In The Wake of a Train

When you think about trains…and wake…your brain automatically goes to sound, as train can be very loud. When you think about boats…and wake…your brain goes to the waves put put by a boat as it goes through the water.

Trains can wake you up…but trains don’t make a wake…oh yea…just watch. With the spring thaw the Mississippi is currently at 19 feet with full crest expected at 20.5 feet. The river leaves it banks at several places at different levels depending on the land shape but generally in down town area it starts flooding at 18 feet.

We are expecting rain tonight and tomorrow so who knows what that will do but we feel fortunate as the snow melt north of us has been slow. Their warm up has not been all at once so the snow melt has been gradual which is helping. When I left work today, I went down to see what it looked like from the ground level as from the bridge level it looked really bad. It isn’t good but could be worse. You can’t tell but just past the chain link fence are the white seats of the park with only the tops visible.

I saw some ducks, a mallard and his mate, feasting on the grasses under the water at the edge of the parking lot. Then I saw the train tracks well under water. I had heard that if train tracks get under water they are OK as long as the water is less than a foot. Really?? Amazing. While I was looking at the band stand by the river and the chairs being under water, I saw a train coming, so you know I had to wait and see how it would do.

Sure enough, they crept along very slow but has no issues. So in question to the wake issue, yes, trains can make a wake.

So that was mt fun for the day and my first walking and photo opportunity. I will be curious to see if the added foot of possible flood water will make that not possible. And I wonder how long the flood waters will hang around. It took several weeks last year and there was a lot more snow this year but the spring rains have not started yet. So we will see.

So as we get into a warmer spring, let us also remember to warm and kind to all of creation. As Jimmy Dean says ‘It does a body good.’ We all know what winter has been like and are so looking forward to spring. So remember…

kind spring

Things That Make Me Smile

When I have days like to day that get so busy with other stuff and I get nothing on ‘my list’ completed, I get refreshing relief by going to Pinterest and looking at the various animal categories and scripture categories and get my head back in to the correct groove as it were. Therapy was a beast but I have much improved mobility and only one week left, so that is a plus. The handyman didn’t show so the new curtains and rod are on the floor. I can do that but was trying not to have to climb on a ladder just yet. So that was a bum. Rearranged my living room and got my plants in a position to get outside as soon as the weather stays above 65. So all in all a good day. While we always seem to attribute good days as God being there for us, in reality He is always there for us. Especially on the dark days when we can not see His hand. I saw this picture today and it made me smile so I thought I would pass it on.

Love, what a wonderful word and there are so many forms of love. I wrote a post back in November giving my perspective on just how much God loves us but in reality it can not really be measured. But God doles out love to all who will accept it in all of His creation. Man has the notion that he is superior because of his analytical abilities. I wonder sometimes if that is an admirable attribute when it get so badly misused. Scripture tells us the LOVE is the key. There are well over 100 verses in the bible that involve teaching us about love. Why do we have to be taught about love when it is given so freely to us because he loved us first. Think on that for a minute but don’t over think it with your analytical mind. There are picture after picture of the animal kingdom showing great strides of tender compassionate love to their own kind and sometimes to a totally different specie. Our human minds have a hard time getting around that and we gawk at it in surprise when we see it. I feel sometime we are the silly ones. Its very simple to me, but I am a simple person. 1st – God is love. 2nd – God freely gives that love to His creation 3rd- we in turn are supposed to share that love. Its a circle. This picture I found shows true devoted love between several family members.

God's love — Nurturing, devoted and tender love

Wonder what it is going to be like in Heaven when we all understand what real love is and how to use it with out out analytical minds getting in the way. Then we can use the analytical minds that he gave us as a gift to further His purposes like it was meant to be.

And with love in mind, try to always be kind. Its as much a part of love as love itself.

kind19

With Praise and Worship We Come

worship

As our church is coming together to redefine the worship service to be more of a glory to God and not of man, today…today was amazing. The music starting the service was ‘All Creatures of Our God and King’, written by Sty Francis of Assisi in 1225 (794 years ago), music written 1623 and revised by William Draper in 1926. You could feel the electric presence of God in the room, the warmth, the love, the reverence. It was still there when we went to the ‘reaching out with hands of fellowship’ greeting. The sincere love of the people was evident, it bleed into the room of fellow Christians and visitors. Then when the sermon started Pastor Rob made a statement we knew to be true but probably didn’t think much about. Of all the many times we come into the church building throughout the week, whether it be for bible study, youth activities, choir activities, ladies circles, community activities and so on and so on, these are all activities to feed our own selves. We come to those activities to learn more about God or we are there to meet about other needs the church may have or other things we may need help with. But Sunday worship is about God. We are not there for us (but we are), we are there for worshiping our God and King. Its an entirely different purpose. God is always worthy of our praise and worship regardless of our circumstances and while we do that during the week, Sunday is the day set aside where we come together as a family(the church) and praise and worship Him together, sharing in the fellowship of love he bestows on us for us to bestow on each other. That love brings us peace, peace that can only come from God. John 14:27 tells us of Jesus explaining His peace – ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you….do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’

So as the last verse of All Creatures of Our God and King says, Let all things their Creator bless, and worship Him in humbleness, O praise Him, Alleluia! Praise , praise the father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, three in one, O praise Him, Alleluia.

