned to only 2 wake ups during the night. I wish dst would never return.

1st Wenesday Devotion… https://www.bluearmy.com/devotion-to-st-joseph-obtains-more-than-we-can-ask/#:~:text=The%20devotion%20ideally%20involves%20attending,the%20salvation%20of%20the%20dying.

I love the fall season as well. Shorter days and being home evenings with family. The Fallow (winter Dec 21-Mar 19) season is almost on us. This is nature’s time to rest, slow down, and repair. We humans should do the same. Make this time all about replenishing.

Today should be another easy day. Have 4 must does, and one work on a little.

News of interest… https://dps.iowa.gov/dci-assists-homicide-investigation-and-officer-involved-shooting

Know you are prayed for.

10.29.2023

31⁰ F overcast NW@8mph SR0734 SS1758

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

Coffee good

The man sleeps

Snowed yesterday. I can still see it on the hood of the car. I’m not ready for it.

Intermittent Fasting water goal met. Spent lots of time in the necessary.

Need to finish up on Bible Study Lesson for Tuesday’s class.

Sleep study equipment needs to go back today. Meet for consultation on Friday.

Today’s Ponder…

“Human praise adds nothing to us. Human criticism takes nothing from us. We remain as we were beforehand.“

Why is it we crave that praise and recognition? That notoriety. That adulation? Why is it we fear the criticism? Fear our mistakes? Why is it we want to be in the limelight so much?

Know you are prayed for.

10.28.2023

32⁰F cloudy NNW@7mph. SR0733 SS1759

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee good

Happy birthday, Jeannette! Hope your day is awesome!

30% chance of snow this afternoon.

Pondering Bacci page 432… “It is useless to kneel before the altar, to assist at sacred rites,and to recite vocal prayers, if all the time our minds are elsewhere and we are lacking in the love of God. Spiritual adoration and prayer are more important than the bowed head and the bended knee.”

Began week 3 of intermittent fasting. I feel good. More alert. Less joint pain. Small things like the fit of a shirt sleeve feel looser. Still working on water intake and more walking.

Office looking good. Door is going to fit. I’m excited about this.

Daylight saving ends next week. Get your blue postcard into your rep and Senator requesting they stop implementing dst and continue permanently the use of standard time.

Know you are prayed for.

10.27.2023

63⁰F cloudy SW@7mph SR 0732 SS1801

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee good

Off to IA to take Josh home. Dr. Appt 1345

Intermittent Fast wk 2 complete. Dwn a total of 5.6#. Need to increase walking.

Heat to knee did wonders.

Today’s ponder…

Outward Appearances

God is interested in your soul, not your surface. Examine yourself, get rid of the false and haughty. Resolve to correct it.

Know you are prayed for.

10.24.2023

62⁰F SSW@13mph SR0728 SS1805

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee good

The man sleeps

Happy (posthumous) Birthday, Dad! Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

This man stepped into my life when I was in 3rd grade. He married my mother and adopted her children. Not one time did he act like I was not his child. Not one time did he fail to be the dad I needed. This is not to say he was perfect because he was not. This is to say he knew how to love a child who was difficult. He accepted me where I was, patiently guided me, firmly disciplined me, and taught me to set boundaries, be true to myself, and believe there was something better ahead. I thank God for his time in my life.

Lightning, flashing this morning. No rain, but rain is coming, just a matter of time.

Today’s ponder

“Lead us not into temptation“

James 1:13-15

No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one.h

Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.

Bacci hits the nail on the head again. For those who don’t have his book but do have FB… https://m.facebook.com/cardinalbacci/?wtsid=rdr_07Dtx4GJryjpEfqSW

Know you are prayed for.

10.23.2023

41⁰F cloudy SSE@13mph SR0727 SS1807

Morning Offering given

Village quiet

Coffee good

Intermittent Fast Day #11. Feels like my body is humming (vibrating). My breath is horrid. Hmmm, it’s working. Tomorrow, I weigh and measure. Kudos to my friend AM for bringing this plan to my attention.

Made it home yesterday to find the guys winterizing the front porch. The fountain put away for winter. The pre electrical work completed in the office.

It is good to be home. It was good to be north and spend time with family.

