Denim....

Denim...

Rodeo days are everywhere this time of year....my town has one this next week...so denim, denim, denim is everywhere...not that it isn’t other times, but rodeos seem to really bring it on...it is a durable, enduring fabric...

Over the years we have added all shapes and sizes of denim, using it in all manner of fashion from tuxedos to boots to car seats and beyond...there are jeans to fit every shape, female and male as well as our canine friends...a truly versatile fabric...

A partial history from Wikipedia.org states...

“Denim has been used in the United States since the mid-19th century.Denim initially gained popularity in 1873 when Jacob W. Davis, a tailor from Nevada, manufactured the first pair of rivet-reinforced denim pants. At this time, clothes for Western labourers, such as teamsters, surveyors, and miners, were not very durable. His concept for making reinforced jeans was inspired when a female customer requested a pair of durable and strong pants for her husband to chop wood. When Davis was about to finish making the denim jeans, he saw some copper rivets lying on a table and used the rivets to fasten the pockets. Soon, the popularity of denim jeans began to spread rapidly, and Davis was overwhelmed with requests. He soon sold 200 pairs to workers in need of heavy work clothing. Nevertheless, because of the production capacity in his small shop, Davis was struggling to keep up with the demand. He then wrote a proposal to dry goods wholesaler Levi Strauss & Co.that had been supplying Davis with bolts of denim fabric. Davis's proposal was to patent the design of the rivet-reinforced denim pant, with Davis listed as inventor, in exchange for certain rights of manufacture. Levi Strauss & Co. was so impressed by the possibilities for profit in the manufacture of the garment that they then hired Davis to be in charge of the mass production in San Francisco.”

Denim reminds me of perseverance, endurance, hard work...although it has become to be a fashion statement or something that can relied upon...the basis for a wardrobe...something we can count on.....

We face trials or we will...and we can choose perseverance or not..endurance or not...but there is fruit through these trials...joy...hope...godliness...humbleness....

James wrote:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2-4

Peter spoke of perseverance as well...

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

2 Peter 1:5-7

Paul charged Timothy:

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

1 Timothy 6:11 

Paul wrote to Colossian believers:

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Colossians 1:9-14

Thank YOU...help me to be durable, persevere showing  that hope, that joy, that humble gentleness...that pursuit of God...

Choices...

Choices....

All of our lives we have choices...some between good and bad, good and good, bad and bad, attitudes, shopping, life’s partners, housing , education, cars, travel, beliefs, food, “bitter or better”, health care, cars, etc., etc., etc......

I am just finishing up the book of Acts...Paul the apostle has spoken so much to so many people, leaders of the Jews, leaders of the Romans, masses of people and small groups...some willing to listen, others to ridicule and degrade...

There have been those who chose to listen more, to argue, were almost persuaded, ignore...those who cared for him in times of need, those who called him a god and those who accused him of heresy...

At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Acts 26:24-28 

Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 

Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 

They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: “‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Acts 28:17-20,23-27,30-31

That one bolded and italicized sentence says so much...from the beginning of mankind we have had that choice...do we believe in the God of the universe or in gods we have made with our hands or minds...

We have a choice...are our hearts open to truth or hardened against it...

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

John 14:6-7 

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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John 3:16-21

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure....

Hebrews 6:19a

Thank YOU that you have provided the right choice...help us seize the way...making right choices...

Caesarea of Palestine....

Caesarea of Palestine...

https://biblehub.com/topical/c/caesarea.htm

If you have time to read this  website, do...so interesting if you like history...the town keeps coming up in scripture...

I have been reading the book of Acts, one chapter at a time...and after being at and standing on the rocks of some of the places mentioned in the book, it is easy to picture the pomp, the pageantry, the people who stood there centuries ago...the sights, the sounds, the pleading, the accusations, the persuasions, the disdain, the rejection, the “almost persuaded “, the questions that took place...

Now there is rubble, foundations, some statue pieces, a amphitheater, a view, of what must have been grand buildings, pools, a prison, a beautiful harbor...

Philip lived here, Peter met Cornelius here, Paul passed through and later was imprisoned until he went to Rome...

It was on a main thoroughfare between Tyre and Egypt, on the  Mediterranean Sea...

Cool breezes fro the ocean makes it a great place...even as I write this, it is 83 with a high of 85 degrees, slight breeze...

In Acts 25 plus, Paul lays out the gospel, pleading with them to listen, not only with their ears but their hearts...he desires that all who hear become Christians...we do the same all over the world today...

(Jesus says to Paul)17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 

Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Acts 26:17-18,28-29

Thank YOU for so great a witness to the life You would have each to live...saved by your grace to all who believe...

Gold panning...

Gold panning...

One of my daughters has a creek running close to house. So while there this last time, I asked if they had ever panned for gold...nope...so I dug up some sand near the base of boulders in the creek...

(Boulders act as natural riffles in creeks, riverbeds as heavier sand and rocks settle there when washed along by the water)...

She supplied the old rusty gold pan. Each of our children inherited gold pans from my husband when we cleaned out our offices after he passed away...

So I panned away, finding not gold but, magnetic black sand...in some places this is indicative of gold...finding very fine gold after clearing out the sand...