I don’t know if this link will work but if not go find this song on you tube and really listen to the words. There are several version, I just preferred Sovereign Grace Music, Prayers of the Saints.

https://i.ytimg.com/an_webp/MUZD0hgtSgE/mqdefault_6s.webp?du=3000&sqp=CPed3-QF&rs=AOn4CLDzKcfy3aCMFWH1RmqbF0wk3-pf_A

And as always, as you go through your day and encounter creatures of our God and King, remember He don’t ever make junk and all things have a love and a purpose so remember to always be kind.

kind22

The Mailman Cometh, #SoCS 3/23/19

Mail is an event of major proportions according to Mimi, my black lab/coon hound cross. The first of the month brings bills but now that we are approaching the end of the month, its all junk. And since a lot of us receive and pay bills on line, is the mail man a dying thing? Who writes a real letter anymore. Not many that are under the age of 60. Sadly I feel its a dying art form.

But Linda Hill’s challenge for this Stream of Consciousness Saturday leads us to describe our last piece of mail.

IMG_20190323_110920

Well according to the Dispatch Extra, the local grocery store is now in the furniture business since spring is actually starting to show up. Various types of lawn chairs and awnings have discount prices for the grand opening of the yearly garden center being set up in the parking lot. They also have gas or charcoal grills for a fun outdoor experience, plus lots of flowers.

Then at the Mattress Outlet they are having a huge floor model closeout. Really? How do you have model of a mattress? More foam, less foam….

And Lowes is having a sale on the new models of lawn mowers. Again, why models. Its an engine with deck and 4 wheels with a rotating blade. It cuts grass.

The want-add section has an add for a lost dog. 1,000.00 reward. So sad. We do love our animals and periodically they can escape their housing areas.

Then on the upswing, Brenda and Jim are getting married in 6 weeks down at the park by the river. That could be interesting…no shelters there. Better hope it doesn’t rain.

Not really much else in the mail today. Although the warmth is bring out the tree killing process for multiple spring add. Almost as bad as Christmas.

So as you go about your conscious day of Saturday, remember to be kind to man and best alike. Kindness is a gift of gentleness, love and peace that reaches down to the soul.

kindness3

I Could Not Help It

I am doing some minor remodeling downstairs and I needed to go to Lowe’s for supplies. So as I came up to the register, they had in the aisle early bulbs coming up. I didn’t really need any bulbs but I could not help myself. I needed the proof that spring is actually coming.

IMG_20190321_130329

So tired of the cold, so ready for the warmth of spring and the smell of flowers and the stores know this so that’s why they put these right by the registers. I admit it, I am weak and I fell to the ploy of management impulse buying techniques.

Once it does really look like spring, I know this year I will not have to buy as much as last year. A lot of bulbs already planted, hopefully the bitter -34 degrees didn’t destroy them. Time will tell. Until then enjoy what Mitch Teemly calls Sprinter.

And as the sun begins to shine more warmly, try to shine yourself more warmly and be kind. It is a brightness that is much needed.

KINDNESS10

Finally, #1LinerWed

It’s here, It’s here, it really is finally here, we jump and shout and twirl about as we sing and shout, It’s really finally here – Welcome Spring!

snoopy spring

And as we begin to thaw and relax hoping for more warm days, remember to always be kind.

kind17

For 1LinerWed from Linda I chose to celebrate what day it is in reflection to the harsh winter we had. So come along and play with others playing with #1LinerWed.

Pug-amus Wisdom, Twitter Tale #128

Come one, come all as I tell you a tale

Of wisdom I gathered though I am frail

One concerning my masters who throw me in the cold

To do my business, good grief this really gets old

Will spring or warmth ever show their bright side?

I think not as I snuggle with blanky deep inside

Fun from Kat Myrman with this weeks Twittering Tales #128.

It Can Be Beautiful

After a winter of harsh temperatures and more snow than I really wanted to see for one season, we felt the season was finally over and we could wait for the spring to slowly seep in with its warmth and beautiful flowers. Yea, wrong thought.

My daughter texted me at 11:45 last night – “Mom, look outside, its snowing!”

What, no, I had looked at the radar earlier that day and the entire US was mostly clear with sun.

Yep, reports said to expect an inch. Good grief. But as morning arose, it actually was about 1.5 inch but the roads were clear. OK, I can deal with that. And the more I looked at it, I really saw its beauty. It was a wet snow, so it stuck to the trees and the snow in the yards seemed really white. I understand snow is really white but with the sky bright blue and the sun rising in the sky, it just reflected whiter than what we had seen with the cold gray sky’s of winter.

As I got in my car and headed to church the trees were even more beautiful. I took this shot from my car as I crossed over the bridge….probably not a good idea but at least I wasn’t texting.