Back to normal today with a busy Monday ahead of me.

“ As we also forgive our debtors”

Is today’s meditation. In a nutshell, forgive, sincerely forgive from the heart, or Jesus will not forgive you. Many scoff at this thought because after all I took Jesus as my Savior. I am saved, heaven bound… it’s a given.

It is not a given.

Nope, it is not. Look what Jesus did while hanging on the cross.

Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them they know not what they do.”

Again, he instructs…

Matthew 5:23-24

“If thou art offering thy gift at the altar and thou remember that thy brother has anything against thee, leave thy gift before the altar and go first to be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

Convicted once again by the words of Christ. Looks like I have some work to do.

Know you are prayed for.

10.22.2023

30 clear WNW@3mph SR0720 SS1801

Morning Offering given

B&B in Lanark peaceful “Strength comes from rest”

Happy Birthday to my son-in-love Kyle

Happy 1st Anniversary to Kyle & Amy… wow!

Day @10 of Intermittent Fasting… let us just say everything I consumed was eatten during my eating time-frame. Oh and coffee was substitued 6 times for the water. But, this morning I don’t feel worse for wear and I was sensible.

Coffee dripping… fairly good tasting too!

Wonderful time yesterday at the Lutefisk/Lefse dinner in Northland. So good to spend time with family Jean/Judy/Nancy/Patsy. Supper with Jean/Terry topped off the day. Was amazed at how many memories came forward on the drive to Northland. The farm looked wonderful. The big rock wasn’t there and the gully at the end of the sledding hill didn’t seem so deep. No stick horses tied up could be found anywhere but in my mind and the conversations with family. My favorite house ever still stands. Funny the dreams of childhood: revisited still bring the feeling of belonging. I have not been in this area for years and that feeling is still there. Today I will drive by G’pa Jim’s before I leave. I’m sure the memories of mules and horses will emerge. Vists to two cemeteries are on the list as well church attendance in the place of my baptism. Then home to where I belong now. Thank you’s to Patsy for putting this video together and to George for posting. Was good to see so many old faces and surprising to remember some of them.

WTG Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and others in Arkansas for talking the steps needed to get hostile countries holding land out of her state. May the 49 other states follow.

My meditation for today is focused on “Forgive us our debts” from the Lord’s Prayer
We’ve already asked God to give us what we need to sustain us daily. Now we are asking him to forgive our debts. We owe God everything right down to the crook in our little finger. He is the only one who can rescue us from the world/from ourselves. Antonio Cardinal Bacci addresses this in his book Meditations For Each Day. Bacci makes one look deep into their being and recognize what was, what should have been, and what could be, if only we are willing to turn ourselves wholly to God and give him the reins to drive. Personally, I fail daily at giving up the driver’s seat. Daily I start again.

Know you are prayed for.

10.21.2023

41 cloudy NE@6mph SR0719 SS1803

Morning Offering given

Artha B&B in Lanark is quiet and restful

Cofffee brewing… fresh ground beans

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (Meditations for Each Day pg 422) has an interesting comment in today’s reading “We are under an obligation to work, because work is the result of, and the punishment for, sin, It enables us to co-operate with God in His work of creation and has been ennobled and sanctified by Jesus Christ.” Quite the thought isn’t it? I am obligated to work. I wonder how many of today’s young or not so young know/feel this obligation? I know for certain I have felt this obligation from early on in my childhood. An obligation first to God to use the talents and treasure he has entrusted to me and an obligation to my family to joyfully do what is necessary to keep the family. I did not always succeed in meeting my obligations and now I still fail at times.

I remember hearing these words from my G’ma “we don’t wash the dishes because someone told us. We wash the dishes because we love and care for the person who will use them next.” A form of this quote is attributed to Mother Teresa. I have no clue if that is true or not, but I do know my G’ma said it to me. I doubt she had ever given Mother Teresa a thought as she was protestant. I’ve also come across someone who said to her children “wash the plate” meaning clean up after yourself.

This last statement brings me to confession. How does one go from dishes to confession you might ask. Confession is the spiritual side of “wash the plate”. Because you love God, you go to confession. Because you love yourself, you go to confession. Simple “WASH THE PLATE”

Know you are prayed for.