One of my husband’s college summer jobs was prospecting for gold in creek beds in the then purposed Idaho  Wilderness Study area based out of McCall, Idaho.  The crew was flown out to various spots to pan for gold, camp for a week, then flown back to town for the weekends. He loved the job...they did find gold, but I think the wilderness area was a forgone conclusion to be a wilderness before they even got there ...

He taught me to pan within the first year of marriage...taking me to remote creeks to camp and search for the illusive gold specks in the pan... we did find some along the way...although a lot Nevada gold is now measured in parts per billion not nuggets in the streams...

But, people still search for the gold all over the world...and it is discovered and mined as well...from time immemorial...

We search and search for a lot of things, precious to us..the “lost coin”, the “lost sheep” in the Bible... gold, precious gems, love, treasures of all kinds...

Help us to search out that which is important...those words of wisdom, those precious moments, You....thank YOU...

https://geology.com/articles/panning-gold/

Magnetite Black Sand – Prospectors Choice

 Magnate holding magnetic black sand...

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding — indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

Proverbs 2:1-11 

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

Proverbs 25:2

The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

Ecclesiastes 12:10 

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:8-10 

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined/searched the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Acts 17:11

Flowers at the gravesite...

Flowers at the Gravesite....

All my life I remember taking flowers to gravesites...

First it was with my mother and grandmother, cousins, aunts...we took flowers on Memorial Day...to relatives laid to rest before my time...

Later to one’s I actually knew, and then when I married we did the same thing with my husband’s family...those who I didn’t know, but family...

As time has proceeded onward, now I lay the flowers on grandparents’, parent’s and my husband’s gravesite..saying hello to nearby friends...saying yet another goodbye to loved ones who filled my life for so many years...

My grandparents and parents, husband memories of laughter, good and bad times, love, care, perseverance, lives lived well...

Not with rose colored glasses do I look back...but reality...there were all the emotions over the years, but we loved and lived through them...

Now my children and grandchildren are here to whom to pass the torch of gravesite duties when they can...miles have added times between those duties, but I know in our hearts we still do it to,pay homage to those we loved and loved is...and another season has passed...thank YOU...

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,5

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

Designed by....

Designed by....

Routinely we see ads, pictures, houses, while programs/subdivisions, whatever with the subscript “Designed by________”....

As I did my daily walk, I was drawn by the variety of leaf shapes and sizes...hundreds...from pin sized ground covering leaves to the plate sized maple...some fuzzy, others glass smooth...round, oval, snowflake shapes...all come back the same way from the same plant...

All this in a hundred yards of space...this doesn’t count the thousands around the globe...each fitting the season, the geography of the place they live...alpine meadows have much different plants than tropical or desert...

And they were all designed by God...

When I think how much creativity He put into plants, how much more he cared and created humans...”in our image”... we are indeed special to Him...thank YOU...

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. ” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food. ” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning —the sixth day.

Genesis 1:26-31 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139:13-18

The spider and the fly...

The spider and the fly...

My daughter showed me a beautiful white spider reposing on a white rose petal yesterday...then we realized it was eating a fly, quietly munching away until at last it was gone...as I later photographed the spider sans fly and full belly...

Right after I took the first photo, I was walking along and noticed two other spider webs beautifully constructed in the bushes...each had a “platform” which slopped to a tunnel where the spider hid awaiting his/her prey or unsuspecting capture...a magnificent trap...

And yet another web of a different spider with bugs cocooned in web awaiting their demise...

I had to find this very appropriate poem I had heard many years ago...

“THE SPIDER AND THE FLY

'Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Spider to the Fly,''Tis the prettiest parlour that ever did you spy;The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,And I have many curious things to show when you are there.''Oh no, no,' said the little Fly, 'to ask me is in vain,For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again.'

'I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;Will you rest upon my little bed?' said the Spider to the Fly.'There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin;

And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!

“Oh no, no,' said the little Fly, 'for I've often heard it said,They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!'

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, 'Dear friend, what can I do,To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?I have within my pantry good store of all that's nice;I'm sure you're very welcome--will you please to take a slice?''Oh no, no,' said the little Fly, 'kind sir, that cannot be,I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see.'

'Sweet creature,' said the Spider, 'you're witty and you're wise;How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!I have a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,If you'll step in a moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.''I thank you, gentle sir,' she said, 'for what you're pleased to say,And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day.'

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again;So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing:'Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;Your robes are green and purple--there's a crest upon your head;Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead.'

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;Thinking only of her crested head--poor foolish thing! 

At last,Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,Within his little parlour--but she ne'er came out again!

And now, dear little children who may this story read,

To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:

Unto an evil counselor close heart, and ear, and eye,

And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.”

by Mary Howitt 

Enticing, flattering, deceitful words...have we not hear of these before?

Genesis 3, Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the memorable scenes where Satan temps...Adam and Eve succumb to the temptation while Christ does not...thank YOU...

38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Mark 14:38

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Galatians 6:1

For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

1 Thessalonians 3:5

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin.

Hebrews 4:15

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:13-15

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

There are many, many enticements in this world... help us each flee the things that have that pull on our lives to drag us down into that welcoming, deadly web...submitting to God our burdens and cares...thank YOU...