IMG_20190317_082341 — Crossing the Mississippi

I was reminded of the scripture verses asking for our sins to be cleaner whiter than snow. It made me feel a real connection at that moment of the closeness we can have with God.

As I moved through town the sun was at the right angle to really show case the beauty so I am enclosing a shot of the tree in the corner of the parking lot at the church. It really was amazing.

IMG_20190317_083014 — Whiter & brighter with the sun

And by the time we got finished with church, it was all gone. The best kind of snow.

So I remind you of the beauty God has to offer visually, spiritually and even emotionally and remind you to share those wonderful uplifting feelings with those who have seem to lost sight of them. Share His love and always be kind.

kindness4

Sole or Soul, #SCoS 3/16/19

What a thought provoking Stream of Consciousness Linda Hill has given us today. Webster has many versions for sole with it being an adjective, verb or several versions of a noun. As with a verb, I am the sole writer of today’s intelligence. However the intelligence solely depends on the individual reader.

Or maybe we are referring to the most marvelous sole fish, flounder, as the type we had in Florida growing up.

Or we could be referring to the soles of my shoes which currently represent spring thaw and mole tunnel stomping.

Or maybe we are referring to our soul, the spiritual inner self that communes with the Holy Spirit. and when this body dies, goes to heaven to be with God.

soul

Most only believe that only humans have a soul. I disagree with that. Other creatures may not have the capability for the Holy Spirit to help them commune with God, but they commune. God created all living things therefore it is my belief he gave all living things the ability to be with Him, to love Him and to commune with Him.

In the book of Revelations, John spoke of God creating a new heaven and a new earth for man to live in peace with all of His creation. My very first book is under review for publication and while it is totally fiction, it deals with man and animals working together in heaven like we were supposed to be able to do in Eden.

None of us really know what heaven is truly like although a few people have had near death experiences and some of them describe similar sightings. It really doesn’t matter, it is all tied up with faith and discernment of scripture. But while we are still on this earth, let us always try to give a little touch of heaven by be kind and supportive to all of creation.

kind11

Book of Judges and Today

Whether you believe in Christ or not the use of our dating system reflects before he existed and after he existed. The time periods before and during Genesis have no date reference in the bible itself, however, there is archaeological evidence around certain characters during that time period that is surfacing helping us piece together some of the historical information previously thought lost. What does this have to do with today, nothing much other than proving life is cyclical and man does not learn from his mistakes.

The book of Judges is estimated to have begin around 1375 BC. The very first judge was Othneil – 1367-1327 BC. The reason for the judges in the first place is the people did not obey God by intermingling with the peoples of the land that God gave to them. The very people God told the Israelites to get rid of so they they would not intermingle with them and learn their ways, thus sinning against God. The people would realize they yet again screwed up, whine and beg God for help, God would send them a judge. They would obey, get right with God and prosper until that judge died. Then they would forget and fall away from God, again following practices they should not follow. God would get fed up, turn away from them. They would get captured by these people they were supposed to have run out of the land and on and on and on. Through each successive judge the people would get right and prosper, the judge would die, the people would revert back to doing evil but as each new judge came along the people would not get fully back into compliance so they became weaker and more sinful as a whole. The judges lasted approximately 320 years with Samson being the last judge and during his time you really saw how arrogant the people had gotten including him and the “people did as they saw fit in their own eyes.”

That’s kind of where we are today, right. Yea, but if you read history from the 1800s, those philosophers said the same thing about their generation. So, were they wrong? No. It’s all cyclical or pendulum-atic. Not a real word but a favorite saying of my father’s. Each generation thinks they have the right answer and the strong leaders run the people all in one direction, then the next generation throws the pendulum in the opposite direction pulling all the people in that direction with neither side learning from the mistakes of past generations, neither relying on the grace of God to drive them and no one really going in the correct direction at all.

Today we have no prayer in school, we are killing babies out of convenience and there is no God authority in any type of government or management and very little of teaching of right and wrong even at the home level. I totally understand the separation of church and state but I also believe God needs to be the driving force. So without the teaching of right and wrong in homers, government being totally greedy in their beliefs and not have God as the head, chaos begins to break out and crazy things happen like school or theater shootings, cars running over people on crowded side walks, then down on the home level, bored kids who are not being cared for are left to run the streets to become vandals and destroy property just for fun. Last night 6-9 cars on my street were the entertainment of a few of these kids. Makes you worry about what’s next and I am in a good neighborhood.

IMG_20190313_082727 — Black spray paint. I was lucky with only a single line.

Each generation needs to do better not worse. I know that scripture says things will get worse until God has had enough but do we really want that. It makes me sad. And it is so hard to be encouraging sometimes but we must prevail. If those of us who try to always be compassionate, encouraging or kind fail and give up – that is when evil will have won, at least evil will think it would have won but those of us who are in-tuned with God know how the story ends so I remind you to pull as many as you can with you into the love and grace of God and always be kind.

Flower kind4